O&B Holiday Gift Guide
Nine O&B-approved gift ideas for everyone on your shopping list
Season’s eatings, Toronto! Whether you’re browsing for a final few items or have yet to start your holiday shopping, O&B is here to help. Back for the 2023 festive season, we’ve once again crafted the ultimate holiday gift guide so you can spend less time browsing and more time eating, drinking and being merry. From white elephant ideas and stocking stuffers, to bigger-ticket items and even a host gift or two, you’re guaranteed to be in your giftee’s good books well into the new year!
Get inspired and shop the guide below.
A Memorable Meal
This season, gift the joy of eating out. Redeemable at over 25 restaurants, the uber-versatile O&B gift card is a choose-your-own dining adventure that never expires. Treat loved ones to an evening of retro Americana at The Joneses, an elegant French affair at Auberge du Pommier, a feast of British favourites at The Rabbit Hole and more. Purchase a physical gift card online and have it delivered directly to your loved ones or select an e-gift card to send via email. Stopping in for a meal? You can still purchase traditional gift cards in-restaurant too!
Make it a Movie Night
Why not gift your movie-loving friends and family a TIFF membership? Members receive free tickets to over 200 Cinematheque films, exclusive Toronto International Film Festival pre-sales, invitations to special events and more. Pair with drinks and bites at Luma or Canteen located inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox, or dinner with a view at nearby Aera and you’ve got a guaranteed winner.
Kitchen Inspiration
Inspire foodies and chefs-in-the-making with a Canadian cookbook filled with delicious recipes to try at home. Some of our favourite picks include Afrim Pristine’s For the Love of Cheese (complete with a foreword by Chef Michael Bonacini), Langdon Hall by Jason Bangerter and Chris Johns and Caesar Country by Aaron Harowitz and Zack Silverman. Write a personalized message on the inside cover for a thoughtful way to say happy holidays.
Laughing All The Way
For a fun night out, grab your giftee some tickets to Second City, Toronto’s legendary improv and sketch comedy hub. Located at 1 York Street, the newest flagship location features three theatres and a full-service restaurant, The Bentwood. For a great deal, bundle your show with the $45 three-course prix fixe when purchasing your tickets, or time your visit with Happy Hour from 5–7pm daily in Theatre Lounge. Plus, from now until January 31, use the code OBGIFT25 for $25 general admission tickets to Chaos Menu: Disorder Up! on Sunday through Thursday. Belly laughs and full bellies… who wouldn’t love that?
Boozy and Bright
Know a couple of cocktail lovers? Made one batch at a time, Dillon’s x O&B Collaboration Spirits use locally grown ingredients and copper stills to deliver unique handcrafted spirits without artificial flavours or colours. Stock your recipient’s boozy beverage supply with Dillon’s Selby Cucumber Gin or Canoe’s Dill Pickle Vodka. As an added bonus, their beautifully designed labels offer an instant glow up to any bar cart!
Dinner and a Show
Shopping for the person with everything? You can’t go wrong with an experiential gift! Treat your hard-to-gift friends and family with tickets to Six The Musical, or you can choose from many more Mirvish shows to come including Chicago. Add a pre-show meal at Leña for productions at Ed Mirvish Theatre or Luma and Canteen for those playing on King Street West and they’ll be singing your praises (and maybe some show tunes, too).
FAN-tastic Favourites
Bring a little holiday cheer to the sports lover in your life (see what we did there?). Jump on Ticketmaster and secure some tickets to a TFC, Marlies, or Argos game along with lunch or dinner at Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery. Recipients will love stopping in for a flight of beer or BBQ platter with fellow fans on their way to watch the game. Leafs or Raptors tickets can be paired with our incredible Game Day deals at restaurants across the city, some of which are located just a short walk from Scotiabank Arena.
For the Weekend Warrior
Looking to really wow your giftee? Treat them to some time away at Blue Mountain Resort for a winter wonderland escape or a March Break getaway complete with a memorable meal at Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill Blue Mountain. Fancy something further afield? A luxurious stay at Montréal’s Le Mount Stephen — the grand heritage mansion once belonging to Sir George Stephen — would put a smile on anyone’s face. Hot tip: opt for dinner at Bar George for a contemporary take on classic U.K. fare, spiked with a few Québecois quirks.
Don’t Forget the Host!
Holiday rule of thumb: never show up empty-handed. Whether you’re off to a family dinner or a festive potluck, you can’t go wrong with comfort food like Oliver & Bonacini Artisan Tourtière available through Voilà by Sobeys or for pickup at Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery. Order a few and stock your freezer while you’re at it. And, why not bring along a jar of Chef Andrew Nowry’s fruit chili sauce? He’s kindly shared his family’s recipe as part of our holiday entertaining tips so you can whip up your own batch at home.
With tons of fun and creative gift ideas to choose from (if we do say so ourselves), even last-minute shoppers can look like a hero this holiday season. Plus, O&B has got plenty of restaurants to fuel mall-goers, too! Need a break while shopping at Bayview Village? Stop in at Parcheggio (aptly named for its location in the South parking lot). Sherway Gardens shoppers can enjoy a break at Beaumont Kitchen, while Leña’s bold South American flavours will reinvigorate those braving the crowds at the Eaton Centre.
Happy shopping!
Photography Credits Cookbook Photo: Penguin Random House | TIFF Photo: Rayson Ho
Browse Latest Events, Get Inspired.
Elaine and Nichi's wedding at Canoe
Elaine and Nichi's wedding at Canoe Restaurant in Toronto was a beautiful day of love and adventure.
Ally & Joey's Wedding at the Quay
Ally and Joey's summer wedding at The Quay was a breathtaking ceremony of love and laughter.
The Best Toronto Venues for Your Corporate Holiday Party
We’ve rounded up a selection of Toronto’s top venues currently booking into winter, so you get a head start on bringing your holiday party to life.
Kelsey & Todd's Wedding at Auberge du Pommier
Kelsey and Todd's summer wedding at Auberge du Pommier was a picturesque celebration of love and unity.
Wedding Etiquette 101
Our event specialists share the dos and don’ts every wedding guest should know.
