11 of Toronto’s outstanding spots for celebrating special occasions

by Jessica Huras

Updated April 27, 2023

Torontonians come from all corners of the world. So it’s only natural that the special occasion restaurants in Canada’s largest city have global sensibilities.

Celebrate a relationship milestone at a hidden French countryside escape in Midtown. Take a group gathering to a lively King West karaoke spot with Sichuan-inspired plates. For an epic birthday dinner, head to a Harbourfront Italian icon that was just awarded a MICHELIN star.

Queen City’s restaurants are ready to host your next anniversary, family reunion, or promotion. Read on for a list of Toronto's top 11 special occasion spots to book now.

Enigma Yorkville

4.8

4.8 (520)

CAN$51 and over

International

Yorkville

About the restaurant

The dining experience at Enigma wows from start to finish. It begins with the striking interiors, lined with mosaic tiles that glitter like tiny jewels. Dishes feature seasonal ingredients, European techniques, and exquisite plating—all while showcasing chef Quinton Bennett’s passion for molecular gastronomy. The blind format tasting menu means that diners are treated to delightful surprises emerging from the restaurant’s open kitchen. Plates might include British Columbia king salmon with pickled wild coho salmon roe, Tajima wagyu with shiitake and kelp, and matcha and pistachio opera cake. Bennett’s imaginative culinary approach earned the restaurant a MICHELIN star this September.

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Experience

The Macallan Lounge Multi-Sensory Experience

Experience

Tasting Menu 8 Courses

Experience

Lunch 5 Courses Set Menu (Friday-Saturday)

Auberge du Pommier

4.8

4.8 (5322)

CAN$51 and over

French

Midtown / Uptown

About the restaurant

This lush and quaint haven was once a pair of woodcutter’s cottages that date back to the 1860s. Today, the upscale French restaurant, a special occasion gem, remains a hidden paradise in an otherwise nondescript pocket of midtown Toronto. The rustic and homey decor is enhanced by pristine French fare that can be enjoyed a la carte or via a tasting menu. Decadent, celebration-worthy creations include Dungeness crab with celeriac consomme, sablefish with black rice, and yuzu, lemon, and white chocolate mousse for dessert.

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4.4

4.4 (1348)

CAN$30 and under

Latin American

King West

About the restaurant

The flavors of South America, from Colombia to Argentina, are on display at this fiesta of a restaurant. Baro spans four festive floors: at the ground-level dining room, order à la carte or from the chef’s recommended spread including the “big ass steak,” pollo asado (half-roasted chicken), duck chaufa, and more. After dinner, head upstairs for some cocktails in the speakeasy. The rooftop patio exudes liveliness and serves a more shareable menu, ideal for group gatherings.

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Canoe Restaurant and Bar

4.5

4.5 (6229)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Canadian

Financial District

About the restaurant

Woo someone special with the views of the Toronto skyline at this fine-dining restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD tower. Canoe, a decades-old spot that recently underwent a $2 million dollar facelift, has established itself as a special occasions stalwart. Snag a seat by the window facing the CN Tower to watch the sunset and feast on dishes that showcase Canadian-sourced ingredients. Top choices include tender wild Pacific halibut and Atlantic salmon with short rib and smoked mussel-stuffed squid. Up the ante on a special evening by choosing the seasonally rotating tasting menu and wine pairing option.

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Experience

Christmas Eve Prix Fixe Lunch

Experience

New Year's Eve at Canoe

Experience

$185 Tasting Menu

Quetzal

4.8

4.8 (937)

CAN$51 and over

Mexican

Little Italy / College St.

About the restaurant

A 28-foot wood-fire grill is at the heart of both the menu and the space at Quetzal, a restaurant made for special birthdays and anniversaries. Quetzal recently acquired a MICHELIN star and much of the credit for the honor goes to owner Grant Van Gameren executive chef Steven Molnar, who previously worked at Bar Raval and Bar Isabel. Quetzal’s impeccable menu draws on diverse Mexican culinary influences to offer sikil pak, a Mayan pumpkin seed dip; tlayuda, a crunchy, housemade tortilla topped with chorizo; and whole sea bream with salsa roja.

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Popular dish

Newfoundland Scallops

Popular dish

Pork Secreto al Pastor

Popular dish

Scallop Ceviche

DASHA

4.4

4.4 (893)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Asian

King West

About the restaurant

Conceived by award-winning chef Akira Back, this sprawling space evokes the chic vibes of a Chinatown speakeasy. Dasha’s second-floor karaoke rooms are especially well-suited for celebrations. Dine on juicy Peking duck with wafer-thin crispy skin, wasabi prawns, and “millionaire” fried rice with lobster and truffle. The whimsical cocktails are also noteworthy, as is the extensive range of wines, Champagne, spirits, and beer.

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Popular dish

Duck Fried Rice

Experience

Sunday Bottomless Bites

Experience

Sushilicious

Don Alfonso 1890

4.8

4.8 (2242)

CAN$51 and over

Contemporary Italian

Harbourfront

About the restaurant

Don Alfonso’s original MICHELIN-starred location on Italy’s Amalfi Coast is headed by acclaimed chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino. The restaurant’s celebrated Toronto outpost was recently recognized with its own MICHELIN star. With its luxurious dining room, sophisticated Mediterranean menu, and much-lauded tasting menu, Don Alfonso 1890 delivers everything you could ask for on a celebratory night out. Views dazzle diners from all sides: the Toronto skyline charms from the floor-to-ceiling windows; in the open kitchen, spot executive chef Daniele Corona artfully preparing dishes such as seared Quebec Muscovy duck breast and risotto with veal shank and Iranian saffron broth.

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4.7

4.7 (2447)

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Contemporary American

Financial District

About the restaurant

This restaurant, ideal for a splashy night out, is unabashedly luxe with its gilded accents, whiskey-inspired ceiling mural, and pristine marble bar. On the 31st floor of The St. Regis hotel, the space exudes opulence and the dishes follow suit. The food is a modernist blend of new French and American cuisines, displayed in plates such as burrata with roasted apricot, wagyu steak with parsley and garlic fingerling potatoes, and whole truffle chicken served two ways with truffle jus. Saving room for dessert is a requirement here: the 13-layer chocolate cake with hazelnut praline buttercream, is a straight-up show stopper.

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4.7

4.7 (882)

CAN$51 and over

Italian

Yorkville

About the restaurant

After perfecting their refined approach to Italian cuisine through previous ventures such as Giulietta, executive chef Rob Rossi and restaurateur David Minicucci received a MICHELIN nod for their latest restaurant, Osteria Giulia. The two bring elegance to both Giulia’s menu and interiors (light-filled, lots of clean lines) with delicate northern Italian dishes including burrata drizzled with asfodelo honey and hand-braided pasta with wild squid and bay scallops. Drinks are as delicious as the food—another reason why this spot deserves a place on your special occasions list. Osteria Giulia offers a lengthy list of top-notch Italian wines and expertly executed cocktails that draw influence from the flavors of the Italian countryside.

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Experience

Convivio Family Style Menu

Yukashi Japanese Cuisine

5.0

5 (348)

CAN$51 and over

Japanese

Yonge and Eglinton

About the restaurant

Yukashi has flown under the radar since quietly opening in 2018. But thanks to a recent star from MICHELIN, flocks will now head to this Japanese stunner. Led by chef Daisuke Izutsu, who cooked for the Japanese royal family, among other world leaders and celebrities, Yukashi is a hushed spot ideal for intimate occasions. Izutsu’s nine-course tasting menu celebrates seasonality, and he pays as much attention to plating as he does to ingredient selection, resulting in visually striking dishes with layers of rich, nuanced flavors.

Library Bar - Fairmont Royal York

4.8

4.8 (687)

CAN$30 and under

Unspecified

Financial District

About the restaurant

Set in the Fairmont Royal York hotel (one of Toronto’s grandest dames), the Library Bar regained its status as an iconic celebration spot after a 2021 makeover. Overflowing with the rich textures of velvet, marble, and leather, the Art Deco interiors nod to the hotel’s heritage. The refreshed food menu also pays homage to the Fairmont’s origins with nostalgic dishes such as chicken liver pâté and cape d’or salmon with beluga lentils. The Birdbath Martini is a must-order: made with gin or vodka distilled exclusively for the hotel and served tableside with pickled red onions and olives, it’s a cocktail that amplifies any special occasion.

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Experience

New Year's Eve Dinner - 1st seating

Experience

New Year's Eve Dinner - 2nd seating