A Michelin-starred fine dining Italian restaurant in Toronto, known for its Amalfi Coast-inspired cuisine and stunning views from the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle.
Chef Ernesto Iaccarino is a torchbearer of the esteemed Don Alfonso 1890 legacy, a family restaurant renowned for its commitment to traditional Italian cuisine with a contemporary touch. He has significantly...
Don Alfonso 1890 is the first North American restaurant of Michelin Star Chefs Alfonso & Ernesto Iaccarino. It offers a sophisticated fine dining Italian experience with flavors inspired by the Amalfi Coast. Located on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle, the restaurant provides stunning panoramic views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto cityscape, making it an ideal destination for special occasions.
Customers consistently praise the elegant and intimate ambiance, the stunning views, and the exceptional, attentive service where staff explain each dish. The food is described as beautifully presented, flavorful, and made with quality ingredients, with many highlighting the thoughtful combination of flavors and textures. While the overall experience is often deemed unforgettable and perfect for celebrations, some reviewers note the extremely high prices. Minor criticisms include occasional issues with washroom cleanliness and, in rare instances, a perceived lack of special acknowledgment for birthdays despite prior notification.
Additional Details
Don Alfonso 1890 offers both a prix fixe menu and a tasting menu, allowing guests to sample a wider range of dishes. The restaurant moved to its current prominent location on top of the Weston Harbour Castle from its earlier Queen Street address.
Ideal for dinner, especially for celebrating special occasions or romantic evenings, to fully appreciate the fine dining experience and city views.
Awards & Recognition
MICHELIN Guide One Star • 2025
Rated #1 or #2 Best Italian Restaurant in the World outside of Italy
5
Had such a beautiful dining experience at Don Alfonso 1890 while celebrating my friend birthday. From the moment we arrived, the ambiance was elegant and intimate, with stunning views from the 38th floor overlooking Lake Ontario, making the evening feel extra special.
We enjoyed the three-course à la carte menu, and every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The truffle bites were the perfect start, followed by fresh handmade tagliolini that was rich and flavorful. For mains, we had the Beef Wellington, lamb, and cod - each one cooked to perfection with incredible attention to detail. Every plate was thoughtfully crafted, and you could truly taste the quality and care in each bite.
What made the night even more memorable was the exceptional service. After each course, the staff took the time to explain every dish, which made the experience feel even more elevated and personal. They were attentive throughout the evening, clearing the table seamlessly and always making sure we had everything we needed. The level of professionalism and hospitality was outstanding.
To make the celebration even sweeter, we were surprised with a complimentary dessert cart for the birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch - and absolutely delicious. It really added to an already amazing evening.
From the food to the service to the atmosphere, everything was impeccable. Don Alfonso 1890 truly delivers a Michelin-star dining experience and is the perfect place for celebrating special occasions. Definitely a night to remember, and I would happily return, which was such a thoughtful touch - and absolutely delicious. It really added to an already amazing evening.
Don Alfonso 1890 is a high-end Michelin-star restaurant, and overall the experience was pretty good. The space is beautiful, with a nice view over the city and lake, and the service felt very professional.
Most of the tasting menu was enjoyable. The dishes are refined, plated nicely, and the pacing of the meal is relaxed, so you can actually sit back and enjoy each course. Some of the seafood and pasta dishes stood out the most for me—they were light, balanced, and well executed.
That being said, one dish really didn’t work for me at all: the veal. It was way too meaty in both smell and taste, and honestly I didn’t enjoy it. It felt heavy and a bit overwhelming compared to the rest of the menu. What made it even more confusing was the pairing—ketchup with veal. For a high-end restaurant like this, that kind of pairing felt really strange and out of place. It didn’t match the level of refinement I expected.
Aside from that, everything else was good. The desserts were nice, the service was excellent, and the overall atmosphere made it feel like a special night out.
We had a truly unforgettable experience here. We made the reservation to celebrate a birthday and noted that we hoped for a lake view when booking—thankfully, the request was granted and the view was absolutely beautiful. The service was warm and attentive throughout the evening. The staff always approached the table at just the right moments, making sure everything was perfect without ever feeling intrusive or overly frequent.
Our dining experience started wonderfully with the bread service, which already left a great impression—there was a nice variety and everything tasted excellent. Each dish we ordered had a very thoughtful combination of flavors and textures, with great balance and depth. To top it all off, the restaurant surprised us with a lovely little birthday treat at the end, which made the evening even more special. It was a memorable celebration, and we would definitely love to come back.
A beautiful restaurant with a welcoming feel. The owner came and greeted us for our first time there. The food was deliciously balanced and curated for refined tastes. It's easy to understand their Michelin Star and many awards. It is out of the budget for most, but if you can treat yourself, this is a spot for your bucket list.
Romantic and decadent.
The view and decor make this venue very special. It is on the 38th floor with a magnificent view of the Harbour region of Toronto (no real lake view though). Careful if you don't like heights though!
Service from Amanda was good - very polished and explained everything well. The sommeliers let the team down a bit, not because of knowledge but because it took a while from ordering the wine for it actually to be poured (like a full course). Their wine recommendations were good.
We chose the tasting menu with meat / seafood. All courses were beautifully presented and it was clear that a lot of thought went into the layers of flavor & balancing of dishes.
I really recommend this restaurant, especially for a romantic evening or to celebrate a special occasion.
