There is no better time to explore all the cool places at UofT than your very first year when everything is still new, fresh, and exciting. This list is written as a route that will take you all over the St. George campus. All of these spaces are open to students and close at around 5 to 6 PM (unless otherwise stated). See you around!
1. Lester B. Pearson Peace Garden, Victoria College
Hopefully you’ve already visited the gorgeous waterfall and lush garden between Lower Burwash and the EJ Pratt Library on one of your tours. If not, you should go now before everything becomes grey, barren, and frozen during the winter months.
2. Fireplace Foyer, Flavelle House (Faculty of Law), 78 Queen’s Park Cres. W.
Across the street from Vic, Flavelle House contains one of the most beautiful rooms in the Faculty of Law. With a gigantic fireplace, a painted ceiling, and elaborate wood paneling, the Georgian-style “hall” looks like a lounge you’d find at some fancy European hotel. Plenty of comfy couches and plushy chairs make it a good place for some cozy little tête-à-têtes.
3. Bamboo Garden, Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, 160 College St.
Much-cited in various “UofT’s beautiful spaces” lists, it’s surprising how few Vic students actually make it down to this College Street building. You can actually see the bamboo garden through the glass walls of the Donnelly Centre as you walk by. While not secluded (it’s just left of a central staircase), it’s a still nice little oasis among all the concrete.
4. Eric Arthur Gallery, Daniels School of Architecture and Design, 230 College St.
Want to impress someone with your appreciation for art and design? Though there are quite a few galleries at UofT, this one never seems to get mentioned alongside them, probably because comparatively small. But this space actually feels more romantic because of all the natural lighting it gets from a huge bay window. The current exhibit mixes modern images with a few Grecian-inspired sculptures. Bonus: The Shore + Moffat Library directly above is equally soothing for studying.
5. Harvest Noon, Graduate Students’ Union Building, 16 Bancroft Ave.
This is a great alternative for when you want to have a lunch date on-campus but would rather not be in a dining hall or food court. Harvest Noon is a student-run cafe and food co-op that serves local produce. There aren’t many tables in their attic-like room, and it’s not open very long, but the prices are SUPER cheap and the (vegetarian and vegan) food is delicious. Regular hours are 10 AM to 2 PM.
6. Tree Garden, Faculty of Forestry, 33 Willcocks St.
Located inside the labyrinth that is the circle of Earth Science buildings, the garden is used as a research area for students in the Faculty of Forestry. It also happens to be a great secluded place if you want to get to know someone among some foliage. The place is surrounded by the transparent first floor of the forestry building so… don’t get too excited.
7. Rooftop Telescopes and Observatory, McLennan Physical Laboratories (Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics), 60 St. George St.
Yes, UofT has an observatory! You can’t access the telescopes on a daily basis, but the Astronomy and Astrophysics department give monthly public lectures and observatory viewings. You can find out more by signing up for their newsletter. Can you say perfect date?
8. Knox College, 59 St. George St.
No “UofT spaces” list is complete without the inclusion of this theological college. Knox College is often called the most beautiful college on campus, and it’s great if you are into gorgeous stone arches and Gothic Revival architecture. Most people gush over the courtyard and the Caven Library, but I prefer having passionate discussions inside the sprawling, usually-empty chapel on the second floor.
9. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library, Robarts Library, 130 St. George St.
Robarts may be known for its brutalist architecture and its resemblance to a turkey or peacock, but you can really find some great study spaces on the upper floors —especially after its recent renovation. However, there are two spaces that really stand out as romantic. The Fisher Rare Book Library is a multi-floor room filled with rare, cloth-bound texts protected by sepia-toned lighting. It’s warm and mysterious and completely different from the rest of Robarts. You can only access a small section of it, but just a look inside will set a book-lover’s heart ablaze. The Canada-Hong Kong Library on the 8th floor is pretty on par, the little screens that hide most of the two-person study spots tip it into the romantic. Only one of those spots looks out onto a large window, so you should probably get there early.
10. The Exterior Deck, Rotman Commerce, 125 St. George St.
The best part of the stylish new Rotman building has got to be the rooftop patio on the fourth floor. It looks like the type of patio that a business student is sure to encounter in their future of attending weekly cocktail parties and/or museum fundraisers. Unfortunately the grey exterior of Robarts blocks most of the sightline, but the space itself is slick in a preppy, minimalist, cream, and astro-turf kind of way. It’s open until October 31 from 8 AM to 8:45 PM.
11. Undergraduate Common Room, Max Gluskin House, 150 St. George St.
If you don’t have an excuse to visit your TA at Massey College, the Undergraduate Common Room on the first floor of the Max Gluskin House is a fine alternative. Overlooking the Innis College quad, the room looks like a skiing lodge with its wooden ceiling and beams. There’s even a small electric fireplace to one side. This is a location that will likely be even more romantic during the winter months. 
12. Nexus Lounge, OISE, 252 Bloor St. W.
Most of OISE looks like a series of high school staff rooms, but the Nexus Lounge on the top floor boasts one of the best views in UofT. The lounge area is simple with white walls and minimalist furniture, but it’s all just peanuts when surrounded by the magnificent panoramic view of the St. George campus. There are also lots of cute little date tables that go right up against the glass. It’s open most days from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
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Bonus: Waterfall and Patio, Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories, 80 St. George St.
Behind Lash Miller is a neat patch of greenery with a patio and a fountain. Our photographer claimed that she didn’t find it particularly romantic, but I think she was eventually won over by the surprising height of the fountain. I liked that it’s partially hidden behind Lash Miller, and I think the industrial design makes for an interesting view that’s a little different from your usual idyllic spot.
Look out for Angela Sun’s travel/romance column, “Fifty First Dates,” in upcoming issues for romantic date ideas around Toronto!
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