Just because the Mediterranean Sea doesn’t border Canada does not mean it does not blow a culinary wind across Ontario. That is why you can find great restaurants inspired by the culture and traditions of Mediterranean cuisine in the heart of Toronto. From special occasions to romantic date nights, family-friendly feasts and cool, trendy hotspots to visit with friends, the best Mediterranean restaurants in Toronto have a table for you.
With recipes from all over the world, this city is full of new gems to discover. There are menus focused on ancestral techniques and mixes of Armenian and Lebanese cooking. Dine under an open sky or sip cocktails beneath a ceiling covered in plants. Enjoy honey-sweetened labneh, spiced lamb meatballs and creamy hummus. From the South of France to the Middle East, there are plenty of unforgettable flavours to try. Sail along the coast to discover Toronto’s best Mediterranean restaurants.
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Read on to discover the best Mediterranean restaurants in Toronto
For a visit to the east coast of the Mediterranean – head to Byblos in Downtown
In a sophisticated and colourful setting, Byblos invites you to discover a blend of classic ancestral techniques and modern methods in a menu as varied as it is tempting. With recipes that showcase East Coast cuisine and spices, you’re sure to be transported. Settle in for a tasty tuna tartare topped with citrus chilli tahini, accompanied by fresh watermelon and avocado. Continue with a succulent Middle Eastern fried chicken with the traditional toum spiced up with red schug hot honey. To finish on a high note, try a lemon olive oil cake topped with sweet pistachio and whipped ganache. To accompany your meal, try a glass of Nerello Mascalese from the Nicosia vineyard with notes of black cherry with a pinch of sage.
For one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Toronto for Lebanese and Armenian recipes – book your place at Taline in The Annex
Located in the heart of Toronto, Taline is one of Toronto’s best Mediterranean restaurants. Named after chef Sebouh Yacoubian’s mother, it is an authentic Armenian restaurant with a strong Lebanese influence. Exposed brick walls and brass decor add a rustic touch to this elegant dining space where the welcoming staff are ready to attend to your every need. Sit back and enjoy a labneh made with drunken figs, sweetened with honey and seasoned with zaatar and matnakash. For flavours from the sea, try the surprising Akhtabut, a Mediterranean octopus spiced with green harissa. Refresh yourself during your meal with a Sareri Qami, a vodka cocktail with rhubarb and acidulated verjuice to sip “while the mountain air flows”.
For a trendy hotspot with a stellar tasting menu and late night happy hour – try Abrielle in the Entertainment District
From breakfast to dinner, from the south of France to Spain, this restaurant is a must for lovers of the western coast of the Mediterranean. Energetic and vibrant, Abrielle offers a luxurious but unpretentious setting where you can discover bright flavours, plenty of vegetable-forward plates and a variety of wines. In the morning, make a stop in France with a flaky pain au chocolat. For brunch, enjoy the flavours of Spain with tortilla espanola made with onion confit and traditional potatoes and eggs. At lunchtime, take a trip to Italy with a burrata topped with chermoula and brown butter honey. Finish your day with a seaside-style meal with the sour red snapper decorated with nasturtium.
For one of Toronto’s best Middle Eastern restaurants of a rooftop – check out W Toronto- SKYLIGHT Rooftop Bar in Yorkville
Hidden away in the Yorkville neighbourhood, SKYLIGHT is a rooftop restaurant with alluring cocktails and tasty Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Dine under the sunset sky with recipes imagined by chef Karan Ramchandani, who brings authentic flavours and masterful savoir-faire to the table. Whether it’s during the week in summer, or on weekends with Live Dj Sessions, come and enjoy juicy grilled lamb chops with spicy sausage merguez. On the drinks side, there’s no need to stay thirsty: take your pick from the Wish You Roses, an exquisite lemony blend of hibiscus infused with silver tequila, or the Port In A Storm made with sandeman beat rosé port and sweet pomegranate-bay leaf cordial.
For one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Toronto for romantic dates – book a table at Margo in King West
Cooking can be a gateway to flavours from childhood. And it was this desire to share recipes from his youth that prompted Charles Khabouth to create this restaurant, inspired by his mother’s nickname: Margo. On the 4th floor of Clio, one of Toronto’s most exclusive clubs, Margo offers a charming experience of multicultural inspired dishes, made with fresh ingredients and embellished with unique flavours. Share a romantic dinner under blue light and flower ceiling over Margo’s creamy lobster pasta or authentic lamb meatballs served with house-made yogurt. At the end of the morning, treat yourself to a brunch with fluffy strawberry pancakes, or with the Clio burger enhanced with applewood smoked cheddar in a milk bun. The sophisticated atmosphere and welcoming service make Margo perfect for an intimate date night.
For brunch with killer cocktails – visit Bar Reyna and Reyna on King in Yorkville
While some people prefer to eat under the sun, others like to enjoy a meal under green leaves. In a setting that evokes summer, Bar Reyna and Reyna on King invite you to discover one of Toronto’s best Mediterranean restaurants, under a ceiling of plants. On the bar side, Reyna’s libations are sure to refresh you with a hint of travel, like That One Time In Italy, a harmonious blend of bitter spirits and the sweetness of strawberry rosemary syrup. The wine list is also wonderfully well-stocked: with your dinner, help yourself to a glass of French Chardonnay from Domaine Nicolas Maillet Macon Verze Blanc. On the restaurant side, discover Lebanese tacos, two house-made flatbreads served with reyna-spiced chicken or traditional falafel in a garlic aioli sauce. For a successful Mediterranean brunch, try Reyna’s croque madame, a challah bread containing house-made labneh, and a delicious smoked salmon with eggs.
📍 Bar Reyna — Check availability
📍 Reyna on King — Check availability
For one of Toronto’s best Mediterranean restaurants for fish and seafood – try Fishbone Kitchen + Bar in Aurora and Innisfil
If you love recipes from land and sea, this is the place to enjoy a superb evening. With its first restaurant founded in 2010, Fishbone Kitchen + Bar has since perfected its inspiring menu and its desire to offer customers the vibrant flavours of Mediterranean cuisine. On the Innisfil side, with a view of Lake Simcoe, start with the blistered shishitos spiced with Maldon salt and Pimenton aioli, before enjoying the grilled whole Mediterranean bass with salsa verde and charred lemon while sipping a glass of wine. On the Aurora side, the salmon tartare with sweet mango will refresh you in the bright, airy dining space.
For a relaxing Mediterranean experience – come to Opal Lounge Toronto in Danforth / Greek Town
With its blue and gold decor, Opal Lounge Toronto offers a superb experience that is both warm and cosy. “Chase clouds and good vibes” is the motto of this restaurant, which offers different atmospheres depending on whether you dine in the spacious Main Lounge, the luminous Day Lounge, or the vast Rooftop Patio. Start your meal with a typical mezze of hummus, mhammara – a creamy chilli sauce, and mtabbal, a refined aubergine caviar. After a juicy beef burger accompanied by the house salad, take a sweet note by choosing the Skor cheesecake, a dessert worthy of ‘The Tales of the Arabian Nights’
For one of the best family-friendly Mediterranean restaurants in Toronto – go to Mado – Square One Mall in Mississauga
Between bluish colours and furniture reminiscent of Greece, Mado – Square One Mall combines the culinary expertise of Rome and Kahramanmaraş, to offer a real Mediterranean-style ice cream. But that’s not the only delicious thing in this family-friendly setting: from varied appetizers to creamy pastas, juicy burgers to mouth-watering vegetarian recipes, there’s something for every taste. On the menu, fettuccine Alfredo with a delicious mix of chicken and mushroom, but also a surprising Celtic kebab made with spicy beef in a yoghurt and tomato sauce. For younger fans of Mediterranean cuisine, try the kid’s schnitzel made with chicken and served with cherry tomatoes. Save room for dessert: a multitude of ice cream, Ferrero Rocher cake or San Sebastian cheesecake, Turkish desserts or soufflé, it is hard to choose.
For tahini lovers – look no further than Parallel in The Junction
Inspired by the experience and background of the three Ozery brothers, Parallel is a tribute to their childhood and to all the flavours of the Mediterranean. Using tahini, the famous sesame butter, this restaurant offers fresh and spicy recipes combining the finest ingredients and innovative modern techniques. Let yourself be seduced in the warm, no-frills setting, by the chicken shawarma hummus, a house-made hummus, topped with whole chickpeas and seared chicken, and of course, tahini. Discover the refreshing labaneh, a tasty cow and sheep’s yogurt, topped with Parallel’s za’atar spice blend and garnished with confit garlic and grated tomato. There’s something for every appetite and every tahini lover.
Mediterranean cuisine is above all a journey between sea and land, but also towards childhood and the blending of cultures. Toronto, with its rich diversity and its enthusiasm for food, is a prime location for lovers of recipes from Italy, Greece, Spain and Turkey. Spices and freshness, tradition and modern techniques, novelties and classic dishes, all come together and mix on the tables of these Toronto restaurants. So, find a spot in one of these lovely places, and take the wind of a culinary adventure to discover the delights of Mediterranean cooking.
Don’t forget to reserve your place now in one of the best Mediterranean spots in Toronto with OpenTable.
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