Recently recognized and recommended by the renowned Michelin Guide, but more importantly by myself as a plant-based eater, this restaurant is a must-visit in my opinion! From the melt in your mouth focaccia bread to the incredible panko-crusted “meatballs” and perfectly cooked pastas, you’d find it hard to believe that most of this sweet spot’s menu is vegan, with the remainder being vegetarian. Hence, owner Jenny Coburn’s description of “plant-forward” for the restaurant. 

Nearly two years ago, with environmental sustainability on her mind, Coburn decided to open Gia as a “plant-forward” restaurant, with the goal of sourcing produce locally, and organic when possible. And if the incredible food wasn’t enough to convince you to visit, it also has an amazing vibe thanks to its stunning interior and its location in one of the city’s coolest areas, the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood. 

Now open every evening for dinner, I would still recommend making a reservation, though you may be able to snag a seat at their beautiful bar as a walk-in. Speaking of walking, you should definitely take some time to stroll through Toronto’s iconic Trinity Bellwoods Park while in the area, or in the spring/summer months, even set up a picnic! This area of the city also has plenty of cute shops and bars to visit before or after a magnificent meal at Gia.