Getting a TIFF drink: a complete list of establishments open until 4 a.m. during the film festival
Stalking celebs at TIFF takes a lot out of us—and, we imagine, avoiding us takes a lot out of celebs. The best way to soothe those festival blues or celebrate festival triumphs is with a few cocktails around dawn. Luckily, more bars than ever are serving late this year.
Why so many licences this year? David Brown, bar manager at the Drake Hotel, posits a theory: “The economy is a little tight in general, regardless of what the Bank of Canada says. Giving licences earlier is a benefit to the city and businesses.” He notes that the crowd typically thins out a bit around 2 a.m., with a fresh round of TIFFers coming in around 2:30 a.m. Richard Lambert, owner of The Social, echoes Brown’s sentiment: “We will see a good turnover in the crowds, with a second wave coming around 1:30.”
Late licences are free to bars that want them, but to obtain one, venues have to prove to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that their staying open late is of vital importance to the festival. For example, One-Eleven, the Hazelton Hotel’s bar and Toronto’s newest A-list central, would be a definite yes. Bars that can’t pull in a party or at least some drunken famous people will have to keep their normal hours.
And so, in the interest of the local economy, we’ll be sipping at any of these establishments with extended hours.
Open until 4 a.m.
Urban Restaurant 303 King St. W., 416-598-5656 11:30 a.m.–4 a.m.
Fox and Fiddle 280 Bloor St. W., 416-966-4369 7 a.m.–4 a.m.
The Fifth Social Club 225 Richmond St. W., 416-979-3000 9 p.m.–4 a.m.
Sopra 265 Davenport Rd., 416-929-9006 Th–Sa 6 p.m.–4 a.m.
Bovine Sex Club 542 Queen St. W., 416-504-4239 9 p.m.–4 a.m.
Chez Victor 30 Mercer St., 416-883-3431 4 p.m.–4 a.m.
The Social 1100 Queen St. W., 416-532-4474 10 p.m.–4 a.m.
Marben 484 Wellington St. W., 416-979-1990 5:30 p.m.–4 a.m.
One-Eleven 111 Yorkville Ave., 416-935-0111 11 a.m.–4 a.m.
Lobby 192 Bloor St. W., 416-929-7169 11 a.m.–4 a.m.
Toronto InterContinental Hotel (Yorkville) 220 Bloor St. W., 416-960-5200 4 p.m.–4 a.m.
Century Room 580 King St. W., 416-203-2226 10 p.m.–4 a.m.
Cobra 500 King St. W., 416-361-9004 10 p.m.–4 a.m.
Drake Hotel 1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042 5 p.m.–4 a.m. (Only the Underground and Lounge are open late; the rooftop maintains its normal hours)
Flow Restaurant and Lounge 133 Yorkville Ave., 416-925-2143 Noon–4 a.m.
Empire Restaurant and Lounge 50 Cumberland St., 416-840-8440 5 p.m.–4 a.m.
Other extended hours
Windsor Arms Hotel 18 St. Thomas St., 416-971-9666 11 a.m.–2 a.m.
The Fifth 221 Richmond St. W., 416-979-3005 5:30 p.m.–midnight (restaurant portion of the Fifth Social Club, for private events)
Four Seasons Hotel 21 Avenue Rd., 416-964-0411 12 p.m.–2 a.m. (licensed until 4 a.m., but usually closes around 2 a.m.)
Park Hyatt 4 Avenue Rd., 416-925-1234 Noon–midnight (licensed for private parties later, but open to the public until midnight)
The Spoke Club 600 King St. W., 416-368-8448 M–F 10 a.m.–2 a.m. (Thursday and Friday serve until 4 a.m.; Sa 5 p.m.–4 a.m.; closed Sunday)
Rosewater Supper Club 19 Toronto St., 416-214-5888 4 p.m.–2 a.m. (at 10 p.m., they switch to a bistro menu; no definite closing time established yet)
Phoenix Theatre 410 Sherbourne St., 416-323-1251 Private event on Sept. 11; 4 a.m. close; normal hours every other night
Boiler House 55 Mill St., 416-203-2121 5 p.m.–2 a.m. (open later if necessary)
Maro 135 Liberty St., 416-588-2888 5 p.m.–2 a.m. (“Or whenever last call is”)
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