10 Toronto restaurants and bars with spectacular views

Toronto has no shortage of bars and restaurants with sleek, photo-worthy interiors, but sometimes it's the view on the outside that makes all the difference.

From swanky restaurants at the tip-top of skyscrapers to humble haunts offering unparalleled views of the city skyline, there is no shortage of spots in the city where you can drink in the outside world while sating your cravings.

Here are 10 restaurants and bars in Toronto that serve up some seriously spectacular views.

Writers Room

Situated on the 18th floor of Toronto's opulent Park Hyatt Hotel, this cocktail bar pays homage to literary icons of yore with its moody, rich wood and leather interiors. Even more impressive, though, is its sweeping view of the equally ritzy Yorkville neighbourhood and University of Toronto campus.

Kost

Sidled up by the CN Tower and offering a dramatic view of both Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto, this sky-high rooftop restaurant on the 44th floor of the Bisha Hotel is an easy "yes" for anyone hoping to soak in the skyline with dinner.

Kost at Bisha Hotel. Photo by blogTO.

360 Restaurant

If you're looking for a true bird's-eye view of the city, you can't do much better than the restaurant that, quite literally, looks down on all others. With an altitude that clocks in at a staggering 351 metres above the ground, this spot offers unparalleled panoramic views at any time of day, but, if you ask me, sunset is best.

The Rooftop at the Broadview Hotel

This Riverside staple is aptly named, seeing as it is located on the rooftop of the Broadview Hotel, but it's anything but standard. The highest restaurant in the area, the west-facing views of the city skyline are utterly unencumbered by other high-rises, giving you the serenity that comes with keeping downtown at arm's length.

Harriet's Rooftop

This rooftop restaurant at 1Hotel may be in the thick of the city's hustle and bustle, but perched on the 16th storey, you needn't fuss yourself with street-level goings on. There are more important things, like poolside dining and daily happy hour, to focus on.

Aera

With a newly minted patio in the mix, this sushi and steak restaurant soaring high above The Well boasts seriously stunning views of Lake Ontario, the downtown core, and the CN Tower, whether you opt to dine in the enclosed dining room or the golden hour-friendly rooftop patio.

Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co.

To escape the car horns and slow walkers of the downtown core, there's perhaps no better way to do so than escaping the mainland entirely. Perched on Centre Island, this no-frills barbecue joint boasts what is perhaps the best patio in the entire city, because it's not really in the city at all.

Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Mar'aa

The restaurant space on the 51st floor of Yorkville's Manulife Centre has housed a number of concepts over the years, but the latest blends Middle Eastern flavours and flair with a virtually unparalleled view that lets you get up close and personal with neighbouring skyscrapers.

Evangeline

Not only is the Ace Hotel home to what blogTO readers have decreed as the best hotel restaurant in the city, but it takes the cake for having one of the best rooftop bars in town, too. Just as pretty inside as it is outside, the bar's prime downtown locale offers a staggering look at the city's ever-changing skyline: construction and all.

Evangeline at the Ave Hotel. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Amsterdam BrewHouse

Anyone who avoids heights doesn't need to leave street level to get a next-level look at Lake Ontario, thanks to this massive brewpub located on the harbourfront. While the area itself is already awfully nice to look at — there's always something going on — the best seat in the house is at the south patio, just feet from the water's edge.