Romance doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. Toronto is home to plenty of intimate spots to wine and dine your date without blowing your budget. Here are some affordable alternatives for a night out in the west end with someone special.
The cozy candle-lit spot feels like a vintage-inspired hideaway thanks to floral wallpaper, mismatched furniture and patterned curtains draped across the window. The simple menu offers a fluctuating list of affordable daily specials and bar snacks like deviled eggs and oysters to share with your dinner companion. Ask for a spot on the enclosed back patio and discover one of Toronto’s most secluded spots for an intimate rendez-vous.
With soft lighting and elegant white décor, this Ethiopian restaurant is certainly swankier than similar spots nearby. There’s something inherently sensual about eating with your hands and here the authentic vegetable and meat platters are served with injera — a spongy African bread used in place of traditional cutlery. Finish off the meal with a traditional coffee ceremony that sees strong coffee served tableside along with an aromatic burner of frankincense.
This self-described “premium dive bar” might not be the most romantic venue in the city, but the cheap eatery is a great spot for a laid back date. Every item on the food menu at the Annex snackbar is just $4.95 every single day. Dine on typical pub fare — poutine, chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, mac and cheese — and admire the log cabin interior that features wood paneling, stag heads and plenty of snowboard paraphernalia. The cheap eats attract a young crowd so expect an increasingly rowdy atmosphere as the night progresses.