While Toronto's food scene currently boasts more than 7,500 restaurants across 158 neighbourhoods, at the mast of our city's diverse food haven lies some of its oldest and most beloved restaurants.
Toronto's oldest restaurants that you can still visit date back two hundred years, so if you are looking to dine in an establishment further steeped in tradition than jumping on the glass floor at the CN Tower, look no further than this guide to some of the oldest restaurants that still stand in our great city.
The Senator Restaurant property was originally a home built in the 1850s. The Senator opened as a restaurant called The Busy Bee Diner in 1929, and became The Senator in 1948. The main level dates back to the 1940s, and upstairs, visitors can still find traces from the nineteenth century.
298 Queen St W
The Black Bull Tavern
The Black Bull Tavern also crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, dating back to 1833. However, it has only been called The Black Bull since the 1970s, prior to which, it was called Clifton House. Regardless, this historic tavern is a reliable spot for beers and pub grub, imbued with Toronto history.
667 King St W
Wheatsheaf Tavern
The iconic Wheatsheaf Tavern has resided at King Street and Bathurst Street since 1849, when it was a popular haunt for soldiers at Fort York. The Wheatsheaf crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, featuring tavern fare, live music and whisky in its lively present.
506 Lawrence Ave W
United Bakers Dairy Restaurant
A young couple from Kielce originally opened United Bakers Dairy Restaurant as a bakery and five-cent coffeehouse in 1912 at 156 Agnes Street in Toronto. United Bakers moved to Spadina Avenue in 1920, and finally to Lawrence Avenue in the late 1980s, where it still stands and retains its Polish roots and Jewish history and fare.
9 Old Mill Rd
Old Mill Toronto
The Old Mill Toronto was founded more than a century ago in 1914. From its beginnings as a Tea Garden during WWI, the Old Mill now serves afternoon tea, alongside brunch, lunch and dinner. It also hosts events.
2638 Danforth Ave
Len Duckworth's Fish and Chips
Established in 1929 by Jack and Edith Duckworth, Len Duckworth Fish and Chips is an east end favourite. When they retired in the 1950s, this family business was passed to Jack and Edith's son Len for several decades, and is now run by his son and veteran chef, Dave.
1132 Dundas St W
The Lakeview
The Lakeview Restaurant is a historic diner, and it has reigned from its spot on Dundas since 1932. Rich in heritage, The Lakeview has been a respite to soldiers, poets and filmmakers according to its website, and has appeared in such film and TV as Hairspray and The Umbrella Academy.
Fran's originally opened at Yonge and St. Clair in 1940. This classic 24-hour Toronto greasy spoon began as a 10-seat diner, and has since evolved into a Toronto staple.
222 Davenport Rd
The Avenue Diner
The Avenue Diner is a classic retro diner that opened in 1944 at Avenue Road and Davenport Road, or Av & Dav. The diner is a family-owned and operated business led by Louis Klasios, featuring all-day breakfast and old-school charm.
7 Elm St
Barberian's Steak House
Barberian's is one of Toronto's most esteemed restaurants, housed in the original building Harry Barberian purchased in 1959. Go for the steak and the wine, and stay for the history and Canadiana, which includes original paintings by the Group of Seven.
712 College St
Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe
The Galipo brothers opened the Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe in Little Italy in 1959, carrying on their family ice cream legacy from Sicily. This is Toronto's oldest gelateria, proudly serving gelato with a base of 100 per cent fior de latte.
While Toronto's food scene currently boasts more than 7,500 restaurants across 158 neighbourhoods, at the mast of our city's diverse food haven lies some of its oldest and most beloved restaurants.
Toronto's oldest restaurants that you can still visit date back two hundred years, so if you are looking to dine in an establishment further steeped in tradition than jumping on the glass floor at the CN Tower, look no further than this guide to some of the oldest restaurants that still stand in our great city.
The Senator
The Senator Restaurant property was originally a home built in the 1850s. The Senator opened as a restaurant called The Busy Bee Diner in 1929, and became The Senator in 1948. The main level dates back to the 1940s, and upstairs, visitors can still find traces from the nineteenth century.
298 Queen St W
The Black Bull Tavern
The Black Bull Tavern also crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, dating back to 1833. However, it has only been called The Black Bull since the 1970s, prior to which, it was called Clifton House. Regardless, this historic tavern is a reliable spot for beers and pub grub, imbued with Toronto history.
667 King St W
Wheatsheaf Tavern
The iconic Wheatsheaf Tavern has resided at King Street and Bathurst Street since 1849, when it was a popular haunt for soldiers at Fort York. The Wheatsheaf crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, featuring tavern fare, live music and whisky in its lively present.
506 Lawrence Ave W
United Bakers Dairy Restaurant
A young couple from Kielce originally opened United Bakers Dairy Restaurant as a bakery and five-cent coffeehouse in 1912 at 156 Agnes Street in Toronto. United Bakers moved to Spadina Avenue in 1920, and finally to Lawrence Avenue in the late 1980s, where it still stands and retains its Polish roots and Jewish history and fare.
9 Old Mill Rd
Old Mill Toronto
The Old Mill Toronto was founded more than a century ago in 1914. From its beginnings as a Tea Garden during WWI, the Old Mill now serves afternoon tea, alongside brunch, lunch and dinner. It also hosts events.
2638 Danforth Ave
Len Duckworth's Fish and Chips
Established in 1929 by Jack and Edith Duckworth, Len Duckworth Fish and Chips is an east end favourite. When they retired in the 1950s, this family business was passed to Jack and Edith's son Len for several decades, and is now run by his son and veteran chef, Dave.
1132 Dundas St W
The Lakeview
The Lakeview Restaurant is a historic diner, and it has reigned from its spot on Dundas since 1932. Rich in heritage, The Lakeview has been a respite to soldiers, poets and filmmakers according to its website, and has appeared in such film and TV as Hairspray and The Umbrella Academy.
Fran's Restaurant
Fran's originally opened at Yonge and St. Clair in 1940. This classic 24-hour Toronto greasy spoon began as a 10-seat diner, and has since evolved into a Toronto staple.
222 Davenport Rd
The Avenue Diner
The Avenue Diner is a classic retro diner that opened in 1944 at Avenue Road and Davenport Road, or Av & Dav. The diner is a family-owned and operated business led by Louis Klasios, featuring all-day breakfast and old-school charm.
7 Elm St
Barberian's Steak House
Barberian's is one of Toronto's most esteemed restaurants, housed in the original building Harry Barberian purchased in 1959. Go for the steak and the wine, and stay for the history and Canadiana, which includes original paintings by the Group of Seven.
712 College St
Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe
The Galipo brothers opened the Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe in Little Italy in 1959, carrying on their family ice cream legacy from Sicily. This is Toronto's oldest gelateria, proudly serving gelato with a base of 100 per cent fior de latte.
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