Rooftop Don Alfonso 1890 in Toronto

Don Alfonso 1890: the Amalfi Coast on the 38th floor, facing Lake Ontario

At the top of the Westin Harbour Castle

The Westin Harbour Castle stands on the waterfront, next to the ferry terminal for the Toronto Islands. Don Alfonso 1890 occupies the 38th floor of its tower, in a fully glazed, semicircular dining room. On one side, the eye sweeps over the harbour, the islands and Lake Ontario; on the other, over the downtown towers and the CN Tower. The decor is understated, with light-coloured armchairs, sculpted chandeliers and furniture largely brought over from Italy.

A Michelin-starred restaurant from Sant'Agata

The restaurant is the only North American outpost of the Don Alfonso 1890 house, founded in Sant'Agata, between the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno, and it has been awarded a star by the Michelin Guide. The cuisine marries the flavours of the Amalfi Coast with Canadian produce: Nova Scotia lobster, Manitoba bison, Ontario lamb, Gragnano pasta. Two tasting menus are offered at CA$225, as well as an à la carte option at CA$150 in the dining room. The cellar, very Italian, has nearly a thousand labels.

The lounge for a drink

A bar and a lounge, along the picture windows on the lake side, serve cocktails and a menu of small plates, from tartares to pasta and desserts. For groups, the dining room can be booked privately for up to 82 seated guests and 120 standing.

Practical information

Open all year round, in the evening only: Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Booking online or on +1 289 805 6290; credit card required, with CA$100 per person charged for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance. Prices exclude taxes and tip. Entrance through the hotel, at 1 Harbour Square, then elevator to the 38th floor. Getting there: about ten minutes' walk from Union Station (TTC subway Line 1), or the 509 and 510 streetcars to the Queens Quay / Ferry Docks Terminal stop.