2. Goodnight, the first reservations-only bar in Toronto, opened in July 2010. In an alleyway off of Richmond Street, the speakeasy-style lounge is available for buyout and private events. The 1,000-square-foot space has seating for 35 and standing room for 100. The theme skews antique, with reclaimed church pews for seating and old sewing patterns as wallpaper, and the bar serves vintage cocktails.
3. A welcome addition to the Harbourfront, Against the Grain opened in June. The sophisticated tavern serves high-end pub food and has 16 beers on tap, with a rotating menu of local brews. The modern dining room seats 70, but the main attraction is the lakeside patio, which seats 204, with couches and fire pits available for larger groups. Although the spot is not available for buyout, private events can be booked for as many as 80 guests on the patio or inside.
4. Opening last March in the heart of the financial district, Black Moon is an elegant resto-lounge that can be booked for private events seven days a week. The dimly lit space can seat 60 or hold 100 standing and serves shareable French dishes. Sparkling black tiles, votive candles, and an eye-catching chandelier add ambience.
5. Stirling Room opened last August, becoming the first nightclub in the Distillery District. In an historic building, the 2,400-square-foot space maintains its Victorian charm with dark leather banquettes, original hardwood flooring, and old portraits hanging on the exposed brick walls. With catering service available, the venue can seat 100 for dinner and host 200 for a cocktail reception. As an official host of the Toronto International Film Festival, Stirling Room will be home to at least three official film after-parties this September.
6. After the dinner shift, Parts & Labour caters to the nightlife crowd. A popular spot since its opening in June 2010, the 6,000-square-foot space is available for buyout and can hold as many as 450. The dining room features a 30-foot bar and long, communal tables. The downstairs concert venue dubbed the Shop can accommodate 170. Perhaps in honour of the hardware store that formerly occupied the space, Parts & Labour has an unpolished, industrial feel.
7. A new addition to the neighbourhood, Locus 144 opened in July 2010 in Liberty Village. The 1,500-square-foot restaurant and lounge is available for buyout at any time of day, seven days a week. The venue offers in-house catering options and has seating room for 56 and standing room for 120. Candlelit chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and votives light every table.
8. FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out, opened in May 2010. The futuristic champagne lounge is lined with banquette seating, cocktail tables, and clear chairs. Murals cover the walls, and neon lights give the narrow space a nightclub look. Available for buyout seven days a week, the lounge can accommodate groups of 50 for private events.
9. Bowling alley extraordinaire the Ballroom opened in January. The 20,000-square-foot space spans two floors; the main floor offers 10 bowling lanes (two of which are semiprivate), two V.I.P. booths, two bars, and a sidewalk patio. The upper floor includes the dining room and game room, as well as the screening room, a private space that seats 75 or 150 for a reception. Their rooftop patio accommodates 90 seated guests and opened in June, just in time for summer.
10. Opened in October 2009, the Roosevelt Room is a supper club with Old Hollywood charm. The Art Deco design was inspired by the Roosevelt Hotel, where the first Academy Awards were held, and fittingly, the club is next door to the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The space seats 120 and can accommodate 500 for a reception.
