Date Ideas in Toronto

As the largest city of Canada and the fifth-most populous in North America, Toronto is a modern city buzzing with life. It offers an immense variety of recreational options for couples whether they are just getting to know one another or looking to spend a romantic evening in privacy. Here are a few date ideas if you find yourself in this lively city and are looking forward to a special evening.

Stroll through the Distillery

The Distillery is Canada’s largest pedestrian-only complex for arts, culture and entertainment. The district is home to a wide variety of boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, artist studios and small breweries. You and your date can stroll through the cobblestone streets exploring at the various places of interest. The streets have sitting spaces in the form of tables and chairs in several areas outside of food shops and restaurants that are open to the public. When tired, you can quench your thirst at the famous Mill Street Brewery which boasts of beers on draught, including seasonal and other special or one-off releases.

Go for a movie at the Ontario Place

Ontario Place is one of the most popular recreational spots in Toronto. It is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction primarily consisting of three artificially constructed, landscaped islands. Attractions are spread throughout the park together with walking trails and food and drink concessions. However the park is closed from October through April but if you still want to go on a date here during this time, head for the Cinesphere, an 800-seat 70 mm movie theater which is famous as the world’s first permanent IMAX Theater. You can catch a show here or if you want to soak in the sun, explore the Marina village which has its own access to Lake Ontario as well as various boating options.

Catch a show at The Second City

The Second City is one of the most famous comedy clubs of Toronto and boasts of an impressive alumni with the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Andrew Alexander, Joe Flaherty and more recently, Ashley Comeau, Nigel Downer, Alastair Forbes and Carly Heffernan. No wonder then dinner and show nights here are a huge hit for couples and comedy lovers alike. Restaurants like Wayne Gretzky’s, which is practically next door, also have offers which includes dinner, cocktails and appetizers. Moreover it’s a short walk from the GO Train at Union Station so you and your partner can even do away with private transport should you choose to spend an evening here.

Hit the dance floor

Toronto has a thriving nightlife and there are discotheques and dance clubs galore. One of the most attractive in terms of music as well as clientele is the Lula Lounge restaurant and arts club on Dundas West. There is live music and dancing every night of the week, but the weekend dinner-and-a-show package is the real steal.  You can take advantage of the $49 offer which includes a three-course dinner, salsa dance lesson and live show but make sure to make advance bookings since the rush on weekends is huge.

Sample the exotic on Front Street

The Front Street is one of the most popular recreational spots in Toronto where along with the usual run of bars and cafes, you can also find some specialty restaurants. So if your partner has a thing for exotic cuisine, check out places like the Sultan’s Tent restaurant, Café Moroc and new Berber Lounge, all of which are fantastic date spots. You can sample from a wide variety of delights ranging from an intimate fixed price Moroccan menu in a luxurious private tent, to live music, belly dancers and DJs belting out hypnotic beats.

Take a tour of the past

If your partner is a history lover, few things would be as much fun as browsing through museums of which Toronto houses some of the largest and best-stocked in the world. Chief among them is the Royal Ontario Museum famous for its exhibits relating to world culture and natural history. Containing more than six million items and forty galleries, the museum has notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history. However there are many other equally famous museums you can choose from like the Gardiner Museum of ceramic art which is the only museum in Canada entirely devoted to ceramics, Bata Shoe Museum which features many unique exhibitions focused on footwear throughout history or the Textile Museum of Canada which boasts of a niche collection of great quality and interest.

Artstruck

On the other hand if your date has a thing for fine arts and visual arts, Toronto boasts of many venues which can make for ideal date spots. The Art Gallery of Ontario contains a large collection of Canadian, European, African and contemporary artwork and also hosts exhibits from museums and galleries all over the world. Among other art galleries where you and your partner can browse through are include the Design Exchange, the Museum of Inuit Art, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Institute for Contemporary Culture as well as the Toronto Sculpture Garden where apart from the works of art by contemporary sculptors, a major attraction is a beautiful waterfall fountain along the East Wall.

Go Shopping

If your partner likes nothing as much as shopping, for your date head to the Eaton Center which is the largest shopping mall in the city of Toronto. And once you have covered all of the 230 stores you can proceed to one of the two food courts or the several fine dining restaurants. Take a moment though to admire the sight of group of fiberglass Canada Geese hanging from the ceiling. This sculpture is titled Flight Stop and is the creation of the artist Michael Snow. However if you are willing to spend a packet, you can impress your date by taking her to the Yorkville neighborhood which is one of Toronto's most elegant shopping and dining areas. On many occasions, celebrities from all over North America can be spotted in the area, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival.