Following the immense popularity of my recent look at ten of the best restaurants in Toronto, I felt compelled to follow it up with something else that would appeal to such hungry Torontonians. But what, other than the food itself, makes a place worth talking about? To find out, I asked a few friends what’s important to them in choosing a restaurant today, and their answers were crystal clear: somewhere that makes not only a great dish, but also a great photo.
To dig deeper into this world of Instagram-worthy eateries, I called on Grace Pan, another native Torontonian, for help. Grace runs the mouth-watering Instagram account @Phone.Eats.First, where she documents her gastronomic explorations through Toronto and beyond. Grace selected ten of the most Instagrammable restaurants and cafes in Toronto, complete with photos from her past visits and her tips for getting great shots of your own. Here’s Grace.
Carmen (@CarmenSayz)
Carmen will take you on a short trip to Spain with its flavorful tapas and decor. Every dish is Instagram-worthy, especially with the pretty plates and backdrops ready to be staged. I’m a big fan of brown colors and warm tones, and the tables and chairs here provide the perfect contrast for that particular aesthetic. TIP: Try to catch the golden hour (just before sunset), as the lighting will give your dishes a beautiful glow.
Lil’ Baci (@LilBaci)
From marble tables to stunning wooden floors, you can’t go wrong with where you choose to photograph your food here. TIP: Ever had a problem with yellow light reflecting on a surface? My favorite tool to correct this is Snapseed’s “Selective” tool, which allows you to change the brightness, contrast, and saturation of specific colors areas. I use this tool in many of my photos to keep the food the star of the show.
Rudy (@RudyResto)
Rudy is one of my favorite places in Toronto to get my burger fix—you’re always served the juiciest patties. Everything from the sheen of the buttered buns to the perfectly melted cheese that oozes in every bite make them Instagram-worthy. On top of that, the red-and-white checkered paper will give your photo that vintage, retro look. TIP: Bring your burgers by the window to get gorgeous natural lighting from the side.
Blaze Pizza (@BlazePizza)
Pizza is the most Instagrammed food, and it’s not surprising why. At Blaze Pizza, customizing your toppings with simple ingredients is an easy way to add the prettiest color contrast to your photo. Not only will your pizza look good, it will taste exactly how you like it. Make the cheesiest pizza for the ultimate cheese pull shot. TIP: Add more interest to your photo by altering the typical flatlay. Here, I asked my friend Casey to open the camera app and hold his phone above the pizzas to add another subject in the photo.
Short & Sweet Bakeshop (@ShortAndSweetCupcakes)
I fell in love with Short & Sweet Bakeshop as soon as I walked in. They have the cutest mini plants on wooden tables, and a neon light sign that says “Butter Cream Dreams”. Like the name, my praise will be kept short and sweet: there is no angle where you can take a bad shot. See for yourself.
Tsujiri (@Tsujiri_Toronto)
Tsujiri’s Yonge & Sheppard location offers a great variety of cakes and desserts. They may look minimalist, but that doesn’t detract from their flavor. The last time I was there, I was lucky to catch the afternoon sun shining right through the windows. Natural lighting reveals details of the desserts, and creates highly contrasted shadows on the tables and wall. Tsujiri also has plenty of drinks that are worthy of a flatlay.
Inspire (@InspireRestaurant)
Dishes from Inspire will satisfy your eyes and soul. They’ve set the bar for Asian fusion cuisine in Toronto. Everything they bring out from the kitchen will make you say “wow”. It will be tough not to take a photo here. My favorite spot to sit in is the corner table by the wall and window so I can catch the natural lighting before the sun goes down. The wall also offers the perfect backdrop for side profiles of dishes.
Cheese Garden (@CheeseGarden_CA)
You’ve probably seen at least a handful of Instagram pictures of this matcha, creamy dessert before, but the Cheese Garden version tastes beyond what the photos can capture. The Uji Matcha Tiramisu is a must-have when you visit, and there are a million ways you can photograph or videograph it. TIP: Dip your spoon in and take it out slowly to see the matcha powder gently crumble into pieces and fall off your spoon. It’s mesmerizing!
Fugo Desserts (@FugoDesserts)
Everything Fugo Desserts serves is Instagrammable. Its unique menu of homemade and soft serve ice creams are worth the visit alone, as well as their homemade mini donuts. It’s conveniently located right by Dundas Square, so you can bring your dessert outside to get creative with one of Toronto’s most recognizable areas as a backdrop.
Kiin (@KiinToronto)
Kiin makes its food with love. Such love is also reflected in the interior decoration and finer details of your plates and glasses, making it easy to make them look good in a photograph. After appreciating the dishes from afar, get in close to soak up the beauty of their flavorful ingredients. There’s a bench right outside where you can go the extra mile to capture a shot. TIP: Sit by the kitchen bar to catch the chefs in action.
Explore Grace and other foodies’ picks of the ten best restaurants in Toronto in 2018 here.
