Here's a look at new Toronto eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this spring. The new and renovated Toronto venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Streetcar Crowsnest, a collaboration between Crow’s Theatre and its lead sponsor, Streetcar Developments, opened in January in the base of a new 330-unit condo tower in Leslieville. The 5,610-square-foot venue has three event spaces: the Main Theatre seats 215 people or holds 330 for receptions and has the ability for seating to be removed to create an open space; the Studio, overlooking Carlaw Avenue, accommodates 80 seated or 100 for cocktails; and the lobby bar, which fits 50 seated or 200 for cocktails and is available for receptions or as exhibit space. The venue maintains a list of preferred caterers, and full buyouts are available.
The Backyard Axe Throwing League moved from its former Sterling Road location and into the Galleria Mall in November. The new space offers 6,200 square feet of space with high-top tables for 24 people. The grounds have five throwing areas available for events, each of which has four targets, and there is space for groups of as many as 200 people. A dedicated axe-throwing coaching staff is on hand during events. The venue’s bar serves a selection of local beers, wine, and coolers.
Oretta, the latest restaurant by established restaurateur Salvatore Mele, opened on King Street West in January. The restaurant, which serves authentic Italian fare with a modern twist, has 6,500 square feet of space and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, dramatic Art Deco-style archways, and chevron tiled flooring overseen by designers Commute. On the main dining level, there is seating for 120 with an additional 14 seats at the wraparound bar; it holds 300 for cocktail service. On the second floor, there is a private dining room that seats 70 or holds 100 for cocktails.
Boxcar Social's third location opened in September at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. The 2,000-square-foot café/bar hybrid has an unobstructed view of Lake Ontario and a huge patio that backs onto the Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Pond. The open-concept space features barnwood communal tables and bench seating for 150. The interior holds 200 for receptions, and outdoors, several patio tables accommodate another 100 seated or 150 for cocktails. In the kitchen, chef Nico Aldea (formerly of Porzia) offers a daily menu inspired by Italian and comfort food while pastries are provided daily by Bake Shoppe. The space is available for full buyouts.
After successfully running Otto’s Berlin Doner in Toronto’s Kensington Market, its owners decided to bring the concept to the larger-scale Otto's Bierhalle on Queen West. Inspired by nights out in Berlin, the 1,500 square-foot space opened in December at the bottom of the historic Great Hall event space. With a mix of long communal tables and standard tables, the bierhalle seats 100 guests or holds 130 for cocktails. Its German menu includes barbecue-style platters of schnitzel or spaetzle and cheese that will pair well with the 24 beers on tap. Audiovisual amenities include projectors and one truly unusual feature: a full lighting display in the washroom with a “party button” that can be fully controlled and customized. Full buyouts are available.
Fix Coffee & Bikes, Toronto’s first coffee and bike gallery, opened in January in the West Queen West neighborhood. Tucked into a small storefront, the 1,200-square-foot space seats 60 or holds 75 for receptions with unique bleacher seating and several two-top tables. Owner Fred Sztabinski worked alongside Shop116 Designs and OO Design Company for the interiors to create a warm, welcoming space that showcases the underlying biking theme. Full buyouts are available.
3 Brewers, a chain made famous in Quebec opened its eighth Ontario-based location in December. The 10,000-square-foot microbrewery took over a heritage building in Toronto’s Liberty Village neighborhood with 14-foot hardwood vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. The restaurant offers traditional pub fare like burgers, nachos, and wings alongside in-house microbrews including 3 Brewers Brown, Amber, and Blonde. With two floors, the restaurant offers semiprivate dining options and full buyouts. It seats 300 across both floors or holds 350 for receptions.
La Banane, the long-anticipated restaurant from chef Brandon Olsen, opened its Ossington home in January. In the partnership between Olsen, Olsen’s fiancée, Sarah Keenlyside, and King Street Food Company, the 5,500-square-foot French restaurant is a sleek space with a bit of an Art Deco feel courtesy of the design by Mason Studio. Throughout the space, paintings can be found from the chef and his partner’s private art collection, including works by Douglas Coupland, Talia Shipman, and Brent Macintosh, as well as a 40-foot mural designed by graphic designer Barr Gilmore. The restaurant is split into three distinct areas including a front space, a marble-topped raw bar, and a back dining room that can be used for semiprivate dining. The dining room seats 88 and has 24 seats at the bar. The entire space holds 120 for cocktails. Full buyouts are available.
In December, the second Canadian Dave & Buster's location opened in Oakville. The popular adult arcade offers more than 40,000 square feet of space and ample entertainment. The venue includes a sizable midway with 160 games and two restaurants that each measure 1,800 square feet. The Sports Lounge boasts more than a dozen HD big-screen TVs and 104 stadium seats, and the Main Dining Room, serving American fare, seats 180 guests. For private events, the Function Room on the second level is 2,500 square feet and can be split into three spaces using air walls. The room can be set up in a variety of ways including banquet-style for 150 guests, theater-style for 200 guests, or receptions for 220. Full buyouts are available.
