25 Toronto restaurants to eat at for Summerlicious 2026

Summerlicious returns to Toronto this July with over 240 local restaurants putting their best forks forward for your dining pleasure.

With an already overflowing bounty of participating restaurants only amplified with the addition of a major crop of newbies, Summerlicious 2026, which runs across the city from July 3 through 19, is already shaping up to be an especially tasty one. 

With the added excitement, though, the annual question looms larger than ever: where should you eat?

Never fear, your friendly internet north star is here to point you in the direction of whatever you're craving. Be it a meal at one of the city's buzziest new spots, a cheap and cheerful dinner or something that appeals to specific dietary restrictions, I've got your back.

Read on, and remember that reservations for Summerlicious 2026 are already open, so if something catches your eye, you'll want to act fast.

Top picks

The tried-and-true all-time favourites.

George ($55/$75)

Something like the patron saint of fine dining in Toronto, this Corktown classic, which serves contemporary Canadian cuisine, never gets old.

The Cottage Cheese ($34/$45)

Though its name may make it sound like a weight-loss restaurant (how's that for an oxymoron?), this Michelin-recommended Kensington Market gem is actually all about modern Indian cuisine, which it's serving at a particularly pocket-pleasing price during Summerlicious.

Alder ($75)

What can I say? blogTO readers ranked this breezy spot the best hotel restaurant in Toronto, and I have to concur. Situated at the base of the Ace Hotel, here, you'll be treated to wood-fired dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.

The Frederick. Photo by Fareen Karim.

New this year

2026 welcomed a sizeable class of buzzworthy new restaurants to the Toronto scene, many of which are joining Summerlicious for the first time.

Bar Filo ($48/$65)

Head to the Financial District to choose from a selection of Italian (and one or two non-Italian) staples. Think 45-day dry-aged beef ragu, hamachi carpaccio and steak frites.

The Frederick ($48/$65)

A swankified take on the old-school Financial District bar and grill, here you'll find refined reimaginations of familiar staples, from the humble hot dog all the way to slow-cooked baby back ribs.

Notte Ristorante ($55)

A lively atmosphere and modern Italian fare await at this playful King East haunt from a particularly prolific local restaurateur.

Sal's Pasta & Chops ($55)

I've been singing the praises of this Little Italy spot that specializes in Canadian-Italian cuisine ever since it opened last summer, and now's the chance to take me at my word. The special menu includes options like beef carpaccio, bufala mozzarella, agnolotti, and balsamic-glazed Miami ribs for good measure.

PUNCH ($65)

Set your course for the Le Germain Hotel's Mercer Street location and follow the aromas of butter chicken pot pie and curry-spiced beef Wellington until you land on this stylish restaurant serving a deft blend of British and Indian cuisines.

Vinny ($55)

This vinyl lounge and restaurant is a certified celeb magnet and a perfect option if you want to head out for a night on the town after your dinner. Expect stylish takes on comfort-food classics, like steak frites, burgers, and chicken wings.

Honey Chinese ($55)

This trendy King West restaurant recently expanded its menu beyond Chinese food, so during Summerlicious, you can choose from a diverse selection of pan-Asian dishes, like pad Thai, chicken dumplings, and blistered shishito peppers.

Primadonna ($55)

A floor above Honey Chinese, you'll find its equally talked-about Italian sister spot, whose Summerlicious menu includes options like mozzarella sticks topped with a dollop of caviar, spicy vodka rigatoni and eggplant parm.

Small Talk ($45)

Auspiciously situated on Toronto's buzzy Ossington strip, this jazz bar comes alive in the nighttime, and you'll get the chance to dive into a three-course meal featuring choices like Caesar salad, charcuterie and arrabiata, accompanied by great music.

Hoyra ($27/$35)

Ukrainian cuisine is the name of the game at this Junction Triangle spot. Book a reservation for lunch or dinner here, and you'll get the chance to choose from a surprisingly broad selection of staples done right.

Auberge du Pommier. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Old favourites

Is new always better? These spots beg to differ.

Auberge du Pommier ($55/$75)

French food never fails, especially if it's coming from this longstanding North York stalwart. This summer, its menu options include the likes of tomato gazpacho, chicken cordon bleu, strip loin, and chocolate gateau.

Canoe ($55/$75)

This critically acclaimed restaurant perched atop the TD Tower is a household name in the city, and there's no better time to find out why.

La Sala ($35)

Cap off a day at the beach with a meal at this unassuming Italian spot tucked away on a residential street in the Beaches. Here, you'll have the chance to tuck into crowd-pleasers like caprese salad, mushroom risotto and tartufo.

Salt Wine Bar ($41/$55)

Amid a revolving door of buzzworthy new spots, this staple on the Ossington strip never fails. Offering an eclectic combination of Iberian and Canadian dishes with an even more impressive wine list, a reservation here is always a good idea.

Oji Seichi. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Cheap & cheerful

Your budget doesn't have to get in the way of having a great meal.

High Park Brewery ($20/$25)

Though it's a bit of a hike from its namesake park, this brewery is a pocket- and palate-pleasing option with an accessible menu of classic Canadian and American comfort foods.

Mannat ($20/$25)

If it were up to me, every restaurant in the city would be a Hakka restaurant. Even though that's not the case, there are still plenty of restaurants in the city that specialize in the cuisine, like this one, which is located in the local foodie capital of Little Italy.

Oji Seichi ($20/$25)

Head to East Chinatown (also known as Broadview and Gerrard), and you'll stumble on this Japanese gem. For a reasonable price, you'll be able to pick up a three-course meal with ramen (with or without the broth) as your main.

Louf. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Vegan-friendly

All of the flavour, none of the animal.

Bar Bacan ($27/35)

Everyone loves Roncesvalles, and everyone (well, everyone with good taste) also loves Latin American food. The two mesh in beautiful harmony at this much-loved neighbourhood staple that serves up the likes of empanadas and arepas.

Wang Lang ($34/$45)

Vegan options include fried tofu with tamarind sauce, pad Thai and pad pak boong at this always solid King West Thai spot.

Hawker ($34/$45)

Though specifically dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants seem to be disappearing from the city in record numbers, this Kensington Market staple — where everything is vegan, and many also happen to be gluten-free — remains.

Gluten-free

Whether you're celiac or simply sensitive, these restaurants have your back.

PAI Uptown ($34/$45)

When in doubt, this local Thai staple is always a good call. Though not everything on the menu is gluten-free, a vast majority is, so the gluten-sensitive diners among us can eat without fear.

Louf ($48/$65)

Tucked away in a chic haunt at the south border of Casa Loma, this Palestinian restaurant offers gluten-free options like Arab salad, hummus bil lahme and koussa mahshi.