25 Best Toronto Date Ideas for Summer 2022

Want your love life to be hotter than the asphalt on Yonge Street in August? Hotter than a 20-chili curry at Salad King? Hotter than than a flow class at Yoga Tree? To help you keep things interesting, we’ve rounded up the best Toronto date ideas for summer. Seriously, there’s no excuse to waste summer 2020 while safely social distancing, and there’s more than enough going on to keep you busy until September. From patios and parks to romantic date night restaurants and everything in between, there’s something for everyone.

Here are the best Toronto date ideas for summer 2022.

Fun things to do on a date

In the wise words of Jennifer Lopez, love don’t cost a thing. These free date ideas (or almost free) will keep you busy and your wallets full this summer.

• Play some on-on-one basketball at Underpass Park
• Rent a paddle board or tandem bike to explore Toronto Island
• Watch the sunset on Riverdale Park hill with an [insert your favourite caffeinated beverage here] from Rooster Coffee House

• Tune up your rides at Bike Sauce to prep for a season of cycling)
• Hit Woodbine Beach and work on your volleyball skills
• Grab some Bang Bang Ice Cream (or beers from Bellwoods) and head to Trinity Bellwoods Park
• Support Destination Danforth by riding the new bike lanes and grabbing drinks and eats on one of the many extended patios
• Visit Evergreen Brickworks for a hike, artisan market, lunch at Cafe Belong and more
• Have a picnic at the Scarborough Bluffs 
• Catch movies at the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show. Reserve free tickets for nightly screenings in parks across the city.
• Relax under the pink umbrellas at Sugar Beach
• Bike out Leslie Spit (a.k.a. Tommy Thompson Park). If you don’t have wheels of your own, you can always grab one from Bike Share at the entrance.

Hot restaurants and bars

No need to live off of Chipotle burritos this summer (though we totally support that)! If you’re looking to try out new date night restaurants, cool new bars or casual cafés, we’ve rounded up the latest food and drink establishments to open their doors in TO.

• Tuck into Ontario meats grilled to perfection Argentinian-style on a white-oak-burning grill at Kojin. No campfire required.
• Grab a casual (and tasty) lunch and a bevvy at Donna’s – a licensed snack bar in Bloordale Village.
• Make a rezzie at Alobar in Yorkville for fancy cocktails and upscale eats.
• Try fine Japanese cuisine with a seasonal tasting menu and sake pairing at Yukashi.
• Speaking of pairing menus, Apres Wine Bar serves only natural wines and small plates designed to pair with them.
• Looking for the perfect spot to reconnect? With modern decor and eats, Sara’s on Queen West encourages undistracted dining and reconnection on all levels!
• Celebrate meatless Monday at  Planta Queen.
• Stock up on goodies from shipping containers at stackt market and have a picnic
• Order cocktail kits and burgers to go at Project Gigglewater
• Find wonderful beers, enticing cocktails, shareable snacks, a cosy patio and live music at Bluebird Bar, a hidden gem in Roncesvalles.
• Discover why the critics are raving about Mother Tongue – creative cocktails and shareable plates with Filipino, Chinese, Japanese and North American influences.