Halifax 
Air Canada has released the shortlist for its 2025 Best New Restaurants ranking, naming 31 establishments across 10 Canadian cities. The annual program highlights new dining spots recognized for food quality, service, and creative approaches to culinary culture.
Credit: CNW Group/Air Canada
Restaurants eligible for the list opened between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. Nominations came from a national panel of culinary experts, with anonymous visits ensuring assessments reflected the guest experience. The selection process was carried out in collaboration with DINR, which will also feature the finalists on its platform.
The finalists span the country, from St. John’s to Victoria. They include aKin, General Public, Linny’s, Maven, and Yan Dining Room in Toronto; Baby Baby and Shirley’s in Winnipeg; Bona Fide, Claire Jacques, Le Violon, Molenne, Panacée, Restaurant Limbo, Rotisserie La Lune, and Sushi Nishinokaze in Montreal; DOPO + Bar Rocca in Calgary; ELEM, June, Nero Tondo, Niwa, Selene, and Sumibiyaki Arashi in Vancouver; Janevca and Rabbit Rabbit in Victoria; Olia in Edmonton; Mystic and Tribute in Halifax; No. 8 in Burlington; and Rabble in St. John’s.
Launched in 2002, Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants is the country’s longest-running program ranking new culinary talent. The program highlights Canada’s top “Food Worth Flying For,” offering chefs a career-defining platform while sharing the country’s distinct culinary identity with global audiences, with previous winners such as Montreal’s Sabayon in 2024, Toronto’s Osteria Giulia in 2022, and Edulis in 2012. Vancouver’s AnnaLena, a 2015 finalist, remains a recognized destination, while Sunnys Chinese, honoured in 2021, has grown into a Kensington Market fixture.
The 2025 Top 10 will be announced on November 17 in Toronto during a celebration hosted by chef Chuck Hughes.
2025 Air Canada Best New Restaurants Finalists
- aKin | Toronto, ON
- Baby Baby | Winnipeg, MB
- Bona Fide | Montreal, QC
- Claire Jacques | Montreal, QC
- DOPO + Bar Rocca | Calgary, AB
- ELEM | Vancouver, BC
- General Public | Toronto, ON
- Janevca | Victoria, BC
- June | Vancouver, BC
- Le Violon | Montreal, QC
- Linny’s | Toronto, ON
- Maven | Toronto, ON
- Molenne | Montreal, QC
- Mystic | Halifax, NS
- Nero Tondo | Vancouver, BC
- Niwa | Vancouver, BC
- No. 8 | Burlington, ON
- Olia | Edmonton, AB
- Panacée | Montreal, QC
- Pasta Pooks | Montreal, QC
- Rabble | St. John’s NFL
- Rabbit Rabbit | Victoria, BC
- Restaurant Limbo | Montreal, QC
- Rôtisserie La Lune | Montreal, QC
- Selene | Vancouver, BC
- Shirley’s | Winnipeg, MB
- Sumibiyaki Arashi | Vancouver, BC
- Sushi Hyun Omakase | Vancouver, BC
- Sushi Nishinokaze | Montreal, QC
- Tribute | Halifax, NS
- Yan Dining Room | Toronto, ON
