Recently considered the second most important film festival after Cannes, the 36th Toronto Film Festival is ready to rock the Toronto theatres and streets from the 8th to the 18th of September 2011 (http://www.tiff.net/thefestival).
If New York is without any doubt the Americas’ fashion capital, Toronto is definitely the Americas’ Film industry catalyst.
Movie stars from all over the world and emerging film makers will gather here in September to attend the screenings and nurture with the interesting Festival Program while taking advantage of everything this eclectic city has to offer.
Toronto is the financial capital of Canada and it hosts an incredibly cosmopolitan population: most of the neighborhoods have their own ethnic identity, you’ll have the chance to experience the different cultures by sipping an espresso in little Italy, gorging into a mussaka in Greek Town and watching a Bollywood movie in little India. If you want the most elegant shopping and dining experience in Toronto, head to the Yorkville neighborhood where international celebrities use to hang out especially during the Festival, but don’t miss all the gorgeous architectures, such as the CN Tower, which has been the tallest free-standing land structure (553 meters) for over 30 years.
If you are a shopaholic, the Eaton Centre is one of Toronto’s most visited attraction and one of North America’s top shopping destinations. Bear in mind that Toronto is also close to the Niagara Falls, we don’t have to tell you that since you’re there, they definitely worth a visit.
World Top 7 will help you living Toronto as the film business people use to do with the best advices on restaurants and hotels.
TIFF STAYS
THOMPSON HOTEL
WORLD TOP 7 hot pick
Lounging around the water of THOMPSON HOTEL’S infinity pool with its stunning location overlooking the eclectic Toronto skyline will make you feel like an old times movie star.
Extremely stylish and modern, located in the arts and design neighborhood of West Village, it is the ultimate destination for the fashionable film business crowd in Toronto.
550 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4, Canada +1 416-640-7778 http://www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/toronto/thompson-toronto/explore-hotel.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=places&utm_campaign=google_places_ms>
THE HAZELTON
Modern festival hotel & private screening room
THE HAZELTON is another unique experience in Toronto, with its Silver Screening Room, the 26-seat luxury private movie theater used for private screenings during the Film Festival.
Here you will share your stay with the stars, gathering here for the chic and luxurious atmosphere.
The rooms are just impressive, all equipped with the latest home automation technologies, the service is just perfect and the restaurant features a mouth watering menu.
The hotel is located right in the heart of the Toronto chicest shopping district, in Yorkville neighborhood, so when your feet will be aching and the head will be exploding, just drop by the gorgeous hotel SPA.
118 Yorkville Avenue Toronto, Toronto, ON M5R 1C4, Canada +1 416-963-6300 http://www.thehazeltonhotel.com/index_main.php
HOTEL LE GERMAIN
Boutique dream with Torontos best shower
Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, ten minutes walk from the famous Queen Street, Toronto’s shopping ultimate destination, the Hotel Le Germain is definitely a different experience.
Due to the extremely convenient location, staying here will make living Toronto’s night life easy for you, but you can also enjoy the fun at his vibrant bar.
The hotel itself features inspiring design interiors and a cozy and laid back atmosphere: with its putting green on the roof and the warm library it is a real urban oasis. The rooms are renowned especially for their bathrooms; you will be amazed by the showers!
30 Mercer Street, Toronto, ON M5V 1H3, Canada +1 416-345 9500 http://www.germaintoronto.com/en/home
TIFF RESTAURANTS
SUSUR LEE
Tapas style Asian & young hip crowd
Share some munchies with the trendy Toronto crowd in Susur Lee’s tapas bar style restaurant.
In the lively ambience, celebrity chef SUSUR LEE prepares his delicious fusion tapas mixing cooking styles from all over the world: try the “Mexican goat cheese tart”, “the cod or the tiger shrimps”, but let the tapas flow freely, you won’t regret it.
The restaurant is closed on Sunday.
Check the “bars” section out for news about the Lee Lounge, recently opened by Susur.
603 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1M5, Canada+1 416.504.7867 http://www.susur.com/
NYOOD
Party tapas style
Another tapas bar style venue where to lounge in the two floors eating some good munchies and sipping excellent cocktails before joining the Toronto party crowd in the clubs.
You can start shaking your booty here to the sound of the loud music.
It is closed on Sunday and Monday.
1096 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J 1H9, Canada+1 416 466 1888 http://www.nyood.ca/
CANOE
Canadian Haute Cuisine in Financial District
While Toronto is known for its diverse cultural and culinary offer, you have to taste the modern Canadian cuisine, and why not doing it from the 54th “Toronto Dominion Tower” floor?
In front of an amazing view over the city lights you will taste the finest Canadian delicacies especially based on meat preparation, together with an excellent choice of wines.
66 Wellington W, Toronto, ON M5H 3P6, Canada +1 416 364 0054 http://www.oliverbonacini.com/
PIZZERIA LIBRETTO
Lunch & best pizza in the city
Simply the best pizza in town.
PIZZERIA LIBRETTO’S Chef Rocco Agostino and Max Rimaldi are very attentive in preparing their pizza following all the rules for the real Neapolitan pizza. The friendly and lively atmosphere makes it the ideal place for family- or friends parties.
221 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z8, Canada+1 416 532 8000 http://pizzerialibretto.com/
TIFF BARS & NIGHT CLUBS
ULTRA SUPPER CLUB
Upscale venue combining fine dining & nightlife
When lights go up at the end of the screening and you still have the hunger for more, just head to ULTRA SUPPER CLUB and you’ll satisfy all your senses.
Ease the hunger with the restaurant’s delicacies, quench your thirst with the excellent cocktails, fuel your soul lounging with your mates and feast your eyes with some celebrity sightings.
Ultra is the place where the entire Toronto glamour scene heads, together with the movie stars populating the city during the Festival week.
Just lay back and let yourself be overwhelmed by the bizarre decoration of the interiors and most of all by the stunning view on Toronto’s night skyline with the impressive CN tower.
314 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2A2, Canada +1 416-263-0330 http://www.ultratoronto.com/>LEE LOUNGE
Susur Lees newest invention
Toronto’s Japanese cuisine celebrity Susur Lee newest venture, LEE LOUNGE, is a proper lounge where people who gather here are encouraged to socialize by the closeness of tables. If you desire a more detached seat instead, you can take advantage of the leather couches in the middle of the room.
Susur Lee and his wife Brenda Bent realized this venue as an extension of the flagship tapas bar style restaurant and equipped the bar with a wide glass window offering the customers a pleasant view on King Street.
601 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5V 1M5
+1 416 603 2205 http://susur.com/lee/
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