This year saw the opening of many significant event and meeting venues in Toronto. Here's a look at the best restaurants, party rooms, hotels, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open in 2014. These new and renovated Toronto venues suit groups large or small for private and corporate events, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Located between the Air Canada Centre and the Rogers Centre, the 46-story, 567-room Delta Toronto is the new flagship property for Delta Hotels. Opened in late November, the hotel has 17,000 square feet of meeting space spread over 12 venues with floor-to-ceiling windows and built-in audiovisual equipment. Its largest space, the SoCo Ballroom, is 6,528 square feet and holds 700 theater-style. It also has a 4,000-square-foot terrace with city views that holds 300 for receptions.
The International Centre completed the first phase of a major renovation in the fall. It includes a remade main entrance to Hall 1 that can be used for events and a 9,740-square-foot "connector building" between Hall 4 and Hall 5 that holds 812 people and can be used for registration, receptions, booths and displays, and lounge areas for food and beverage. Arch-Tech Design Group designed the new spaces.
Fort York National Historic Site is one of Toronto's largest outdoor venues. It includes the 10,000-person Garrison Common that is used for large-scale events. The $25 million Visitor Centre includes spaces for rent such as the lobby, the exhibit gallery, an orientation theater, and an immersive gallery about the Battle of York. The center holds as many as 500 people for receptions. It also features a full catering kitchen.
Opened by Toronto native and famed director Ivan Reitman, chef Jonathan Waxman, and restauranteurs Tom and Jordan Bitove of Innov8 hospitality, Montecito Restaurant boasts 12,000 square feet over its two-level dining room, lounge, and outdoor patio, which is split into seven different zones. Montecito’s decor includes an impressive digital wall featuring several 55-inch screens arranged to emulate an arched window. The lounge and dining space, which seats 399, offers a private entrance. It opened in September.
The neo-Parisian bistro Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie opened in the Distillery District in June. Spread over 11,000 square feet, the restaurant has a 146-seat dining room, an extensive raw bar, and a private dining room that seats 80. A patio adds another 240 seats. Interior designer Munge Leung and the graphic design firm Biography created the space, which combines traditional French touches with an industrial edge.
The massive open-air Cabana Pool Bar debuted a new look in June. The renovations include a 53,000-square-foot enclosed patio area, a saltwater pool, 12 elevated private cabanas surrounding the pool, and a new 3,000-square-foot second level with two small heated pools, five luxury cabanas, and a 22-foot bar. The venue holds 3,000 guests on its 23-acre lakeside property.
Located inside the Thompson Hotel is Colette Grand Café, 150-seat French bistro from Chase Hospitality, which opened in July. Its elegant design includes upholstery in provincial blue and Carrara marble bar tops. The airy venue has several spaces, including the main dining room, a café, and a terrace. Partial and full buyouts are available.
Cineplex VIP Cinemas opened in August in the Shops at Don Mills with more than 13,000 square feet of space and five V.I.P. auditoriums. The auditoriums are available for private screenings and corporate meetings and feature in-seat food and beverage service, two auditoriums with Dolby Atmos surround sound, an upscale lounge, and a patio overlooking the Shops at Don Mills. The theater has 494 seats as well as 13 barrier-free seats spread throughout the auditoriums.
Byblos, located on the first two floors of the Storys Building, opened in March with a luxurious eastern Mediterranean theme. Housed over 2,990 square feet between the two floors, the bright and airy space is home to white brick walls with soft colors and geometric tile work.
