Toronto has no shortage of outstanding restaurants ripe for a special occasion splurge.
Whether you’re hoping for a memorable birthday dinner, looking for somewhere to celebrate graduation, or simply searching for an excuse to get a little fancy with friends or family, these nine dreamy Toronto restaurants are designed to impress, with everything from exceptional food and stunning service to an immersive atmosphere.
Grey Gardens
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 199 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Seafood
Why You Need To Go: Restaurateur Jen Agg’s famed Kensington Market restaurant is the perfect place to celebrate the wine connoisseur in your life, with a head-spinning, expertly curated list of regional and international wines by the bottle or glass.
The compact menu of snacks and larger plates is equally noteworthy, favouring seafood in dishes like 7-layer dip with trout roe, the Arctic char crudo, or the striped bass. Not into fish? Dig into the duck sausage tagliatelle or the smoked pork with black trumpet mushrooms and Brussels sprouts.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Planta Queen
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 180 Queen St W, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Vegan
Why You Need To Go: Even the most hardened omnivore won’t be able to resist the 100% vegan eats at this sleek, airy Queen West dining room that’s the perfect place for your next special occasion.
Though Planta has other restaurants in Toronto specializing in plant-based burgers or Mexican fare, Planta Queen is a particular favourite for its Pan-Asian menu with dishes including bang bang broccoli, ahi watermelon sushi, shiitake dumplings, and Singapore noodles; all made without a scrap of meat or dairy in sight.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Fet Zun
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 252 Dupont St, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Why You Need To Go: From shawarma to falafel, eclectic Middle Eastern cuisine takes the form of large, colourful, family-style dishes perfect for sharing amongst a group of family and friends on a special day.
Not unlike his other similar restaurant Fat Pasha a mere few blocks away on Dupont, Anthony Rose’s Fet Zun manages a lived-in, bohemian feel in both the dining room and the peaceful patio, making this a prime choice to luxuriate over some flavourful food and drink with your favourite people.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Giulietta
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Address: 972 College St, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Italian
Why You Need To Go: Italian restaurants aren’t exactly rare in Toronto, but Giulietta has managed to stand out from the lot thanks to a commitment to chef-driven cuisine and an immersive atmosphere.
Executive Chef Rob Rossi’s authentic Italian menu of pasta, pizza, seafood and more has earned plenty of well-deserved acclaim, and he’s not one to shy away from using fine ingredients like black autumn truffle and kampot pepper to elevate a dish. If you’re looking to go several notches above standard spaghetti and meatballs for your next birthday dinner, look no further.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Address: 12 Brant St, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Why You Need To Go: Does anything say ‘”special” more than a sophisticated steak dinner?
Jacobs & Co. is regarded as one of the best restaurants in the city when it comes to thoughtfully sourced cuts of incredible steak served with fittingly indulgent accompaniments like duck fat fries; mixed mushroom risotto; or their Caesar salad prepared fresh table-side. You’ll be dropping a pretty penny here, but hey: that’s what special occasions are for!
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Bar Isabel
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 797 College St, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Spanish-influenced
Why You Need To Go: Spanish-inspired plates make use of contemporary cooking techniques and carefully sourced local and international ingredients at this hip restaurant and bar on College Street.
Bar Isabel’s moody, immersive atmosphere and creative culinary treats make it a standout special occasion spot, with menu items served family-style to be shared with loved ones over some sophisticated house cocktails or a selection of Spanish wines.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
360 Restaurant at the CN Tower
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Address: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Regional Canadian
Why You Need To Go: It may seem more than a little cliché to have a birthday dinner at the CN Tower, but where else in the city can you get comparable panoramic views?
This award-winning restaurant offers much more than that, though: the locally and sustainably sourced menu is pure Canadiana, offering flavours and recipes from across the country as well as an 3-course, prix fixe Indigenous menu designed by Chef David Wolfman. Taste what Canada has to offer while taking in unmatched views as the restaurant literally rotates. It’s a dining experience unlike anything else in Toronto.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Edulis
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Address: 169 Niagara St, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: Canadian
Why You Need To Go: Wild and foraged Canadian fare takes the lead at this MICHELIN Guide restaurant helmed by husband and wife duo Michael Caballo and Tobey Nemeth.
This cozy restaurant is basically foodie heaven. Hyper-seasonal ingredients are used to exceptional effect in Edulis’ acclaimed kitchen, often highlighting seafood, wild mushrooms, and vegetables in elevated dishes that showcase the best in each ingredient. Combine that with the restaurant’s inviting atmosphere and congenial service, and you have all the makings of a perfect place to celebrate something special.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Le Baratin
Price: 💸💸
Address: 1600 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
Cuisine: French
Why You Need To Go: French cuisine balances quality and simplicity at Le Baratin, which strives to make standout food at prices that won’t break the bank.
If you’re looking for a birthday brunch that’s both special and easy on the wallet, this rustic and homey bistro brings the goods. A variety of French breakfast classics are sure to satisfy, including an assortment of eggs Benedict with choices like Black Forest ham, shredded duck, and house gravlax.
If dinner is more the vibe, Le Baratin has that covered too, with a three-course dinner running a reasonable $59 per person and featuring a variety of options including steak frites, Parisian gnocchi, and magret de canard.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Whatever you choose, enjoy celebrating, Toronto!
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