Toronto’s Best Spots, According to Local Event Planners

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 and Lyndsay Munholland.

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. 

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 glittering skyline along the lake. 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.

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. A client of mine once said And/Ore was the best meal they’ve had in their life!

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. Picture this: a two-storey Japanese-inspired restaurant with a newly revamped patio that’s simply chef’s kiss. Fancy vibes? Incredible food? Outdoor oasis? Check, check, check.

Hottest new venue in Toronto

The city’s newest jewel? Aera, a sky-high steakhouse and sushi spot on the 38th floor of The Well building that says “elevated everything.” For something a little more chill but just as epic, check out Waterworks Food Hall, a space that has transformed heritage architecture into the coolest spot for mingling. Think: exposed brick, soaring 44-foot ceiling and a lineup of food vendors that are oh-so good.

Most unique venue in Toronto

Need a venue that screams Toronto—or better yet—Canada? 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.