5 secret Toronto restaurants and bars you need to try at least once

Secret restaurants and bars in Toronto are places that only those in the know can indulge in, and, lucky for you, now you're in the know.

Toronto has a love affair with hidden gems: those spots that serve mind-blowing food in relative anonymity until some iPhone camera-wielding or blog-writing idiot (guilty!) shows up and tells the internet about them.

But the "hidden" in hidden gem is often a misnomer: these restaurants aren't truly hidden, but merely exist outside the city's more densely packed culinary centres. There are, however, restaurants, bars, and bakeries in the city that are, quite literally, obscured from view.

These spots tap into a sense of whimsy and intimacy that lends to a dining experience you won't soon forget, and that's before you even try the food. 

Here are five new secretive restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once.

Dumpling Drip

What began as a stall at the now-defunct Food Alley has found a new, albeit under-the-radar, home, operating out of the Entertainment District's Pizza Rustica.

A far cry from the host restaurant's suite of traditional Italian fare, this business serves hefty dumplings that run the gamut from classic har gow to unique creations like jerk chicken and chickpea curry dumplings.

Pasta Privato

Nestled just beyond the entrance to Notte, this intimate restaurant is its host's sophisticated, romantic little sister.

Offering tasting menus and à la carte, you can expect a lot more than just pasta here, though the pasta does steal the show. Global influences from far and wide blend with Italian dishes to unexpected — though always delicious — ends.

520 Cafe Bar

It's business-as-usual while the sun is up at this Queen West cafe-by-day, but when the night falls, the front door locks, and operations shift towards its secretive speakeasy set-up.

Locate the entrance to the bar in Graffiti Alley, and you'll quickly discover an impressive suite of creative cocktails and regular event programming.

520 Cafe Bar transforms into a secretive speakeasy at night.

Profound Pizza

You'll have to take your slices to go when you order from this pizza ghost kitchen in the Junction, unless you want to eat at the grocery store the pizza shop operates out of.

Specializing in Detroit-style pizza, the pies at this secretive pizza shop are all crispy, cheesy edges, thick dough and sauce on top. What more could a pizza lover ask for?

The Eighth Son

Is there anything in this world better than a cinnamon roll? How about a cinnamon roll that's the size of your head? That's exactly what's on the menu at this Dundas West bakery operating out of The Fourth Man in the Fire.

You'll have to be patient if you want to sink your teeth into one of these XL buns, though: they take three days to make, and are only available for pre-order through the business' website.