Air Canada unveils top 30 restaurants. Photo: Air Canada Air Canada, the veteran airline that recently received Skytrax's prestigious "Best Airline in North America" award has revealed the 30 finalists for its 2026 Best New Restaurants program, marking the 25th anniversary of an initiative that has highlighted emerging dining destinations across Canada.
The annual program has become a national platform for new restaurants, with this year’s finalists selected from establishments that opened between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
The selection was made by an independent panel of culinary tastemakers, in collaboration with DINR, based on food, service, and each restaurant’s contribution to Canada’s dining scene.
Toronto leads this year’s list with 10 finalists, while Vancouver has four and Montréal has five. Other cities and regions represented include Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Victoria, Winnipeg, Revelstoke, Collingwood, Niagara and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
The 2026 finalists are:
3 Pierres 1 Feu, Montréal; Alfred’s, Revelstoke; Angela Pastificio, Vancouver; Antheia, Ottawa; Antylia, Toronto; Bar Eugenie, Toronto; Bar Les Incompetents, St. Catharines; Bistrot Fortune, Montréal; Coquette, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré; Hana Korean Steakhouse, Montréal; Kavita, Vancouver; Liliana, Toronto; LORE, Collingwood; Lumache, Victoria; MacTaverne, Val-David; N.L. Ginzburg, Toronto; Nui, Vancouver; OLDESEOUL TAVERN, Toronto; Penny Crown, Calgary; Radici Project, Toronto; Restaurant Capelin, Niagara Region; Revé, Niagara Region; Rita Trattoria, Edmonton; SAMMARCO, Toronto; Seahorse, Toronto; Snack Haüs, Winnipeg; Sushi Jun, Calgary; Touk, Vancouver; Yakitori Hibahihi, Montréal; and Zia’s Place, Toronto.
The finalists will be featured on DINR, which offers restaurant reservations, editorial content and access to culinary events across Canada.
This year’s anniversary program is also looking back at chefs and restaurants that previously gained national attention through Best New Restaurants.
Air Canada plans to introduce its Best New Restaurants Icons, a new hall of fame honoring chefs who have helped shape Canadian food culture. The inaugural group will be announced during the Top 10 celebration in November.
Air Canada has also launched a searchable guide covering every Best New Restaurants finalist since 2002, giving diners a way to explore restaurants that have appeared on the list over the past two decades.
The anniversary celebrations will include a new dining series presented with DINR. The program will bring together chefs who are alumni of Best New Restaurants for one-night collaborations featuring specially created menus. Air Canada is also partnering with culinary festivals on curated events and menus.
The airline is putting money into culinary education as part of this year’s program. Together with the Air Canada Foundation, it is contributing $25,000 to La Tablée des Chefs' national Kitchen Brigades program, which gives high school students opportunities to develop cooking, teamwork and leadership skills.
The new contribution brings combined support from Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation for La Tablée des Chefs to more than $500,000.
The 2026 program will conclude on November 16 in downtown Toronto, when Air Canada announces its Top 10 Best New Restaurants. The event will bring together this year’s restaurants, chefs, media and food enthusiasts to mark the program’s 25th anniversary.