Toronto-based event planner Samantha Mele asked her local colleagues for their top picks across the city—from restaurants to venues to experiences.
Welcome to Toronto, where your skyline selfies have the CN Tower as the photobomber and your event venues have actual personality. Forget the cookie-cutter options you’ve seen a thousand times (we’re looking at you, ballroom!), this city—my hometown—is alive with must-see venues, tastebud-tingling restaurants and cultural experiences guaranteed to make your next event the “Six-cess” it deserves.
Thank you to the following Toronto event-planning professionals for their recommendations: Harpreet Atwal, Zanette Zukowski, Mark Santourdjian, Carly Silberstein, Trevor Lui, Malyssa Tibbo, Mario A. Palmer, Dionne Bishop, Lyndsay Munholland, Mark Awad, Daniella Galante, Rawle B., Dave Crainford, Emilia J. Kim, Kayla Landry, Janet O'Connell, Carol Priest, Trish Knox, Christian Bordon, Heather Vanderploeg, Lauren Pattison, Dori Adams, Evan Babins, Nadia Tedesco, Alistair Fernandes, Shanondoah Nicholson and Manmeet Kaur.
Best catering in Toronto
Toronto is often considered the most multicultural city in the world. So, our food scene and caterers are as diverse as the city itself. Local planners swear by The Food Dudes for sit-down dinners or a food truck that will come on-site, Eatertainment, which serves up unique bites like plant-based “tuna” and duck bacon BLT, and Raw Catering Co. for—you guessed it—oysters and caviar. Daniel et Daniel and Encore Catering are also well-liked among planners.
Best venue for an opening reception in Toronto
Let’s be real: the first impression of your event is everything. Planners like me love Rebel and Cabana Pool Bar for their jaw-dropping views of the CN Tower and Toronto’s skyline. Better yet, don’t admire the CN Tower from afar, host your event inside it. Stackt Market, North America’s largest shipping container market, and Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival castle-style mansion are also popular choices. And the opening reception recommendations keep on coming, including Design Exchange, housed inside the historic 1937 stock exchange building, History, a music venue opened by Drake in the city’s east end, and Art Gallery of Ontario, one of the largest art museums in North America.
Best restaurant for private dining in Toronto
When you need big flavours in small spaces, George, a Michelin-recommended gem serving globally-inspired dishes in the downtown core, nails it with its historic-meets-haute vibe. For something a bit more unexpected, head to And/Ore in the city’s west end for their below-ground dining space and modern Canadian cuisine. Other top choices from Toronto-based planners include Harbour Sixty, an upscale steakhouse, and Paris Paris, a wine bar in the west end.
Best restaurant for an event buyout in Toronto
There’s something undeniably powerful about buying out a restaurant—it’s giving “main character energy.” Event pros can’t get enough of À Toi in the city’s Entertainment District, where your guests step through a champagne closet and emerge into a Gatsby-inspired 1920s speakeasy. For a sleek vibe, check out Kasa Moto in Yorkville, a two-storey Japanese-inspired restaurant with a newly revamped patio that’s simply chef’s kiss. Chotto Matte, a Japanese Peruvian restaurant next to Union Station will also impress guests every time.
Hottest new venue in Toronto
The city’s newest jewel? Queens Harbour restaurant opened in the summer of 2025 and has a whopping 23,000-square-feet of space, as well as Canada’s largest retractable roof. Other popular spots that have opened in 2023 and 2024 include Aera, a sky-high steakhouse and sushi spot on the 38th floor of The Well building that says “elevated everything,” and Waterworks Food Hall, a space that has transformed heritage architecture into the coolest spot for mingling. Arcadia Earth and Illuminarium are also quickly becoming go-to venues for planners.
Most unique venue in Toronto
Need a venue that screams Toronto—or better yet—Canada? Enter: the Hockey Hall of Fame. This isn’t just for hockey fans; it’s for anyone who wants an epic space filled with history, Canadian flair and interactive exhibits. For something more edgy, there’s Stackt Market, an urban shipping-container aesthetic with unexpected design elements—they once had a yurt cocktail bar!—that’s perfect for casual yet creative events. We also love Evergreen Brick Works, a former brick factory in the heart of Toronto’s ravines, and Little Canada, a miniature museum showcasing the country from coast to coast
Best spot for zero-proof cocktails in Toronto
Mocktails, zero-proof, whatever you call them—Toronto is making a name for itself in the non-alcoholic drinks space. There’s Sobr Market on Richmond, where the drinks are made with adaptogens, botanicals and enough flair to make your wine-drinking friends jealous, and Zero, an innovative small space on Carlton Street. And both Proof Bar and Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York make inventive drinks—with or without the booze.
Best team-building experience for groups in Toronto
Love sports? A Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre with the roof open, a cold drink in hand and the CN Tower in view is peak Toronto summer. For something artsy, try a Graffiti Alley tour paired with unique food selections for a creative and tasty group outing. Prefer history with a side of charm? The pedestrian-only Distillery District offers cobblestone streets, charming shops and group-friendly restaurants, perfect for a relaxed afternoon. Want laughs? Second City is the place to be. How about thrills? Head to the Porsche Experience Centre.
—This story has been updated with new details since it was first published in 2024.
