Stellar first date spots on Queen Street West

Queen West’s top spots for a first-time meeting are an eclectic mix of trendy cocktail bars and laidback watering holes. Get ready to up your dating game with smooth sipping, low lighting and shared plates best suited for two.

Stellar first date spots on Queen Street West
Christine Ottoni By

Sweaty Betty's

1
13 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y8

Just steps north of the buzzing Ossington and Queen Street West, Sweaty Betty’s is the west end’s go-to date spot. Paving the way for the Ossington nightlife boom, this cozy, red-lit bar is chosen time and time again by first daters for its pared-down drinks menu and loungey, intimate vibe.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

The Yukon

2
1592 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A8

The Yukon is your classic, dim-lit haunt with all the comforts of now. Right in the heart of Parkdale, The Yukon is an ideal first date spot with its low key and warm atmosphere. Low lighting, happy hour oyster specials, half-priced wine nights and a substantial craft beer list make this a natural fit for all ages.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Food and Liquor

3
1610 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A8

Food and Liquor, as the name suggests, is dedicated to simplicity. Located at Queen West and Souraren, Food and Liquor provides first daters with an unpretentious space (complete with a killer back patio), a solid selection of drinks and a rotating menu of share plates and snacks.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Rickshaw Bar

4
685 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E6

Queen and Bathurst’s Rickshaw Bar serves up an Asian street food experience in an industrial space that still manages charming, cozy vibes. Share plates include pakora fritters, tacos and kabobs, best paired with one of Rickshaw Bar’s fresh and tangy cocktails. With a perch-perfect wood-clad bar and an assemblage of intimate two-person tables, Rickshaw is a perfect city-central spot for a first date.

More from Christine Ottoni Christine Ottoni
Christine Ottoni is a writer based in Toronto. A worshipper at the altar of Brunch, cycle fiend, and mom to a rescue dog, Christine spends most of her days exploring what the city has to offer, notebook in hand. She attended the University of Toronto where she completed her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Philosophy.
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