22 restaurants across 13 cities earn national recognition for excellence in food, wine, and hospitality
VineRoutes is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural Restaurant Awards, recognizing 22 of Canada’s top dining destinations for delivering exceptional food and wine experiences.
Launched in response to a rapidly evolving dining landscape, the awards celebrate restaurants that continue to prioritize excellence—even as the industry faces mounting challenges. From retaliatory provincial bans on U.S. wine and alcohol imports to rising costs that have deterred three in four Canadians from dining out, restaurants in 2025 have been forced to adapt. At the same time, Michelin’s expansion into Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Quebec City has sharpened national standards, raising the bar for hospitality and wine programming.
“Canada’s restaurants are navigating immense challenges, but they’re also proving resilient and innovative,” said Carmelo Giardina, Principal Editor of VineRoutes. “These awards recognize the dining rooms that have not only adapted but excelled—those that elevate food and wine into a seamless, memorable experience.”
The VineRoutes Restaurant Awards were created to spotlight outstanding food and wine synergy while placing a strong emphasis on Canadian wine representation. “Supporting Canadian wine is a key part of our criteria,” added Giardina. “In Europe, South America, and beyond, diners expect to drink local wine in restaurants. Canada should be no different—and it’s inspiring to see so many of our winners embracing this philosophy.”
The 2025 Awards Class
The awards were presented across three categories:
- Award of Distinction – 16 restaurants recognized for extensive, well-curated wine lists that showcase multiple regions and varietals. Lists typically feature 100+ labels, though smaller programs with strong Canadian content were also considered.
- Regional Excellence Award – 1 restaurant received this honour. Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Treadwell Cuisine stood apart with more than half of its wine list dedicated to Canadian labels, exemplifying a deep commitment to local terroir.
- The Vine Award – For Best in Distinction – 5 restaurants earned the program’s highest honour, reserved for elite establishments that check all the boxes: inventive cuisine, flawless service, refined atmosphere, and wine programs with 300+ selections, exceptional depth, and dedicated Canadian representation.
Encouragingly, several applicants used the three-and-a-half-month application period to increase their Canadian wine offerings—an early sign that the awards are influencing positive change.
“Our ultimate goal is to inspire restaurants to put Canadian wines at the forefront,” said Giardina. “By celebrating these award-winning lists, we’re helping diners discover just how world-class our wines can be when paired with equally world-class cuisine.”
Explore the full winners list
Profiles of all 22 award-winning restaurants—including the five Vine Award recipients—are now live on www.vineroutes.com/restaurant-award-winners. Over the coming year, VineRoutes will feature exclusive Q&As with chefs, sommeliers, and wine directors, as well as curated roundups highlighting Canada’s evolving dining scene.
About VineRoutes
VineRoutes is Canada’s leading digital platform for wine, food, and travel storytelling. With a focus on elevating Canadian wine within the broader global conversation, VineRoutes provides insightful features, interviews, and guides that celebrate authentic food and wine culture across Canada and beyond. For more, visit vineroutes.com.
For more information, including media and partnership requests, please contact Paula Henriques, Managing Editor of VineRoutes at paula@vineroutes.com.
