A Bit of My Life » Dating in Toronto

Dating in Toronto

Toronto is one of the coolest places in the world to live. With a rich cultural and ethnic scene, a strong business culture, and boundless job opportunities, Toronto is one of the most dynamic cities in North America.What about the dating scene? Like the city itself, dating in Toronto is a rich tapestry of fun, activity, and choices. Your perfect date and partner certainly await you here.

1) Mind The Gap – Choosing Your Pad
Most people in Toronto rely on the subway, or TTC, for transportation to work and play. As long as you pick a place to live that is not too far off of the main subway or streetcar lines, you will be in good shape. Bus service is not reliable or frequent and those who live out of the wide range of the subway will probably need a car to get around. True Toronto dwellers are usually not judged by their choice of vehicle – you are considered “in the club” if you don’t own one at all.

Work and play generally happen in the same place in Toronto – downtown. Living downtown may be out of the price range of most people, but if you can swing it a condo on the shore of Lake Ontario or in the general vicinity is the ideal place to be. Those who are budget-challenged should check out an apartment in the Bloor/Spadina area; rents are traditionally a bit lower here to accommodate students from the University of Toronto and Ryerson.

Stay away from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) surrounding the city unless you are ready and willing to face a long, frustrating commute of an hour or more each day – although it won’t take you nearly as long to drive into the city for a date when you aren’t facing rush hour traffic. The planned demolition of the Gardiner Expressway downtown will make the interior of the city even less accessible by car in a few years.

Quite a few young singles in Toronto need roommates to manage costs – if you can find one that you can get along with you can get a nicer pad than that which you could afford on your own.

2) Getting a Job

Work is very easy to find in Toronto, especially if you have a background in accounting, business, marketing, or anything to do with computers. It’s also a great place for recent graduates to start their careers with solid blue-chip companies looking to fill junior positions. Those with a varied skill set and experience range can command higher than usual salaries in downtown Toronto.

Be prepared for a frenetic career environment – overtime and being on call is an expectation for most employers here. Potential dates in Toronto, male and female, will ask what your career is and will expect you to have life goals and plans for the future career-wise. The pace of life is fast here, and your date will expect you to be able to keep up!

3) Have a Mild Passion for Fashion

No matter what their age, men and women both are very style-conscious in Toronto. You will notice this just walking around downtown – most women are wearing light makeup and urban chic clothing, and most men are well groomed and sport designer fashions. At night things get a little more casual and laid-back, with the business world changing from suits to either club wear to go dancing or jeans and t-shirts to hit the pubs. Toronto singles will expect their dates to be clean, stylish and well-kept, without being overly pretentious about labels or designers. Take a day or two to go shopping in one of the hundreds of vintage clothing stores or fashionable boutiques to find your perfect Toronto style – there’s something for everyone here!

4) Recession? What Recession?

People in Toronto are generally well-heeled and aren’t afraid to spend a little extra money on a date. Most singles work hard all day so that they can party all night, and dates are no exception to this rule. Those looking to economize may want to try eating at one of the many restaurants in Chinatown, and then going for a walk on the Toronto Island. Even that will set you back at least $100.00, by the time you pay for dinner and the ferry tickets. Most women in Toronto are quite liberated and don’t mind going Dutch, although this is best established before the date rather than when the bill arrives.

If you are planning to work in Toronto, you are going to have a career in which you’ll be able to pay for a higher-end date, period. Money should only really be a worry for those just starting their careers in Toronto, so don’t despair – one day you will be dining at Susur with the rest of the executives, you’ll just have to put in your time to get there.

5) A City of Many Neighborhoods

While Toronto has a vibrant downtown where everyone melts together in a vibrant business community and nightlife, there are certain neighborhoods that you can go to where a certain crowd will always be “on tap”. This is just a short list of the more popular spots – there are hundreds of these gems in Toronto just waiting for you and your date to discover them.

Bloor/Danforth at Broadview, “The Danforth”
Singles love this area for its awesome and inexpensive Greek food, nightclubs, and frequent street festivals. (Casual, young to Middle-Aged).

Queen Street West, University Ave to “Parkdale”

Here is where you will find the edgier hipsters of Toronto. Most of the “alternative” set hangs out here, a chic mix of designers, theater people, artists, and students. (Young, hipsters).

Bloor/Spadina, “The Annex”

This area is home to a number of students, and as such features some lower cost pubs and restaurants. The Annex is also home to a number of fun boutiques and Honest Ed’s, a Toronto bargain store and landmark between Bathurst and Markham Streets. (Students, Young Professionals)

College Street

College Street is a collection of ethnic neighborhoods, including Little Italy. Some of the hippest nightclubs are on this strip, including The Mod Club and the old dive favorite Sneaky Dee’s. Cheaper parking is also available here in city parking lots for the vehicle-bound. If you want an impeccable Italian restaurant to start and dancing after dinner, College Street is the place to date. (Younger set to middle-aged)

Yonge & Bloor, “Yorkville”

Yorkville is home to some of the swankiest stores in Canada, including a Chanel boutique and the flagship store of Holt Renfrew, Canada’s high-end department store. If you want nothing but the latest high-end designer fashions, this is the place to shop. If your date is a self-proclaimed fashionista, you will get props for taking her to one of any number of bistros and restaurants in this area. (Affluent, Business Executives).

6) Fun Date Spots

Toronto has a number of cultural and artistic treasures to offer you and your date.

The CN Tower

Yes, it is a tourist trap and most locals don’t go here. However, there is no better way to get someone to hold your hand than one of the fastest and highest elevator rides in the world. If your date gets skittish in the elevator, don’t bother taking them up to the “Glass Floor” area; you may be traumatizing them for life. Make reservations instead at the 360, the iconic rotating restaurant on top of the Tower.

St. Lawrence Market

Making dinner for some friends or just staying home with a few movies? Pick up your grub at the St. Lawrence Market, Toronto’s oldest farmer’s market. Offering everything from a caviar bar to organic meats, the St. Lawrence also features antiques and various gift and clothing vendors. Get there early on the weekends to avoid the crowd crush.

Royal Ontario Museum

Conveniently located right across from the University of Toronto campus, the recently renovated ROM is host to one of Canada’s most extensive dinosaur collections. The inner jewel hound in your date will swoon at the priceless collection of gemstones and jewelry, and the Far East section will blow your mind. The ROM is often host to very interesting traveling exhibitions that are the hot tickets that will impress your date.

Theatre

Toronto is the undisputed theatre capital of Canada. Featuring everything from hit Broadway-style shows to alternative theatre, there is always a play that you will be interested in seeing. The vibrant theatre scene has spawned such international stars as Keanu Reeves and Graham Greene, and plays make for excellent conversation over drinks afterwards in one of the many bistros in the theater district.

7) When The Stars Come Out…

There are too many places to list to suggest for dancing, drinks and a little night music. These are just a sampler for you and your date to start with.

Music & Drinks – Reservoir Lounge

Setting the standard in Toronto for jazz and blues entertainment, this bar also offers lots of “snuggle room” on couches throughout the venue.

52 Wellington Street East
Toronto, Ontario
M5E 1C7 (416) 955-0887
www.reservoirlounge.com

Dancing – The Guvernment/Koolhaus

This hyper-cool bar complex is the nighttime home of twenty-something singles. If you want to be seen, this is where you go to get your freak on. Automatic cool points if you ask your date to join you here.

132 Queens Quay East, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 3Y5
Tel: 416-869-0045

http://www.theguvernment.com/

Drinking – Mill St. Brew Pub

Where better to drink then in the area known as the Distillery District. Mill Street is a micro-brewery that is the first brewery to open its doors in downtown Toronto in the last 100 years, in an historic building that has housed purveyors of the finest ale for hundreds of years. While all of their beer is awesome, try their Coffee Porter for an interesting taste and the canny ability to keep you and your date up a little longer!

416-681-0338
55 Mill Street, Building 63
Toronto ON, M5A 3C4

http://www.millstreetbrewpub.ca/

9) Foodie Heaven

You’ll need to make sure that you are committed to a physical activity when you move to Toronto, simply because you’ll need to do something to work off the amazing meals served at its restaurants. The ones given here are just a sampler, and we highly recommend http://torontolife.com/restaurants/ to find more. Reservations are usually a must at Toronto restaurants, and various dining guides will give you an idea of the cost up front.

Susur
601 King St. W.
Toronto, ON
416-603-2205
http://www.susur.com/home.html

Price: High

Celebrated chef Susur Lee is a Toronto legend. If your date isn’t simply impressed by the fact that you managed to wrangle reservations, she’ll be applauding your choice by the time the coffee is served. A culinary experience from start to finish, the fusion cuisine ranges from Canadian Caviar to Cornish Hen with Green Curry Paste to Lobster and White Asparagus bisque.

Southern Accent
595 Markham Street
Toronto, Ontario
416 536 3211
http://www.southernaccent.com

Price: Mid-Range

If your date enjoys Cajun food, he’s in for a treat at Southern Accent. Cozy décor and amazing flavors combine to make this restaurant a big hit for dates. Blackened Chicken or the restaurant’s famed Jambalaya are both sure to please. Get the Crème Brule for a satiny, satisfying finish.

Asian Legend
418 Dundas St. W. (at Spadina)

Toronto, Ontario

416-977-3909
http://www.asianlegend.ca/
Price: Reasonable
If you and your date have a hankering for dim sum, this is one of the better places in Chinatown to get some. Steaming hot and fresh dumplings mingle with 16 fish dishes for a truly transporting experience.

Mistura
265 Davenport Rd. (at Avenue Rd.)
Toronto, Ontario

416-515-0009
http://www.mistura.ca/index.php

Price: Mid-Range

Arguably one of the jewels in the crown of Toronto Italian restaurants, Mistura boasts a following that keeps seats consistently packed. Lamb ribs in a balsamic glaze are accompanied by a mint and cucumber salad, and braised rabbit is blended with a rapini and black olives.
10) Have a Lust for Life
Toronto is not a place for homebodies. If you want to live and work here, you have to be willing to take a bit of a bigger bite out of the apple of life than the average joe. Staying in is usually not an option on any date in Toronto, simply because it has too much to offer. There will be plenty of time to stay in when you meet that perfect someone and move to the ‘burbs to start a family; enjoy Toronto for all it has to offer, you probably won’t get a chance to do this again in your life.

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