Halifax has claimed the top culinary spot in Canada as waterfront restaurant Mystic earned first place in Air Canada's prestigious Best New Restaurants 2025 list. The announcement highlights the growing recognition of East Coast dining excellence on the national stage.
The Winning Restaurant: Mystic's Maritime Magic
Located in downtown Halifax, Mystic opened its doors in September 2024 under the leadership of chef Malcolm Campbell. The restaurant has quickly gained attention for its innovative approach that combines Nova Scotia's abundant land and sea resources with global culinary influences.
According to Air Canada's assessment, signature dishes showcase sustainable, locally sourced ingredients and maritime-inspired flavours that blend inventive technique with timeless tradition. The restaurant currently offers two seven-course tasting menus - Fauna and Biota - priced at $175 each, focusing primarily on seafood and seasonal changes.
Current menu highlights include Acadian caviar, lobster raviolo with Nova Scotia-grown saffron chanterelles, and Arctic char with sea asparagus and scallop. The restaurant will introduce a new dining option called "The Short Form" three-course menu beginning December 1, 2025, featuring just twelve seats per night for an intimate culinary experience.
National Recognition: The Complete Top Three
Montreal's Le Violon, led by chef Danny Smiles, secured second place in the national ranking. The restaurant gained international attention earlier this summer as the centre of dating rumours involving Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau. The establishment earned praise for its hyper-seasonal menu built on locally sourced ingredients, featuring artful plating and bold flavour combinations that reflect Quebec's rich gastronomic heritage.
Toronto's aKin, helmed by chef Eric Chong, rounded out the top three positions. The Michelin-starred restaurant presents a $225 ten-course tasting menu that explores Asian flavours while pushing the boundaries of modern Canadian dining. This season's offerings reimagine street food from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Singapore, featuring dishes like karaage with caviar, tom yum with Hokkaido uni, and Hainan chicken rice.
Selection Process and National Representation
The competition began with a panel of 39 culinary experts from across Canada, including notable figures like Nuit Regular (chef and co-owner of six Toronto restaurants), Dan Clapson (Calgary-based food writer), and Lori McCarthy (chef and educator from Witless Bay, Newfoundland who specializes in foraging and hunting).
This year's selection process featured 31 finalists spanning ten Canadian cities, including Winnipeg, St. John's, Burlington, Ontario, alongside the usual culinary hubs of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. An anonymous culinary expert conducted rigorous assessments of every aspect of the dining experience at all establishments before determining the final ranking.
Geographic distribution of the top ten restaurants shows four establishments in Vancouver, three in Toronto, two in Montreal, and Halifax's Mystic as the sole East Coast representative in the winner's circle.
Andy Shibata, Air Canada's vice president of brand, emphasized in a statement that this year's winners demonstrate the bold creativity shaping Canadian cuisine today. He noted that whether through reinventing Canadian classics or chefs pouring their hearts into omakase experiences, each restaurant reflects its community uniquely while collectively showcasing the incredible range of flavour and culture across the country.
