In town for Valentine’s Day? Here are a few date night ideas:
Satisfy your senses at a Valentine’s cooking class
Something’s very special about preparing and sharing a meal with the one you love. This Valentine’s Day, take it to the next level with a specialty class at Kitchen24, where the way to your guy or girl’s heart is through homemade pasta. Top tips from pro chefs will have you twirling tagliatelle like a pro in no time, all while elegantly sipping your Prosecco and strawberry aperitif. If your significant other has a sweet tooth, The Depanneur will be hosting a chocolate workshop on February 16. Nothing says “I love you” like a box of homemade, fair-trade, organic truffles (if they make it all the way home).
Light it up in the Distillery District
All through February, the historic Distillery District will be ablaze with light for the Toronto Light Festival. If you’re a hopeless romantic, the picturesque cobblestone streets and cozy cafés are a scene straight from heaven. The festival is a celebration of creativity and winter culture, so bundle up before you check out what the top light artists in the game have to offer. Expect an immersive experience that takes you from public outdoor spaces through many of the District’s top galleries. Musical performances, sculpture and thousands of pretty lights will make for an unforgettable evening – and turn your Instagram into a source of pure envy.
See the skyline from above on a private helicopter tour
Feel the love in the air…up, up in the air. If you’re looking for something spectacular on February 14, a private helicopter tour over Toronto with breathtaking views of the CN Tower, the waterfront and the Toronto Islands is the experience of a lifetime. Book through Viator for a special Valentine’s package including wine, chocolate and framed souvenir photographs.
See a show at the Winter Garden Theatre
Surprise your loved one with a night at one of the most romantic places in the city (bonus – it’s just a few minutes away by foot). The Winter Garden is the last surviving “stacked” theatre in the world, and its opulent interior, with hand-painted garden scenes on the walls and a ceiling decorated with twinkling lanterns and preserved beech leaves, is the perfect setting for a night of magic and romance. On February 14, the theatre is showing the musical Caroline, or Change starring Canadian R&B legend Jully Black.
Dance the night away at the Palais Royale Ballroom
The annual Big Band Valentine’s Dinner Dance at the Palais Royale is larger than life, with a four-course dinner followed by dancing to the 18-piece Swing Shift Big Band orchestra. One of Toronto’s premier event venues, Palais Royale has hosted musical legends like Count Basie and Duke Ellington in its 100-year history, in a spectacular setting overlooking Lake Ontario.
Toronto has so many great ways to say “I love you” and to make this Valentine’s day your best yet.