Valentine's Day is just around the corner! With an exciting array of midtown venues and activities, it's a chance to fall in love with your neighbourhood all over again. From sunrise to sunset, Shiplake's got you covered.
Brunch for Two
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but brunch is a Torontonian tradition, and Valentine's Day is no exception. Head to Oretta and order the uova burrata e tartufo - where black truffle and creamy burrata cheese elevates a plate of perfectly scrambled eggs. Pair that with a Caprese, a tomato-based cocktail featuring basil oil and balsamic vinegar. For more classic tastes, there's MIA Brunch Bar, with tried and true dishes like eggs benny, fluffy pancakes, or crunchy French toast.
Coffee and Conversations
After brunch, show your better half that you "love them a latte" and stop by Rachel's Coffee House, a local café serving fairtrade organic coffees and other delicious drinks (try the macadamia latte or matcha lemonade). Take a leisurely stroll along Yonge, or past beautiful houses on the tree-lined residential streets of the neighbourhood. For a longer loop, head to the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail, a 9-kilometre-long cycling and walking path. On the way home, stop in at Padaria, a Brazilian bakery that makes Valentine's Day-themed brigadeiros - scrumptious bite-size chocolate sweets popular in Brazil.
Choose Your Own Adventure
The afternoon offers something for everyone. Head to Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Eglinton to catch a matinee with the VIP experience, where you can snuggle up and enjoy signature cocktails and scrumptious treats served seat-side in the adults-only theatre. Drop by the Yonge Eglinton Centre for their annual Valentine's Pop-Up Market, taking place February 10 & 11, where you and your better half can swap handmade gifts from local artisans. Or book a Couples Retreat at Healthwinds Spa, two hours of pure indulgence with side-by-side massages and pedicures, for head-to-toe pampering.
An International Food Tour
After a trip home to freshen up, it's time to head out again and explore the endless options for dinner in the neighbourhood. Whether you feel like Thai (Pai), Indonesian (Little Sister), Italian (Grazie), Mexican (Playa Cabana Bar Esquina), or Continental fusion (Stock TC), you can let your taste buds travel the world.
A Toast to Love
Wrap up your day with a nightcap at one of midtown Toronto's chic bars. There's Good Fortune, the boisterous watering hole in the basement of La Carnita on Eglinton, or Bar Batavia, a 40-seat cocktail bar that offers a soundtrack of hip hop jazz and a menu of barrel-aged negronis. Or try Alleycatz, where you'll find live bands, DJs, salsa lessons, and karaoke nearly every night of the week. Prefer a laugh? Head to Absolute Comedy, where the best comedians from across North America grace the stage six nights a week.
Whether you fancy red roses and vintage wine, or mini staycations with a day of pampering at the spa, you'll find something romantic and inspiring, just outside your front door. Get ready for midtown to steal your heart.
For more information on Shiplake communities, and to stay up-to-date on Shiplake events, visit our website and follow or like us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.