5 Toronto restaurants with great art collections

Toronto restaurants aren't just places to appreciate a fine meal but also original pieces from renowned artists. From paintings and installations to ceramics and sculptures, there's plenty to feast your eyes on while dining on steak or sushi.

Here's where to find great art at Toronto restaurants.

Cactus Club Cafe
The West Coast chain debuted with this big budget restaurant in the Financial District where the walls are adorned with commissioned pieces from Mr. Brainwash and curated works from Warhol and Basquiat.

America
The restaurant on the 31st floor of the Trump Towers proudly displays oversized artworks from Chad Wys's Readymades series that sees streaks of colour overlaid over appropriated portraits.

Peter Pan
Carpeted hunter's trophies from London based artist, Debbie Lawson hang on the walls of this Queen West bistro. The restaurant is in good company, Lawson's work is held in the collections of Charles Saatchi, the House of Lords, and the Nottingham Castle Museum among many others.

Shoushin
Sushi chef Jackie Lin fancies himself a photographer and has designed some of the tableware used in the restaurant. In addition to self made works, there's two Picasso ceramics on permanent display in the restaurant; Nature morte à la cuillère and poisson chiné are two acquisitions from Christie's that Brett Sherlock, Managing Director of Christie's Canada says "...have definitely found the perfect home."

Momofuku
You can appreciate Rising by Shanghai-based artist Zhang Huan, without ever even entering this restaurant. The 33-foot-tall, 22-tonne, stainless steel sculpture of birds in flight flanks the entrance of the multi-storey Momofuku complex on University.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions where to see great art hanging in Toronto restaurants to the comments.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO