Sarah Warsi

Hello friends, I hope you are all doing well. It’s been a beautiful summer thus far with the simmering heat. It comes and goes too quickly, so we really need to relish every moment of the warmth and sunshine.

Summer, of course, brings about a myriad of things to do outdoors and in the city. And while there are plenty of things happening, I thought I would share my recent experience with a brand new establishment that is set to take downtown Toronto by storm.

Queens Harbour is the latest hotspot in Toronto. Spanning over 23,000 square feet, this multi-level, 800-seat facility just opened its doors to the public on July 11 and is poised to become a popular hangout destination right on Toronto’s waterfront.

I had the pleasure of attending a special pre-opening event last week with my lovely cousin. It was super swanky – complete with a red carpet and all out front! Everyone was dressed to impress. We definitely felt like VIP for the evening. =)

Queens Harbour offers the perfect hybrid between intimate indoor dining and a more casual, outdoor vibe with a sprawling rooftop patio called Queen’s Garden, complete with a retractable roof overlooking the beautiful waterfront. The roof is the largest of its kind in any Canadian restaurant, offering beautiful views of the CN Tower and Toronto Harbour. (The roof happened to be closed during the event.)

Before entering the venue, we were met with a large water tank with females impersonating mermaids swimming inside. It definitely made for an interesting and unique photo op!

Upon entering the main area, we were met with this beautiful ice sculpture and lovely architectural designs all around us.

The entire venue is lined with earthy-toned banquettes, indoor trees, Mediterranean-Asian inspired artwork, and floor-to-ceiling windows creating a warm, natural ambiance.

The restaurant offers a unique menu, which they have dubbed ‘MediterrAsian’ – a blend of Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes, which includes a large raw sushi bar – we only caught glimpses of this because the line for it quickly became a little insane. But right by the sushi bar is the kitchen – which has an open concept and you can see all the chefs hard at work preparing the delicious meals.

Out on the patio, they had the grill going with various types of meat, including delicious lamb kofta and chicken skewers as pictured below – yum!

The beef sliders were also a hit!

Also side note: I was amused by the concept of oysters being offered among the crowd. You might be thinking – uh, that’s nothing new, Sarah. Well, it was to me! lol A server was walking around with a literal oyster-handling belt, which I was so mesmerized by because I never knew it was a thing. (Pardon my ignorance, and I’m sure the belt actually has a proper name.) LOL The only seafood I eat is cooked salmon, some shrimp, and good old-fashioned fish that comes with chips. Oysters just fall into a next-level category of oceanic food that I cannot get on board with.

Overall, if you’re looking for something new, modern, and with an immersive atmosphere right on Toronto’s waterfront, I would recommend checking out Queens Harbour. They are also a great option for private corporate or personal events if you’re looking for a new spot to plan your next function. Their Instagram is QueensHarbourTo for all the latest photos and updates.

If you do happen to check it out, please leave your feedback in the comments below. Thank you.