Enjoy a delicious date night in Yorkville
You have the perfect company, now all you need is the perfect setting. High above Toronto or nestled below at street level, there’s a romantic spot with fabulous food waiting for you in Yorkville.
Trattoria Nervosa
75 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON M5R 1B8Nervosa might mean nervous in Latin but there’s no reason to fret when it comes to planning a romantic date at this rustic Italian spot. The pizza and pasta dishes are sophisticated yet entirely accessible and the wine list offers plenty of bottles to share. Even pop superstar Beyonce enjoyed a lunchtime date here with her husband Jay-Z when she was in Toronto on tour.
The One Eighty
55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M4W 1A5This spot offers the perfect change of scenery to wind down and start the conversation. Fifty-one floors above Toronto, you see the cityscape from a bird’s-eye view. It’s a spectacular setting for a first date, or an evening with your long-term partner or spouse. The most romantic moment comes when the sun sinks below the city skyline and leaves clusters of glittering skyscrapers in all directions. Enjoy the show with a beer, wine or cocktail and chocolate fondue for two!
Cibo Wine Bar - Yorkville
133 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON M5R 1C4Pick a table in the wine cellar, glass-walled mezzanine or street level floor where seating opens out onto Yorkville Avenue. You and your date have more than 100 red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines from which to choose to accompany an imaginative selection of Italian antipasti, salads, seafood, pastas and meat dishes. The rustic-contemporary decor makes you feel like you’re comfortably ensconced in Mama’s kitchen all by yourselves.
Sassafraz Restaurant
100 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON M5R 1A6There’s a sense of anticipation even before you step into Sassafraz simply because it’s in a cute, yellow Victorian row house located amongst 21st century skyscrapers. The roomy light interior makes an interesting contrast to the outside look with a restaurant and separate cafe-bar boasting different fusion menus. Dishes to share include charcuterie platters and oysters. Live piano music on the weekends adds a chilled ambience but it’s never too noisy to chat. There’s indoor and outdoor seating.
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
154 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON M5R 1A8Japanese food is perfect because you get to know each other better by sharing dishes. The fish here tastes like it was just reeled in and special green tea ice cream offers a sensual dessert you can both eat with one spoon. There are waitresses in traditional Japanese kimonos, and dishes on the menu you won’t find elsewhere. At the same time, Shogun is cozy and relaxed, and the signed photographs of diner celebs dotting the walls give you an ice-breaking conversation topic.
