The finery and the frenzy. The volleys of flattery.
That time of year — and what a year it is looking like. With a party ecosystem firmly back in play for the Toronto International Film Festival, it is stacked. It ranges from the fabulous tried-and-true, like the annual Chanel dinner (co-hosted with Variety in celebration of female filmmakers) to British bandwagons like the Great Tea, co-hosted by BAFTA, to an intriguing new Road to the Golden Globes party, co-hosted with Robb Report (and happening at the Four Seasons!! Yorkville is back!).
From Tilda to Jude, Tucci to Kidman, the boldface brigade is on. They include, as usual, parties for specific films, like a little reception that David Furnish and Elton John are doing, and a swirl of parties that Don Julio is hosting, like the one for the new Andrew Garfield tear-jerker “We Live in Time” (one can conceivably cry into the “Popcorn Old Fashioned” that is on its menu).
There are studio shindigs like the annual Sony Pictures Classics Dinner and streamers hosting things like a Prime Video event for that sweeping Tragically Hip documentary.
Audi, which has hosted a slew of events in previous years, is back — for instance, the bash they are hosting for the new Pharrell Lego doc, “Piece by Piece.” The so-called RBC House returns with dozens of names expected, including a do for the new Jacob Elordi/Daisy Edgar-Jones flick, “On Swift Horses.” The Cinema Center hospitality hub returns with a slew of parties, including one for the film “Relay,” with Sam Worthington and Riz Ahmed.
Pre-parties. Post-parties. Parties for other parties. Expect parties hosted by fashion brands like Saint Laurent and magazines like Vanity Fair. Countries like Spain are throwing parties for their slate, like their bash at Malaparte. Pass the paella.
Chimp alert: Jane Goodall, who was at TIFF a few years ago with her fascinating documentary, is back this year to be honoured at the annual Artists for Peace and Justice gala, happening at Casa Loma. That same night rolls, of course, the annual star-studded TIFF Tribute Awards gala at the Fairmont Royal York. Amy! Cate! Angelina!
Just some of the spots where TIFF parties are rolling, including the four detailed below: Clio, Evangeline, Soho House, Abrielle, Prime Seafood Palace, the University Club, Patria, Mister C. And some additional restaurants on my radar: Sushi Yugen, Lao Lao Bar, Dorset, Mott 32, Adrak, Morton’s and Lano. Let the sightings begin.
Nobu
The allure: Both miso-cod sophisticates and Charli XCX hedonists have been flocking to this soaring temple devoted to Japanese-Peruvian fare since it opened just weeks ago — even Drake! The world-spinning brand comes with its own Hollywood origin story, going back to when Robert De Niro teamed with chef Nobu Matsuhisa to open the first Nobu in 1994 in the then rundown warehouse district of Tribeca.
Tip: Festivalgoers needing a kick cannot go wrong with the sublime yellowtail jalapeño, a now ubiquitous dish that Nobu invented. Considering the number of stars expected to gussy up the place this coming week (and make use of their sublime private dining rooms), the resto is even upping the ante by creating a TIFF lounge experience, co-hosted by Tiffany & Co.
Estiatorio Milos
The allure: The mere word “Milos” is catnip to both power-brokers and gourmands the world over; a restaurant empire now perhaps better known than the Greek island it is named after. Officially opening this month in Toronto, finally — nearly five decades after Costas Spiliadis opened his iconic eatery in Montreal, and later expanded everywhere from Cabo to Singapore to Miami — it is introducing itself via a slew of hush-hush TIFF parties. (Opa, Adam Driver?!)
Tip: Simply grilled or baked in sea salt, fish is the name of the game at Milos, set here in a handsome corner building on a street that is itself a metonym for Toronto’s business class. And when in doubt, tell them “Costas” sent you.
Daphne
Address: 67 Richmond St. W.
The allure: There is no terrace that quite compares to the 20,000-square-foot one here: a long, elegant catwalk, smooshed in an alley in the Financial District, one side of a building still boasting its graffiti. Like if Stella McCartney and Basquiat had a baby! Its winding interior — just one of Charles Khabouth’s latest restaurants — is no less impressive: witty archways, geometric tile, Rat Pack-y banquettes. Movie magic!
Tip: With Demi Moore expected to be among the stars present at this spot (she’s being feted at a party hosted by Variety), feel free to channel you own inner agent by concocting plans over the signature Daphne Negroni. Ever a crowd-pleaser, too: their similarly eponymous Daphne Potato, maxed out with Emmenthal and Gruyère cheeses, chives and Beluga caviar.
Harriet’s Rooftop
Address: 550 Wellington St. W.
The allure: It’s about the view, a city-slicking panorama of towers in one direction; in another, a close-up of the Gardiner Expressway that, especially at night, looks positively Cronenbergian. A popular setting for TIFF parties — we have seen everyone from Jessica Chastain to Glen Powell up there in recent years — it will be crackling once more, specifically, with EW’s annual Awardist Party, happening there on the first weekend of TIFF c/o Entertainment Weekly and Paramount Plus. Also: it does not hurt that Harriet’s is the sole Canadian location for L.A.-based nightlife brand h.wood Group.
Tip: Sunset in The 6ix (a Teremana Tequila drink with pineapple juice and lime) is as good as any place to start. Add: shrimp tempura. With much happening in the hotel, you might also prefer to track the comings and goings by taking a perch in the TIFF-specific Martini and Mimosa Bar in the Flora Lounge on the first floor.
