Grab a bite between Toronto International Film Festival screenings. These 20 restaurants are walkable from TIFF venues.
Finding somewhere to eat during TIFF shouldn’t take on a Hunger Games vibe. So we’ve made it easy for you, whether you want to munch between matinees, lunch during a lull in your fully loaded festival schedule or sit down to a leisurely dinner that allows enough time to digest the festival’s best flicks.
Restaurants within the Entertainment District
These establishments are walkable from film fest venues such as TIFF Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, Princess of Wales, Royal Alexandra, and Scotiabank theatres.
Prime window views
Luma Restaurant is going to be busy. It is, after all, located on the second floor of TIFF Lightbox on King West’s festival central, with the best window views for festival-goers. If you can’t book for dinner, nab a sofa in the lounge at midday and order from the Bar Bites menu (ceviche, Parmesan-dusted fries, beef sliders).
Mexican street food
La Carnita (the John Street location) fits the bill if you’re looking for an arty spot (eclectic street art, exposed brick, industrial lighting) to enjoy craft cocktails, signature tacos, squash quesadillas and other twists on Mexican street food. The two-story venue is popular with the after-work crowd.
High above the city
Evangeline Cocktail Bar is an ideal rooftop escape if you’re looking to decompress (predictably, day three or four of TIFF) and make a meal from a shared charcuterie board, tuna tostadas and East Coast oysters. Its location atop Ace Hotel bodes well for celeb-watching.
Asian-inspired vegan dishes
Planta, on Queen West, is much loved by vegans citywide for its upbeat vibe, signature Thai lettuce wraps, Singapore noodles and truffle-fried rice. Perhaps less well-known is its Happy Hour, where you can pair creative cocktails with Asian-inspired finger foods.
Tacos and burritos for the time-strapped
Fresh Burrito on Richmond Street West is an excellent choice when you’re short on time between film screenings and want an affordable, tasty bite. You can grab and go—or stay and eat—burritos, tacos, bowls and quesadillas.
Late-night noshing
Fox on John, a three-minute walk from TIFF Lightbox, goes beyond standard pub fare: tandoori chicken skewers, truffle honey ricotta and pomegranate crostini. Lively pub ambiance. Open late, so it’s ideal for the post-Midnight Madness crowd.
Wear your best black
Vela pays homage to the grand hotel lobby bar in a west-end heritage building. If you’re looking for a taste of the TIFF nightlife scene—but a little outside the Entertainment District—this is it. Dinner menu highlights: caviar-fried oysters, beef carpaccio, octopus, miso eggplant.
MICHELIN-starred dining
Alo Restaurant, one of 15 MICHELIN Star restaurants in Toronto, offers five-star contemporary French cuisine on the third floor of a refurbished Victorian building on Spadina Street. A tasting menu is available in the adjacent bar. Reservations are recommended.
Let’s split the bill
Little Sister, a Dutch-Indo food bar on Portland Avenue, serves up spicy Indonesian cuisine (lots of shareable dishes), which you can follow up with creative cocktails in their downstairs venue, Bar XXX, billed as a Dutch speakeasy. It’s a great place to unwind if you’ve binged on too many movies in one day.
Take it outside
Cå Phe Rang satisfies diehard festival-goers in two ways: the Vietnamese eatery offers outdoor seating (a dose of fresh air will do you good after consecutive days in a darkened theatre) coupled with lighter food options, such as pho and banh mi.
50 years of French food
Le Select Bistro is one year older than TIFF (which turns 49 this year) and has long been a festival mainstay for anyone who enjoys fine French cuisine. Black-and-white posters and time-worn vintage café tables add to the Parisian-inspired decor.
Go with the crowd
Warehouse on Queen West, as the name suggests, is spacious—perfect if you’re dining with a group of fellow cinephiles after a screening. Take your pick of spicy wings, tacos, burgers, pasta, fish tacos and perogies.
Warehouse can get loud, but whoever heard of a subdued debate over this year’s contenders for TIFF’s People’s Choice Awards?
Budget-friendly Thai food
Salad King, a Toronto institution that originally catered to university students, opened its Queen West location in 2021. It is ideal for quick (and tasty) meals between flicks. Unfanciful decor. Unbeatable Thai food. Unpretentious vibe.
Nutritious noodles
Ikkousha Ramen’s “exclusive protein focus” is a good reminder to movie-bingeing, sleep-deprived festival-goers to eat properly. Order a bowl of their noodles—swimming in nutritious chicken broth—topped with tender chicken breast, and you’re good to go.
Mexican meets Mediterranean
Casa Madera, located on the ground floor of 1 Hotel, invites patrons to enjoy delicious Mexican and Mediterranean food while DJs play music alongside local performance artists.
This is a great option for a few hours between your afternoon matinee and Midnight Madness screening. Vegan and gluten-free options are available, as are non-alcoholic cocktails.
Budget-friendly food court fare
Helena’s Magic Kitchen, in the Village by the Grange food court, serves up hearty European dishes at reasonable prices: meat pies, beet salad, potato pancakes, and spinach-stuffed chicken. If it’s a sunny September day, bypass the food court and grab a bench at nearby Grange Park.
Upscale gastropub food
EPOCH Bar + Kitchen Terrace, on the lobby level of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, is a prime spot to mix a little celeb-watching with mid-day nourishment (upscale gastropub fare) in an elegant setting. Alternatively, skip lunch and enjoy their full-on afternoon tea.
Meatless, wheatless and open for breakfast
Vegan restaurant chain Kupfert & Kim has two locations in the Entertainment District. K&K’s all-day breakfast menu runs the gamut from fruit-filled smoothies to breakfast bowls with guacamole, pico de gallo and brown rice. They also sell vegan cookies and treats—small enough to sneak into a movie theatre. (Just saying.)
Worth the walk from the Entertainment District
You’ve spent way too many hours in darkened theatres, and your legs are cramping. A 20-to-25-minute walk will allow you to stretch your gams and get some natural Vitamin D. Two options to consider:
Intimate and relaxed in West Queen West
Edulis, a MICHELIN-starred restaurant tucked away on Niagara Street, is definitely worth the walk. The ever-changing, seasonally inspired menu leans toward seafood, wild mushrooms and vegetables.
Expect a relaxed, intimate vibe at this renovated West Queen West townhouse.
Modern Mexican
Quetzal, which won its first MICHELIN star in 2022, specializes in modern fine-dining Mexican cuisine: ceviche, rack of lamb with black garlic mole negro, and bone marrow with wild Argentinian shrimp.
Quetzal also garnered MICHELIN’s 2023 Exceptional Cocktail Award. You can watch your dinner being cooked over the 20-foot open grill as you sip.
