Air Canada’s ‘Best New Restaurants’ is the longest running Canadian restaurant ranking and the 2024 Top 10 list has now been unveiled, showcasing the best of new culinary talent across the country.
In its 24th year, Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants reviews dining spots opened across the country judged by a single, anonymous reviewer. The Top 10 list evaluates all aspects of the dining experience, from culinary vision and quality of ingredients to service and overall team spirit.
Back in the fall, the list of 30 restaurants that would be competing for the coveted top spots was released and included restaurants in nine cities from coast-to-coast. In this year’s Top 10 list, Halifax pulls through and the list is dominated by Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto following that.
the winner
This year, Halifax’s Mystic took the top spot ranking number one on the top 10 list of Best New Restaurants in the country.
At Mystic (1723 Lower Water St), guests choose between two multi-course journeys, Fauna or Biota, each offering a distinct expression of place and season.
the top 10 list
In second place is Montreal-based Le Violon (4720 Rue Marquette), a neighbourhood restaurant nestled in Montréal’s Plateau, highlights seafood and seasonal ingredients from Quebec.
3. Akin, Toronto
51 Colborne St
Chef Eric Chong reimagines tradition through storytelling and experimentation, blending Chinese roots with contemporary technique to create a dining experience that feels both familiar and entirely new.
4. Sushi Hyun Omakase, Vancouver
795 Jervis St
Chef-owner Jy Hyun Lee transforms the precision of omakase into something deeply personal, meticulous in craft yet disarmingly warm, where ceremony meets genuine joy.
5. Maven, Toronto
112 Harbord St
Chef Shauna Godfrey honours her grandmother Rose’s legacy through a heartfelt menu that blends Polish-Jewish roots with modern technique, creating a dining experience that feels both nostalgic and new.
6. Nero Tondo, Vancouver
1879 Powell St
At Nero Tondo there is no set script, no repetition. Just seasonal creativity, fresh on your plate.
7. Yan Dining Room, Toronto
195 Dundas St W
Chef Eva Chin channels her multicultural roots into what she calls neo-Chinese cuisine, weaving memory, storytelling, and sustainability into a deeply personal dining experience.
8. Sumibiyaki Arashi, Vancouver
363 E Broadway
Chef Peter Ho brings together Japanese precision and Taiwanese roots in a lively omakase experience centred on yakitori and binchōtan charcoal.
9. Pasta Pooks, Montreal
6704 Clark St
The team channels years of pop-up energy into a permanent home that’s loud, confident, and completely devoted to the art of pasta.
10. Niwa, Vancouver
1875 Powell St
The team has built a serene, ingredient-focused restaurant that values balance, community, and care, creating a dining experience rooted in respect for both people and place.
Looking for more? Check out the Best New Restaurants long-list of 2025 here!
