Everything you need to know about Air Canada’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants 2025

Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2025 Top 10 list has been revealed.

After teasing us with their 31-restaurants long list back in September, the final reveal took place on Nov. 17. And if you’ve ever wanted a cross-country culinary bucket list, this is it.

From next-level omakase to Chinese storytelling through soup stock, these restaurants aren’t just serving great food — they’re shaping the future of dining in Canada.

The Top 10 emerged from a list of restaurants handpicked by a panel of chefs, food writers, and industry insiders, and then taste-tested by an anonymous expert who dined across the country, experiencing the restaurants as any patron would. Might we say, this year’s top picks are innovative, intimate, and downright delicious.

Ready to feast your eyes? Here are the top 10 best new restaurants in Canada for 2025, according to Air Canada.

1. Mystic, Halifax

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At the number one spot on the list is Mystic. Perched by the harbour, this restaurant features unique decor mirroring the drama of the sea just beyond floor-to-ceiling windows. And the food? It’s pure East Coast creativity.

Expect wild local ingredients, sea-inspired dishes, and a blind tasting menu that changes with the tide. You might get scallop tartare with caviar one night and rich, buttery wolf eel the next.

2. Le Violon, Montreal

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This buzzy Plateau spot mixes sharp design with even sharper flavours. The crew behind Le Violon brings incredible talent to the table via small plates with big personality, dishes like beef tartare with a twist, and desserts you’ll be thinking about for days. It’s chill, stylish, and very Montreal in the best way.

3. Akin, Toronto

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At Akin in Toronto, don’t expect your typical tasting menu. Chef Eric Chong flips familiar dishes into wild new forms. Take his wagyu-stuffed dim sum or crab claws in laksa, for example. You don’t pick what you eat (it’s a blind menu), but you won’t want to.

Downstairs is cocktails, upstairs is the main event, and the whole thing feels like dinner and a show.

4. Sushi Hyun Omakase, Vancouver

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Behind a minimalist facade lies one of the most joyful omakase experiences in the country. Chef Jy Hyun Lee keeps things warm, personal, and super fresh —like, flown-in-from-Japan fresh.

The sushi lineup is stunning, and the whole experience feels like a low-key kitchen party with world-class bites. Come hungry, leave impressed.

5. Maven, Toronto

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Jewish comfort food gets a bold, modern upgrade at Maven. Chef Shauna Godfrey channels family roots into cozy dishes like crispy schnitzel, loaded potatoes, and pickletinis (yes, that’s a thing, and yes, you should try it). The vibe is welcoming, the portions are generous, and there’s cheesecake that might just ruin all others for you.

6. Nero Tondo, Vancouver

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This small 18-seater restaurant is big on flavour and even bigger on creativity. Nero Tondo is all about using every part of the ingredient, and the result is a wild ride of smart, seasonal dishes.

Expect things like housemade ricotta, pickled radishes, and spot prawn Caesar salad. It’s innovative, fun, and somehow still laid-back.

7. Yan Dining Room, Toronto

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Inside the iconic Hong Shing restaurant, Yan Dining Room is where Chef Eva Chin shares food rooted in memory, heritage, and serious flavour.

Each course comes with a story — like oysters inspired by her dad, or dumplings that riff on tradition. It’s warm, intimate, and packed with heart (and great broth). Oh, and the meal kicks off with a gong!

8. Sumibiyaki Arashi, Vancouver

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If you love a hidden gem, check out this word-of-mouth yakitori spot where charcoal grilling is the main event. It’s all about skewers and smoke — chicken grilled to perfection, rich little bites, and a fast-paced omakase that hits hard. It’s loud, lively, and totally worth the hype.

9. Pasta Pooks, Montreal

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Tiny room, big flavours. Pasta Pooks is run by three pasta pros who are here for a good and a carb-loaded time. This rotating menu features dishes like creamy ravioli, Bolognese, and a very delicious cheesesteak.

Wine’s flowing, the vibe’s fun, and you’ll probably leave with sauce on your shirt (as you should).

10. Niwa, Vancouver

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Open only on weekdays, Niwa is a minimalist Japanese oasis with a menu that whispers instead of shouts. Think pickled veggies, Wagyu donburi, and mochi sourdough in a setting so serene you’ll forget you’re in the city. Every detail feels intentional, from the drinks to the pacing.

Craving more? You can explore the full list, drool over photos, and deep-dive into each restaurant’s story over at Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants website.