Where to eat, drink and party like a celebrity during TIFF

TIFF turns 50 this year—half a century of standing ovations, step-and-repeats, and that brief window when star-spotting becomes a citywide sport. A-listers roam the streets, jaywalking on Queen West, grabbing lattes like the rest of us and getting the best seats at our restaurants. Whether you’re fuelling up before a premiere or chasing cocktails after the credits, here are 15 places where you can see and be seen during this year’s film festival.

Related: The co-owner of a popular Toronto pizzeria has a film premiering at this year’s TIFF

Same Same

Phanom “Patrick” Suksaen has already given Toronto a string of Thai standouts including Le Lert and Koh Lipe. With Same Same, he’s swapped out the usual cast of imported ingredients for CanCon stars: BC oysters, rhubarb jam, West Coast white sturgeon caviar, Ontario beef cheeks. The script, though, stays Thai—just modernized. That translates to buttery BC sablefish swimming in ginger-tamarind broth or Ontario pickerel crudo laced with holy basil oil and roasted Thai herbs. Set smack in TIFF’s ground zero, the dining room (and rooftop patio) offer a front-row view of the red carpet. And the drinks here are all White Lotus–themed, so even if star Sam Nivola (a.k.a. Lochlan Ratliff) doesn’t wander by en route to his Driver’s Ed premiere, you can still stir up a little drama over cocktails—no body count required. 329 King St. W., samesametoronto.com

Bar Clams

The latest hotspot from Matty Matheson is the casual little sibling to Prime Seafood Palace—think less glitz, more grease (but in a good way). The menu leans East Coast diner, so that means things like deep-fried scallops, Halifax-style donair, chowder and clam spaghetti, all executed with serious culinary chops behind the laid-back swagger. It’s a good half-hour hustle or 12-minute Uber from all the action, but a Bear cameo on Dundas West wouldn’t be a plot twist—Jeremy Allen White has popped in to PSP before, so we know he’s a fan of his co-star’s restaurants. 939 Dundas St. W., barclams.ca

Lunch Lady

In 2009, Anthony Bourdain met Nguyen Thi Thanh, who was dishing out seafood gumbo under a tarp at her Ho Chi Minh City soup stall. Her food floored him—and just like that, a No Reservations segment turned her into “the Lunch Lady,” launching her from humble street vendor to global icon. Now, her North American legacy lives on at this sleek Ossington outpost, only the second Lunch Lady location in Canada. It’s a story fit for the big screen. Michael Tran, a persistent Vancouver-based restaurateur, made multiple pilgrimages to Vietnam to earn Thanh’s blessing to bring Lunch Lady to Canada. At one point, she reportedly offered her daughter’s hand in marriage as part of the deal (she finally relented after speaking with Tran’s mother). Her first-ever plane ride brought her to visit the BC location in 2022, when she gave it her stamp of approval. Tragically, she suffered a heart attack en route to Toronto’s grand opening earlier this summer. Today, the menu features her handwritten soup recipes alongside modern riffs, like smoked beef cheek pho and prime rib-eye bo luc lac with cassava fries. With a cocktail list that’s TIFF-party ready and Bourdain’s blessing baked into its origin story, this is exactly the kind of place out-of-towners—and out-of-office actors—come sniffing around for. 93 Ossington Ave., thelunchlady.com

Jacobs and Co. Steakhouse

Jacobs (arguably one of the best steakhouses in the world) recently picked up and moved from their Brant Street location and into a 14,000-square-foot space on the fourth floor of CIBC Square. The menu still lists all the high-quality cuts of meat it’s known for, but now top-shelf surf rivals the turf. Also: table side caesar salad, a wine list 6,500 bottles long and a piano lounge. While it’s a bit removed from TIFF’s epicentre, it’s still close enough to be your tastiest post-screening move—and we think there’s more than a good chance visiting celebs will want to get a look at Jacobs 2.0. 81 Bay St., 4th Floor, jacobssteakhouse.com

Related: “How I went from being a vegan activist to chef at one of the world’s best steakhouses”

Tha Phae Tavern

Ask any Torontonian who reigns over Thai food and you’ll get the same answer every time: Nuit Regular. The chef behind Pai and Kiin has fed everyone from Raptors (Grady Dick, Scottie Barnes) to Oscar-winning directors (M. Night Shyamalan). Her latest spot—named after the eastern gate of Chiang Mai and just a stone’s throw from Pai—turns the fun dial past ten with a claw machine, karaoke rooms and a riotous energy that makes its older sibling look almost demure. 221 Richmond St. W., thaphaetavern.com

Portland Square

Like a rom-com meets action thriller with a dash of musical, Portland Square is a multi-headed hospitality hydra built to please absolutely everyone. And during TIFF, when celebs, producers and publicists rove in entourages, that kind of all-bases-covered versatility is a hot commodity. Another slick resurrection from Ink Entertainment (the building formerly housed Clio, a private dining club), the three-storey behemoth now brings four distinct venues under one roof: Rodeo Dive, a rootin’-tootin’ country western–themed sports bar; the Portland Room, a private event space primed for after-parties; Honey’s Chinese, serving Peking duck and Singapore noodles; and Prima Donna, a rooftop Italian trattoria doling out chicken parm, thin-crust pizza and big red-sauce energy. It’s chaotic in theory, crowd-pleasing in practice—just what a TIFF cast party calls for. 600 King St. W., portlandsquareto.com

Vinny Restaurant and Vinyl Bar

Step off King West and onto the set of Boogie Nights: Persian rugs, a forest’s worth of wood panelling and vintage speakers stacked to the rafters. The recent remix from restaurant impresario Charles Khabouth is a moody ’70s-inspired listening bar where the food (as with most Ink Entertainment productions) plays supporting actor to the party, powered by cocktails and sound. The menu riffs on comfort classics: shrimp toast gets a yuzu-kissed upgrade, Scotch eggs come wrapped in lardo and chicken kiev is reimagined with hake. After 11 p.m., the food offerings slim down as the focus shifts from dinner to dancing. Order a Staying Alive (tequila, matcha, cucumber, Tajín rim) and let the next track spin. 480 King St. W., vinnytoronto.com

Lao Lao Bar

Michelle Yeoh and Simu Liu are fans of Seng Luong and Jason Jiang, whose Sabai Sabai spin-off dives deep into their Lao roots—and doubles down on the fun. The kitchen doesn’t shy away from heat or herbs, serving vibrant sharing-friendly plates like nam khao, a dish of crispy rice, preserved pork and lime. Marigolds—used in temple offerings back home—trail across the bar like a blessing. Every night at Lao Lao feels like a celebration thanks to Jiang, a born party-thrower who reads a room better than most DJs. 5 St. Joseph St., laolaobar.com

Evangeline

The rooftop bar at the Ace Hotel shares a name with Canada’s first feature film, but that’s where the resemblance ends. Loud, lively and dripping in ’70s swagger, the space is anchored by oversized fireplaces and a riot of colourful rugs. Come golden hour, the west-facing room glows and everyone finds their light for selfies with martinis in hand, each one amped up with a house tincture (citrusy, nutty, with a hint of vanilla) and a bespoke vermouth blend. While the cocktails get top billing, the food—by Patrick Kriss of Michelin-starred Alo—is obviously no afterthought. Portions may be petite, but the flavours play in IMAX. Skipped lunch to seek out autographs? See if you can nab a last-minute table at Alder downstairs for larger plates. 51 Camden St., evangelinetoronto.com
Related: A documentary about sushi master Masaki Saito will premiere at TIFF

Ramen Tabetai

There’s a good chance that visiting celebs will be able to afford a meal at places like Sushi Masaki Saito and LSL—two of celebrity sushi master Masaki Saito’s swish restaurants. But, for the rest of us, his little ramen spot could be as close as we get. It checks a lot of TIFF boxes, though: it’s in Yorkville, they make only 100 bowls a day (thus increasing the exclusivity) and Saito himself is the subject of Still Single, a documentary about his rise to fame premiering at this year’s festival. Grab a seat and enjoy a bowlful of Jiro-style ramen—each one includes a ladle of Saito’s “essence.” 154 Cumberland St., ramen-tabetai.ca

Minami

Given its prime perch between the TIFF Lightbox and Roy Thomson Hall, it’s no surprise that this sleek, mural-wrapped stunner draws a steady stream of silver screen stars—Cate Blanchett, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (a.k.a. McLovin) among them. But Minami’s fan base extends beyond Hollywood: athletes Bo Bichette, Dillon Brooks and Auston Matthews have all dined there, as has former prime minister (and current Katy Perry beau?!) Justin Trudeau. As for the menu, it’s every bit as polished as the clientele. Standout TIFF specials include a luxuriously marbled A5 Miyazaki served with Volzhenka Osciètre V20 caviar that’s ready for its close-up. 225 King St. W., 416-519-9182, minamitoronto.com

Miss Likklemore’s

Three years ago, this Parkdale pop-up got the Hollywood treatment, thanks to financier Hanif Harji, and landed a glossy King West address. Now set in a breezy, beach house–chic space, Miss Likklemore’s boasts a bar stocked with over 100 kinds of rum and a guest list that has included Jully Black and Winnie Harlow. The menu leans Guyanese and Jamaican, with nods to neighbouring islands. The flavours are bold, and the plating is dramatic. Take the Crab XO, its trio of seductive crustacean limbs draped over the plate like it’s posing. Sunday brunch is new but already essential—the oxtail hash is a pre-matinée power move, especially if last night was liquor-fuelled. 433 King St. W., misslikklemores.com

Adrak Yorkville

There’s no leading chef in this Indian kitchen, just a cast of regional specialists with Michelin pedigrees and serious range. It’s no wonder the Jonas Brothers came twice in one month. And Oscar Isaac, Jessica Alba, Karan Aujla and Daniel Boulud have all pulled up a chair too. Signature scene-stealers include the tandoor-fired, pistachio-crusted lamb chops served under a cloche of smoke; the Rani Kachori, a supersized puri drenched in Barbie-pink yogurt chutney; and the stuffed paneer tikka, packed with macadamia and spinach and finished with black garlic mousse. 138 Avenue Rd., adrakyorkville.ca

The Writers Room

Margaret Atwood name-dropped it in Cat’s Eye. Farley Mowat and Mordecai Richler both drank here. The Writers Guild of Canada was allegedly scribbled into existence on a napkin at the bar. Perched on the 17th floor of the Park Hyatt, this storied lounge blends CanLit lore with TIFF-era star power—Pierce Brosnan and Angelina Jolie have both raised a glass here. For years, this was the spot for TIFF after-parties, so celebs of a certain vintage likely have fond (if slightly fuzzy) memories of its stiff drinks and low lighting. A 2021 revamp gave the room polish without erasing its patina: oxblood leather, oak walls and blackboard-reminiscent marble keep things appropriately moody and a little bit academic. But the wrap-around terrace? That’s still the best seat in the house. The skyline views are unmatched. Order a Manhattan (or a TIFF special—the bartenders always deliver) and don’t skip chef Jon Williams’s house-cured charcuterie. 4 Avenue Rd., 647-948-3140, @writersroombar

Nobu Toronto

A year in, Nobu Toronto is still a magnet for boldfaced names. Co-founded by Robert De Niro, the Japanese-Peruvian juggernaut has grown into a global empire. With more than 50 locations, it’s essentially the fanciest chain restaurant on earth. Still, the star power holds. Since opening, it’s hosted Drake, Kyle Lowry and a steady stream of VIPs. Can’t snag a reservation upstairs? Nobu Bar on the ground floor serves a snackable edit of the hits: miso black cod, Wagyu tacos and maybe even a side of celebrity. 15 Mercer St., noburestaurants.com