It’s another sad day for plant-based foodies in the city, as one of Toronto’s most beloved vegan restaurants has officially closed its doors for good.
For nearly a decade, PLANTA has been serving up inventive plates of cruelty-free cuisine at both its original location in Yorkville, which opened in 2016, followed by a second bustling spot on Queen West. The news comes just a month after the city announced the popular VegTO Fest would not be returning for 2026.
The chain redefined what was possible with plant-based cuisine, turning ingredients like watermelon into convincing ahi tuna and elevating the humble veggie to a fine-dining art form.
Unfortunately, it seems the company was dealing with a series of financial hurdles behind the scenes. Following a year of navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings and a recent shift to liquidation, the brand officially concluded operations for both of its Toronto locations on May 19.
“Despite every effort to keep our doors open in Toronto, our Canadian restaurants reached a point where it was no longer financially feasible to operate,” writes in a post on their social media.
The closures mark the end of an era for the city that first incubated the concept. While the local restaurants have shuttered permanently, the brand’s mission to expand upscale plant-based hospitality will live on south of the border.
“PLANTA continues to serve guests across our United States locations while we proudly expand our commitment to push the boundaries of plant-based hospitality.”
You can no longer visit the Toronto outposts at 1221 Bay St. or 180 Queen St. W., but fans can still dine at PLANTA on future travels to American cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami.
