Low, arched ceilings, mismatched vintage pendant lamps and glass-tiled wall mosaics conspire to make Bar Isabel feel like an antique, but the gutsy tapas menu riffs playfully on classic Spanish fare. Smoked sweetbreads are served with raw tuna and spicy pickled green tomatoes. Anchovies and jalapeños turn up on the patatas bravas "Supremo". It's hard to imagine ordering vegan salad at an old-school tapas joint in Madrid, but here, a ceramic cazuela of shredded broccoli and brussels sprouts—flecked with dill sprigs, golden raisins, pomegranate and flaxseeds—is full of lemony, peppery zing. The kitchen is open until 2:00 am, so take a seat at the beautiful cherry-wood paneled bar and have a nightcap or one of the staff-favorite late-night specials like Brando's fried chicken.

Situated down a charming alleyway, this beloved Italian trattoria utilizes seasonal ingredients (often foraged by the chef himself), incorporating them into such dishes as stuffed pasta with wild hare and foie gras and braised wild dandelion with parmigiano and hen’s egg yolk. While a handful of items on the menu are daring, the pizzas and accessible appetizers make it easy for kids to eat here as well. Lauded chef Jamie Oliver once dubbed a visit here his “favorite meal of the year.”

Fine dining is often synonymous with white-gloved service and art-inspired, but that could not be farther from the truth at Edulis. The romantic, candlelit restaurant offers diners a choice between two tasting menus (and an additional truffle menu when they are in season.) The menu is as welcoming as the environs; with a focus on seafood, vegetables and wild mushrooms, the kitchen churns out inventive plates served in cast iron pots and mini dutch ovens in vibrant colors.

This casual Italian eatery is a solid go-to for a low-key meal. Serving home-style fare, like thin-crust pizzas, pastas and paninis, the popular Toronto spot is a hit with kids and adults just looking for a simple meal. While this location is near the Shangri-La Hotel, there are multiple outposts all over the city including one on Queen Street West (720 Queen St. W.; 416-504-0320), good for a lunch break while shopping.