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11 of Toronto’s outstanding spots for celebrating special occasions

A photo of Red logo
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.

A photo of Enigma Yorkville restaurant
Enigma Yorkville
4.8
4.8 (530)
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
GailB
Dined 2 days ago
Enjoyed the tasting menu food at Enigma. Some courses were excellent. The salmon, foie gras, scallop and Wagyu beef courses were outstanding. Others were OK. The miss was the lobster dish which lacked any lobster flavour. The wines offered in the wine pairing were OK, but not impressive. Two sakes, and a rather tasteless white Japanese wine, were excessive for a 10 course meal that was not billed as Japanese. The service was attentive, but seemed rushed, even though the room was half empty on a rainy Tuesday evening. Very annoying, the staff kept trying to remove our wine glasses before they were empty, sometimes without asking. Most of the staff described the dishes so quickly that we certainly missed some of their descriptions. Overall, I would say the value for money was average. My acid test of a restaurant is the answer to this question: Would I dine their again? In this case, the answer is no.
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A photo of Christmas Eve with Chef of a restaurant
Experience
Christmas Eve with Chef
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 Auberge du Pommier restaurant
Auberge du Pommier
4.8
4.8 (5339)
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
Paulvip
Dined 2 days ago
Chris & Frederic were excellent and the food was fantastic - a great time for our Team Christmas lunch.
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Popular dish
Foie Gras
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Popular dish
Chocolat
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Popular dish
Creme Brulee
A photo of Baro restaurant
Baro
4.4
4.4 (1357)
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
Tayfun
Dined 5 days ago
It was great we celebrated a birthday there and everything was perfect. The stuff recognized the birthday and we even got a card saying happy birthday on it. Thank you everyone!
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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 (6251)
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
max
Dined 1 day ago
We did the tasting menu at the chefs counter plus a few drinks. Service is friendly and well informed. Prompt and tight. The kitchen is methodical and very well oiled. While the 54th floor views are supposedly exceptional the front row to service is amazing if you are an industry individual. Food is top notch and well executed, the 9 course taste canoe menu features laborious and creative techniques showcasing Ron McKinlay’s love of Canadian products and cuisine The stuffed chicken wing course and veal compositions were exceptional. CDC Roderick Tomiczek hot courses were beautiful plated and full of flavour and texture. The pine one sorbet with apple and honey from pastry chef Raffaele Stea was refined and refreshing after the gauntlet of savoury courses. And as a fan of carrot cake the main sweet courses were beautiful was hardly recognizable as a traditional carrot cake but more of a “mess this up” of textures, crazy techniques, and left field flavours Black garlic!?! Who does that! But it works and tastes amazing Canoe rocks Staff rocks View rocks Food rocks Service rocks. Go. Definitely a special occasion place to go. Resos recommended.
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A photo of Christmas Eve Prix Fixe Lunch of a restaurant
Experience
Christmas Eve Prix Fixe Lunch
A photo of New Year's Eve at Canoe of a restaurant
Experience
New Year's Eve at Canoe
A photo of $185 Tasting Menu of a restaurant
Experience
$185 Tasting Menu
A photo of Quetzal restaurant
Quetzal
4.9
4.9 (955)
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
Mariamvip
Dined today
My friend and I dined there for the first time last night and it was the best restaurant experience I’ve had in years!!! We got the curated menu and we were blown away by every dish. They also have an amazing team. Everyone was very sweet, attentive, and knowledgeable when we asked questions about the dishes. I can’t recommend this restaurant enough. Thank for such an unforgettable experience Quetzal!!
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A photo of Newfoundland Scallops of a restaurant
Popular dish
Newfoundland Scallops
A photo of Pork Secreto al Pastor of a restaurant
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 (898)
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
Caitlin
Dined 5 days ago
Excellent food and atmosphere. Had to wait 20 mins despite reservation which was a bit annoying
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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 (2267)
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
Ingavip
Dined 3 days ago
Everything is perfect! Delicious food and wonderful people
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Popular dish
IL RISOTTO CAPRESE
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Popular dish
I Ravioli
A photo of I PACCHERI of a restaurant
Popular dish
I PACCHERI
A photo of LOUIX LOUIS restaurant
LOUIX LOUIS
4.7
4.7 (2465)
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
Jennifer
Dined 4 days ago
Special setting with lovely ambience. Excellent service, but certainly expensive
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Popular dish
Filet Mignon
A photo of Cowboy Steak of a restaurant
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 (904)
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
Elina
Dined 2 days ago
Surprised my hubby for his b-day by taking him to Osteria Giulia. He said that it was the best meal he had ever experience at the restaurant. Outstanding service! Excellent food! Thank you Osteria Giulia, will be back for sure :-)
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Experience
Convivio Family Style Menu
A photo of Yukashi Japanese Cuisine restaurant
Yukashi Japanese Cuisine
5.0
5 (348)
CAN$51 and over
Japanese
Yonge–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
Dawn
Dined on Nov 21, 2024
We had an exceptional evening at Yukashi. Chef was very entertaining and answered all of our questions about the ingredients and Japanese cuisine. Everything was creatively presented and flavourful. We enjoyed the sake pairings and trying the chef’s own sake creations. The service was excellent and the restaurant had a wonderful ambiance. It was fun and elegant.
A photo of Library Bar - Fairmont Royal York restaurant
Library Bar - Fairmont Royal York
4.9
4.9 (693)
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
Simone
Dined 1 day ago
Annual event. Love it there. The experience is worth it. ❤️. It’s a must in your lifetime
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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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