Here's a look at new Toronto eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this winter. The new and renovated venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Located behind a pink snack shop on Dundas West is Mahjong Bar, a speakeasy-style bar that opened in September. Guests walk through a curtain to find a glowing red keyhole doorway that leads to the bar itself. Inside, the 2,000-square-foot space has a combination of seating and standing space for 96 guests, and China-inspired snack plates and cocktails are served. A 36-foot hand-painted mural by artist Gabriella Lo greets guests, while the rest of the space gives off a mid-century Hong Kong vibe, with direct inspiration sourced from co-owner Kyle Wong’s family. The bar is available for full buyouts.
Contemporary French bistro Bacchanal opened in October in the Queen West area. Boasting 3,500 square feet of space, the restaurant has an open kitchen where diners can watch co-owner and executive chef Luke Donato (formerly of Campagnolo) prepare dishes such as escargot or steak frites. The restaurant offers a combination of seating and standing space for 100 guests, plus a semiprivate dining area that seats 14. Sixteen-foot floor-to-ceiling corner windows sit on two sides of the restaurant, and the dining room is adorned with custom-designed wallpaper by animation artist Ray Xu that showcases a variety of Toronto motifs. Cheeky bathrooms feature NSFW custom wallpaper by Toronto-based artist and textile designer Elyse Saunders. The restaurant is available for full buyouts.
Northern Maverick Brewery opened in September in the King West neighborhood. The two-story, 11,000-square-foot brewpub holds 400 people and is available for full buyouts. The space is divided into four sections, including the 6,000-square-foot main-floor dining room, which has flat-screen televisions, plus a boardroom and a patio. There is also an 810-square-foot private dining room, which seats 40 and has an audiovisual system. The venue offers a menu of seasonal dishes made with local ingredients, and includes items such as oysters, housemade charcuterie, and grilled octopus. Â
In July, Flight Centre opened a new Travel Centre inside a heritage building in the King West neighborhood. In a new move for the business, the 10,000-square-foot space is available for a variety of uses. Designed by Quadrangle, the main floor is open to the public, and serves as the center’s main event space. (On the lower level is the business travel center, which is not open to the public.) The main floor seats 60 or holds 200 for receptions, and offers floor-to-ceiling windows, original brick and beams, ultra hi-def monitors, and the 3,800-square-foot Concorde Boardroom. The boardroom and main-floor space are both available for buyout.
The Globe and Mail newspaper recently launched an all-purpose meeting and event venue within its new corporate headquarters in the Design District. The venue, which opened in May, has 11,000-square-feet of space spread across the top two levels of the building. On Level 17, guests can access the three main event spaces: the 3,700-square-foot Event Hall, the 3,800-square-foot Lounge, and the 2,900-square-foot Terrace. The spaces offer automated audiovisual systems that include five built-in laser projectors; there is also a 180-degree view of the downtown skyline. The combined capacity for Level 17 is 400 for standing receptions, 300 for seated banquets, or 265 theater-style; the spaces can also be rented individually. Downstairs on Level 16 is a 1,650-square-foot meeting room, which can be booked individually or as a package with the other event spaces. Full buyouts are available.
Located in Vaughan, Château Le Jardin underwent renovations and reopened in October. During the renovation, the 112,000-square-foot event venue received new moldings, stained glass windows, and coffered ceilings; tents were also added outside so the venue could become accessible year-round. The space, which can be divided into eight multipurpose event rooms, offers the 12,000-square-foot Grand Versailles room, which seats 1,800 theater-style or 1,000 banquet-style. There is also the 8,000-square-foot Grand Renaissance Ballroom, which seats 1,200 theater-style or holds 600 banquet-style. An in-house catering team offers Italian cuisine, and full buyouts are available.Â
The St. Andrew’s Club & Conference Centre, located in the Financial District, rebranded and expanded in September. Now called Vantage Venues, the space occupies 27 rooms that all come equipped with audiovisual capabilities, natural light, and city views. The largest spaces include the 2,800-square food Garden Hall, which seats 200 theater-style or holds 150 for receptions; the 2,700-square-food Conservatory Gallery, which seats 150 or holds 200 for receptions; and the 4,320-square-foot Garden Suite, which seats 170. Full buyouts are available.
100 Acre Wood, located in Prince Edward County, had its soft open in June. Spread across a 100-acre lot (hence the name), the property embraces its natural features and includes walking trails, farmer’s fields, and wildflowers. The property owners have installed a fire pit and hammock area, and have removable church pews and harvest tables available. The venue seats 100 or holds 150 for receptions, and is available for full buyouts.
Craft Beer Market has expanded from its original Calgary home and will be opening its first Toronto location in November. The restaurant, which will be located in the Financial District, will offer an elevated take on pub food including burgers, beer-can chicken, and nachos. McKinley Burkart Design is overseeing the restaurant build-out, which covers some 16,500 square feet of space. A glass keg room at the front entrance showcases 250 kegs. The restaurant will be divided into four spaces, including the main dining room, an upper-mezzanine private dining room that holds 170, a lower semiprivate dining room that holds 65, and an outdoor beer garden. The venue will be available for full buyouts.
