Toronto is one of Canada's most beautiful cities, home to iconic landmarks such as the CN Tower and the expansive High Park. The multicultural city is known as a haven for the arts and culture, providing a plethora of unique date ideas for couples celebrating their first date or golden anniversary alike.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto
The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto is one of Toronto's premiere cultural museums, originally opened as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in 1999 within the Art Gallery of North York. Since 2018, it has been housed within a 55,000-square-foot renovated industrial space in Toronto's Lower Junction and has been funded by the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. The museum strives to showcase innovative contemporary art works, with a focus on works with relevant cultural and political themes. Rotating exhibitions throughout the year highlight the works of regional and national artists. Museum visitors can enjoy light cafe fare at Forno Cultura or browse merchandise and art publications at the museum's Art Metropole store.
Address: The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, 158 Sterling Rd, Toronto, ON M6R 2B2, Canada, Phone: 416-530-2500
The Nicholas Metivier Gallery
The Nicholas Metivier Gallery is one of Canada's largest contemporary art galleries, originally opened in 2004 in a space along King Street West. Since 2018, the gallery has been housed within its current location and has strived to showcase the works of Canadian and international artists of all ages and experience levels working in a variety of media. Gallery artists such as Joachim Bandau, Katharine Harvey, Izima Kaoru, and Yousuf Karsh have also been exhibited at prestigious international institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Tate Modern. Visitors can explore the gallery Tuesdays through Saturdays during the morning and afternoon hours.
Address: The Nicholas Metivier Gallery, 190 Richmond St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1P1, Canada
Auberge du Pommier
Auberge du Pommier is one of North York's most acclaimed French restaurants, known as an icon of Toronto fine dining since its opening in 1987. The restaurant, which is the crown jewel of the city's Oliver and Bonacini dining group, serves up traditional French fare with North American twists in a beautiful dining room space created from remnants of two 19th-century woodcutters' cottages. Lush floral terraces and cozy wood-burning fireplaces create a romantic ambiance, making the restaurant a great choice for special date nights. Elevated fare served up at lunch and dinner includes traditional classics such as cote de boeuf, lamb saddle agneau, duck breast canard, and phyllo-baked brie rôti. Full tasting menus explore seafood, meat, vegetable, and dessert courses, available with fine wine pairings from the restaurant's immense wine list.
Address: Auberge du Pommier, 4150 Yonge St, North York, ON M2P 2C6, Canada, Phone: 416-222-2220
Northern Maverick Brewing Co.
Northern Maverick Brewing Co. is one of Toronto's newest craft microbreweries, opened in 2017 by Jason Kaptyn. The expansive brewpub, which was named as one of Toronto Life's best new restaurants of 2018, offers 400 seats over two stories, including a large seasonal outdoor patio area. More than half a dozen of the company's delicious brews are tapped at any given time, including flagship lager, APA, IPA, gose, and dry-hopped sour styles. Entrees focus on high-quality land and sea fare prepared with seasonal ingredients, including buttermilk fried chicken, smoked pork ribs, 30-day dry-aged strip loin, and seared scallops with pumpkin and barley risotto. Clever shareable plates such as porchetta tacos, squash ricotta cakes, and roasted bone marrow are also great for splitting with dates.
Address: Northern Maverick Brewing Co., 115 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5V 2P9, Canada, Phone: 416-540-4030
Aloette Restaurant
Aloette Restaurant was named as one of Canada's 100 best restaurants in 2019. The restaurant, which was opened in 2017 as the sister restaurant of popular dining spot Alo, serves up refined bistro fare with French twists at lunch and dinner throughout the week. Elegant land and sea entrees include green curry madai sashimi, roasted octopus with chorizo, dry-aged beef tartare, and fried chicken with yuzu honey and hot sauce. Dates can share high-quality appetizers such as crispy oyster mushrooms or split classic desserts such as lemon meringue pie or apple pie sundaes. Wine menus emphasize European imports, while a creative cocktail list highlights ingredients such as herbal teas, aromatised wine, and Anaheim chilis.
Address: Aloette Restaurant, 163 Spadina Ave 1st Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 2A5, Canada, Phone: 416-260-3444
Mamakas Taverna
Mamakas Taverna is a charming Greek-style taverna, designed as a nod to owner Thanos Tripi's Greek heritage. The restaurant, which was opened in 2014, serves up unique modern twists on classic Aegean fare in its beautiful airy dining room, which is meant to mimic a traditional open Greek market atmosphere. Excellent land and sea entrees served up at dinner include whole grilled lavraki fish, kotopoulo brined chicken, and grilled paidakia lamb chops. Dates can also share a selection of traditional Greek dips and appetizers, including favorites such as tzatziki, haloumi, and phyllo pies. Unique house cocktails include the Acropolis, which blends tahini-flavored rye whiskey with liquid peanut butter.
Address: Mamakas Taverna, 80 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y7, Canada, Phone: 416-519-5996
Canoe Restaurant
Canoe Restaurant was opened in 2015 atop the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, offering unparalleled views of the city's skyline from its beautiful dining room. The restaurant, which is part of the Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants group, is helmed by executive chef John Horne and specializes in inventive contemporary Canadian dishes meant to reflect the country's unique provincial cuisines. Diners can enjoy hearty entrees such as tamarack lamb, Baffin Island turbot, tournedos rossini, or Ontario squab, paired with elegant appetizers such as charred venison tartare and baked stracciatella. Full seasonal chef's tasting menus are also served, along with an extensive menu of clever cocktails prepared with regional Canadian ingredients.
Address: Canoe Restaurant, 66 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5K 1H6, Canada, Phone: 416-364-0054
Famous Last Words Bar
Famous Last Words Bar is one of Toronto's most acclaimed themed bars, named as one of the city's best new nightlife spots by NOW Magazine and blogTO since its 2016 opening. The bar, which is helmed by owner Marlene Thorne, is named in honor of a Timothy Findley novel and is sure to please dates with literary interests. Each cocktail is named after a famed novel, including favorites such as the mezcal-infused Gold Finch and the Aperol spritzer Beautiful Ruins. Scrabble tiles on the lounge's unique bar spell out the names of famed literary characters, adding to the ambiance. A small selection of bar snacks is served up, including charcuterie and cheese platters and fine pates. Book-themed special events are hosted at the bar throughout the year, along with live music performances and mixology courses.
Address: Famous Last Words Bar, 392 Pacific Ave, Toronto, ON M6P 2R1, Canada, Phone: 416-792-5200
Lena Restaurante
Leña Restaurante is a delightful Argentinian-themed restaurant and lounge located within Toronto's famed CF Toronto Eaton Centre, housed within its branch of upscale retailer Saks Fifth Avenue. The restaurant is named in honor of executive chef Anthony Walsh's mother-in-law and pays tribute to the culinary traditions of South America, blending traditional Argentinian recipes with Italian and Spanish twists. Dates can share excellent tapas such as blistered shishito peppers, yuca fries, or the restaurant's signature empanadas, which are stuffed with beef and egg. Hearty entree options include veal milanesa, roast lamb sirloin, and squid ink fusili with ‘nduja sausage. A full bar bites menu is served up at the restaurant's Bar Lala, along with a selection of Argentinian-inspired cocktails.
Address: Leña Restaurante, 176 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5C 2L7, Canada, Phone: 416-507-3378
Actinolite Restaurant
Actinolite Restaurant has been praised as one of Ontario's best restaurants by The Globe and Mail, known for its elevated New Canadian fare and sleek chef's menus. The restaurant, which was opened in 2012 by married duo Claudia Bianchi and Justin Cournoyer, is named in honor of the mining town where Cournoyer grew up and acquired a love for hunting, fishing, and cooking. Menus emphasize fresh, minimally-prepared fare cooked with regionally-sourced ingredients acquired at the peak of their freshness. Diners can enjoy full seven-course tasting menus, four-course summary menus, or abbreviated two-course neighborhood menus, both of which are available with wine pairings.
Address: Actinolite Restaurant, 971 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 3V5, Canada, Phone: 416-962-8943
My Roti Place
My Roti Place is a unique fast-casual Indian restaurant founded in 2018 by restaurateurs Dhiraj Tiwari and Vivek Deora and executive chef Karthik Kumar. The 16-seat counter-service restaurant lets diners craft their own roti delicacies, starting with their choice of white, multigrain, or turmeric roti breads prepared in house daily. Protein choices range from chicken and fish to tofu and paneer cheese, while sauce options include traditional variants such as saag, vindaloo, and korma. Diners can customize their spice levels for all meals and enjoy vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options. Customizable biryanis are also served, along with classic appetizers such as samosas and clever global fusion snacks such as butter chicken poutine.
Address: My Roti Place, 406 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A6, Canada, Phone: 416-366-5554
FK
FK , formerly known as Frank's Kitchen, is the newest incarnation of one of St. Clair's most popular restaurants, originally opened in 2010 by Shawn Cooper and Frank Parhizgar. The restaurant, which was completely rebranded and reopened in 2018, serves up delicious French Continental fare infused with global twists, all crafted from housemade and locally-sourced ingredients. Dinner menus change frequently, but often feature options such as gnocchi with lobster bolognese, cocoa nib-crusted duck breast, and barbecue beef short ribs with potato leek puree. A wine list highlights more than 70 food-friendly wines, mixing classic and recognizable favorites with a selection of limited-production and boutique offerings.
FK, 770 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M6C 1B5, Canada, Phone: 416-551-9731
