TIFF 2026 Guide: Where to Eat, Drink, Party and Spot Celebrities in Toronto

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Toronto TIFF

TIFF 2026 Guide: Where to Eat, Drink, Party and Spot Celebrities in Toronto

The Toronto International Film Festival is nearly here — and for 11 days the city turns into one giant celebration of movies, stars, parties and, naturally, plenty of great food and drinks.

There's a lot to know about TIFF 2026, but sometimes you just want the essentials: where is everything happening?

Think restaurants rolling out festival-inspired menus, cocktail bars going all-in on cinema themes, and nightlife spots where you might just catch a star walking past. You never know who you'll see.

Here are the spots worth putting on your radar.

TIFF hotspots across the city

Where to eat

King Street remains the heart of TIFF dining — check out (or better, book a table at) the local spots in the area. Hey Lucy, Minami, Pai and Miss Likklemores are all solid bets, but if you want a full TIFF-themed experience, these restaurants are serving star-studded menus:

Primadonna: The Main Character — a three-course TIFF menu with Spicy Shrimp Vodka Rigatoni, Chicken Cotoletta, Lemon Berry Pavlova and Aperol Spritz Cake, plus the La Premiere cocktail.
Astor Lounge: The TIFF-inspired afternoon tea at The St. Regis returns, featuring Egg and Caviar, King Crab and playful film-themed sweets including the Popcorn Box.
Louix Louis: A TIFF take on the iconic King's Cake — 13 layers of red velvet finished with silky vanilla buttercream.
Shangri-La Toronto: A limited-edition TIFF afternoon tea inspired by 'the timeless tradition of movie-going,' with Savour the Popcorn-ette, Movie Play Tartare, Tostada Sandwich and Umami Showstopper, followed by Shangri-La Signature and Peanut Butter & Pretzel scones with Devonshire Cream and Crab Apple & Cider Jam. Sweet finales include Caramel Corn, Maple Bacon Donut, Peanut, Orange Cream and Churro, paired with premium loose-leaf teas plus a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or a signature mocktail.
Chotto Matte: Book the Golden Ticket Steak & Sushi Experience — a surf-and-turf-inspired eight-dish menu of premium steak and signature sushi, with a complimentary glass of wine.
Cafe Boulud: Executive Chef William Kresky has crafted a five-course TIFF tasting menu, headlined by a dedicated caviar course and Japanese A5 Wagyu.

Where to drink

No great meal is complete without a memorable cocktail — and plenty of spots around the city have whipped up stellar pours, some more suited to a bigger budget than others.

Bar Romy: Popcorn Colada, served in a movie-theatre popcorn bucket; Opening Night with tequila, Amaretto, strawberry juice, lemon and black salt; and Red Carpet with vodka, Galliano Vanilla, cherry puree, lemon, grapefruit, Cava and foam, topped with cotton candy.
Vinny Restaurant & Vinyl Bar: Life's a Peach — inspired by the cinema favourite Fuzzy Peaches, made with whisky, peach liqueur, peach syrup, Aperol, lemon, egg white and a peach ring.
Animl Steakhouse & Cocktail Den: Midnight Martini — peanut butter vodka, cacao, coffee liqueur and Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs cereal milk, a playful nod to TIFF's midnight screenings.
Honey: More Than Chinese: The Star Treatment — a perfectly dirty martini served with caviar on the side.
d|bar: The $1,000 'Final Cut XO Sazerac' — just one pour each evening after 4 p.m., first come, first served. The experience includes chauffeured transport to your next downtown stop in the hotel's new Rolls-Royce house car (subject to availability) — a true VIP festival moment.
Nobu: Red Carpet — Roku Gin infused with hojicha tea, blended with Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, cherry and lime, milk-clarified and served over a king cube with berry fruit leather that mimics a miniature red carpet.
Gladstone House, Cassette: Final Cut — Earl Grey-infused gin, alpine liquor, maraschino and fresh lime.
The Broadview Hotel, Archie's: Always LaLisa — Cointreau, Malibu Rum, lychee liquor and grapefruit soda.
Shangri-La Toronto: Seven festival cocktails including 24 Karrot (Don Julio Blanco, Arkavit, orange liqueur, carrot, blood orange, ginger); The 20th Take (Don Julio Reposado, orange liqueur, Cocchi Americano, chocolate, blackcurrant tea, lemon, clarified coconut); Caught On Camera (Redbreast 12, mint-infused Bianco Vermouth, blueberry, lemon, egg white, absinthe spray); The Afterparty (Don Julio Blanco, mezcal, pink peppercorn, grapefruit liqueur, lime, grapefruit-Luxardo maraschino foam); Feature Film (Redbreast 12, strawberry Campari, Cocchi Rosa, coconut-washed); 35 mm (popcorn-infused Redbreast 12, gentian liqueur, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters); and Unseen Cut (your choice of Don Julio 1942 or Redbreast 15, honey, Italian aperitif, smoked).
Flora Lounge, 1 Hotel Toronto: 1942 Starlight Paloma — an official TIFF cocktail by Don Julio Tequila, with Don Julio 1942, salted grapefruit juice and agave.
Maxime's Restaurant: The After Party (vodka, blueberry-infused Cointreau, lemon, $22) and The Director's Cut (gin, Lillet Blanc, Cocchi Americano Bianco, $23).
Deauville Club: Toronto mixologist Cayden Kim brings his signature approach for a TIFF bar takeover, with Ginza Fashioned (Toki Whiskey, shiso, Choya Umeshu, yuzu) and Peachtom (Roku Gin, RinQuinQiun, icewine, cherry tomato, yuzu cordial).

Where to party — TIFF experiences

King Street will always be popping during TIFF, of course, but if you want to party like a celebrity, these city hotspots are worth the detour:

Aitch — 461 King St. W
Discreta — 18 Portland St.
Lavelle — 627 King St. W, 16th Floor
Mademoiselle — 563 King St. W
Mister C — 80 Blue Jays Way, inside Bisha Hotel
Paris Texas — 461 King St. W, Unit A
Powder Room — 129 Yorkville Ave., 2nd Floor
Reservoir Lounge — 52 Wellington St. E
The Drake Hotel — 1150 Queen St. W
The Hollywood Reporter Green Room, presented by Don Julio Tequila at Flora Lounge, 1 Hotel Toronto — 550 Wellington St. W (Sept. 11-20, 2026)
Vinny — 480 King St. W

Where to spot celebrities

The city will be buzzing with stars and star-gazers alike. Fans will line up for premieres and screenings hoping for a glimpse, but if you want to play it cool, these are the places where you're most likely to cross paths with a TIFF guest:

Nobu Restaurant Toronto: A hotspot for film studio buyouts and premiere parties — past sightings include Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, Kiernan Shipka, Anderson .Paak, Jacob Elordi, Pharrell Williams and Martha Stewart.
Don Alfonso 1890: The restaurant calls itself a primary celebrity-spotting destination during TIFF: 'With its refined atmosphere, impeccable service, and chef-driven cuisine, it's the go-to choice for distinguished guests and industry tastemakers.'
CLOCKWORK Champagne & Cocktails: A great after-hours spot for festival glamour — sip a curated selection of Moet & Chandon while keeping an eye out for TIFF's biggest names passing through the hotel.
Deadline Portrait Studio at BISHA Hotel Toronto: BISHA returns as the epicenter of TIFF magic, hosting the Deadline Portrait Studio and welcoming a steady stream of celebrity guests all festival long.
The House of BISHA: One of last year's favourites, the hotel transforms into a dazzling hub of sightings, media moments and cinematic glamour — with a complimentary pop-up popcorn station for onlookers.
Campari Cinema Center: Back this year at Cassius on King Street, TIFF's premier hospitality hub hosts the Collider press junket by day and the after-party spot for celebs at night.
The RBC Red Carpet Gallery: At David Pecaut Square along the Roy Thomson Hall red carpet, Avion Rewards Elite, Premium and Select members get prime access to watch stars arrive at Gala premieres. Elite and Premium members can reserve ahead at https://rbctiff.com/ (first come, first served); Select members and the public can join via a same-day rush line, space permitting.

TIFF marks 51 years in the industry this year — and it promises to be another memorable edition, running Thursday, Sept. 10 to Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.