- On average, Canadians plan to dine out 6 times a month in 2026.1
- In 2026, 41 per cent of Canadians dining out would prefer to have dinner earlier. late dinner.1
- 70 percent Canadians agree that dining out is a way to feel connected to others.1
TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OpenTableglobal leader in restaurant technology, reveals list Canada's 100 Best Restaurants for 20252showcasing outstanding restaurants across Canada. The list is compiled from an analysis of more than 1 million eatery reviews, as well as eatery ratings, booking demand and percentage of five-star reviews, among other factors.2
Of the 100 restaurants featured on this year's list, 38 are new, including newly opened restaurants including Location of The Lunch Lady's in Torontowhich opened their doors last summer, and AFTERwho joined the Calgary restaurant scene in mid-November last year.
“This year's Top 100 list isn't just a celebration of excellence, it's a showcase of Canada's ever-evolving food scene. With a wave of exciting new restaurants joining the list, as well as OpenTable mixing in unforgettable favorites, we're thrilled to highlight the bold flavors and innovative talent shaping Canada's culinary future.” said Matt Davis, Senior Regional Director, OpenTable Canada.
The food trends that shaped 2025 and what's on the menu in 2026.based on according to OpenTable and consumer research
When it comes to party size, bigger is better.. In 2025, group dining for parties of six or more is up 28 percent from last year.3 This trend is expected to continue into the new year: more than a third of Canadians (37%)1 stating that in 2026 they will choose group dining over individual dining.
“The rise of group dining will be a prominent trend in 2025, and our consumer research shows it's here to stay in 2026.1 we want to continue to find ways to meet the needs of our visitors. Restaurant partners can use platforms like our Private Dining Marketplace to meet these preferences and continue to offer exceptional, personalized service.” said Matt Davis, Senior Regional Director, OpenTable Canada.
Happy hour is the best hour. The number of lunches from 16:00 to 17:00 has increased by 30% compared to last year. 3 and 41 per cent of Canadians indicated that in 2026 they would choose an earlier dinner over a later one when dining out.1 This suggests diners are looking for earlier evenings and happy hour specials. Vancouver Dovetail offers a Happy Days menu from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm daily for early birds and Mayla in Kingston, you can book Happy Hour from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
Exit with a stand and enter with a tabletop. Countertop seating increased the most (78%) of any seating option in 2025 compared to the same period last year.3 Countertop seating allows diners to see the magic of the kitchen and allows single guests to mingle with others. Diners looking for that experience can enjoy a cozy omakase at the Toronto restaurant. Sushi Yugen, sitting right at the chef's counter or in a Calgary restaurant Shokukinwhere they can enjoy a classic experience at Chef's Bar overlooking the kitchen.
Generation Z is leading the way. Generation Z plans to change the game in the industry in 2026. Sixty percent of Gen Zers said they plan to dine out at restaurants more in 2026, and 50 percent named restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs as their “third place,” both figures significantly higher compared to their generational counterparts.1
Discover OpenTable's Top 100 rub.restaurants for 2025 with the support of a snack bar reviews and indicators
The top list features Canadian favorites from coast to coast, including 44 in Ontario, 19 in Alberta, 18 in Quebec, 15 in British Columbia, two in Nova Scotia and one each in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. OpenTable's Top 100 Best Restaurants in Canada for 2025 are listed alphabetically by province.2 You can see the full list Here.
Alberta
Dental barCalgary
Bar RoccaCalgary
Blue Rock Swimming ClubCalgary
BoleroCalgary
Brigitte Bahr – CalgaryCalgary
CuteCalgary
Cassis BistroCalgary
Chairman SteakhouseCalgary
AFTERCalgary
Italian Restaurant and Patio LUPOBanff
MAJOR TOMCalgary
Market – MissionCalgary
Pat and BettyCalgary
SHOKUNINCalgary
Ten Foot HenryCalgary
Bison Restaurant and PatioBanff
OilsEdmonton
Restaurant SaborEdmonton
Bistro RavenJasper
British Columbia
BotanistVancouver
Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster BarVancouver
BravoVancouver
DovetailVancouver
ELEMVancouver
Elio VolpeVancouver
Gotham Steakhouse and BarVancouver
Miku Restaurant – VancouverVancouver
NightingaleVancouver
Restaurant OddfishVancouver
Osteria Savio VolpeVancouver
Rimrock CafeWhistler
Butchart Gardens – Dining RoomBrentwood Bay
Restaurant + Bar Wild BlueWhistler
Zarak from Afghan cuisineVancouver
Newfoundland and Labrador
ShippingSt. John's
Nova Scotia
Dining in PortlandDartmouth
TributeHalifax
Ontario
Kitchen in black tartanCarlton Place
Restaurant AloToronto
AloettaToronto
Restaurant AmalToronto
Bar IsabelToronto
Bar PrimaToronto
Restaurant BokadoPrince Edward
Cafe BouludToronto
Centro kitchen with woodChatham
Cintro On WellingtonLondon
DayloToronto
Don Alfonso 1890Toronto
Estiatorio MilosToronto
Fat rabbitSt. Catharines
Restaurant GeorgeToronto
JulietToronto
Gray GardensToronto
GreystonesOrangeville
LeeToronto
LinneyToronto
House TavernToronto
MaylaKingston
MineralToronto
Osteria JuliaToronto
Papi'sLondon
Premier Seafood PalaceToronto
QuetzalToronto
TasteToronto
Richmond StationToronto
Rizzo's house in ParmaFort Erie
Restaurant ScaramoucheToronto
Sorrel RosedaleToronto
Sannis ChineseToronto
Sushi YugenToronto
Take five bistrosWindsor
Restaurant TerraThornhill
ChaseToronto
Conventional ovenOrillia
Good Earth Vineyard and WineryBeamsville
Lunch LadyToronto
SpringwoodWhitby
Cafe TremontCollingwood
Restaurant DolinaSt. Catharines
Quebec
Bistro Le Cerf-VolentMontreal
DamasMontreal
Cafe FerreiraMontreal
PantryMontreal
Gia Wine and GrillMontreal
HelicopterMontreal
Joe BeefMontreal
Kitano ShokudoMontreal
Hunting and Fishing ClubMontreal
LimboMontreal
Liverpool HouseMontreal
House of BouludMontreal
McKiernan RotisserieMontreal
My RabbitMontreal
Montreal PlazaMontreal
Nora GrayMontreal
Touch the restaurant!Montreal
Tax storeMontreal
Saskatchewan
Restaurant OchagSaskatoon
About OpenTable
OpenTablea global leader in restaurant technology and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 60,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats annually. OpenTable's world-class technology allows restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, guests and profits – while allowing diners to find and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.
Notes to editors
- Consumer research methodology: WALR conducted an online survey of 1,518 Canadian respondents, with quotas weighted by major cities. Field work was carried out from September 3 to September 9, 2025. Data were collected in accordance with MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR guidelines to ensure ethical and accurate data collection.
- Methodology for compiling the rating of the 100 best restaurants: OpenTable's list of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants for 2025 is based on more than 1 million reviews from verified OpenTable diners and restaurant performance from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025. Restaurants with a minimum threshold of customer reviews were reviewed and rated based on a combination of unique data including restaurant ratings, percentage of five-star reviews, number of alerts set, percentage of advance reservations, percentage of capacity and direct search. The scores were weighted to create an overall score used to rank the list. The resulting list is displayed in alphabetical order rather than ranked order.
- OpenTable data: OpenTable analyzed online booking seating, party size and seating options for all restaurants operating on the OpenTable platform in Canada from January 1 to August 31, 2025, and compared it to the corresponding time period in 2024 (January 3 to September 1).
For further media information please contact:
Hannah Jones
416-509-0763
