A Toronto restaurant on one of the city’s most lively neighbourhoods has quietly closed its doors for good.
It’s been hit after hit for King West and the Entertainment District so far in 2025, with the loss of stalwart nightclub Early Mercy, swanky beauty bar Majesty’s Pleasure, and, most recently, the closure of Casa Mezcal further east on the strip’s faltering Restaurant Row.
The winds of change aren’t quite done blowing on King West yet, though, as they’ve brought about yet another high-profile on the strip.
This time, it’s District Eatery that’s bitten the dust, shuttering without warning sometime in early 2025.
Founded on the principle of reinventing bar food for the more health-conscious consumer; think hummus flights and falafel bowls at night and buckwheat protein pancakes for brunch, the restaurant easily distinguished itself from its neighbours, appealing to the then-largely young, professional crowd in the area.
Because it’s King St., though, the restaurant also served its fair share of creative cocktails and featured a patio that was a huge hit during the warmer months.
In its 8-year stint in the area it, like many other bars and restaurants in the bustling neighbourhood — particularly those with patios — became something of an institution, before seeming to just fade away after the 2024 holiday season.
It’s not all bad news though; on the bright side, every restaurant closure means the potential for something new to move in.
In the case of neighbour Casa Mezcal, that’s coming in the form of a new Mexican spot called Tulum, which is expected to open this spring. The jury’s still out for District Eatery, though.
At least it’s guaranteed to have one killer patio.
At the time of publication, Urban Dining, the hospitality company behind District Eatery as well as Hey Lucy, Gabby’s and the NBA Courtside Restaurant, has not responded to blogTO’s request for comment on the reasons behind the restaurant’s sudden closure.
District Eatery was formerly located at 303 King West.
