27 restaurants across five provinces and 15 cities have earned VineRoutes honours for excellence in food, wine and hospitality
When VineRoutes launched its Restaurant Awards in 2025, the goal was to recognize restaurants across Canada that understand great dining is about more than what arrives on the plate. A memorable restaurant experience brings together food, wine, service and hospitality—and, increasingly, a thoughtful connection to the people and places behind them.
For 2026, that conversation continues with an updated class of restaurants demonstrating the diversity of Canada’s dining scene and the many ways a strong wine program can contribute to the experience.
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This year, 27 restaurants have received VineRoutes Restaurant Awards, representing destinations across the country and spanning three levels of recognition, including eight Vine Award winners, 18 Award of Distinction winners and one Regional Excellence Award winner.
The awards are designed to recognize restaurants that demonstrate a meaningful commitment to wine alongside the quality of their culinary and hospitality programs. While the size of a wine list is one consideration, the awards also look at factors including the breadth and quality of selections, Canadian representation, knowledgeable wine service and how effectively the program complements the restaurant’s cuisine and overall identity.
Bymark, located downtown Toronto, earned its first Award of Distinction in 2026.
That last point is particularly important. A great restaurant wine program does not necessarily have to look the same from one city—or one region—to another. A large, internationally focused cellar can offer extraordinary depth and discovery, while a more tightly curated list can tell a compelling story about local producers, regional cuisine or a particular style of dining.
The Vine Award remains the highest level of recognition, reserved for restaurants demonstrating a premier food and wine experience. Joining this exclusive group in 2026 are three restaurants, including:
- Aiāna in Ottawa, Ontario
- Harbour Sixty in Toronto, Ontario
- Le Hatley in North Hatley, Quebec
Harbour Sixty’s award is especially noteworthy, as it has become the only restaurant to move up from last year’s Award of Distinction to Vine Award status in 2026. The promotion reflects a significant development in the restaurant’s wine program. Harbour Sixty already had one of Canada’s largest restaurant cellars, with more than 3,200 individual selections and more than 21,000 bottles. But for 2026, the restaurant also made a deliberate effort to increase its representation of Canadian wine, moving from approximately two percent of its list in 2025 to six percent this year. Within a collection of that size, the change represents a substantial expansion of the Canadian offering.
Harbour Sixty is a Vine Award winner in 2026.
It is precisely this kind of evolution that our Restaurant Awards are intended to acknowledge. Restaurants are not static, and neither are their wine programs. The strongest lists continue to change with the industry, respond to their guests and find new ways to connect wine with the food and experience they offer.
The Class of 2026 reflects that diversity. From established dining institutions with deep cellars to destination restaurants whose wine programs are closely tied to local ingredients and regional identity, this year’s winners demonstrate the breadth of Canada’s food and wine culture.
Together, they offer plenty of reasons to explore beyond the familiar; to look at the restaurant table not simply as a place to eat, but as a place where food, wine, hospitality and a sense of place come together.
For information on all 27 VineRoutes Restaurant Award winners, including individual profiles and award details, click here.
Throughout the year, keep on top of restaurant-related news and trends and learn more about the Restaurant Award winners in Q&As with leading sommeliers, chefs and restaurateurs. Sign up for our free Vine & Dine email newsletter to stay in the loop on the latest restaurant and wine news!
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