The Best Waterfront Dining in Toronto

Situated along Humber Bay Shores, Eden Trattoria is a popular Italian restaurant in Etobicoke. At Eden Trattoria, you are invited to relax, have a drink on their waterfront patio and create your own custom pizzas and pasta. The restaurant’s menu is designed in such a way that patrons can pick and choose their favorite ingredients; a chef will then make the pasta or pizza dish of your dreams—all with a beautiful view of the city’s skyline.

Tucked away in Scarborough’s Bluffer’s Park Marina, this space is another option for waterfront dining away from Toronto’s downtown core. The menu at Bluffer’s Park Restaurant focuses on seafood, pasta, and steak. The casual upscale vibe and patio overlooking the city’s shimmering waters make it a great little spot for sipping drinks and munching on seafood.

Two of life’s greatest pleasures—coffee beans and fermented grapes—come together at this hipster café-cum-wine bar. Out of the three Boxcar Social establishments in Toronto, as part of the reinvigoration of Toronto’s waterfront, the third installment has been the most ambitious. With a gorgeous patio overlooking Lake Ontario, Boxcar Social has become a popular establishment. Their evening menu runs late and features mouthwatering ingredients such as local burrata, grilled peaches, and Ontario heirloom tomatoes.

This little gem right down by the lake has been serving authentic dim sum and Chinese dishes for almost 30 years. Located inside the Queen’s Quay Terminal, the restaurant offers upscale dining with spectacular views. Make sure you reserve a table by the window, and then tuck into some of their fresh dim sum off the carts while sipping on tea.

This hole-in-the-wall has delicious Greek cuisine, and limited indoor and outdoor seating. It might not be the fanciest spot on the waterfront, but the gyros are some of the city’s best. Alexandro’s Takeout maybe better suited to warmer months, if you don’t mind perching on the tables outside, you’ll get bang for your buck food, and a modest patio by the lake. Word on the street is that the Greek fries are not to be missed!

Miku in Toronto’s Harbourfront is Aburi Restaurant’s first East Coast location. This upscale restaurant features a raw bar, sushi bar, and large patio. After starting out in Vancouver, Chef Kazuya Matsuoka, along with Chef Michael Acero and head sushi chef Kazuki Uchigoshi, brought Aburi cuisine to the city’s waterfront. Aburi means flame-seared, but at Miku, Aburi is also a philosophy. When a flame is applied to sushi, the heat alters the flavor of it and creates a new culinary story. Miku fuses traditional Japanese ingredients and techniques with local produce for a new and exciting experience.

This lakeside restaurant-brewhouse is huge—14,000 square feet (1,301 square meters) to be exact. The high ceilings, wooden beams, and roped lighting give the contemporary space some rustic touches. Beer is what they do best, and the most creative way to sample a bunch of in-house craft brews is with a tasting flight. However, Amsterdam Brewhouse also has an innovative menu. Some edibles come from their wood-fired oven or cherrywood smoker, while other dishes on the menu feature their signature brews. In warmer months, grab a sought-after spot on one of three patios and enjoy ice-cold drinks and dishes laced with beer against the backdrop of Lake Ontario.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.