Toronto’s dining scene has been a whirlwind of dynamic, diverse and eclectic this year, as evidenced by our curated list of the 12 best new restaurants. We believe in getting the real scoop from insiders, which is why we tapped into the city’s culinary elite, from Michelin stars to celebrity chefs, to bring you their top picks.
We start with Anna Chen, owner-chef of Alma, a Bib Gourmand recipient praised by the Michelin Guide for its dazzling presence in Bloordale Village. We asked her to share her thoughts on the best new addition to the city’s dining scene. Keep reading to discover her exciting selection.
Chef Chen’s pick: Som Tum Jinda
“Som Tum Jinda is my top favourite restaurant that has opened in the last 18 months. If it was closer to the west end, I would order it at least once a week” says Chen. And when it comes to her favourite dishes, there are plenty to choose from! “I love the Tum Puu Nam Pla —green papaya and salted crab salad. If you are into spicy food and can handle the heat, they can really dial up the spice level on this. It has a great balance of sweet, spicy and sour notes. My other favourites are the Kor Moo Yang — grilled pork jowl and Khoo Noew Mamuag — mango coconut sticky rice with sesame seed. Som tum Jinda is also extremely affordable. You can totally get a delicious meal under $50, and you wont be leaving hungry.”
Som Tum Jinda
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This Allan Gardens basement is one of Toronto’s best new restaurants. Far from the watered-down Momofuku iterations still hawking ramen to tourists, Som Tum Jinda feels like the real thing. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re not in Laos anymore. Gerrard Street East vibrates with Som Tum Tod ($16, fried papaya salad) spicybenough to cloud your eyes against all the local cannabis dispensaries. Som Tum Jinda, which earned a Michelin recommendation in Thailand, is a result of familial connections. Wassawan Chansopa, the scion of a famous Thai and Cambodian cooking family, came to Toronto to attend George Brown, stayed and then things got spicy. Chansopa is 26 and his place looks it — slapdash, corny, inventive — and his duck, fried wings and inventive Thai finger food will make you wonder what else in life you missed, all those years wasting time ordering pad Thai at all those other restaurants.You’re more likely to order Som Tum Jinda through Uber Eats than to experience its tom zab ($14, pork rib, lemon grass soup) in the eclectic Gerrard East basement —but either way, it’s a win. 76 Gerrard St. E.Fun Fact:Som Tum Jinda features nine variations on the traditional papaya salad.
Renowned Michelin-starred chef Masaki Saito has set Toronto abuzz with his latest dining destination. Capitalizing on Ossington’s cool factor, chef Saito’s new spot offers a fresh take on his acclaimed Edomae-style sushi in a vibrant, accessible setting.
As Toronto’s only two-starred Michelin chef, Masaki Saito is renowned for his exquisite dining experiences. Following the success of MSSM Yorkville, unveiled in the summer of 2023, chef Saito has now expanded his culinary empire with the opening of MSSM’s second location. Just like its counterpart in Yorkville, MSSM Ossington promises a more accessible omakase experience while maintaining the exceptional quality Saito is known for.
@mssmossington/Instagram
“Given the high price point at Sushi Masaki Saito ($680 per person) and the limited amount of seating, many individuals don’t get the opportunity to experience a traditional Edomae offering,” says chef Saito. “Although it has been rewarding to share my passion and knowledge with select customers, this style of execution has not allowed me to broadly educate the general public, which is why I created MSSM.”
The new restaurant offers a unique 14-course omakase menu incorporating appetizers, nigiri, soup and desserts for a fraction of the price at $98 per person. In contrast to Sushi Masaki Saito, which imports all its ingredients from top-tier sources in Japan, MSSM Ossington adopts a different approach. By incorporating local and European ingredients along-side Japanese ones, the restaurant aims to provide a more accessible price point. Chef Saito guarantees that the utilization of Edomae style and technique brings out the “best in each piece of fish.”
@mssm.yorkville/Instagram
In addition to the new restaurant on Ossington, Chef Saito recently announced a new collaboration with master chefs Didier Leroy and Christian Le Squer. Together, they will soon unveil LSL in North York, promising a posh nine-seat restaurant celebrated for its harmonious fusion of grand French traditions with unique Japanese techniques and ingredients.
With his innovative approach to Japanese cuisine and dedication to making high-quality dining accessible to all, chef Masaki Saito continues to elevate Toronto’s culinary scene, one delicious dish at a time.
To celebrate Star Wars Day, otherwise known as May the 4th, here is a throwback to the time we interviewed Toronto actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. The beloved actor is also a serious Star Wars super fan, and the interview includes references to Lee landing a role on the second season of Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian. It was a dream come true for Lee.
Back then, Lee was heading into the final season of landmark Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience, which originated as a play penned by Ins Choi fresh out of school at York University. No theatre in Toronto was interested in putting it on, that is until it hit the stage at the Toronto Fringe Festival, and it set upon a path that has led here, to its fifth season on CBC-TV.
The show is set in the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto and tells the story of a Korean family whose lives are centred around the running of a neighbourhood convenience store.
Since the show’s early days at Soulpepper Theatre Company, the family patriarch Appa has been portrayed by actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.
“The character of Appa was always very, very special to me because I’d never seen before my father represented or my culture, my community represented or embodied in one character before,” says Lee. “And as an actor to be presented with a part that right off the bat I knew who this guy was. I knew what made him tick because I could relate, because he was my dad, he was my uncle, my grandmother, and I grew up with like, ‘I knew this guy.’ ”
Consider Appa, for those still unfamiliar with the story, a modern-day and very Toronto take on Archie Bunker. He’s often on dicey ground with political correctness, has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, says the wrong things more often than not, but in the end, he does it all with a purity of heart and purpose that makes him easy to relate to and understand.
“I love the fact that people like him, even though he’s a bit of a jerk. He’s loud, he’s opinionated,” Lee says. “He does things that are just, like, make you scratch your head and go, ‘Oh, no, no, no, don’t do that. Don’t do that.’ But at the end of the day, he is motivated by his love for his family.”
On the show, Lee has perfected his Korean accent, which many viewers think is actually how he sounds off-screen.
And that’s why fans of the show who tuned in to Disney’s hit TV show The Mandalorian might have done a double-take when Lee made an appearance in two episodes as an X-wing fighter pilot sans accent. A gig that fulfills a lifelong dream of Lee’s, who is a diehard Star Wars fan, cosplayer and loyal member of the Canadian Garrison of the 501st Legion — essentially a group that dresses up in very authentic Star Wars garb.
Yes, Appa could be the biggest Star Wars nerd in the city. And how he came to make his appearance in The Mandalorian is a story that stretches back 26 years to his days as a young actor at the Factory Theatre where he met the theatre’s office administrator, a budding filmmaker named Deborah Chow.
Fast-forward to 2018, the cast of Kim’s Convenience in Los Angeles for a festival, and Chow tracks down Lee with news that, after a very successful career in TV, she has begun work on this new show, The Mandalorian. Cue the jaw drop.
“So she says she wanted to get in touch with me because of Dave Filoni, executive producer of The Mandalorian, one of them, and a writer and a director on The Mandalorian, Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels: ‘You know, he’s kind of, like, the guy down there. He’s a fan of Kim’s Convenience, and he was thinking about trying to write something for you.’ ”
What follows is a bit of a back and forth between Lee, his agent and the powers-that-be in Los Angeles.
“Several months later, my agent gets a call and says, ‘Lucasfilm wants to know when you’re available,’ ” Lee says. “And I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ ”
Lee ended up shooting two episodes in the fall of 2019, which aired in the second season of The Mandalorian last November. So, yes, that does mean that Lee knew all about baby Yoda, his new name Grogu and the entire plotline.
To say the least, Lee had a good time shooting his episodes, and he even got to wear a fighter pilot helmet from the original film, which brought tears to the eyes of the Star Wars superfan, who says the 1977 film was one of his first movie-going experiences.
“I mean, Star Wars is kind of the reason I wanted to be an actor. And it’s been such a big part of my life from that point onwards, and then to have a chance to do this, you know, it’s a big full circle thing,” he says. “It’s incredible and I was just so overwhelmed by how lucky I was.
There’s something about Toronto filmmakers: they have a tendency to feel so local. Take, for example, Don McKellar, director, writer, actor. You might know him from Atom Egoyan’s Exotica, David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ or Crimes of the Future or his own films, like Last Night. You might also know him, simply, from the line at your neighbourhood coffee shop or sitting in the next seat over at a downtown movie theatre.
Still, he’s no stranger to Hollywood. Particularly with the April premiere of HBO’s big-budget drama The Sympathizer starring Roberty Downey Jr. and Sandra Oh, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize–winning 2015 novel. The story, which is set toward the end of the Vietnam War, follows a spy who was embedded in the South Vietnam army and flees to the U.S., where he then begins spying to the Viet Cong on the refugee community he lives with.
Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer. Courtesy Bell Media
Not only is the series a massive HBO production that took the cast and crew from California to Thailand, but McKellar co-created it with legendary Korean director Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, Oldboy). Despite all these high-wattage factors, McKellar wrote pretty much the whole show at home.
“This is a global project, but I wrote it in my backyard in Little Italy,” says the filmmaker. “Fortunately, we got the green light for writing the project from [production and distribution company] A24 right before the pandemic started, so I built an office in the back and did the entire writers’ room there. The show felt pretty strongly rooted in Toronto.”
The virtual room not only allowed McKellar to work from home, but it meant he was able to be joined by writers from all over the world. As for Park, the pair have been well-acquainted for some time, and wrote a screenplay together years ago, titled The Ax. Nguyen had hoped Park would adapt the project, and he then brought on McKellar as co-showrunner.
“We had a great time writing together,” says McKellar. “He came to Toronto, and we worked for a while; it was great. We trusted each other and have similar tastes, so working as a team on this project made sense. I think the idea of doing an entire series by himself and dealing with the network sounded like a lot of work, so he smartly thought, ‘Oh, I have to get someone else on this.’”
Cue a call to McKellar who, with experience in film, television and theatre, and his distinctive, quirky sensibility, actually makes for a perfect match for Park, who was especially a fan of McKellar’s divisive 2008 film Blindness.
Born and raised in North Toronto, McKellar’s a life-long theatre kid, having begun his career on stage at a young age. He co-founded Toronto touring company Child’s Play Theatre early on, and later studied English and theatre at the University of Toronto.
He was greatly influenced by local arts collectives, co-founding his own — The Augusta Company — in 1989. He made his first international splash with 1998’s Toronto-set Last Night when he won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival. He then returned home, writing and starring in Twitch City, a CBC sitcom centred on four friends living in Kensington Market. His frequent collaborators include Cronenberg and Egoyan. It doesn’t get more Toronto than that.
Naturally, then, jumping onto a Hollywood production marked quite a shift. He says, “It takes a while just for you to realize, ‘OK, I can blow up helicopters, I can build giant sets.’ You have to overcome your independent film Canadian thriftiness, and it helps to surround yourself with writers who tell you to go for it.”
Another concern could very well be those fans of the book curious about how a Korean and Canadian are able to tell a very Vietnamese story. But, assures McKellar, there was a great number of Vietnamese people in the writers’ room, on the crew, and in the cast. And because the lead is biracial and the narrative is about straddling two cultures, McKellar and Park “thought of ourselves as a showrunner with two parallel faces presenting this global story.”
Working as a kind of mentor for new, inexperienced Vietnamese actors on set was star Sandra Oh, a fellow Ontarian who also provided McKellar a dose of home. The pair worked together not only on Last Night, but on 2017’s Meditation Park.
Sandra Oh in The Sympathizer. Courtesy Bell Media
But McKellar wants to clear up one thing about their Sympathizer reunion: “She’s a really good friend of mine and I love her not only as a person, but as an actor, but it was actually Viet, the book’s author, [who] said, ‘My dream actor for Ms. Mori is Sandra,’” he says. “I thought, ‘Okay, I think maybe we can swing that!’ So, I texted her from the dinner table, and she was like, ‘Yes, this is amazing.’”
Their friendship meant the pair could be “completely honest” with each other when it came to his script or her performance, which can be rare but is essential on a large-scale project, explains McKellar.
Although he found the entire experience “inspirational,” it also had him itching to work on something on a smaller scale.
He shares, “I won’t deny the fact that I feel like I want to do something more controllable. I have an urge to do something in Canada… one way or another. After we finished, Chan-wook was like, ‘I’ve got to go home to Korea and make a little film, on my home turf, and in my language.’ I understand that impulse.”
For the record, he’s always open to acting, too, even if that means multi-tasking (while shooting Crimes of the Future in Athens, McKellar would be up late interviewing writers for The Sympathizer).
“I like the varied career,” he says. “Whatever that says about my personality, I’m not sure, but I guess I’m impatient in a way where I don’t like to feel stuck. Showrunning is a unique job because it encompasses directing and writing, and I use my performing skills a lot in dealing with actors and helping them in that way. But I’m eager now to act…I don’t have anything lined up, so please put the word out there!”
FAST FACTS
Name:
Don McKellar
Graduated:
Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
Go-to restaurants:
Patois, Bar Vendetta, Hamers Coffee
Fave T.O. memory:
Sneaking into movies at the U of T cinema club
Fave local talent:
All my favourites are the ones I want to work with next, so I refuse to say!
You asked, we answered. With the cocktail scene forever growing, and craft concoctions becoming all the rage, we turned to the experts to help us navigate the space.
We asked a group of celebrated bartenders from some of Toronto’s most beloved establishment to share the city’s most underrated cocktails. Here’s what they had to say.
Keevan Robertson, bartender, Le Tigre Cocktail Bar
@northernbelleto/Instagram
“The Night Owl at Northern Belle, a cosy and welcoming neighbourhood bar with warm cottage-y vibes. Great bar for a delicious and well-priced pint and a shot, but the Fernet laced espresso martini riff is simple yet elegant. Perfect for a nightcap after a date night dinner at Bar Vendetta, or the first drink on a Dundas West rip with the crew.”
Santiago Espinel Otero, oversees the beverage programming at Frenchy (145 Richmond St. West)
Photo: Halo & Co.
“Without a doubt, it’s Bacio D’Isolo from Secrette Bar. People often overlook it because of its unconventional mix of Earl Grey and pineapple. But what they don’t realize is that Earl Grey is a tea blend which has been flavoured with the oil of bergamot. Its bergamot essence adds a unique twist to the citrusy pineapple flavours, perfectly complemented by the subtle notes of orange peel in Amaro Montenegro. It’s a cocktail crafted with precision, offering a perfect balance that deserves more attention.”
Casey Ryan, owner and bartender, Electric Bill Bar (866 Bloor St. West)
@civlibto/Instagram
“I would have to say the Milk Punch on tap at Civil Liberties, created by their bartender Kaz. This cocktail packs a punch and offers a really clever blend of flavours. The yogurt and green apple pair perfectly with the Tromba Reposado, and the mustard seed adds a subtle bite.”
Massimo Zitti, bartender, Mother Cocktail Bar (874 Queen St. West)
@cocktails_for_you/Instagram
“I’d say the Tom Collins. A well-executed Collins, in my humble opinion, is a FANTASTIC drink but seems not to be very used in North American drinking culture.” You can enjoy a Tom Collins at a few hotspots, including a raspberry version at Hemingway’s and King Street West hotspot Saint John’s Tavern (though it’s off-menu), among others.
Nick Meyer, regional beverage director, ABURI Restaurants Canada
“Paper Plane. It can often be someone’s first introduction to an amaro and is a fantastic spirit-forward cocktail for the Aperol Spritz crowd. Its vibrant orange color and perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and sour make it an intriguing choice. The combination of bourbon’s warmth, Aperol’s citrusy bitterness, Amaro Nonino’s herbal complexity, and lemon juice’s tartness results in a cocktail that’s lively and refreshing. It is often overshadowed by more traditional whisky cocktails, negroni, or margaritas, each hitting one of those components that make up the Paper Plane. It also is a fantastic cocktail to riff off of, incorporating different flavours.”
Steven Tseng, mixologist at Skylight (W Hotel) and Regional Master of the Craft Beverage Winner
@mandamakes_cocktails/Instagram
“‘Last Word’ is the most underrated cocktail in Toronto for sure. The flavour combines grassy, herb and citrus, and the complexity makes this cocktail very flavourful.”
When the world premiere of a new version of Hedda Gabler takes the stage at the Coal Mine Theatre this weekend, it’s going to be a who’s who of Canadian arts royalty — not least of all director Moya O’Connell. The critically-acclaimed actor, director and theatre artist is bringing to life the Norwegian play’s new version created by actor and artist Liisa Repo-Martell. The show stars Diana Bentley, film, TV and theatre actor and co-founder of the Coal Mine Theatre, and the original music is created by Metric’s and Broken Social Scene’s Emily Haines — a longtime friend of O’Connell’s. Their connecting puzzle piece in the Canadian arts scene is Torquil Campbell — musician with indie rock band Stars and musical duo Memphis; actor; playwright; occasional Broken Social Scene performer; oh, and O’Connell’s husband. Moya O’Connell and Torquil Campbell share the details of their onstage meet-cute, unspoken proposal and annual New Year’s Day wedding.
How they met
Torquil: We met acting. My parents were directing a play in Vancouver, I was cast in it because of nepotism and Moya was cast in it because she was talented and beautiful. My mother predicted I would fall in love with her. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.
The first date
Moya: We never dated. It went from 0-100. We were working together and I found Torquil both fascinating and entirely too opinionated. I do remember one lunch during our first few weeks when the entire acting company were together at a local greasy spoon restaurant and Torq was really having a bash about something. I had just graduated from theatre school. It was one of my first professional jobs and was surrounded by artists I revered and respected but something about his complete certainty about this particular topic of conversation undid me. I stood up in the middle of lunch and yelled at him in front of the entire cast — his mother and father and the director of the theatre and then proceeded to turn on my heel and slam the flimsy screen door of the restaurant. I think I swore at him, actually (I definitely did). As I sailed through that door knowing that I had sealed my fate and was about to be fired for the outburst, I heard Torq say, “Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.” It was our meet-cute. Torquil can upset an equilibrium like no one I have ever met. It was that exact moment that I fell. It’s difficult to describe how electric Torq is. He can affect any situation. He is like weather.
The proposal
Moya: It didn’t involve language. I think it was just deeply known that this was IT. To be honest, it was like a force majeure. Titanic. Overwhelming. It was inevitable.
The wedding and honeymoon
Moya: We got married a year and a half after we met on the mountain in Montreal. We married ourselves and carved our names into a tree in -35 C on New Year’s Day. We get married every year since on New Year’s Day. Every year in a new way with new folks attending (or not). There have been some years we postponed due to uncertainty. Some years have been massive celebrations. It’s the very best ritual we have as a couple.
At one point we decided to make it legal and eloped to Nevis (in the Caribbean). It was extremely fun and very low key.
The kids
Torq: We have a kid named Ellington, and she is living up to her name.
Shared hobbies and interests
Torq: Baseball. Dogs, even though we don’t own one. 90s thrillers, especially ones with Denzel Washington in them. The air in our neighbourhood. The light on the trees. Watching our kid grow. Picnics. Cornhole. Jumping in any available bodies of water. Art, i guess.
The secret to success
Torq: We keep it ride or die. And we think each other are clever. And if you can’t stay in love with Moya, you are dead inside.
Moya: We talk. And talk and talk. We allow each other space to change. and give each other a lot of freedom. In our 24 years together there have been many different versions of us. And we love each other’s families.
Balancing careers and relationships
Torq: How does anyone? It’s a choice. I bet it’s a lot harder to balance your relationship if you do shift work and you only see your partner in the middle of the night. I bet it’s hard to balance your work and relationship when you have to care for a sick parent or kid. But I wouldn’t know, because I’m a lucky bastard whose only challenge is missing my wife when she’s gone away for work.
Day 1 designers L-R: @krecetstudios, @55555stuff, @saficreatives, @ssssstufffffffffffffff, @hmgtoronto
Toronto’s only fashion club is disrupting the city’s fashion scene as we know it by hosting their own Toronto Fashion Week runway series — and the event will take place in a TTC subway station.
Rchive, a retail and event space that opened on King Street West last September, has been working to cultivate more community in Toronto’s fashion industry by hosting runway shows, art exhibits, musical showcases and poetry nights. One event was a live fashion competition in which designers had 21 hours to create original looks from pre-existing overstock garments.
Now the founders, couple Ion (Jai) Sobaliu and Sadaf Emami, are throwing themselves into Toronto’s de facto fashion week by hosting a series of runway shows in Lower Bay Station from May 3-5.
The abandoned subway platforms below the TTC’s Bay station have been closed since 1966, but the City of Toronto rents it out for commercial purposes including parties, film productions and music videos (notably The Weeknd and Future’s ”Comin Out Strong” collaboration).
“We wanted to take the initiative to create more spaces and more stages for creatives to show their talent,” says Emami. “During New York Fashion Week, there are multiple shows happening throughout the city, and organizations have multiple stages. That’s something that we lack here in Toronto — during Fashion Week we only really have one show going on.”
That wasn’t always the case. The non-profit entity Fashion Design Council of Canada hosted annual showcases under the official “Toronto Fashion Week” trademark for 13 years before selling it to American Sponsor IMG in 2012, only to have the company pull out four years later. The trademark was then purchased by real-estate mogul Peter Freed in partnership with First Capital (the developer of Yorkville Village), only to have production cease indefinitely after another four years, in early 2020. Fashion Art Toronto, a showcase founded in 2005 by designer Vanja Vasic, then took its place as the city’s longest-running annual fashion event. This year’s spring/summer showcase takes place from May 2-5.
Asked about timing the Rchive shows over the same weekend, Emami says, “To be on world class level and compete with all these other fashion houses, we have to have multiple stages. We have to give voice to all of our designers in the city. And one stage isn’t enough. People should be able to go from one show to another, from one area to another. It brings the city to life.”
The Rchive showcase will feature 15 designers — five each day, including their own Rchive Redux brand featuring upcycled pieces — as well as live music, clothing vendors and an after party.
“Our slogan for this fashion week is ‘From the streets, to the runway’ so we wanted to create an opportunity for up and coming designers that are more into streetwear style and and everyday wear to have a stage,” explains Emami. After an enthusiastically positive response from the first show, she says that Rchive will begin accepting designer and model applications for a fall showcase as soon as this weekend ends. The event location is already secured, but they won’t be sharing information until closer to the date.
Designer applications are open to anybody, so long as you have a full collection to present, and exhibit plenty of dedication to your craft.
“I say that because this isn’t easy,” says Emami. “I’ve been seeing how hard the designers are working and how passionate they are to truly represent Toronto’s fashion scene.”
Since opening, Rchive has hosted 20 shows in its space and has no plans to slow down.
“We’ve been connecting a lot with the community and have seen Rchive Fashion Club become a space where creatives can come here to showcase their collections, their talent, but also connect, grow and network,” says Emami.
Tickets for Rchive’s Toronto Fashion Week showcase, “From the streets, to the runway” are on sale now on Eventbrite, ranging from $30-$40 per show, $90-$130 for a day, or $190-$290 for the whole weekend (variations depend on general admission or VIP). Rchive is also selling Toronto Fashion Week merch on its online store.
Daytime talk show Cityline will be ending its run this week after 40 years of giving health, lifestyle, home and fashion tips to Canadian viewers. Citytv, a television network operating under parent company Rogers Sports & Media, is cancelling the show with a farewell episode airing on Friday.
Tracy Moore, who has hosted the show since 2008, confirmed the news in a candid video on her Instagram, noting that Citytv will be launching a live, hour-long national lifestyle show with very similar content to Cityline that Moore will be hosting as part of Breakfast Television.
Moore suggested the cancellation was partly due to changing viewership patterns. “For the last decade, the focus has shifted to new ways viewers consume content, with phones in hand and an endless list of streaming providers. Our habits have changed; TV is seeing a major evolution,” she said.
Just last week, Cityline was celebrating 40 years of the show — which began in 1984 with host Dini Petty and was followed by Marilyn Denis, who hosted from 1989 to 2008. Moore had Denis back on the show last week as part of the 40-year celebrations.
@cityline/Instagram
Comments flooded in from friends and followers on Moore’s Instagram post, including Sangita Patel, who wrote, “How I feel your feelings about losing something you are so passionate about as Is felt during the end of ET Canada (this industry). You have a gift like no other and with hosting a new live hour show we get to continue to see the power of Tracy.”
ET Canada was abruptly cancelled in September 2023, and parent company Corus attributed the cancellation to “the costs of producing a daily entertainment newsmagazine show in a challenging advertising environment” at the time.
Meredith Shaw, current co-host of Breakfast Television, wrote: “I love you and your entire team. I echo your feelings of both heartbreak and excitement and I know that what you create next will be honest, powerful and full of heart… bc [sic] that’s just what you do. BT is very lucky. [B]ig big cheers to the entire Cityline team for 40 years.”
The Social’s Jessica Allen wrote, “You’re the kind of light we will follow anywhere.”
Former Breakfast Television host Dina Pugliese posted a tribute to Moore and Cityline on her own Instagram page, writing that her first official on-air gig was at a network with Moore over 20 years ago and that her first TV appearance was on Cityline. “Cityline will be forever celebrated in the Canadian history books. It is a show that inspired, connected, educated and entertained,” she wrote.
Moore said more details will be shared about the new Breakfast Television show in the coming months. “It will be a fifth, live hour of this award winning show from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. starting in September,” she said. “This new evolution that is being created will include the same groundbreaking conversations we’ve spearheaded on Cityline, the same tips and tricks to live your best life, and most importantly the same warmth I’ve offered our viewers for the past 15-plus years.”
“Do I love Cityline? Always and forever. Am I a little heartbroken? Absolutely. Am I excited for what we can make next? Yes, I am,” she said, noting in the caption that she’s grateful for the chance to “build on Cityline’s legacy.”
Better days are upon Toronto with the arrival of a new in-demand doughnut shop that pays homage to the ’80s.
With its retro-reminiscent colour scheme of vibrant orange, swanky blue and chocolate brown, paired with cushioned bar stools and a welcoming neon sign, Better Days Coffee and Donuts was crafted by Alisha Sturino of Studio Otty. The space epitomizes nostalgia, inspired by owner Dave Fish’s childhood in small-town Ontario, where doughnut shops were ubiquitous.
“It was often a treat for me and my brother and sister going to the doughnut shop,” says Fish, who has worked nearly two decades front of house in Toronto, including at Barque, Mamakas and Manita, among others. “I thought: why not revive that idea and bring it into the 21st century and make it a little more fun and a little more contemporary.”
@betterdaysdonuts/Instagram
Offering both cake doughnuts and lighter yeast doughnuts crafted fresh in-house daily, Fish has already observed lively debates among customers regarding their preferred style, with allegiances being readily declared.
Regardless of your preference, Better Days offers familiar flavours such as sour cream glazed, cherry stick and sprinkles. This return to classics, coupled with the vibe of a laid-back diner, often leads to Better Days selling out before closing time.
The shop’s current yeast doughnut flavours include chocolate dip, maple dip, lemon filled, raspberry filled, Boston cream and apple fritter, while cake doughnut flavours like double chocolate, cinnamon sugar, chocolate coconut and powdered sugar.
“A lot of people are excited about being able to get doughnuts that are a little more stripped down, a little more classic than what most doughnuts have become in the last 15 to 20 years,” says Fish.
From the team behind Koh Lipe Thai Kitchen, Savor Thai, Thairoomgrand, and Eat Bkk comes Aamara, a fine dining Indian restaurant that just held its grand opening. With gastronomy that combines tradition and modern techniques — including a focus on golden presentation—Aamara takes inspiration from all of India, from the peaks of Kashmir to the edge of Kanyakumari.
“Foodwise, Toronto was missing a place that served modernized Indian cuisine for all the regions,” says owner Kugendran Perampalam. “They either choose a place that served North Indian food or South Indian Food. But we picked dishes from every region, put modern twists on it, and serve it on a fine dining scale.”
Feeling it was “up-and-coming,” Perampalam chose Corso Italia to open Aamara. There, a banner of red, brown, and yellow immediately welcomes guests into a golden oasis of sumptuous velvet booths, glamorous mirrors spanning the walls and antique light fixtures.
In addition to boasting regional dishes, the menu gives visitors the choice of ordering from the traditional a la carte menu or a seasonal, to-be-released tasting menu.
Unlike many a butter chicken in the city, the fall-off-the-bone tandoor butter chicken has exactly that — bone. While many of the meats are tandoor-made, another highlight is the signature lamb chops, which are coated with 24-karat gold leaves and served alongside homemade fries.
“In India, we always have gold — we use it in our costumes and on our body — so now we’re bringing gold even into the food as well,” says Aamara’s chef Arulmani Rajarathinam.
But, the golden touches aren’t the only evidence of detail and attention to presentation. The plating, itself, is synonymous with the regions of India where the particular dish originates, with Southern dishes represented in wooden plates (symbolic of the natural-focus of the food) while Northern dishes use ceramic dishes (replicating the richness of the food from the extensive use of nuts and creams).
Enticing and entirely unique, Aamara has a specialty “probiotics” menu, consisting of various plates around a one-day fermented pulse batter crafted into thin rice crisps, rice pancakes or steamed rice cakes. These are made entirely vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free.
“It’s so healthy and suitable for anyone,” says Rajarathinam. “The menu is designed for anyone to walk in and find something they’ll enjoy.”
From a Bengaluru-inspired mango puree and turmeric to a Jaipur-inspired chai tea with cinnamon and bourbon, and a coconut heavy Goa concoction, even the elevated, specialty cocktails will transport diners to a different corner of the country.
“If you come from anywhere in India, you won’t be disappointed with the menu because you’ll be able to find food from your region,”says Rajarathinam.
While the a la carte menu is one of tradition, the seven-course tasting menu—which is coming soon now that Aamara has held their grand opening—will be more “innovative and creative” says Rajarathinam. For example, while the a la carte menu has Aamara’s signature butter chicken, the tasting menu will be a step up, serving a “British butter chicken.”
As it gains more footing beyond the opening, Aamara will soon be open for lunch as well as dinner. Currently Aamara is open Wednesdays to Mondays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 1224 St. Clair Ave. W.
Part of what makes Toronto one-of-a-kind is the unique experiences it bestows upon visitors and locals alike. And, just like the soul of this vibrant city, Toronto’s boutique hotels offer the same creative ambiance that city-goers can’t get enough of. From charming quirks and artistic spaces to entertainment hot spots and curated getaways, here are Toronto’s top 10 guest-rated boutique hotels.
At the intersection of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue, the Broadview Hotel looks like something straight out of trendy Brooklyn. Resurrected to its former glory with a top-to-bottom restoration in 2017, this exciting east-end hotel features 58 charming (and pet-friendly) guest rooms — not to mention one of the best rooftop patios in the city. Several dining and event spaces also make this boutique hotel a popular spot for celebrations of all sorts.
Modern-eclectic meets nostalgia at The Gladstone Hotel. Beautifully renovated in recent years to accentuate its 19th-century character, a stay at this boutique hotel promises an elevated experience filled with artistic flair around every corner. The hotel features 55 contemporary guest rooms (many with Victorian picture windows) and several chic event spaces. A delightful quirk about this hotel is the gated elevator. Installed in 1907, it happens to be the oldest self-operating elevator in Canada.
Ranked as one of the best boutique hotel in Toronto by guests, The Annex Hotel offers an exemplary stay in one of the city’s most celebrated neighbourhoods. Convenient mobile service and check-ins, Thursday wine nights, and café mornings amid an intimate and creative setting make for a pleasurable visit. Sun-drenched guest rooms offer elegant Scandinavian simplicity, while those looking for inspiration can book “Daniel’s Room” — an artist loft favoured by Daniel Caesar.
Situated between the eclectic Annex and fashionable Yorkville, The Kimpton St. George offers the best of both worlds. Thoughtfully designed rooms hint at muted luxury and feature in-room services like spa and beauty treatments, pet facilities and more. Complimentary extras like scooters for the kids and bikes to help you explore the city help make this family- and pet- friendly hotel a favourite.
Formerly an apartment building, The Anndore House is now one of the best boutique hotels in Toronto. Amid a laid back atmosphere, industrial-chic guest rooms include a luxurious rainforest shower and Bluetooth-compatible record player. On-site special events, like wellness sound baths and perfume crafting workshops, make for a memorable experience at this Yonge and Bloor hotspot, while the ground floor barber shop helps patrons feel their best.
Head to Old Town Toronto for a stay at The Ivy at Verity, a boutique hotel in a historic 1850s character building. Featuring just four suites, each with a private balcony overlooking a 19th-century courtyard, guests will enjoy an exclusive experience with old-world flair. Proximity to Eaton Centre shopping and St. Lawrence Market makes this petite hotel great for out-of-town visitors. Amenities include a speakeasy-inspired bar and in-room spa treatments.
Best known for its traditional afternoon high tea, The Windsor Arms has delighted guests for generations. Opened in 1927, this opulent tea room and boutique hotel was fully revamped in 1999, ensuring its irreplaceable Art Deco charms remained. A moment’s walk to Yorkville’s outstanding shopping and dining, The Windsor Arms offers 28 spacious suites, each with personal butler service. As a delightful touch, each room also features a musical instrument.
The Drake Hotel is the place to be for those seeking buzz-worthy dining and entertainment. Featuring 51 trendy rooms to rest your head, an extensive in-house art exhibit and access to the Drake Underground — one of Toronto’s favourite nightlife venues — guests at the Drake will love the arts and culture vibe of this iconic Queen Street West hotel. For an extra-special experience, book the award-winning rooftop terrace suite with an exclusive 540-square-foot patio, or check out one of several bespoke add-on packages.
Head to the Bisha Hotel in the heart of downtown, where celebrity-inspired rooms offer a nod to rock ‘n’ roll and Hollywood glam. Situated near Toronto’s famous landmarks, this boutique hotel is moments from the CN Tower and the city’s best sporting venues. A Parisian-inspired cafe, a top-notch Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant and a rooftop infinity pool on the 44th floor are some of the fabulous amenities offered here. For a curated experience or special occasion, Bisha’s VIP concierge services can help make it happen.
Cozy mood lighting and earthy contemporary interiors grace the Ace Hotel, a 123-room boutique hotel in Toronto’s fashion district. Moments from the famous street art at Graffiti Alley and a short walk to lively Kensington Market, Chinatown and Queen Street West make it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Enjoy evening cocktails at the rooftop bar and Michelin-star dining at Alder, live music and art events at one of three on-site venues.
The anticipation is building as iconic American chain Shake Shack confirms its arrival at one of the city’s busiest intersections, Yonge and Dundas. And, it’s creating a special Canadian menu item to celebrate.
Shake Shack will introduce the Maple Salted Pretzel Shake. This offering blends Shake Shack’s velvety vanilla frozen custard with the rich essence of pure Canadian maple syrup, paying homage to Canada’s iconic maple syrup industry while infusing a local twist into Shake Shack’s traditional fare.
Famous for its ShackBurgers and crinkle-cut fries, the first Canadian location is scheduled to occupy a 5,500-square-foot space on the northeast corner of Yonge and Dundas.
“We are thrilled to confirm the rumours and open our doors at Yonge and Dundas, marking the beginning of a delicious journey for Canadians,” said Billy Richmond, Business Director at Shake Shack Canada. “We’re excited to serve up our signature Shack classics along with some Canadian exclusives that we’ve developed with our local culinary partners to be enjoyed amongst Toronto’s dynamic cityscape.”
Embracing its tradition of quality ingredients, hospitality, and community engagement, Shake Shack eagerly anticipates becoming an integral part of the Toronto community.
The company is embarking on a partnership with Toronto-based artist Briony Douglas to infuse the new spot with a little taste of local art. Douglas has designed an exclusive art installation to inaugurate Shake Shack’s presence in Toronto, adding a splash of creativity to the urban landscape. The installation, which was unveiled on April 30 at the site, embodies the fusion of Shake Shack’s distinct aesthetic with the city’s dynamic spirit.
“I’ve been a big fan of the Shake Shack brand for a long time and I’m thrilled to be working on this project to help give back to those in need,” said Briony Douglas. “It’s an exciting opportunity to blend my artistic vision with the infectious energy and community that both Shake Shack and the city of Toronto embodies.”
The original Shake Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park, the Company has expanded to over 520 locations including internationally in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Mexico City, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, and Seoul.
