Alo Toronto

Alo is on Spadina Avenue, perched above the street level of a busy intersection. It holds a Michelin star, is ranked no. 58 on La Liste, and sits at no. 2 on the Canada’s 100 Best list. The dining room runs smart and elegant, keeping a formal tone that is a stark departure from the grit of the surrounding shops.

While many restaurants in Toronto chase the city’s constant clamour, Alo ignores it entirely. It is a more disciplined experience than the bistros that line the nearby blocks, trading casual accessibility for an International menu that demands focus. You choose this table not for the proximity to Graffiti Alley, but for the precision of the kitchen; it is the only room in this part of town where the pacing of the service is as much the point as the cooking itself.