Where the Stars Are Hangin’ During TIFF

Some of the world’s most famous faces have hit town for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and will continue to do so until the red carpets roll up on September 17. This year is as full of star power as ever, with people like George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, and Matt Damon in town to promote their films. Whether you’re a shameless star stalker or just curious, your best odds of spotting a celeb this TIFF will happen at the following spots.

Soho House
192 Adelaide Street West
As always, Soho House will remain a hotbed for Hollywood stars throughout the festival. Not only do they feel comfortable letting loose at the spot thanks to their familiarity with the brand and the no cell phone or photo rules, Soho House hosts the coveted, A-list-packed Grey Goose cast parties. Already this festival, people like Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany have been spotted here.

ONE at Hazelton TO
118 Yorkville Avenue
While the festival may have retreated to the downtown core in the not-too-distant past, Yorkville still houses some of Toronto’s most A-list-worthy hotels like The Hazelton, attracting Hollywood’s finest. If you camp out on the ONE patio (and are prepared to drop a few hundred dollars), you may be lucky enough to catch a star brunching, wining or dining.

Calii Love
367 King Street West
While it may seem like an unlikely suspect, Hawaii/California-inspired grab-and-go, Calii Love, for the second year (since it opened), will host some of the world’s biggest bold-faced names in a handful of intimate cast parties.

Montecito Restaurant
299 Adelaide Street West
Montecito’s proximity to the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the fact that famed Canadian director Ivan Reitman owns it makes it a no-brainer for meals and cast parties for the stars. The famous faces that grace the spot will feel right at home thanks to the restaurant’s west coast-inspired farm-to-table menu.

Patria
478 King Street West
As usual, King West’s Spanish tapas spot Patria will be home to some of the most exclusive cast parties, like the celeb-packed “Suburbicon” cast party. Its location in the thick of all things TIFF-related and the fact that it’s tucked away from the King Street madness makes it a no-brainer for TIFF party planners. Famous faces like Jake Gyllenhaal, Helen Mirren, Kristin Wiig have hit the spot in the past.

Sotto Sotto
120 Avenue Road
Yorkville’s beloved Sotto Sotto is a favourite among Hollywood elite year-round – and has been for decades – but especially during TIFF. If you have the dollars to drop, you may want to make a reservation; you may just find yourself dining alongside red carpet regulars.

STK
153 Yorkville Ave
A well-known brand to the Hollywood elite thanks to locations in cities like Los Angeles, New York and Las Vegas, high-end Yorkville steak spot – which opened its doors a year ago – is the venue of choice for a handful of cast parties and dinner events throughout the festival.

Café Boulud
60 Yorkville Avenue
Naturally, the Four Season’s Hotel will be home to more than a few famous faces this TIFF. When a hotel houses a restaurant by a Michelin-starred chef – in this case, Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud – you can expect food fit for the movie stars who will mow down on it. You’ll also likely catch a glimpse of a famous face downstairs at dbar.

RBC House
11 Duncan Street
The historic Storys building at 11 Duncan Street has become RBC House for the first five days of TIFF. Acting as a private space for press junkets, parties and special events (like a private Arkells concert), RBC House will host some of the world’s biggest celebrities. While the downstairs restaurant, Byblos, remains open to the public, there’s no chance you’ll make it past the security squad at the door if you’re not on the list.

Windsor Arms Hotel
18 St. Thomas Street
A TIFF hotspot for decades, the Windsor Arms will not only act as a temporary home for Hollywood elite, it is the venue for the hot-ticket, star-filled annual InStyle Instyle/Hollywood Foreign Press Association party (but getting into that affair is like getting into the Oscars).

TOCA at the Ritz-Carlton
181 Wellington Street West
Some of the most photographed faces will stay and play at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel – hence the crew of paparazzi camped outside for the entire festival. The hotel’s Italian restaurant, TOCA, has famous diners year-round – and TIFF is definitely no exception.

Shangri-La Lobby Lounge
118 University Avenue
The bustling Shangri-La Lobby Bar remains packed throughout the festival, offering a prime spot for both people watching and celebrity stalking. The fact that it’s next to the Soho House make it an easy choice for cocktails among the stars (like George Clooney and Johnny Depp in TIFF’s past).

The Thompson Hotel Toronto
550 Wellington Street West
The Thompson always sees a handful of high profile guests with cocktail in hand, toasting their films on the view-filled Rooftop Bar or in the downstairs Lobby Bar. Past guests have included James Franco, Kate Hudson and Bradley Cooper.

RELATED LINK: These are the Biggest Stars in Town for TIFF 2017