The 16 Best Downtown Restaurants in Toronto

Richmond Station suits diners who want a chef's tasting menu without the formality of a fine dining room. The cooking is Canadian, with dishes such as the station burger and a duo of Muscovy duck, and the room is casual and cosy. Organic and vegan options are available and the bar serves cocktails. Service is quick enough for a lunch break.

GEORGE is the pick for a formal evening built around a seven-course meal, including a vegetarian tasting menu that is a feature in its own right. The kitchen and service handle dietary restrictions and allergies carefully, and the room is cosy, romantic and upmarket. A tea selection accompanies the meal. Suited to anniversaries and celebrations on Queen Street East.

The Carbon Bar is the downtown option for barbecue, with steaks and a BBQ platter that work well for groups. The restaurant keeps a heritage feel in a distinctive interior, and the menu runs from brunch to dessert and late-night food, with cocktails, beer and wine. Wheelchair-accessible seating, takeaway and delivery are available.

Restaurant 20 Victoria serves a seafood-heavy Canadian menu built on farm-to-table produce, in an intimate room where diners can watch the food being prepared. Service is thoughtful, with recommendations from staff, and the format suits anniversaries and quiet dinners. Diners who like to see how a kitchen works will find the preparation in plain view.

Cactus Club Cafe First Canadian Place is a straightforward choice for a work lunch or after-work drinks, with a broad menu that includes healthy options plus cocktails, beer and coffee. Portions are generous, and the sports-friendly bar atmosphere helps with groups. Outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery and a fully wheelchair-accessible venue are available.

KŌST sits on the 44th floor, so the view over the city and Lake Ontario is part of the meal. The menu is Californian and runs from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner, with coconut pancakes and egg benedict with avocado among the dishes. Rooftop seating, cocktails and vegetarian options are available, and the venue is family-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Moxies suits a work lunch or a group meal, with a quieter feel than many nearby places and a menu that includes vegan and vegetarian dishes. Bar food and cocktails are highlights, there are live performances and sport on screens, and service copes well with large tables. Outdoor seating, curbside pickup, delivery and takeaway are all available.

SOCO Kitchen + Bar is an all-day option on Lower Simcoe Street, with a menu spanning breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner plus catering. Halal, vegetarian and healthy dishes, cocktails and late-night food are listed, and the chicken katsu curry is a dish to try. It is family-friendly, welcomes groups and is wheelchair accessible.