10 December 2025
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Twinkling lights, Christmas concerts and bustling skating rinks make the holidays in Toronto feel extra magical. In one of the world’s most multicultural cities, the festive season also comes with a global twist — from Thai-inspired holiday markets to pop-up bars celebrating Jamaican and Filipino yuletide traditions. Even Toronto’s original Christmas market, The Distillery Winter Village, now boasts a Chef’s Lane spotlighting internationally inspired dishes from top local talent, including spicy mala poutine (a spin on the Canadian classic featuring French fries topped with mozzarella, pork and cabbage dumplings, and a spicy Sichuan-style gravy) from chef Eric Chong of aKin and tom yum (Thai hot and sour soup) from chef Nuit Regular of Pai.
As the temperatures dip, many of Toronto’s restaurants, bars and hotels roll out seasonal menus, over-the-top decor and special programming. Here are the best places to celebrate the holiday season in Toronto for 2025.
Where to Eat
Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
A Red Stripe beer-themed Christmas tree stands outside Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, setting the tone for this year’s “Pon Di Nice List” pop-up before you even walk through the door. Open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through January 11, the Caribbean-style Christmas event spans the entire upper floor of the restaurant, featuring tinsel, colorful lights and foil balloons that decorate the plant-filled space.
Guests can choose from a variety of seasonal libations, such as the Hot Wuk, an amaretto-whisky peppermint nog served in a Santa mug with a torched marshmallow, and the Pineapple Express, made with coffee-infused Crown Royal, Flor de Caña 12, Amaro Montenegro, spiced pineapple syrup, lemon and Angostura bitters. Rum is also on offer, in punch, flights, or in 1.5 ounce pours (the bar features specialty rums from Jamaica, France, Mauritius, Guyana and beyond). Don’t miss Chef Dadrian Coke’s signature dishes, including saltfish fritters, oxtail stew and jerk chicken — just be sure to book ahead, as tables are limited.
Ricky+Olivia
Chefs Ricky Casipe and Olivia Simpson’s second annual holiday lounge brings “A Filipino Christmas” to Queen Street East. Open until New Year’s Eve (except December 21 to 25, when the restaurant is closed), the intimate pop-up sits between Ricky + Olivia’s front-of-house bottle shop and the open kitchen and dining room in the back. Leaning into their flair for creating nostalgic, whimsical dining experiences, the team decorated the space with festive finds from Casipe’s parents’ home, from traditional Filipino star-shaped parol lanterns to Pinoy (Filipino music) CDs that cover the walls.
The menu features themed cocktails that blend Filipino and holiday flavors with local spirits. The Halaya Sour is a mix of Niagara white rum, house-made falernum (a spiced lime cordial originating from Barbados), sweet potato syrup and citrus, while the Leche Flan Nog purées baked Filipino leche flan (a Filipino caramel custard) into a rich base with Elora Distillery spiced rum. There are also party shots like the Gin Bulag (named after the Tagalog term for a blindingly strong gin) with apple pie moonshine and cranberry. Guests can pair drinks with favorites from the Bib Gourmand restaurant’s regular menu — like the carrot and ice cream (a savory dish with roasted carrots, fried chickpeas, bay leaf ice cream and melted brie), tartares and burgers — or drop in for seasonal Meet Your Makers tastings with Ontario producers in the bottle shop.
Pai
Pai’s flagship outpost on Duncan Street draws steady crowds, but the Thai restaurant’s uptown location will be the hot spot on December 8, when it transforms into the annual Pai Holiday Market. Styled after the night markets in Thailand, where chef Nuit Regular grew up, the event features local artisans selling jewelry, vintage clothing, holiday ornaments, live portrait art and more. Chef Nuit and her culinary team will serve special off-menu dishes, including moo tawd or gai tawd (Thai-style deep-fried pork or chicken) and gaeng garee gai (yellow curry chicken).
Admission to the market is free, but guests can donate a minimum of $10 to $20 and pull a tag from the Lucky Tree Game to win a guaranteed prize (Thai snacks, Chef Nuit’s cookbook, t-shirts and more are available). All net proceeds support the construction of an educational facility in Northern Thailand for underprivileged youth. On New Year’s Eve, sister restaurant Kiin offers a five-course tasting menu featuring signature dishes such as Tom Yum Oyster, Lobster Tom Yum, Boombai Short Rib and Khao Yum Rainbow Rice Salad.
Enigma Yorkville
The One-MICHELIN-Starred Enigma Yorkville will host its annual Christmas Eve dinner at its design-forward restaurant on Thomas Street. This year, a six-course tasting menu focuses on festive classics — from pigs in blankets to a chicken liver and cherry parfait — all reinterpreted by globally trained chef Quinton Bennett.
Canada's bounty is highlighted in dishes like East Coast halibut with mushroom miso cream, squash ravioli with mandarin and sage, poached steelhead with beetroot and dill, and a signature Beef Wellington with cabbage and bacon XO dressing. Wine pairings are available, and dessert (often a standout at Enigma) includes pumpkin-spiced choux with chai tea ice cream, petit fours and a pour of Enigma’s eggnog.
The restaurant also offers a take-home Christmas dinner, plus a New Year’s Eve tasting menu for those looking to close out 2025 with Champagne, an eight-course meal and a glass of Taylor Fladgate’s Single Harvest Port from 1863.
Where to Stay
Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Fairmont Royal York Hotel has been celebrating the holidays since 1929, and this year, the Toronto landmark has been transformed into an enchanted winter estate. Snow-dusted evergreens, illuminated reindeer and Victorian-style lampposts decorate the entrances, while a towering tree and giant nutcrackers fill the Grand Lobby. Tucked behind white iron gates, the lobby lounge, Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails, offers a Festive Afternoon Tea in partnership with Jo Malone London three times daily through January 4. Here, guests can snack on sweet and savory bites while listening to live piano.
Festive menus and cocktails like the Royal Tannenbaum old-fashioned and the tiki-style Snowbird Holiday are available across the property’s dining venues, along with family-friendly programming such as gingerbread cookie decorating.
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto
Steps from the home of the National Ballet of Canada, Shangri-La Hotel Toronto rolls out a full slate of holiday programming. Its Nutcracker Afternoon Tea, offered in partnership with the ballet, runs until December 28, with daily seatings from noon to 4 p.m. in the winter-wonderland-themed lobby lounge. Wild mushroom tartlets, smoked salmon croissants and brûléed foie gras are followed by desserts like Bûche de Noël, Mont Blanc and eggnog ornaments.
Overnight guests can book the Enchanted Festive Stay package, with perks including a $150 credit that can be used at the hotel’s dining venues and an in-room Christmas tree to decorate. Throughout the season, complimentary treats like maple taffy on snow, hot chocolate bombs, churros, beignets and a chocolate fountain are served in the lobby lounge Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The celebrations continue on New Year’s Eve with a casino-royale-themed party in the lobby lounge.
Hero image: Fairmont Royal York Giant Nutcrackers in the Grand Lobby - ©Matt Tibbo/Fairmont Royal York
Thumb image: Fairmont Royal York Tree Ceremony - ©Matt Tibbo/Fairmont Royal York
