The best restaurants to book on Christmas Day in Toronto

On King Street West in the heart of the Entertainment District, Abrielle brings the spirit of the Mediterranean coast to the Christmas table in unmistakable style. The sun-drenched aesthetic — all pale stone, warm candlelight and a room that moves from morning espresso to late-night cocktails without missing a beat — makes it a striking setting for a festive dinner. The menu travels from a raw bar of freshly shucked oysters and a showcase of crudos through to charcoal-grilled lamb chops and lobster pasta with guanciale. The wine programme, curated around storytelling and discovery and inspired by a philosophy of generosity, adds real depth to every glass. A coastal escape planted firmly in downtown Toronto.

Set on the mezzanine of The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, TOCA is one of the city’s most polished rooms for a Christmas celebration. This Forbes 4-Star restaurant serves refined Italian cuisine under the direction of Chef Alessandro Panattoni, a Rome native with experience across Italy, Japan and Canada who brings a modern sensibility rooted in regional tradition. Expect handmade pasta — including the signature ravioli stuffed with caciotta cheese and marjoram — alongside a 32-ounce bistecca alla fiorentina and thoughtfully sourced seafood dishes. TOCA’s Christmas brunch buffet, offered on select festive occasions, is a much-anticipated seasonal tradition. Sommelier-led pairings and impeccably attentive service seal the experience.

Few names carry more weight in Toronto’s Italian dining scene than Terroni, and the Sackville location in Leslieville upholds that tradition with warmth and confidence. The kitchen draws on the group’s Spaccio central kitchen — an open-concept production hub where everything from bread and pasta to pastries and gelato is made by hand — so quality control is baked in from the start. Roman-style pizza stirata, hand-rolled pasta with slow-simmered ragù, fresh branzino and house-made Italian sausage make up the kind of spread that suits Christmas effortlessly. The wine list leans Italian, as it should. Convivial, unfussy and deeply good at what it does.

Eataly’s Sherway Gardens outpost brings together the full sensory experience of an Italian market under one roof — and Il Ristorante sits at the heart of it. The kitchen draws on the same philosophy that drives all Eataly locations: high-quality Italian ingredients, sourced with care and treated simply. On Christmas Day, the dining room offers an immersive Italian holiday experience, from handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza to seasonal antipasti that draw from the market counters surrounding the restaurant. For families or groups looking for a festive Italian feast on the west side of the city, this is the obvious, satisfying choice.

Unpretentious, lively and reliably good company, Fox & John’s in Liberty Village is exactly the kind of Christmas option for those who’d rather keep things relaxed. The pub draws a loyal local crowd with an extensive selection of draught and craft beers, creative cocktails and a broad menu spanning Canadian classics and pub favourites. Over 25 TV screens satisfy the sports fans, while the atmosphere hums with easy conversation and genuine festive cheer. It’s a no-fuss Christmas for anyone looking to sidestep formality and enjoy a cold pint in excellent company — a Liberty Village institution doing what it does best.

Christmas dinner at Gyu-Kaku in the Financial District is less formal occasion and more interactive celebration. The Japanese yakiniku concept puts a smokeless flaming grill at the centre of every table, inviting diners to cook premium marinated meats at their own pace. The signature steak in miso marinade and short rib in tare sweet soy marinade are the standouts, with some Angus beef aged 21 days for deeper tenderness and flavour. Japanese sake, shochu and cold beers keep things moving. With over 800 locations worldwide, the format is globally tested — but at this downtown Toronto location, Christmas dinner feels like a party.

There are few settings more suited to a Christmas dinner than the grand Fairmont Royal York, and REIGN — its flagship Canadian restaurant at Front Street — rises to the occasion with confidence. Dubbed “The City’s Dining Room,” REIGN draws on Ontario’s rich culinary landscape: premium steaks, celebrated wines and a menu rooted in local produce and time-honoured tradition. The room, with its manor house elegance and downtown energy, sets an immediate tone for a special meal. Six private dining spaces are available for groups seeking a more intimate celebration. Book well ahead — this is one of Toronto’s most sought-after Christmas Day tables.

Forty-two years in Yorkville and open every single day of the year — Hemingway’s is as much a Toronto institution as it is a neighbourhood pub. The New Zealand roots of its founders come through across the menu, which runs from nachos to a proper NZ lamb shank with mint jelly, making Christmas Day feel warmly eclectic rather than formulaic. The famous rooftop patio belongs to warmer months, but in winter the interior hums with the kind of relaxed, convivial energy that draws regulars back every year. It’s the rare spot in upscale Yorkville where Christmas feels genuinely community-spirited — and the kind of place that never takes itself too seriously.

Also within The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, Epoch Bar & Kitchen Terrace takes a decidedly different approach to the festive season than its upstairs neighbour TOCA. Positioned as a modern gastrobar inspired by the city’s multicultural energy and multicultural character, Epoch pairs farm-to-table sourcing with creative, handcrafted cocktails in a space that opens onto a striking outdoor terrace. The kitchen spans afternoon tea service through to inventive evening plates built for sharing and lingering. Whether it’s a pre-dinner cocktail or a full Christmas spread, Epoch delivers a polished yet laid-back take on holiday hospitality in one of Toronto’s most iconic hotel settings.

For a Christmas feast rooted in precision and craft, Lai Wah Heen in the Financial District offers one of Toronto’s most distinctive Cantonese dining experiences. The reimagined interior — sculptural lighting, warm textures and fluid design — creates an atmosphere of quiet luxury that suits a special occasion well. Executive chef Heyden Sin’s kitchen is known for meticulously folded dim sum alongside artfully plated Cantonese mains, with every ingredient sourced with intention and handled with the kind of discipline that comes from deep respect for the cuisine. The philosophy here is deliberate: nothing is rushed, nothing is without purpose. A Cantonese Christmas dinner at Lai Wah Heen is an event in its own right.

Art Deco glamour, champagne on demand and a warm glow beneath one of the Fairmont Royal York’s storied clocks — CLOCKWORK is the place to be if Christmas calls for sparkle. The cocktail programme is led by James Grant, World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2021 and Canada’s 100 Best Bartender of the Year 2022, who brings theatrical precision and genuine creativity to every glass. The menu — oysters, seafood towers built for sharing, refined small plates — is designed for celebration. Weekend afternoon tea, with tiered towers of pastries and sandwiches alongside champagne, is a festive tradition worth booking ahead. With a list spanning 97 champagnes, the only question is which bottle to open first.

On one of Toronto’s most energetic streets, 156 OneFiveSix brings a contemporary Korean sensibility to Queen West with style and substance. The kitchen reinterprets Korean flavours through a modern lens, balancing bold, layered seasoning with precise, refined presentation. The dining room carries the character of the neighbourhood — confident, creative and designed for an audience that takes food seriously. For those looking to spend Christmas Day with something a little beyond tradition, this is the Queen West table that delivers both distinctive cooking and a dining room worth returning to.

Housed within the Shangri-La Toronto on University Avenue, Mott 32 is one of the most visually commanding restaurants in the city — and one of the most awarded Chinese restaurant brands in the world. The interior spans three floors, moving from an opulent antique brass bar with a double-height ceiling to private dining rooms and a richly layered third floor, all blending New York industrial style with traditional Chinese motifs. The signature applewood 42-day roasted Peking duck is the unmissable order, alongside Iberico Pluma Char Siu and wok-fried Dungeness crab with glutinous rice and golden garlic. For a Christmas dinner that feels like a true occasion, Mott 32 is as close to the top of the list as it gets.