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The Best Spots For Celeb Sightings During TIFF
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The Best Spots For Celeb Sightings During TIFF
After two virtual years, TIFF is back in all its glory, promising thrilling cinema, top-tier celebrities, and the type of lavish galas our lockdown-addled brains couldn't fathom. For eleven days in September, the city will host throngs of industry, titans known for their work in front of, and behind, the camera. Join the action at the best spots for celeb sightings this festival season. Whether you want to hobnob with the stars, or party like you're famous as you sip on exclusive cocktails and nibble on luxe bites, these are the places you'll want to include on your party circuit. From time-tested favourites to recently-opened gems drawing in-the-know crowds, these are the spots where you'll find photogenic A-listers nestled in corners, nursing potent potions. Don't let TIFF 2022 pass you by without a little drama. Follow the dazzling lights, the red velvet carpet and the adoring crowds and you'll find yourself at one of Toronto's best spots for celeb sightings during TIFF.
Writer's Room
Reopened after a remodel in 2021, Writer's Room Bar retains all of its old-school charm while boasting a modernized look and refreshed menus. An iconic spot, Writer's Room is where the literati and glitterati socialize against panoramic city views.
Writer's Room
Reopened after a remodel in 2021, Writer's Room Bar retains all of its old-school charm while boasting a modernized look and refreshed menus. An iconic spot, Writer's Room is where the literati and glitterati socialize against panoramic city views.
Living Room - W Hotel Toronto
With signature cocktails like the Flower Power, and a menu of delectable bites inspired by the city, W Hotel's Living Room is an urban oasis in the heart of Yorkville. Located next to the W Sound Suite recording studio, with Skylight Rooftop Bar above, Public School below, and over 200 gorgeous rooms and suites nearby, Living Room is a spot to mingle, to mellow out, and to make merry the W way.
Living Room - W Hotel Toronto
With signature cocktails like the Flower Power, and a menu of delectable bites inspired by the city, W Hotel's Living Room is an urban oasis in the heart of Yorkville. Located next to the W Sound Suite recording studio, with Skylight Rooftop Bar above, Public School below, and over 200 gorgeous rooms and suites nearby, Living Room is a spot to mingle, to mellow out, and to make merry the W way.
King West
90 Portland Street
VELA
If bubbly is the potion that fuels VIPs, Vela's Champagne bar is a veritable magnet for megastars. Dig out the Louboutins, don your oversized shades, and perch yourself at the counter. You're guaranteed a tasty tipple and more than a few celeb interactions.
VELA
King West
90 Portland Street
If bubbly is the potion that fuels VIPs, Vela's Champagne bar is a veritable magnet for megastars. Dig out the Louboutins, don your oversized shades, and perch yourself at the counter. You're guaranteed a tasty tipple and more than a few celeb interactions.
The Lobby - Ace Hotel Toronto
The city's latest capital of cool, Ace Hotel Toronto is a major draw thanks to its stunning design and impressive culinary program. Located near TIFF headquarters, it's bound to appeal to visitors eager to take in Toronto's buzziest new spots.
The Lobby - Ace Hotel Toronto
The city's latest capital of cool, Ace Hotel Toronto is a major draw thanks to its stunning design and impressive culinary program. Located near TIFF headquarters, it's bound to appeal to visitors eager to take in Toronto's buzziest new spots.
Yorkville
120 Avenue Rd
Sotto Sotto
Italian
A festival favourite from pre-Lightbox days, Sotto Sotto still holds plenty of appeal for celebs, both local and those visiting from afar. Homestyle with a Yorkville twist, this is the spot for hot cars, hot people, and hot dishes sure to energize any night of festival fun.
Sotto Sotto
Yorkville
120 Avenue Rd
A festival favourite from pre-Lightbox days, Sotto Sotto still holds plenty of appeal for celebs, both local and those visiting from afar. Homestyle with a Yorkville twist, this is the spot for hot cars, hot people, and hot dishes sure to energize any night of festival fun.
Italian
Queen Street West
312 Queen St W
Soluna
Refuel during TIFF with a resort-inspired getaway at Soluna, Queen Street West's most tropical new supper club. With a bustling schedule of events -- including brunches, TIFF dinners, parties, and a partnership with BPM Festival during TIFF's final weekend -- Soluna is a perfect place to refuel as you gawk at bigwigs.
Soluna
Queen Street West
312 Queen St W
Refuel during TIFF with a resort-inspired getaway at Soluna, Queen Street West's most tropical new supper club. With a bustling schedule of events -- including brunches, TIFF dinners, parties, and a partnership with BPM Festival during TIFF's final weekend -- Soluna is a perfect place to refuel as you gawk at bigwigs.
Downtown
188 University Ave
Shangri-La Lobby Lounge and Bar
Bar
Laze in luxury at Shangri-La's Lobby Lounge, savouring sips from a new cocktail menu. Inspired by nine of this year's movies, from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery to The Woman King, each is a sophisticated way to toast this year's TIFF.
Shangri-La Lobby Lounge and Bar
Downtown
188 University Ave
Laze in luxury at Shangri-La's Lobby Lounge, savouring sips from a new cocktail menu. Inspired by nine of this year's movies, from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery to The Woman King, each is a sophisticated way to toast this year's TIFF.
Bar
King West
480 King St W
Pink Sky
Seafood
A place where the bubbly flows freely and towers are laden with the bounty of the sea, Pink Sky is the type of see-and-be-seen spot superstars can't resist. Join them this festival season for evenings of indulgence and people watching that can't be beat.
Pink Sky
King West
480 King St W
A place where the bubbly flows freely and towers are laden with the bounty of the sea, Pink Sky is the type of see-and-be-seen spot superstars can't resist. Join them this festival season for evenings of indulgence and people watching that can't be beat.
Seafood
Parc Ave
As à la mode as the latest starlet, Parc Ave has Yorkville abuzz with its premium cocktails and knockout looks. Sexy, and sumptuous, it's bound to attract plenty of TIFF's top talents.
Parc Ave
As à la mode as the latest starlet, Parc Ave has Yorkville abuzz with its premium cocktails and knockout looks. Sexy, and sumptuous, it's bound to attract plenty of TIFF's top talents.
Financial District
190 University Ave
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Japanese
Curious to know what famous people do when they're out of the limelight? We're guessing they decompress over plates of satisfying dishes, washed down with cold beer. Or maybe that's just us? Find like-minded celebs this month at Momofuku, where a pre-theatre repast includes of corn flatbread with stracciatella and spiced eggplant, fried Brussels sprouts with puffed rice, and cassava sticks with ginger scallion mayo. And keep in mind, extra ramen and pork buns are a great way to make new friends.
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Financial District
190 University Ave
Curious to know what famous people do when they're out of the limelight? We're guessing they decompress over plates of satisfying dishes, washed down with cold beer. Or maybe that's just us? Find like-minded celebs this month at Momofuku, where a pre-theatre repast includes of corn flatbread with stracciatella and spiced eggplant, fried Brussels sprouts with puffed rice, and cassava sticks with ginger scallion mayo. And keep in mind, extra ramen and pork buns are a great way to make new friends.
Japanese
Mister C.
With avant-garde decor, a seductive atmosphere, and its A+ location, Mister C is just the spot to slink into a shadowy booth and people-watch the night away. Located in the lobby of Bisha Hotel, it's the type of hotspot stars are destined to casually pop by on their journeys up to their suites.
Mister C.
With avant-garde decor, a seductive atmosphere, and its A+ location, Mister C is just the spot to slink into a shadowy booth and people-watch the night away. Located in the lobby of Bisha Hotel, it's the type of hotspot stars are destined to casually pop by on their journeys up to their suites.
King West
225 King St W Suite 100
Minami Toronto
Japanese
An official Hospitality Partner of the festival -- and conveniently located steps from TIFF Bell Lightbox -- Minami has several exclusive features available between September 8 and 18. Savour The Final C.U.T., with chutoro, uni and truffle, a Wagyu luxe trio, or Saikyo miso sablefish, all enjoyed alongside The Buena Vista cocktail, inspired by Disney films.
Minami Toronto
King West
225 King St W Suite 100
An official Hospitality Partner of the festival -- and conveniently located steps from TIFF Bell Lightbox -- Minami has several exclusive features available between September 8 and 18. Savour The Final C.U.T., with chutoro, uni and truffle, a Wagyu luxe trio, or Saikyo miso sablefish, all enjoyed alongside The Buena Vista cocktail, inspired by Disney films.
Japanese
King West
455 King St W
MARBL
Home of the Jaguar Supper Suite pop-up, MARBL is scheduled to host a number of premiere parties, receptions, cocktail parties, and press junkets this festival season. Known for serving up luxury to a roster of A-list visitors in years past, MARBL is set to reclaim its rep as a go-to TIFF hangout.
MARBL
King West
455 King St W
Home of the Jaguar Supper Suite pop-up, MARBL is scheduled to host a number of premiere parties, receptions, cocktail parties, and press junkets this festival season. Known for serving up luxury to a roster of A-list visitors in years past, MARBL is set to reclaim its rep as a go-to TIFF hangout.
King West
563 King St W
Mademoiselle
New this year, Mademoiselle puts on a show as splashy as the one at TIFF Bell Lightbox. With extravagant seafood towers, plump tins of caviar, weighty cuts of beef, and enough bubbles to flood Festival Street, you know Mademoiselle is where the party will be this film-fest season.
Mademoiselle
King West
563 King St W
New this year, Mademoiselle puts on a show as splashy as the one at TIFF Bell Lightbox. With extravagant seafood towers, plump tins of caviar, weighty cuts of beef, and enough bubbles to flood Festival Street, you know Mademoiselle is where the party will be this film-fest season.
Financial District
325 Bay St
Louix Louis
French
Celebrating Dalíland -- a movie that explores Salvador Dalí's connection to the St. Regis hotel brand and is TIFF 2022's official closing gala film -- Louix Louis is offering two exclusive cocktails inspired by the famed artist. Choose between the Dalíland, with Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Manzanilla Sherry, lemon, rosemary syrup and vegan foaming bitters, or The Casanova, based on Dalí's own recipe, with Armagnac, orange juice, Campari, ginger syrup, and cayenne.
Louix Louis
Financial District
325 Bay St
Celebrating Dalíland -- a movie that explores Salvador Dalí's connection to the St. Regis hotel brand and is TIFF 2022's official closing gala film -- Louix Louis is offering two exclusive cocktails inspired by the famed artist. Choose between the Dalíland, with Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Manzanilla Sherry, lemon, rosemary syrup and vegan foaming bitters, or The Casanova, based on Dalí's own recipe, with Armagnac, orange juice, Campari, ginger syrup, and cayenne.
French
Entertainment District
80 Blue Jays Way 44th Floor
Kost
Californian
When the crowds stifle, the view from Kōst, on Bisha Hotel's 44th floor, can set anyone straight. Thanks to its open-air patio and West-coast fare, Kōst is a fave celeb haunt whenever the time comes to mellow out.
Kost
Entertainment District
80 Blue Jays Way 44th Floor
When the crowds stifle, the view from Kōst, on Bisha Hotel's 44th floor, can set anyone straight. Thanks to its open-air patio and West-coast fare, Kōst is a fave celeb haunt whenever the time comes to mellow out.
Californian
Flora Lounge
Marking its first festival season, 1 Hotel Toronto's Flora Lounge has a Hollywood-inspired menu of cocktails sure to put you in a cinematic frame of mind. Choices include the Amity Island, with Blue Curaçao, aloe vera and lemon juices and elderflower tonic, and the Sunset Blvd., with Bombay Sapphire Gin and passionfruit purée. Then, there's the 5 Stars, a drink sure to generate buzz for its $1000-price tag, black truffle, Cristal Champagne, edible gold glitter, and charitable donation with every purchase.
Flora Lounge
Marking its first festival season, 1 Hotel Toronto's Flora Lounge has a Hollywood-inspired menu of cocktails sure to put you in a cinematic frame of mind. Choices include the Amity Island, with Blue Curaçao, aloe vera and lemon juices and elderflower tonic, and the Sunset Blvd., with Bombay Sapphire Gin and passionfruit purée. Then, there's the 5 Stars, a drink sure to generate buzz for its $1000-price tag, black truffle, Cristal Champagne, edible gold glitter, and charitable donation with every purchase.
Downtown
181 Wellington St W
Epoch
Steps from TIFF Bell Lightbox, Ritz Carlton Toronto offers the type of luxury and discreet service every star requires. At Epoch, a cozy indoor space and tranquil outdoor terrace invite guests to linger over refined pub fare, premium cocktails and afternoon tea. Just don't get too relaxed, or you might just miss your show time.
Epoch
Downtown
181 Wellington St W
Steps from TIFF Bell Lightbox, Ritz Carlton Toronto offers the type of luxury and discreet service every star requires. At Epoch, a cozy indoor space and tranquil outdoor terrace invite guests to linger over refined pub fare, premium cocktails and afternoon tea. Just don't get too relaxed, or you might just miss your show time.
Yorkville
60 Yorkville Ave
d|bar
For an elegant moment of repose, d|bar is a treasure along Bloor Street's Mink Mile. The new Director's Cut Cocktail Menu, available from September 8 to September 18, offers something for everyone -- from comedy fans to die-hard action buffs. For our money, The Premiere, made with Earl Grey Bombay Gin, Galliano, popcorn syrup, popcorn, and served in a popcorn box, is the best way to enjoy the essence of the festival in one joyously fun adult bevvy.
d|bar
Yorkville
60 Yorkville Ave
For an elegant moment of repose, d|bar is a treasure along Bloor Street's Mink Mile. The new Director's Cut Cocktail Menu, available from September 8 to September 18, offers something for everyone -- from comedy fans to die-hard action buffs. For our money, The Premiere, made with Earl Grey Bombay Gin, Galliano, popcorn syrup, popcorn, and served in a popcorn box, is the best way to enjoy the essence of the festival in one joyously fun adult bevvy.
Clockwork
Sipping bubbly under the clock is the perfect way to wind down, any time of year. Whether you opt for an array of appies or a leisurely afternoon tea, you'll quickly see what makes this one of the city's most splendid spots. Is Clockwork slightly removed from the hubbub of TIFF? If you ask us, that's just one of its many, many charms.
Clockwork
Sipping bubbly under the clock is the perfect way to wind down, any time of year. Whether you opt for an array of appies or a leisurely afternoon tea, you'll quickly see what makes this one of the city's most splendid spots. Is Clockwork slightly removed from the hubbub of TIFF? If you ask us, that's just one of its many, many charms.
King West
600 King St W
Clio
A member's club with style and substance to spare, Clio is a TIFF 2022 Hospitality Partner for good reason. It's a top spot for classy cocktails, exceptional dishes, and corners cradling world-class celebs. Once TIFF is in high gear, could you crave anything more?
Clio
King West
600 King St W
A member's club with style and substance to spare, Clio is a TIFF 2022 Hospitality Partner for good reason. It's a top spot for classy cocktails, exceptional dishes, and corners cradling world-class celebs. Once TIFF is in high gear, could you crave anything more?
King West
550 Wellington St W
Casa Madera
Mexican
Endless photo ops, press junkets, and autograph requests are sure to have celebs clambering for escape. Few places offer it up as readily as Casa Madera. Don't be surprised, then, if between the trickle of smoke from your cocktail, the undulating entertainers, and platters of tacos, seafood and sizzling Wagyu beef, you spy some A-listers enjoying a moment of zen.
Casa Madera
King West
550 Wellington St W
Endless photo ops, press junkets, and autograph requests are sure to have celebs clambering for escape. Few places offer it up as readily as Casa Madera. Don't be surprised, then, if between the trickle of smoke from your cocktail, the undulating entertainers, and platters of tacos, seafood and sizzling Wagyu beef, you spy some A-listers enjoying a moment of zen.
Mexican
Entertainment District
80 Blue Jays Way
Akira Back
Japanese
Helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, Akira Back offers celebs the calibre of cuisine they know and love. Set against the stylish backdrop of Bisha Hotel (a TIFF 2022 Hospitality Partner), paired with a menu of fortifying cocktails and situated steps from TIFF headquarters, Akira Back is guaranteed to be packed come festival season.
Akira Back
Entertainment District
80 Blue Jays Way
Helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, Akira Back offers celebs the calibre of cuisine they know and love. Set against the stylish backdrop of Bisha Hotel (a TIFF 2022 Hospitality Partner), paired with a menu of fortifying cocktails and situated steps from TIFF headquarters, Akira Back is guaranteed to be packed come festival season.
Japanese