Toronto Islands Restaurants, Picnics, & BBQs

Restaurants

The Toronto Islands have a small handful of eateries. Selection and variety are limited, as most of the restaurants do not operate year round, full-time, and are open only seasonally. Be sure to check the websites of each restaurant for operating hours before you visit. Here you can find a map and information about all the restaurants on the island.

The Upper Deck

The Upper Deck

Located at the Toronto Island Marina, the Upper Deck Bar is open for lunch and dinner, and offers live entertainment on weekends.
Island Cafe

Island Cafe

20 Withrow St — Located on Ward’s Island just a few steps from the ferry dock, the Island Cafe offers coffee, brunch, lunch, and dinner. They also do take out and have an ice cream bar, along with a licensed patio.
The Rectory Cafe

The Riviera: Ward's Island Kitchen

102 Lakeshore Ave — Formerly the Rectory Cafe, The Riviera boasts casual eats and outdoor patio seating for up to 250 guests.
Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co.

Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co.

120 Centre Island Dock — Located right next to the Centre Island ferry dock, this large restaurant can seat 1000 guests, including over 500 on the patio.
Centre Island Food & Drink

Centre Island Food & Drink

The Centre Island Food & Drink group operates several independent snack bars, booths, and wagons offering popcorn, candy floss, ice cream, cider, and more at the Centreville amusement park. In addition, they operate the O'Bumble’s Ice Cream Parlor, Uncle Al’s Smokehouse Grill, Funnel Cake Shop, and Sister Sara’s Cake Shoppe at Centreville, as well as the Mermaid Cafe (LLBO) and Hanlan's Point Snack Bar (LLBO) on Hanlan's Point.
Carousel Café

Carousel Café

Located next to the Centreville Theme Park, the Carousel Café offers the usual assortment of burgers, wings, pasta, and more.
Subway

Subway

57 Avenue of the Island & 21 Avenue of the Island — The popular sandwich chain has three outlets on the Toronto Islands — one at the Centre Island Ferry Dock, one at the Centreville amusement park, and one near the pier (exact address is unlisted).
Pizza Pizza

Pizza Pizza

1 Avenue of the Island & 21 Avenue of the Island — Pizza Pizza was founded in 1967 and has over 500 locations across Canada (most in Ontario), with there being two separate outlets on the Toronto Islands.
Beaver Tails

Beaver Tails

Located at the Centre Island pier, these flat, piping-hot, doughy, sugary pastries have been a Canadian favourite since 1978.

Picnics & BBQs

Centre Island, Olympic Island, and Hanlan’s Point each have large grassy fields that are ideal for picnics and BBQs.

Location Picnic Sites Fire Pits
Hanlan’s Point 12 3
Ward’s Island 1 0
Centre Island 10 1
Olympic Island 5 3
Snake Island 4 4

You can picnic on the island wherever you like, but gatherings of 25 or more people (200 max) require a permit from the City of Toronto (at a cost of $88.42 in 2018). Alcohol may not be consumed anywhere on the Toronto Islands except in licensed establishments. Toronto bylaw enforcement officers regularly patrol the island looking for violations. Additionally, picnic permits have additional restrictions:

  • No amplified music or microphones (so don’t bring your Bluetooth speakers)
  • Sales of food, items, goods, services, or fundraising are forbidden (there’s a separate permit process for that)
  • Permits are not issued for beach areas
  • No balloons, decorations, banners, signs, inflatable games, generators, tents, or tarps (so no birthday parties)

Permanently fixed charcoal BBQs are available in a few places across the island, although you’ll have to bring your own charcoal or briquettes. Use of propane and other fuels are strictly prohibited in permanently fixed BBQs.

If you’re planning a picnic or BBQ on the Toronto Islands, a wheeled beach cartsuper long-lasting cooler, or cooler with wheels will be super helpful to get your food to and from the island.

2 Responses

  1. Hi, I am just wondering how to find a Permanently fixed charcoal BBQs on the Toronto islands. Will the BBQ location be shown on the map? If so, could you please send me one? Or are there signposts on the island to guide us? Thank you so much!

    1. I would also like a map of the BBQ locations. The Toronto booking site just says, Island Park-Area 04, but doesn’t say where that is.

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