City got off to a lively start and were nearly ahead after two minutes when Leroy Sane saw his volley hit the upright.
Pep Guardiola's charges took advantage of their dominance and went ahead on 21 minutes as Vincent Kompany's long ball found Gabriel Jesus, who out-ran Davinson Sanchez before slotting past Hugo Lloris.
The visitors were then gifted a chance to double their lead from the penalty spot when Raheem Sterling was brought down inside the box.
Ilkay Gundogan took the responsibility and sent Lloris the wrong way from 12-yards out to double City's lead.
Spurs reduced the deficit with four minutes remaining in the half as Aymeric Laporte's attempted clearance hit Christian Eriksen and sailed into the back of the net.
After a quiet start to the second half, City could have extended their lead in the 64th minute when Jesus broke through on goal, but the forward fired well wide with only Lloris to beat.
City eventually got their third goal in the 72nd minute when Lloris parried Laporte's strike into the path of Sterling, who slotted home from close range.
With the visitors comfortably leading, Guardiola introduced Bernado Silva for Jesus for the remaining stages of the second half.
The latter stages of the half failed to provide any clear-cut chances as the encounter finished 3-1 to the Citizens, who are one win away from clinching the title.