Top places in Toronto for a date night north of Bloor
Trying to decide where to go for your next uptown date night is about to get easier. We’ve lined up our top picks north of Bloor – from cozy gastropubs with an edge, to a charcuterie bar that moonlights as a coffee shop by day, to classic neighbourhood trattorias to see and be seen.
Boxcar Social
1208 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1W1This Summerhill special moonlights as coffee beans by day, and beers and bourbon by night. Whether you're coming here for a first date or an overdue catch up with your beau, you’ll sip and dine amongst a cozy and chic backdrop. Exposed brick walls, wooden tables, warm lighting and an elegant old-school charm, Boxcar Social is perfect for long chats, slow sipping and snack nibbling. Order up a Toronto microbrew or choose from the huge selection of Quebec beers and top it off by sharing one of the menu’s hefty charcuterie boards.
The Monk's Table
1276 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1W5There’s something about an old-world church that will charm the pants off you, and hopefully your date (not literally, of course),and this spot was designed with exactly those medieval features in mind. With its soft mellow lighting and warm wood finishes, this comfy gastropub not only offers one of Toronto’s best European beer selections, but it also totes a snack and dinner menu that is anything but typical pub grub. Cozy up in a booth upstairs over some moules frites, and before the night gets carried away, wash away your dating sins with a round of traditional Scotch whisky.
Little Sister-Indonesian Food Bar
2031 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A2Nestled on the strip between Davisville and Eglinton, Little Sister Food Bar offers authentic Indonesian dishes, but feels decisively more like a comfy hip bar than a restaurant. High industrial ceilings rise above a long bar and a mixologist whipping up unusual combos of liquor (think: housemade bitters, tamarind syrup and palm sugar). Skip the long bar or communal table and grab a table for two at the banquette. Share a couple orders of satay and chicken tacos (Balinese style with shallot sour cream) and wash it down with a pint of beer or barrel-aged cocktail.
Grano Restaurant
2035 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A2If you can’t whip off to the Italian countryside for a romantic dinner for two, this trattoria has been serving up a rustic and authentic Italian dining experience for almost 30 years, is a fantastic second best. Grab a table for two by candlelight and start with a bottle of vino (priced from $30 to $500) and share sweet nothings over an assortment of antipasti paired with a divine grilled squid salad and a sweet-meets-savoury squash and sweet potato gnocchi. Plus, when weather permitting, the grotto-style back patio (equipped with a fountain) is perfect long chats on a summer night.
Via Mercanti Yonge
2075 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A4Just stepping into COQUINE, you’ll feel like you’ve taken your date night up a notch. This bistro offers a distinctly Parisian setting against an art deco backdrop that is oh-so European. Choose from high-quality ingredients in small bites to share, mains or a set menu. And if you want to turn up the heat even more, check out Oyster Mondays ($2.50 per oyster or $14.50 for 12), because oysters are known for their aphrodisiac properties, after all.
Sip Wine Bar
2 Broadway Ave, Toronto, ON M4P 1T4Half bar, half trattoria, this spot does two things really well: classic Neapolitan pizzas and wine. Did we mention wine? Choose by the glass or by the bottle from an Argentinan malbec to a pinot grigio from Veneto, Italy. Catch up over a long day, chill out and fuel up at a seat on the banquette against the exposed brick wall. This modern and comfy spot is ideal pre-party or pre-show.
