18 Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Toronto

Looking for romantic ideas for Valentine’s Day in Toronto that suit you and bae to a T? Whether you’re a zen couple that wants to skip work for a spa day, an outdoorsy duo looking to get outside or a trendy twosome seeking the best restaurants for Valentine’s Day in Toronto, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered up fun events and romantic things to do on Valentine’s Day 2020 in Toronto for every type of couple to get out there and celebrate love on February 14. 

Here are the best ideas for Valentine’s Day in Toronto.

1. Make a reservation at a Valentine’s Day restaurant in Toronto

Most of Toronto’s best restaurants offer a special Valentine’s Day menu designed just for two. Check out what your favourite local is serving up or treat yourselves to an evening at one of these iconic eateries. 

• The Chase (10 Temperance) Enjoy an outstanding seafood feast of oysters, lobster, scallops and more at The Chase Oyster and Bar on the main floor or head upstairs for their fine dining 5-course menu.
• The One Eighty (55 Bloor Street West) For a 3-course meal with a view of the city from the 51st floor, make a rezzie here.
• Planta (1221 Bay Street / 180 Queen Street West )
  Show “amore” with a vegan Valentine’s Day feast featuring a special four-course menu. (Tip: find more vegan restaurants we love in this article.)
• Café Can Can (89 Harbord Street) This insta-worthy French bistro is offering two Valentine’s Day dinner seatings for a 5-course tasting menu. 

2. ROM After Dark: Desire

Head to The ROM to follow your passion on a journey of discovery at ROM After Dark: Desire on February 14 from 7 to 11 PM. Enjoy exhibits, food, drinks, DJ, live music, a burlesque show and more.

3. Valentine’s Day at Ripley’s Aquarium 

Get your underwater fix at Ripley’s Aquarium with food stations, drinks and a DJ at Deep Sea Soirée.

4. Make it a Valentine’s staycation

Don’t spend away all your hard earned cash on a trip out town – just hit up some of Toronto’s world class attractions. Check out the 42 Best Date Ideas for Toronto Couples to Explore their City — some of these spots even have special Valentine’s Day packages.

5. Take your relationship to new heights

Take your date up the CN Tower for the ultimate view of the city. Make it a dinner date at the 360 Restaurant.

6. Sip champagne

Champagne and Valentine’s Day pretty well go hand in hand, so why not splash out and visit one of Toronto’s wine bars?

• Coffee Oysters Champagne is the place to go if you like to pair oysters with your bubbles.
• Grey Gardens‘ wine bar in the heart of Kensington Market has a wonderful selection.
• Archive focuses on natural and local wines in a cozy atmosphere.

7. Go skating

Skating is a classic winter date idea in Toronto that never goes out of style. We suggest filling up a thermos with your favourite warm beverage and lacing up your skates at the Bentway, Nathan Phillips Square or Harbourfront.

8. Book a hotel room for Valentine’s Day in Toronto

This year, February 14 falls on a Friday, so you can take full advantage and make it a romantic weekend at one of these iconic boutique hotels in Toronto.

• Broadview Hotel Enjoy a weekend in Riverside complete with a Valentine’s day dinner menu at The Civic, the hotel’s elegant main floor dining room. 
• The Ivy at Verity Indulge in a European style stay in the heart of the city including dinner at George Restaurant.
• Bisha Hotel Book the Room for Romance package at this luxury boutique hotel in the Entertainment District.
•  The Drake Hotel Explore Queen Street West with a dinner and overnight stay package and order a Love Kit  (bottle of bubbles, sweet treat, 1/2 dozen roses) to make it extra special.

9. Share a sweet treat

You could show up with a box of chocolates for your Valentine, but why not go out for a sweet treat instead. Dip into some chocolate fondue or dive into banana flambé to make it a shared experience.

• Cacao 70 Chocolate is its specialty, so it should come as no surprise that it makes a mean fondue.
• Nadege Instagram-worthy and steps away from Trinity Bellwoods, this spot is perfect for a macaron tasting extravaganza.
• Tori’s Bakeshop If vegan and gluten-free treats are a priority, then this is the bakery for you. 

10. Watch romantic flicks

Get your Valentine’s Day celebration started on February 13 at the Romance Short Film Festival at 20 Carlton Street. Pay what you like for eight short romantic films from 7:00 to 9:10 pm. Reserve seats online.

11. Light up the night

The Toronto Light Festival offers a visual journey and a playful adventure throughout the walking streets of The Distillery District from January 17th to March 1st… and it’s free! Make it a Valentine’s Day dinner date with Go Tours Canada’s Toronto LightFest Tour and Tasting Experience ($49 per person). Tour the dazzling light sculptures while you enjoy delicious bites and drinks from local Distillery District favourites Soma Chocolate, Cacao 70, Mill St. Brewery and Spirit of York.

12. Laugh out loud

Hear real, ridiculous, and X-rated dating stories at Tinder Tales annual “Not-So Valentine’s” Show! at The Rec Room. 

13. Get outside

Get out of town for a Valentine’s weekend in the great outdoors at an Ontario Park. You can rent a yurt, at Algonquin, Bon Echo, Bronte Creek, Charleston Lake, Kilarney, MacGregor Point, Pancake Bay, Pinery, Silent Lake and Windy Lake, so you’re pretty spoilt for choice.

14. Cook together

Discover new techniques this Valentine’s day with one of these special Valentine’s Day cooking classes.

• Valentine’s Love for Pasta cooking class by Local Wine Events
• Cooking With Cannabis – Valentines Day Couples Class

15. Love is love Valentine’s Day Package

Take in Love Inn 2020 at the Gladstone Hotel and celebrate all kinds of love. This year’s Valentine’s Day lineup includes a prix fixe dinner, Love (Actually) photo exhibit, Golden Girls Gal-entine’s Cabaret and hotel room package.

16. Go for brunch

Are you morning people? Avoid the weekend line-up and have a brunch date on Valentine’s Day morning at one of these fan favourites.

• Lady Marmalade You’ll want to smother yourself in the eggs benny at this east end spot.
• Maha’s Have you gone for Egypitian brunch yet? Well now’s the time.
• Cafe Belong Escape from the hustle and bustle of the city with brunch at Evergreen Brickworks.

17. Make Valentine’s Day in Toronto a spa day

Take the day off and book a couple’s session at a Toronto spa for therapies, a couples massage, facials and more.

• Elmwood Spa Book special V-Day packages including lunch.
• Hammam Spa Treat yourselves to V-Day treatments inspired by ancient rituals.
• Four Seasons Spa Feel like A-listers with a personalized spa experience.

18. Get sweaty on the dance floor

Work off that Valentine’s Day feast with some sexy moves on the dance floor with Beam Me Up: Love Disco Style at The Baby G – 1608 Dundas St W from 10:30 PM to 2:30 AM

Photo: Via @dereksam