Toronto Neighbourhoods Your Attendees Will Love

In a city of over 150 neighbourhoods, what is the best area of Toronto for visiting groups to meet? There are endless options, of course, but these downtown neighbourhoods are not only local favourites, but popular with visiting groups, too. Why? Because of their proximity to the city’s best event venues, hotels, restaurants, nightlife and museums, they provide plenty of opportunities to mix both business and leisure. Let’s take a closer look at the top Toronto neighbourhoods visiting groups love.

Bloor-Yorkville

Bloor-Yorkville is an upscale neighbourhood where cobblestone streets and 19th-century architecture meet modern art galleries, luxury boutiques and high-end spas. The area is also jam-packed with hotels and unique meeting venues, so it’s a favourite among business

Unique meeting venues: Just south of Yonge and Bloor, CAA Theatre is a 700-seat live theatre and concert venue. The area is also home to world-class cultural institutions that offer event space, including the Royal Ontario Museum, Gardiner Museum, Bata Shoe Museum and The Royal Conservatory of Music’s.

Where to stay: Luxurious lodging options like The Anndore House, Windsor Arms Hotel, The Hazelton Hotel and Park Hyatt Toronto offer Wi-Fi, in-room laptop safes and ample group and event booking options.

Group dining: Strategize over sushi at Kasa Moto, nosh on burrata and branzino at Trattoria Nervosa or treat your health-conscious crew to PLANTA, where lettuce wraps and sweet and spicy broccoli make plant-based eating a pleasure. 

There’s plenty of upscale shopping—think: Tiffany’s, Gucci, Chanel and Holt Renfrew—if you’re seeking a fresh outfit before a meeting or event.

Must-see attractions: If you’re not meeting in a museum, a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, Gardiner Museum and Bata Shoe Museum are worth a trip. You can also discover smaller gems like Loch Gallery and Berenson Fine Art. Plus, there’s plenty of upscale shopping—think: Tiffany’s, Gucci, Chanel and Holt Renfrew—if you’re seeking a fresh outfit before a meeting or event.
 

Entertainment District and King West

With fun restaurants, bars and nightclubs, Broadway shows galore and plenty of sports and entertainment venues, the Entertainment District and King West is where all the action happens. Visiting business groups love the bustling vibe and the opportunity to socialize with clients, team members or potential business partners after hours.

Unique meeting venues: With breathtaking views and a combined meeting space of over 5,000-square-feet, options for hosting at the CN Tower are endless. Also good for groups: Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Roy Thomson Hall, Princess of Wales Theatre and The Storys Building.

Where to stay: Business hotels in the area providing Wi-Fi, in-room desks and meeting spaces for large groups include The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Bisha Hotel, The SoHo Hotel and Residences and the InterContinental Toronto Centre, which is conveniently connected to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. 

Bond with colleagues and clients as you cheer on the Raptors or Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena or the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Group dining: Chic decor and dynamic Mediterranean flavours go hand in hand at Byblos Downtown. Share family-style plates of Brazilian-Japanese fusion on a rooftop at Lavelle. Or, to please sports enthusiasts, reserve a private room at Real Sports, located next to Scotiabank Arena.

Must-see attractions: Bond with colleagues and clients as you cheer on the Raptors or Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena or the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Or enjoy an underwater tour at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, which offers group rates and private event spaces.

Chinatown and Kensington Market

Chinatown and Kensington Market are two downtown neighbourhoods located right next door to one another. The former has many Asian restaurants and shops, as well as captivating street art; and the latter has an eclectic assortment of vintage clothing stores, bakeshops, cafés and bars. Both neighbourhoods showcase how truly multicultural Toronto is, while also being close to high-quality hotels and business venues. 

Unique meeting venues: Renowned for its collection of works by Indigenous and Canadian artists, the Art Gallery of Ontario also has several versatile meeting and corporate function spaces. For something more laid-back, consider hosting a private event at one of the area’s restaurants or bars. TacoTaco’s tropical-themed dining room can comfortably accommodate up to 50 people. For larger gatherings, the legendary nightclub El Mocambo can be rented out for private events. There are also plenty of co-working spaces in and around the area—like Centre for Social Innovation, Workhaus, Workplace One and Project Spaces—where you can not only rent out rooms for board meetings and smaller events, but you drop in for a day-to-get some work done.

At night, head to one of Chinatown’s karaoke bars to witness your colleagues show off their vocal talents. 

Where to stay: For stylish and modern digs with city views and impressive event spaces, check into Hotel Ocho, Ace Hotel Toronto or the nearby Shangri-La Toronto.

Group dining: Book a private corporate dinner at Lee, serving French-Asian fusion. Alternatively, grab a round of drinks with your colleagues at Kensington’s live music hub, Supermarket. Bond over a dim sum feast at Rosewood Asian Cuisine.