4 Best Restaurants in Gravenhurst, Side Trips from Toronto

The dozen or so petite tables are set with blue-willow-pattern china in this quaint restaurant serving traditional English fare on the Muskoka Wharf. High tea—a three-tier platter of shortbread, scones with Devonshire cream, and savory finger sandwiches, plus a pot of tea per person—is served every afternoon.

Consistent with the aesthetics of Taboo Resort, the Boathouse offers luxurious and contemporary international cuisine in a subdued dining room with sleek furnishings, hardwood floors, and a wall of lakefront windows. The kitchen has oriented the menu to appeal to a health-conscious crowd.

Stock up on hoppy brews fresh from the source when visiting Sawdust City, which owes its name to the former local logging trade. There's a full kitchen on-site serving hearty gastropub fare like cheesy truffled burgers and duck wings, with regular live music scheduling.

A cut above the rest, The Oar entertains guests with its beautiful pinewood floors and rustic cabin-like interiors. Burgers and steaks can be had but the upscale tavern menu has been known to include specials like quinoa-stuffed portobellos on a layer of avocado chimichurri and pan-fried locally caught pickerel, plated with root veggies and pecans. Expect live music from locals and even an occasional Canadian star like Jim Cuddy.