Eating out in Toronto in winter: comfort food, markets and cozy rooms

Toronto winters can be grey, slushy and bitterly cold, but they are also one of the best times of year to eat out. Restaurants are easier to book outside December, comfort food is at its best, and the city has winter markets, festivals and a whole underground network to keep you warm between meals. Here is how to enjoy it.

What should you eat in Toronto in winter?

Comfort food	Where to look
Pho and ramen	Chinatown, Koreatown, across the city
Hot pot	Chinatown, Scarborough, Markham
Korean stews	Koreatown on Bloor
Dim sum	Chinatown, Scarborough, Markham
Curries and dal	Little India, Scarborough, Thorncliffe Park
Ethiopian stews	Little Ethiopia on the Danforth
Poutine	Everywhere
Pasta and braises	Little Italy, Corso Italia, across the city
Peameal bacon sandwich	St. Lawrence Market

Which Toronto neighbourhoods are best in winter?

Neighbourhoods where the next warm room is never far away work best: Chinatown and Kensington Market, Koreatown and the Annex, Leslieville, Roncesvalles and Little Italy. Downtown, the PATH lets you move between towers, food courts and restaurants without going outside on weekdays.

How does the PATH help in winter?

The PATH, Toronto's network of about 30 kilometres of mostly underground walkways, connects downtown office towers, Union Station, shopping centres and hotels. In winter, office workers use it to reach food courts and restaurants without stepping into the cold. Many food outlets close in the evenings and on weekends, so plan accordingly.

What winter food events happen in Toronto?

• The Distillery Winter Village, a holiday market with food and drink, usually from mid-November to early January.
• Winterlicious, the city's prix fixe festival, usually in late January and February, with set menus at participating restaurants.
• Lunar New Year celebrations in late January or February, with special menus in Chinatown, Scarborough and Markham.
• Holiday markets in neighbourhoods across the city in December.

Dates change each year, so check official sites.

Is it easier to book restaurants in Toronto in winter?

Usually, except in December, when holiday parties fill rooms, and around Valentine's Day. January and February, outside Winterlicious bookings, are often the best months to get into restaurants that are hard to book at other times. Some restaurants close for a week or two in early January, so check before you go.

Where can you skate and eat in Toronto?

Outdoor rinks at Nathan Phillips Square, Harbourfront and in parks across the city open when conditions allow, and a skate followed by hot chocolate or dinner nearby is a Toronto winter tradition. Check the city's rink updates for conditions.

How do you stay comfortable eating out in a Toronto winter?

Dress in layers, since restaurants can be warm inside and bitter outside. Many restaurants have coat racks or coat checks; ask if you are unsure. Allow extra time for transit in snow, and check for delays.

What should you drink in a Toronto winter?

Hot chocolate, mulled wine at the holiday markets, a London fog at a café, Korean barley tea or a strong Hong Kong-style milk tea are all good companions on a cold day. Many bars add hot cocktails such as hot toddies to their winter menus. Ice wine, a sweet dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine, is an Ontario specialty and a lovely way to end a winter dinner.

Is Toronto good for a winter food weekend?

Yes. Combine Winterlicious or a Lunar New Year banquet with a market morning, a gallery visit and a skate, and you have a full weekend with plenty of warm meals in between.

Do you tip differently in winter?

Tipping is the same year-round: 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service, and Ontario adds the 13 percent HST to your bill. Many people tip delivery drivers a little extra on snowy or very cold nights.

What is Toronto's Winterlicious?

Winterlicious is the City of Toronto's prix fixe restaurant festival, held in late January and early February. Participating restaurants offer set lunch and dinner menus at fixed prices, which makes it a good-value way to try places you might not otherwise book.

Tips for getting the most from it:

• Book as soon as reservations open, since the best-known restaurants fill quickly.
• Read the set menu before booking, to be sure it suits you.
• Go at lunch, which is usually cheaper and easier to book than dinner.
• Remember tax and tip are added to the fixed price.

Check the City's official listings for this year's dates and participating restaurants.

Is takeout busier in winter?

Yes. On cold, snowy evenings delivery apps and takeout counters get busy, and waits are longer. Picking up your own order is often faster, and it supports local restaurants more directly.

Winter is a great time to work through the list of places you have been meaning to try. On Mosey you can keep that list, rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, and see where friends you follow went to escape the cold.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Yorkville food guide: fine dining, hotel bars and where to eat for less
• Food halls in Toronto: Union Market, Eataly and Waterworks

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.