There’s always something going on in Toronto, but the buzz of summer festivals, new restaurant openings and sun-soaked patios pales in comparison to the electricity felt in the city during TIFF. Everything seems more glamorous as the world turns its eyes to Toronto, and the best restaurants in the city become hotspots for celebrity sightings.
Unlike other film festivals, TIFF is known as “the people’s festival” because in Toronto, everyone can get in on the movie magic. (And the festival’s top award, voted by the audience, has an excellent track record of predicting Academy Award winners.) TIFF screenings and special events aren’t just for the industry crowd — films are open to the public with reasonable ticket prices, activations welcome guests off the street, and bars and restaurants serve special, limited-time drinks and dishes. Plus, some of the coolest bars in Toronto have extended their last call to 4 a.m. to keep the party going.
Here, we’ve rounded up the best TIFF-inspired menu items, so you can eat and drink like the celebs this festival season.
15 TIFF experiences you can (and should) try
1. 60-foot MSSM Sushi Bar
September 5
350 King St. W.
To celebrate the premiere of Still Single, a film documenting the life and career of Masaki Saito, a 60-foot sushi counter will be installed on King Street West in front of the TIFF Lightbox on September 5th. From 5 p.m, stroll on by for complimentary omakase prepared by MSSM chefs, and keep your eyes peeled for a special appearance by chef Masaki Saito himself.
2. TIFF After Dark at The Drake Hotel
September 4–11
1150 Queen St. W.
The Drake Hotel has always been a hotspot for the arts, from the rotating pieces in its dining areas to the Underground performances. The unofficial TIFF after-hours destination will serve late-night bites until 2 a.m. and a curated TIFF-themed cocktail menu until 4 a.m.
Keep the party going until the morning in the iconic Lounge, listening to live DJ sets, snacking on cinematic themed dishes like Lord of the Wings, Jurassic Pork and The Devil Wears Prawns, all while sipping The Gold Digger cocktail. Inspired by Hustlers, the TIFF-exclusive drink features Hennessy VS Cognac, elderflower, white vermouth, Cynar, orange bitters and a touch of gold dust — because we all deserve to feel like stars during TIFF.
How The Drake manages to stay current yet oh-so nostalgic
Chef David Smith rose to the challenge of giving the hotel’s menu a fresh, modern take — while still feeding on the nostalgia of food that’s rooted in Toronto tradition.
Read more3. The Director's Cut Experience at The Carbon Bar
September 4 – October 2
99 Queen St. E.
Be sure to bring your appetite to The Carbon Bar’s TIFF-exclusive dining experience. Served in three acts, the cinematic, $89 tasting menu starts with fresh east coast oysters dressed in champagne mignonette, followed up by the gut-busting Pitmaster Platter, loaded with brisket, ribs, fried chicken, pulled pork and sausage, all served with lobster mac and cheese and grilled broccolini. A caramel popcorn sundae with chocolate sauce and whisky caramel closes out the show.
4. A Cinematic Supper at Ayla Upstairs
September 4–11
794 Dundas St. W., 2nd Floor.
Ayla Upstairs is already one of our favourite openings of 2025, not just for its inventive fusion plates, but also for its cinematic interior design. This TIFF, the stylish date-night spot will be paying tribute to inspirational Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. In a nod to the recurring symbol in his cult classic Chungking Express, Ayla will serve its signature char siu with crispy rice and pineapple — presented right in the can. The playful dish channels the character’s “obsession with pineapple tins and a remembrance of love,” and will be available exclusively during the festival.
Order the entire menu at this hidden Hong Kong spot for small plates
Ayla Upstairs is a melting pot of flavours with Cantonese, European and Jamaican influence, served in a gorgeous room above Patois on Dundas West.
Read more5. TIFF Cocktails at ONE Restaurant
September 3–14
116 Yorkville Ave.
Yorkville is already one of the best spots in Toronto to spot celebrities, but with the new TIFF menu at ONE Restaurant at The Hazelton Hotel, you can really feel like you’re dining with the stars. For a limited time only, ONE is launching a TIFF feature cocktail menu in partnership with The Macallan. The glamorous Red Carpet Sour is a stunner, served with a cherry; the Director’s Cut Old Fashioned offers a subtle twist on the classic with The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Year Old, lemon and rosemary.
Add some Hollywood to your cocktail by ordering the Macallan Bar Cart, an experience fit for the silver screen: You’ll be dazzled by the bespoke tableside service as your cocktails are prepared with theatrical flair. Top it all off with a Scotch and Caviar tasting to feel just like a movie star.
6. Movie Menu Magic at The Broadview Hotel
September 4–14
106 Broadview Ave.
Over on the east end, The Broadview Hotel is serving more than views. The hotel is celebrating some of TIFF’s feature films with a star-studded menu at its Rooftop restaurant.
Roofman on the Rooftop is a pisco, lime and ginger tipple that doffs its cap to Roofman, a Channing Tatum flick premiering this year at the festival. The Broadview Hotel will also be paying homage to In the Cut with the Deep Cut Tartar, featuring beef tartare on toasted sourdough.
7. Gold-laden Sips and Bites at The St. Regis Toronto
September 4–14
325 Bay St.
One of our favourite luxury hotels, The St. Regis Toronto is pulling out all the stops for TIFF. In the elegant Astor Lounge, The Golden Premiere Afternoon Tea ($98 per person) pays homage to Caroline Astor’s legacy and TIFF’s iconic black-and-gold palette. Nibble on osietra caviar with yuzu mousse, truffle burrata, squid ink crepes and desserts kissed with gold, while you sip on a premium blend from Sloane Fine Tea Merchants.
For a harder libation, the Black Tie & Gold Dust Cocktail is made with tequila, Kahlua, Amaro Montenegro and Aztec Chocolate Bitters, then topped with white foam and gold flakes. And if you’re in the Astor Lounge at 6 p.m. on the festival dates, you’ll be treated to a complimentary glass of bubbles during the Champagne Sabrage Ritual, presented by Perrier-Jouët.
Upstairs at the opulent Louix Louis, the extravagance continues with The Golden Carving Experience, a 50-oz, Halal-certified, Australian wagyu tomahawk with a gold-plated bone. It’s flamed table-side with The Macallan 12-Year Double Cask and served alongside a sabrage of Perrier-Jouët 'Belle Epoque' 2016, all for an eye-popping $1,500 for two to four people.
Meanwhile, the TIFF50 Caviar and Cocktail sees The Macallan Rare Cask Rob Roy cocktail paired with ossetra caviar ($250). Cap it all off with the 50-layer, gold adorned King’s Cake — it’s $500 a slice, but it’s served with sparklers so…
8. TIFF 50 Tasting Menu at Pukka
September 4–14
778 St Clair Ave. W.
As an official TIFF 50 Hospitality Partner, Pukka will be catering the Beyond the Red Carpet screening of Neeraj Ghaywan and Martin Scorsese’s Homebound. If you can’t attend the event, though, you can still dine with some of the movie magic.
The Indian restaurant (which we recently tried and loved) will introduce the Pukka TIFF 50 Tasting Menu for the festival. Dig into kataifi (shredded filo strands), scallops in saffron butter, a New York striploin with mushroom jalfrezi or malai kofta with pumpkin curry. There’s an optional wine pairing to enjoy, too.
Pukka has been serving familiar Indian eats for over a decade
The restaurant hits the spot with not-too-spicy curries, succulent meats and inventive presentations. It's a great pick for an introduction to Indian cuisine or to savour flavours you know and love.
Read more9. TIFF No. 42 martini at Bar XXX
September 4–14
102 Portland St.
This speakeasy below Little Sister on Portland is worth a visit for its exceptionally creative cocktails at any time of year, but during TIFF, you can get a special serve. Made with mint-infused Tanqueray 10 Gin, dry sherry, absinthe and orange bitters, the TIFF No. 42 cocktail is a nod to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and is the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.”
10. (Michelin) Star-Studded Cocktails at Enigma
September 2–16
23 St Thomas St.
One-star Michelin restaurant Enigma Yorkville is one of the city’s top dining destinations, but now you don’t need to commit to an eight-course tasting menu to soak up the atmosphere. From September 2–16, the swanky Yorkville hotspot is serving TIFF-inspired cocktails in its lounge. Try the Red Carpet ($28), a clarified milk punch inspired by red velvet cake and the glamour of the Toronto Film Festival. Or go for the Yonge & Famous ($26), a velvety cognac and Canadian icewine cocktail brightened with Seville orange bitters and a splash of champagne — a dazzling drink that delivers instant A-list energy.
As its name suggests, this Michelin-starred spot is a tasty mystery worth unravelling
Despite its Michelin star, Enigma Yorkville on St. Thomas Street still remains a hidden gem. I step inside chef Quinton Bennett’s dining room to solve this puzzle with his seasonal tasting menu.
Read more11. Redbreast x ALO Dinner Series
September 4–14
163 Spadina Ave.
Move over wine pairings — during TIFF, Alo is serving a four-course dinner menu in The Bar, paired with signature drinks and cocktails, all featuring Redbreast Irish Whiskey, the official whisky of TIFF. For $155 per person, enjoy dishes like New Zealand lamb with a Redbreast 12 Year Irish Manhattan; and wild mushroom, dashi and truffle Koshihikari Rice with a Redbreast 15 Year Mizuwari.
12. Special Menu at Minami
September 4–14
225 King St. W. Suite 100
Just steps from the TIFF red carpets, Minami — the jaw-dropping Japanese restaurant on King West — will serve a special menu, just as dazzling as a movie star’s smile.
The Golden Anniversary Sour pairs Redbreast Irish whisky with raspberry liqueur, lemon and white miso honey for a sipper worthy of TIFF’s 50th birthday. For bites, succulent wagyu skewers with black garlic miso and a sweet soy glaze are served on a hot stone plate; wagyu tartare is topped with Volzhenka Osciètre caviar, yuzu kosho and rakkyo.
13. TIFF Tasting Menu and Cocktails at Fairmont Royal York
September 4–14
100 Front St. W.
What better place to celebrate TIFF than a hotel renowned for its grandeur and old-world charm? Fairmont Royal York’s luxurious Reign Restaurant is serving a four-course TIFF tasting menu with cocktail pairings for each dish. At $150 per person, A Cinematic Culinary Journey includes citrus-marinated Hamachi crudo paired with a Golden Bellini, seared sea bass served with a gin and elderflower number and a show-stopping beef tenderloin Rossini.
The hotel’s bars each have their own special menu items, too: At Library Bar, guests can sip on Take the Cannoli, a riff on the Godfather cocktail served with venison tartare and a cannoli shell in homage to the film’s most iconic line; at CLOCKWORK Champagne & Cocktails, The Ocean Jewel, with itsumo tuna tartare, sea urchin, oscietra caviar, dashi gelée, shiso and yuzu is made to be savoured with champagne.
14. Limited-Time Dishes at Radici Project
September 4–14
588 College St.
Radici Project is putting a cinematic twist on its menu offerings with a limited-time Cacio e Pepe topped with beef tataki and Canadian caviar. The dish blends the Italian classic with grilled beef, nodding to Italy’s Ferragosto barbecue tradition, drawing inspiration from the Italian food film, Il Pranzo di Ferragosto.
During TIFF, the dish takes centre stage on both the Essence Menu, a condensed and affordable tasting menu; and the larger Immersive Menu. À la carte won’t miss out — they’ll receive a complimentary cacio e pepe welcome bite at this Little Italy spot that’s famed for Itameshi dining, a fusion of Italian and Japanese flavours.
15. Director’s Cut Pasta Tasting at Amano Trattoria
September 2–21
9 Church St.
As the cool fall air settles in, there’s nothing we want more than a steaming plate of pasta — except maybe seven plates of pasta. And that’s exactly what’s on offer at Amano Trattoria during TIFF this year. For $149 per person, the Director’s Cut Pasta Tasting menu is a seven-course tribute to iconic on-screen food moments, from a half-metre-long spaghetti to recreate the Lady and the Tramp scene to a double-stuffed ravioli that nods to The Godfather.
