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11 of Toronto’s outstanding spots for celebrating special occasions

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by Jessica Huras
Updated 27 April 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.

A photo of Enigma Yorkville restaurant
Enigma Yorkville
4.8
4.8 (537)
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.
Top review
DirkVIP
Dined 3 days ago
A memorable experience, once again. Every interaction with the staff was exceptional. And Chef Quinton’s food demonstrated why Michelin recognizes Enigma. Inventive interpretations of classic plates, made from the best ingredients, with a skilled team executing. Biting into the food made me giggle. The Christmas Eve dinner ended with a swag bag that was so surprising. More delicious morsels for home. Looking forward to the next menu so we can return in the new year.
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A photo of New Year's Eve Dinner of a restaurant
Experience
New Year's Eve Dinner
A photo of The Macallan Lounge Multi-Sensory Experience of a restaurant
Experience
The Macallan Lounge Multi-Sensory Experience
A photo of Lunch 5 Courses Set Menu (Friday-Saturday) of a restaurant
Experience
Lunch 5 Courses Set Menu (Friday-Saturday)
A photo of Auberge du Pommier restaurant
Auberge du Pommier
4.8
4.8 (5358)
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.
Top review
RitaVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Auberge du Pommier has always been our “TO GO” place for French cuisine fine dining and celebrations since 2002! They are the best of the best⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Popular dish
Foie Gras
A photo of Chocolat of a restaurant
Popular dish
Chocolat
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Popular dish
Creme Brulee
A photo of Baro restaurant
Baro
4.5
4.5 (1365)
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.
Top review
karina
Dined on 20 Dec 2024
The food was amazing and the service was excellent. We will definitely will be back
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Popular dish
Ceviche de Atún
A photo of Kingfish Ceviche of a restaurant
Popular dish
Kingfish Ceviche
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Popular dish
Striploin
A photo of Canoe Restaurant and Bar restaurant
Canoe Restaurant and Bar
4.5
4.5 (6281)
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.
Top review
Stephanie
Dined 4 days ago
I introduced my friend to the various O&B restaurants and we were booked for Maison Selby on Monday but then I got an email about Canoe. I told him about the Christmas Eve lunch. The staff called to confirm and I told them this is his first visit. They came through and had us seated at the table facing the CN Tower. The food was phenomenal as it always is. I had the onion soup and it blew my mind. I am not a soup person but seeing Parmesan custard in the description peaked my curiosity. On the surface a pureed soup but it looked like art with the green oil drizzle and black pepper delicately grounded and sprinkled. Below the surface were the caramelized onions and parmesan custard. Ohhh the flavour sensations having a party on my tastebuds! He had the Waldorf and said it was delicious. We both had the beef Wellington. So tender and flavourful and that was just the meat! I actually did the foodie happy dance in my chair nom nom nomming! The roasted veggies, deep fried kale and mashed potatoes were lovely. To be honest they weren’t hot but I wasn’t going to ruin the dining experience by saying anything. I thought the pastry was perfect, mine fell open in two layers. He would have liked his to be flakier on the outside layer. He had the sticky toffee pudding and absolutely loved it. I had the white chocolate cheesecake with the pistachio crème anglaise and raspberry sorbet & I loved it. The flavours and textures were my vibe! I tried two mocktails. I loved the ambrosia! The flavour combos were amazing! Then I tried the gala. The drink itself was underwhelming compared to the first but its saving grace was the fruit. I asked our lovely server and she said maraschino cherries. No way! Not the ones you get on top of sundaes. Way better! They were the star of that drink along with the really cool rectangular ice cube! Lovely seeing Oscar from our Maison Selby days. Told him the venue switch story for lunch and he was the 4th staff to say: Really? Love it! O&B ❤️
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A photo of New Year's Eve at Canoe of a restaurant
Experience
New Year's Eve at Canoe
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Experience
$185 Tasting Menu
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Experience
Bar
A photo of Quetzal restaurant
Quetzal
4.9
4.9 (967)
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.
Top review
Marie
Dined 6 days ago
Food was tasty, service was outstanding! Definitely will be going back very soon!
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Popular dish
Newfoundland Scallops
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Popular dish
Pork Secreto al Pastor
A photo of Scallop Ceviche of a restaurant
Popular dish
Scallop Ceviche
A photo of DASHA restaurant
DASHA
4.4
4.4 (902)
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.
Top review
Celeste
Dined on 19 Dec 2024
I always love it here, I’ve been coming since it opened and have never been disappointed by the food and the vibe!
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Popular dish
Duck Fried Rice
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Experience
Sunday Bottomless Bites
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Experience
Dine with DASHA on NYE!
A photo of Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant
Don Alfonso 1890
4.8
4.8 (2279)
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.
Top review
Karanpaul
Dined 4 days ago
Perfect place for our anniversary! Will go back again or recommend!
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IL RISOTTO CAPRESE
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Popular dish
I Ravioli
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Popular dish
I PACCHERI
A photo of LOUIX LOUIS restaurant
LOUIX LOUIS
4.6
4.6 (2486)
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.
Top review
VirginiaVIP
Dined 3 days ago
The foods never disappoint, the service is always great. We enjoyed the Christmas brunch today.
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Popular dish
Filet Mignon
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Popular dish
Cowboy Steak
A photo of Steak & Eggs of a restaurant
Popular dish
Steak & Eggs
A photo of Osteria Giulia restaurant
Osteria Giulia
4.7
4.7 (914)
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.
Top review
JuliaVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Every element of this experience was beyond our expectations - it was absolutely fabulous.
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Experience
Convivio Family Style Menu
A photo of Yukashi Japanese Cuisine restaurant
Yukashi Japanese Cuisine
5.0
5 (349)
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.
Top review
Elissa
Dined on 15 Dec 2024
Delicious culinary experience with lovely attentive wait staff. A great way to celebrate a birthday.
A photo of Library Bar - Fairmont Royal York restaurant
Library Bar - Fairmont Royal York
4.9
4.9 (701)
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.
Top review
LouiseVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Great location, beautiful Christmas decorations snd wonderful food. Top quality service.
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A photo of New Year's Eve Dinner - 1st seating of a restaurant
Experience
New Year's Eve Dinner - 1st seating
A photo of New Year's Eve Dinner - 2nd seating of a restaurant
Experience
New Year's Eve Dinner - 2nd seating

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