Where to Eat for Mother's Day in Toronto

Toronto is brimming with amazing restaurants catering to almost any taste and culinary desire. But if you’re looking for something celebratory, specifically to make the woman who raised you feel special, you'll want a great place that offers both beautiful decor and fantastic food. You'll get just that at any of these ten options.

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The Old Mill

The Old Mill in Toronto’s west end is home to a hotel, event space and spa, but they also offer fine dining and have a long tradition of hosting a Mother’s Day brunch and dinner buffet. Executive Chef Martin Buehner offers a wide selection of goodies to suit every mom’s taste, including pasta, poultry and meats, an array of seafood specialties, local and imported cheeses, salads, and potato and rice dishes. Satisfy her sweet tooth with a dessert selection that includes various cakes, tortes, mousses, pastries and more.

02 of 10

AGO Bistro

Formerly Franks, AGO Bistro is location within the Frank Gehry-designed Art Gallery of Ontario, so you can easily plan a whole day of fun, food, art and culture with mom that incorporates some time at the AGO, followed by brunch, lunch or dinner at the bistro. Well-curated menus offer a good variety of options and dishes are made with local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible.

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La Palma

This Italian restaurant from Chef Craig Harding and designer Alexandra Hutchison is a good bet for Mother's Day. A fresh, vibrant interior with California vibes makes it the ideal backdrop for a casual but memorable meal with mom. By day, La Palma is a cafe and Italian takeaway spot, and when the sun goes down, you’ve got an elegant yet low-key restaurant with great cocktails. It also serves breakfast until noon (a selling point for late risers), and has a diverse menu featuring lots of creative vegetable dishes, pastas, pizza, fish, house-baked goodies and more.

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Barsa Taberna

No need to whisk mom all the way to Spain for Mother’s Day—give her the next best thing with a meal at Barsa Taberna near the St. Lawrence Market. The menu here is inspired by and celebrates the diverse regions of Spain for dinner and weekend brunch. If you’re doing dinner, much of the menu is conducive to sharing, such as the Spanish cheese plate, chorizo platter, marinated olives, oysters and patatas bravas. Brunch options are varied and include creative, colorful fare like mushroom or seafood paella and traditional Spanish tortilla with corn salad.

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Drake Commissary

Depending on the weather on Mother’s Day, take a walk on the West Toronto Rail Path before stopping for brunch, lunch or dinner at the Drake Commissary on Sterling Road. The majority of baked goods here (including the excellent sourdough bread) are made in-house, and the stylish décor and attentive service make this a good choice. For brunch, choose from a variety of dips and spreads, a fish or cheese board, or more traditional items like quiche or a coconut chia bowl. If mom likes beer, take her to nearby Henderson Brewing Co. for a flight of creative craft beer.

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Café Boulud

Surprise your mom with a special Mother’s Day meal in Toronto at Chef Daniel Boulud’s newly renovated French brasserie located in the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville. The seasonally-inspired menu here takes its influence from Chef Boulud's family meals in Lyon and is rooted in French tradition. The vintage-inspired ambiance makes an elegant backdrop for whatever you order.

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Mildred’s Temple Kitchen

Treat mom to Mother’s Day brunch in Toronto at one of the city’s best and most popular brunch spots. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, located in Liberty Village, is famous for its blueberry buttermilk pancakes served with a wild blueberry compote, Lanark County maple syrup and whipped cream, but the brunch menu also features house-made scones and biscuits, creative egg dishes and inventive daily specials. Wash everything down with a pink mimosa made with Pink Belstar Rosé and fresh grapefruit juice. Just note that they don’t take reservations for brunch so you may need to wait.

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Bar Reyna

This hidden gem, also in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighborhood, is set in a two-story Victorian house with a charming year-round back patio. It offers a menu of Mediterranean-inspired fare for dinner, plus shareable snacks and weekend brunch. If you’re in the mood to share, choose from the selection of table snacks and pintxos like falafel scotch eggs, various dips and spreads, halloumi souvlaki and fried olives. Or opt for larger mains like Lebanese tacos. If you’re going for brunch, try the shakshuka or Bar Reyna’s take on croque madame with house-made labneh and smoked salmon.

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Café Cancan

Beautiful French bistro cuisine in an equally stunning interior will be sure to impress mom, whether visiting Café Cancan for brunch, lunch or dinner. The aforementioned interior comes courtesy of Tiffany Pratt and features sumptuous textures, fun patterns, and a pastel-hued palette that create a welcoming, cozy space. Decadent brunch options include truffle scrambled eggs and a variety of handmade pastries. Tp amp up the celebration, opt for the Bubbly Brunch, which includes a mimosa, drip coffee, croissant or pain au chocolat, your choice of brunch entrée, and pâte à choux.

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Café Belong at The Evergreen Brick Works

If you and mom like to eating local and seasonal foods, a meal at Café Belong at Evergreen Brick Works is a great option for Mother’s Day in Toronto. Acclaimed chef Brad Long is committed to sustainable and local cuisine, and menus change seasonally and are adapted daily to feature the best available ingredients. Treat mom to brunch, lunch or dinner here for some of the freshest food you’ll find in the city. There’s also lots to do at Evergreen Brick Works including walking trails and the Evergreen Garden Market. If you'd prefer not to drive, a free Evergreen Brick Works shuttle bus departs from the park on Erindale Avenue, east of Broadview Avenue and north of Broadview subway station.