Date night in Toronto: how to choose the right restaurant and neighbourhood

Toronto is one of the best restaurant cities in Canada, which makes choosing a date-night spot both exciting and overwhelming. The key is matching the place to the evening you want: a first date is different from an anniversary, and a Saturday on Ossington is different from a Tuesday in the Danforth. Here is how to choose well.

What kind of date night do you want?

• A first date suits a wine bar, cocktail bar or small-plates restaurant, where you can stay one hour or three.
• An anniversary or occasion suits a booked table at a special restaurant, maybe a tasting menu.
• A spontaneous night suits a neighbourhood spot that takes walk-ins or has bar seating.
• An active date might combine a walk, a show, a game or a gallery with dinner.

Which Toronto neighbourhoods are best for date night?

Neighbourhood	Why it works
Ossington and Dundas West	Intimate chef-driven restaurants and cocktail bars
Little Italy and College Street	Lively patios, Italian dinners and bars
The Distillery District	Lanes and heritage buildings, romantic at night
Yorkville	Polished rooms for a special occasion
Leslieville	Relaxed neighbourhood restaurants and wine bars
The Danforth	Greek tavernas and summer patios
King Street West	Busy, stylish restaurants near the theatres

How far ahead should you book in Toronto?

For a Friday or Saturday at a popular restaurant, book one to two weeks ahead, and longer for the city's most talked-about rooms, which can be reserved weeks in advance. Weeknights are much easier, and many restaurants are more relaxed from Tuesday to Thursday. Around Valentine's Day, during the Toronto International Film Festival in September and in December, the busiest restaurants fill up early.

How do you get into a busy Toronto restaurant?

1. Book as soon as tables are released.
2. Join the waitlist and watch for cancellations.
3. Try the bar at opening, since many restaurants keep bar seats for walk-ins.
4. Choose an early or late time.
5. Go on a weeknight.

How much does a date night in Toronto cost?

It depends hugely on the restaurant. Remember that Ontario menus show prices before tax: the 13 percent HST is added to your bill. Tipping is expected at table service, normally 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount. Both go on top of the menu prices, so budget above the menu total.

What are good date ideas beyond dinner in Toronto?

• A walk along the waterfront or the Toronto Islands ferry in summer.
• A show in the Entertainment District, with an early dinner on King Street.
• A gallery visit at the AGO, then dinner in Chinatown or on Baldwin Street.
• A game at Scotiabank Arena or Rogers Centre, then drinks nearby.
• Skating at Nathan Phillips Square in winter, then hot chocolate.
• A food crawl through Kensington Market.

How do you find a quiet restaurant in Toronto?

Many popular rooms are loud. Look at photos for soft furnishings and booths, book an earlier time, ask for a corner table and check recent ratings for comments on noise. Hotel restaurants and some older dining rooms tend to be calmer than trendy small-plates spots on a Saturday night.

What should you avoid on a date night?

• Two-hour table limits, if you want to linger. Ask when you book.
• Long lines at no-reservation spots, if either of you hates waiting.
• Game nights near the arenas, if you want quiet.
• Surprises with dietary needs: check the menu and mention allergies when you book.

Is brunch a good date in Toronto?

Often, yes, especially for a first date or a relaxed weekend together. Brunch is cheaper than dinner, the rooms are bright, and it is easy to follow with a walk. The catch is the lines at the most popular spots in Leslieville, Roncesvalles and downtown; choose a place that takes reservations, or arrive at opening, so the date does not start with forty minutes on the sidewalk.

What are good winter date ideas in Toronto?

Toronto winters are long, and some of the best date nights are built around them:

• Skating, at Nathan Phillips Square in front of City Hall or at the rink at Harbourfront, then dinner nearby.
• The Distillery Winter Village in the run-up to Christmas, for lights, mulled drinks and a stroll.
• Winterlicious, in late January and February, for a set menu at a restaurant you have been meaning to try.
• A cozy room, such as a wine bar or a small bistro on a snowy night.
• A show downtown, with dinner before on King Street West.

Check rink hours and conditions before you go, since outdoor ice depends on the weather.

Should you split the bill on a date in Toronto?

There is no rule. Many couples split, alternate or let whoever invited pay. Talk about it if you are unsure; it is better than an awkward moment when the bill arrives.

On Mosey you can see where people actually ate and what they ordered, rate your own date nights dish by dish, and keep a shared list of places to try together. Mosey Gold, a mark a place earns when the people who ate there rate it highly, cannot be bought, which makes it a useful signal when you are choosing somewhere special.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Distillery District food guide: eating, drinking and the Winter Village
• Ethiopian food in Toronto: Little Ethiopia and how to order

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.