The Best Restaurants To Celebrate Your Birthday Downtown In London, Ontario
We’re a team that works hard, but we also know when to relax and have fun! In this office, we LOVE celebrating birthdays. Since our office is located in downtown, London, Ontario, and we love supporting the heart of this city, we’re always on the lookout for the best of the best restaurants to celebrate a birthday.
Whether you’re looking for an cozy, intimate spot for a date-night style birthday meal, or you’re looking for a bumping place with great eats and good drinks to party it up with friends and family to celebrate, or anything in between, our list has something for you. Here are our favourite restaurants to celebrate your birthday in downtown London.
Hunter & Co.
Hunter & Co. is a trendy restaurant that is a haven for those who LOVE food and LOVE cocktails. They offer adventurous dishes like Korean Fried Chicken, Pig Ear Poutine, and Chicken Liver Brulee, although their menu is always changing so you never know what to expect. Although you can always count on oysters, charcuterie, and bone marrow. Their menu is best if you’re someone who enjoys sharing food because it’s not really a “here are our meals and they come with sides” kind of restaurant. It’s more of a pick a bunch of dishes and share kind of place.
But their incredible cocktails is another reason why we love Hunter & Co for our birthday celebrations. Their cocktails are amazing and their extensive wine list will make it difficult to choose between cocktails or wine.
They have unique and funky decor and their small space offers a cozy, albeit loud atmosphere.
Who Is This Best For? Foodies who love cocktails and love sharing food.
Toboggans Brewing Company
f you're a fan of craft beer, this is the place for you. Not only does Tobaggon offer a delicious selection of craft beers brewed in-house, but they also have a mouth-watering menu of pub-style food. The restaurant is spacious and has a rustic, industrial vibe, with exposed brick walls and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. They also have an awesome rooftop patio with string lights, which makes summer birthdays a must at Toboggan.
Their woodfire pizzas is reason enough to go, but their menu is full of other amazing dishes like their smoked brisket, tacos, wings, and more!
But perhaps the biggest reason Toboggan is a great place to celebrate your birthday is the beer. The brewery has a rotating selection of craft beers on tap, so there's always something new and exciting to try. From hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and refreshing lagers, Toboggan has a beer for every taste
Who Is This Best For? Craft beer lovers who flip their lids for wood-fired pizzas should absolutely head to Toboggan for their birthday celebration. And if your birthday is in the summer? Well, that’s a bonus.
Reverie
Reverie is one of London’s most hidden treasures. If you’re looking to celebrate a particularly special birthday or want a more intimate birthday affair, then Reverie is the best choice in the city. It’s a tiny restaurant that only seats 12, making it a unique dining adventure and unparalleled service. More of an experience than just a meal, Reverie is a set course tasting menu. Each dish that comes to the table is a work of art with incredible flavours and textures to tantalize the taste buds. They use local ingredients and love going into detail about the ingredients that they use.
They offer a wine pairing with your meal, which will NOT disappoint. Each wine is carefully chosen to pair with the course and is not something you can pull off the shelves of your local LCBO. These wines are discoveries from small-batch wineries from all over the world doing really cool things with wine.
Who Is This Best For? Reverie is best for foodies looking for an intimate and special dining experience. If you’re looking for a large, wild birthday dinner, then this wouldn’t be a great choice.
Fellini Koolinis
Fellini Koolinis has been a London staple for over 30 years. Their Italian comfort food includes mouthwatering pasta made from scratch, delicious pizzas, incredible tapas, and a dessert list that will have you deciding that you have a second stomach. Their decor is kitschy and cute and because this restaurant was built in an old house, there are plenty of rooms on the upper level that are perfect for cozy party rooms, separated from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the restaurant.
Who Is This Best For? People who love a lively and casual atmosphere and adore Italian comfort food.
Mezza
If you're in the mood for Mediterranean cuisine, Mezza is the place to be. The menu features dishes that combine modern and traditional, giving you an exciting dining experience. They have a fantastic cocktail list, and even have delicious mocktails!
Come to Mezza prepared to share dishes as their appetizer list is drool-worthy and you’ll find yourself wanting a little bit of everything. Plus, their friendly and vibrant atmosphere is perfect for birthday celebrations.
Who Is This Best For? Mezza is the perfect birthday spot for people who love sharing really delicious food with their friends. If your ideal birthday includes drinking cocktails and having a table full of appetizers that everyone shares as they talk and laugh, then head to Mezza!
Abruzzi
Abruzzi is known for its authentic Italian dishes, made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. They offer upscale dining with a casual atmosphere. They have an extensive wine list, featuring a wide range of Italian and international wines. Their wines feature some incredible bottles that can’t be found at the LCBO.
Who Is This Best For? Anyone who loves really good Italian food paired excellently with great wine will love Abruzzi.
Mythic Grill
If you’re looking for a loud, vibrant, and fun restaurant to celebrate your birthday, then look no further than Mythic Grill. They offer up delicious Greek food, kitschy Greek decor, and a friendly atmosphere. For a little extra-festive birthday fun make sure to order the kefalotiri cheese, which will be set on fire with a shot of ouzo right before your eyes. Who doesn’t love a little tableside flambee on their birthday?
Whether you’re looking for family-style meals, grazing food while you guzzle good wine or just authentic Greek dishes, you’ll find it all at Mythic Grill
Who Is This Best For? This is best for a Greek-food-loving birthday person who revels in a lively atmosphere.
The Tasting Room
The tasting room is an upscale restaurant that serves up tasty drinks and delicious dishes. While their mains are wonderful, it’s really their extensive appetizer list that people rave about. You’ll find luxurious ingredients like lobster and duck in their inventive twists on staple appetizer choices. Their atmosphere is cozy and low-lit, perfect for birthday dinner dates.
Who Is This Best For? The tasting room is best for people who love having a little bit of everything. Order a bunch of apps for the table and share them for the best experience.
Garlic’s Of London
At Garlic’s you can find seasonal, local ingredients in every dish. They make everything in-house, including their pasta and pizza dough. Their upscale, modern dining menu is always changing so even if you’ve been before there is a reason to go again! Plus, with it being just steps from The Grande Theater, it’s the perfect starting spot for a birthday night to remember.
Who Is This Best For? Birthday celebrations that include dinner and a show!
The River Room
The River Room has a prime location, overlooking the Thames River and Ivey Park. The beautiful views make it a perfect spot for a special occasion like a birthday celebration. The atmosphere at the River Room is elegant and sophisticated, making it a great choice for a more formal birthday celebration.
You’ll find more high-end dishes like Beef Tenderloin, Lobster & Shrimp Paparadelle, and Duck Confit and a mouthwatering appetizer list that includes dishes like Beef Tartare, Lobster Sliders, and Truffle Fries.
They also have an incredible brunch menu on weekends, if you’re more of a brunch birthday person.
Who Is This Best For? Those with a refined palate who is looking for an upscale meal and a reason to get dressed up for their birthday.
The Churchkey
If you’re walking downtown you might walk past the unassuming building of Churchkey, but that would be a mistake. The Churchkey has a menu full of tasty dishes, ranging from pub fare to more refined entrees. Whether you're in the mood for a burger and fries or a hearty yet refined main, you’ll be satisfied at Churchkey.
The atmosphere at The Churchkey is lively and fun, making it a great spot for a birthday celebration. The restaurant has a cozy, pub-like feel, and there's often live music or other entertainment. In addition to a wide range of food options, The Churchkey also has an impressive drink menu. From craft beers to cocktails, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Who Is This Best For? Churchkey is the perfect spot for people who love really good food but don’t want to get dressed up for a fancy meal.
Los Lobos
Los Lobos serves up unauthentic but entirely inventive Mexican dishes and mouthwateringly creative tequila and mezcal drinks. If tacos and tequila are your kinds of thing, then this is your kind of place. The atmosphere at Los Lobos is lively and festive, and they have a patio on one of the quieter streets in downtown, making it a great spot for a birthday celebration. Expect strange and vibrant decor that is modern and strange as well as friendly service.
Who Is This Best For? Los Lobos is best for warm weather birthdays where you can enjoy the patio and sip margaritas while enjoying delicious tacos If you love tacos and tequila, then this restaurant is for you. Because they don’t take reservations, it’s also probably best for patient people who don’t mind waiting a bit for a table if they happen upon a busy timeslot.
Milos
For those who love craft beer, Milos is a mecca. Its extensive list of local craft brews is impressive and delicious. From hoppy IPAs and drinkable lagers to crisp ciders and complex chocolatey stouts, Milos has something on tap for you. And while that would in and of itself be reason enough to celebrate your birthday here, their food is actually UNREAL. You can expect upscale pub food and apps here that are seasoned to perfection.
Who Is This Best For? Milos is best for birthday celebrations for foodies who also LOVE beer.
Bonus: Sweet Onion
While this isn’t located downtown, we couldn’t leave Sweet Onion off this list of our favourite places to celebrate your birthday. It’s located in Wortley Village, which is the most charming neighbourhood in the city and is close to downtown. This small and charming bistro serves delicious Greek, European, and American dishes. The reason why we absolutely HAD to include Sweet Onion on this list is that they LOVE celebrating birthdays. It’s tradition at Sweet Onion to take a shot of Ouzo and smash a plate, yelling “OPA”, Greek-style, on your birthday.
Who Is This Best For? Anyone who loves the idea of participating in their unique birthday tradition. Forget a hokey birthday song with a candle and a scrap of brownie. Instead, smash a plate, take a shot, and yell, “OPA!”
