Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is back in the city for its 51st year and along with the featured films, glamorous events, and the A-lister sightings that come with the Festival season, we can also expect some seriously cool menu items popping up at restaurants and hotels to celebrate.
Think over the top, film-inspired cocktails and dinner plates of glitzy creations by Toronto’s top mixologists and chefs. Ready for a TIFF inspired date night that will immerse you in all the action?
This is perfect for foodies and movie lovers alike!
The Treasure of Fortune
at Lai Wah Heen (September 10 to 20)
Lai Wah Heen is staging a culinary premiere of its own during Toronto’s international film festival season!
Executive Chef Heyden Sin’s The Treasure of Fortune is an extravagant five-course experience priced at $8,888, including a 500-gram tin of caviar and the Supreme Eight-Treasure Gourd-Shaped Goose as its main-course centrepiece.
Prepared over three days, the whole deboned goose unites three Cantonese traditions: the dramatic release of broth from a traditional pigeon preparation, the technique and symbolism of Eight-Treasure Duck, and the prized mountain-and-sea delicacies associated with Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Shaped into an auspicious bottle gourd, it is filled with eight treasures, including Alba white truffle, Japanese dried abalone, fish maw and Galapagos sea cucumber.
The goose arrives whole for a dramatic tableside reveal before being ceremonially carved and finished with freshly shaved truffle.
You can even further elevate the experience with a rare 1989 Château Margaux, offered as an optional $3,888 bottle pairing.
There’s limited quantities during TIFF’s season, and you must order at least three days in advance.
The Velvet Curtain
at LOUIX LOUIS inside the St. Regis Toronto (September 10 to 21)
Created exclusively for TIFF, this limited-time cocktail pairs The Macallan M Black with Damblat Armagnac, accented by Madagascar vanilla, cherry bark bitters, and a touch of mahogany smoke. The Macallan M Black brings its unmistakable depth and rare peat smoke, revealing layers of dried fruit, orange peel, gentle spice and oak, with a distinctive smoky character that lingers throughout.
Embraced by Damblat Armagnac meets it with warmth and refinement, offering delicate notes of vanilla, prune, dried fruit and spice.
Together, they create a beautifully layered expression of craftsmanship and opulence. Madagascar vanilla and delicate cherry bark bitters bridge the two spirits, drawing out the rich fruit and subtle smokiness of The Macallan M Black, while a kiss of warming mahogany wood smoke deepens its character.
Silken and seductive, the cocktail unfolds with rich dried fruit, gentle spice, subtle sweetness and oak, before lingering with the signature peat smoke and warmth of The Macallan M Black.
This cocktail experience goes for $2,000.00 per person and you can make your reservation here.
The Final Draft & The Opening Scene
at Joni Restaurant & the Writer’s Room inside Park Hyatt Hotel, Toronto (September 10 to 20)
Celebrate TIFF with a limited-edition cocktail menu created for the occasion. Available at Joni and Writers Room throughout the festival, each sip sets the stage for evenings of film, conversation and celebration in the heart of Toronto.
The Final Draft is made with Hennessy V.S, verjus, mead, agave, and passionfruit ($32), and The Opening Scene has Chopin Vodka, grapefruit thyme syrup, herbal liqueur, litchi, wine, and soda ($26).
Enjoy these along with live music at Joni, inspired by the glamour and nostalgia of cinema’s golden age. You can explore the full TIFF programming and menus here.
King’s Cake Red Carpet Special
at LOUIX LOUIS inside the St. Regis Toronto (September 10 to 21)
Celebrate TIFF season with St. Regis’ indulgent King’s Cake Special: a stunning 13-layer Classic Red Velvet Cake, generously finished with silky vanilla buttercream. Rich, elegant, and perfect for sharing, this limited-time treat is available to enjoy at LOUIX LOUIS or to take home and savour anytime.
Book your slice here ($55)
TIFF-inspired Afternoon Tea
at the Astor Lounge inside the St. Regis Toronto (September 1 to October 11, Fridays to Sundays)
Lights, camera, flavour. As a cherished St. Regis tradition inspired by Caroline Astor’s legendary gatherings, the St. Regis TIFF Afternoon Tea celebrates the glamour of film with an elevated and playful twist.
Savour refined bites such as Egg & Caviar and King Crab on house-made tea bread, alongside decadent sweets inspired by cinema favourites, including the whimsical Popcorn Box and their signature King’s Cake.
Blending timeless elegance with TIFF’s red-carpet spirit, this limited-edition experience invites guests to indulge in an afternoon of luxury, storytelling, and unforgettable flavours.
Tournedos Rossini & TIFF’26 Surf & Turf
at LOUIX LOUIS inside the St. Regis Toronto (September 10 to 21)
For TIFF, LOUIX LOUIS unveils two luxurious culinary showpieces. The Tournedos Rossini features a gold leaf–adorned Canadian Prime tenderloin with Québec foie gras and prized Périgord truffle, finished with truffle jus and elegant accompaniments.
The TIFF’26 Surf & Turf pairs Canadian Prime tenderloin and lobster tail with caviar beurre blanc, delivering a decadent land-and-sea experience worthy of the festival’s most celebrated occasions.
The Final Cut
at Cassette inside Gladstone House Toronto (September 10 to 20)
Specially for festival season, the newest venue inside Gladstone House hotel, Cassette, is a TIFF-inspired cocktail featuring Earl Grey-infused gin, alpine liquor, maraschino and fresh lime.
Always LaLisa & TIFF Burger
at Archie‘s inside Broadview Hotel Toronto (September 10 to 20)
Over at The Broadview Hotel, Archie’s is marking TIFF with the Always LaLisa cocktail, made with Cointreau, Malibu Rum, lychee liquor and grapefruit soda.
For a festival-ready bite, the TIFF Burger stacks two all-beef patties with fried onions, Thousand Island sauce and pickles on a Martin’s potato bun.
Midnight Martini
at Animl Steakhouse & Cocktail Den (September 10 to 20)
Think of this as a liquid version of the classic movie snack Reese’s, it’s named the Midnight Martini for the midnight screenings of movies.
The cocktail is made with Peanut Butter Vodka, aacao, coffee liqueur, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal Milk, Clarified.
Popcorn Colada, Opening Night & Red Carpet
at Bar Romy Toronto (September 10 to 20)
With TIFF 2026 around the corner, Toronto’s dining scene is getting into the festival spirit with limited-edition menus and cocktails inspired by the movies, red carpets and late-night screenings! At Bar Romy, they’re offering three cocktail features perfect for the occasion.
Popcorn Colada is made with rum, pineapple, coconut, lemon, and dark chocolate-covered popcorn and comes served in a plastic popcorn bucket!
Opening Night is created with Tequila, Amaretto, strawberry juice, lemon, and black salt, and the cotton-candy topped Red Carpet is made with Vodka, Galliano Vanilla, cherry purée, lemon, grapefruit, Cava, Ffamer, and of course, cotton candy.
‘Reel It In’ & The Sequel + TIFF Menu
at Minami Toronto (September 10 to 20)
This year Minami is honoured to return as an Official TIFF Hospitality Partner and is setting the scene for with a festival-inspired lineup of Japanese dishes and cinematic cocktails.
The food menu includes Wagyu X Tartare with black truffle, caviar, sour cream, yuzu, sesame, Japanese black vinegar, and crispy sushi rice; and Aosa Lobster Tempura with yuzu Saikyo miso, wasabi, ume katsuo ponzu jelly, and charcoal oil.
The cocktail program takes its cue from the silver screen with Reel It In ($22), made with Redbreast Whiskey, and the aptly named The Sequel ($19).
Life’s A Peach
at Vinny Restaurant & Vinyl Bar (September 10 to 20)
Vinny’s cocktail offering for TIFF is inspired by their favourite movie theatre candy: fuzzy peaches… and we may have to agree here! It’s make with Whisky, peach liqueur, peach syrup, Aperol, lemon, an egg white, and topped with a peach ring.
Hopo Coast, Midnight in Hopo & Familiar Stranger
at 156 ONE FIVE SIX (September 10 to 20)
For the film festival season, MICHELIN‑recognized 156 ONE FIVE SIX introduces a trio of limited‑edition features inspired by the works of Korean filmmakers Na Hong‑jin and Yeon Sang-ho.
The “Familiar Stranger” highball ($21) honours the upcoming world premiere of Paradise Lost, blending Toki Whisky, peach soju, shiso oleo and soda into a playful reinterpretation of the classic highball and a nod to the film’s tension between the known and the uncanny.
Two dishes draw from Hope and its remote Hopo Port setting. “Hopo Coast” ($36) translates the film’s stark, coastal atmosphere into a refined seafood plate of poached and chilled lobster, cucumber noodles, medley tomatoes and yuja pine nuts.
“Midnight in Hopo,” ($20) offers a Korean‑style potato pancake layered with mussels, myeongran aioli, prosciutto, horseradish and dill, mirrors the film’s darker, late‑night mood while pairing a familiar Korean staple with maritime flavours.
La Première & the Main Character Menu
at Primadonna Toronto (September 10 to 20)
The Main Character, a special three-course TIFF menu features Spicy Shrimp Vodka Rigatoni, Chicken Cotoletta, Lemon Berry Pavlova and Aperol Spritz Cake, alongside the La Première cocktail.
The cocktail itself if their TIFF Feature, and is created with Tequila, Aperol, Prosecco, lime, and lychee juice.
The Main Character – Menu
FIRST: Frutti di Mare | mixed seafood salad, cioppino base, crostini or Beef Carpaccio | trule crema, pickled shallots, shaved parmesan, arugula
SECOND: Spicy Shrimp Vodka Rigatoni | calabrese chili, rose a la Primadonna or Chicken Cotoletta | arugula, pickled onion, lemon, sage brown butter or Eggplant Parm | breaded eggplant, pomodoro, grana padano, basil
DESSERT: Lemon Berry Pavlova | merengue, lemon curd, mixed berries or Aperol Spritz Cake | almond orange cake, buttercream, orange, prosecco glaze.
The Star Treatment
at Honey More Than Chinese, Toronto (September 10 to 20)
A classic Dirty Martini made with vodka, dry vermouth and olive brine, stirred over ice and finished with green olives. It’s also served with caviar on the side elevating that experience beyond the martini sips.
Miku’s Prescreening Menu
at Miku Toronto (September 10 to 20)
In celebration of Japanese cinema, Miku Toronto invites guests to experience a meal told like a film. Inspired by kishōtenketsu, a traditional Japanese storytelling structure built around introduction, development, transformation and resolution, the $85/person Pre-Screening Menu unfolds in three cinematic acts – beginning with an opening scene, building to its leading role, and culminating in a final cut of Miku’s signature sushi.
Like any great film, the experience is designed around pacing, contrast and anticipation, with each course revealing a new chapter in the story.
MENU
OPENING SCENE: Appetizer Trio of Hokkaido Scallop & Atlantic Salmon Sashimi (2pc), Ebi Fritter (2pc), Aka Miso Duck
LEADING ROLE: Choice of Entrée – Saikyo Miso Sablefish (3oz) or A5 Japanese Wagyu Striploin (2oz)
THE FINAL CUT: Sushi Selection of Aburi Nigiri (2pc), Aburi Salmon Oshi (1pc), Aburi Ebi Oshi (1pc), Miku Roll (1pc), Red Wave Roll (1pc)
You can also add a Sapporo for $7 with the purchase of the Pre-Screening Menu.
BLACKPINK Cocktail
at No Vacancy (September 10 to 20)
No Vacancy, Canada’s 100 Best’s Best New Bar, No. 14 on Canada’s 100 Best Bars list and No. 82 on the extended North America’s 50 Best Bars is also joining the star studded lineup.
In celebration of film festival season and the world premiere of Always Lalisa, the new documentary following BLACKPINK superstar LISA, No Vacancy is spotlighting its aptly named BLACKPINK cocktail for $25.
Made with vodka, an olive oil wash, activated charcoal, Plymouth Gin, vermouths and yuzu bitters, the striking cocktail offers a fitting nod to one of the season’s most anticipated music documentaries.
1942 in Capri, Grand Plateau & Tagliolini All’Aragosta
at Lyla Toronto (September 10 to 20)
In celebration of Nanni Moretti’s It Will Happen Tonight, Lyla’s $42 1942 in Capri brings a little Italian romance and glamour to the occasion, with Don Julio Añejo 1942, Campari, Cocchi and Guerra coming together in a celebratory aperitivo made for a pre-screening toast or a night out after the credits roll.
For Conversation with the Sea, the coastal Mediterranean hot spot is serving a conversation with the sea of its own: the Grand Plateau ($95) brings together caviar bites, oysters, cocktail shrimp, ceviche and bluefin tuna crudo in a celebratory seafood spread designed for sharing before a screening or over a festival-season dinner.
Finally, in celebration of A Talent for Murder, Lyla is serving a killer Italian‑inspired order that nods to the film’s dramatic flair: Tagliolini All’Aragosta (Half Lobster $69 or Whole Lobster $109) pairs butter-poached Atlantic lobster with delicate tagliolini, VSOP lobster bisque and lobster glaze, available with a half or whole lobster for an indulgent choice worthy of a festival night out.
The Deauville Macallan Whisky Journey & Dinner Service
at Deauville Club inside Revery Toronto Downtown (September 10 to 20)
Tucked away on the hotel’s second floor, Deauville Club is an intimate, French-inspired restaurant led by Executive Chef Justin Raponi. During TIFF, it will host an elevated whisky-and-dining experience designed for the festival’s after-dark crowd.
The Deauville Macallan Whisky Journey ($200/person) pairs a curated tasting of three Macallan whiskies (The Macallan 12 Year Old, The Macallan 15 Year Old and The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Year Old) with a three-course menu curated by Chef Justin Raponi.
The dinner moves from an “Opening Scene” of Ontario Beet Carpaccio or Pan-Seared Scallops, to a “Feature Presentation” of Truffled Chicken Supreme, Soy-Braised Short Ribs or Delicata Squash Curry, and concludes with a “Final Frame” of Crème Brûlée or Mango Passionfruit Charlotte Dome.
Each course is paired with a Macallan expression, bringing together whisky, French-inspired cuisine and the theatrical spirit of TIFF.
TIFF at Muse Lobby Bar
inside Revery Toronto Downtown (September 10 to 13)
Revery’s chic main floor lobby bar, Muse, will become a social TIFF hub with an elevated evening menu focused on live shucking, coastal freshness and French-inspired grazing.
Live Oyster Atelier – $5 per oyster – Fresh oysters shucked to order with French Kiss, Lucky Lime, Raspberry Small Point, Pickled Jalapeño, Horseradish, house hot sauce and mignonette.
King Prawn & Scallop Ceviche – $14 per shell – King shrimp, scallop, sun-dried tomato chili oil, fresh chives and shallot crunch, served in a scallop shell.
The Antipasto Collection – $34 for two / $64 for four – Brie, Comté, buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto crudo, Loire Valley wine sausage, olive tapenade, sun-dried tomato pesto, candied pecans, Picholine olives, cornichons and focaccia.
Live entertainment from jazz duo James & Katerina will round out the experience on September 10 & 13: 6–10 PM and September 11 & 12: 7–11 PM.
Muse will also receive a TIFF-inspired transformation, with a step-and-repeat, red carpet and stanchions, directors’ chairs, film lights, etc.
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
Lobby Privileges
at Isabelle Restaurant + Lounge inside Pearle Hotel & Spa, Burlington (September 10 to 20)
As TIFF returns this September, Isabelle Restaurant + Lounge is serving up Lobby Privileges, an exclusive cocktail available only during the festival. This celeb hot spot has welcomed star-studded guests including Joni Mitchell, the Jonas Brothers, Shania Twain and Chris Pratt.
Inspired by an early movie theatre tradition, the drink takes its name from the days when cinemas leased “lobby privileges” to popcorn vendors, helping cement popcorn as the ultimate movie snack.
It blends 1oz Sweet Vermouth, 1oz Akvavit, 0.5oz Campari, 4 dashes Lavender Lemon Bitters, Lemon Expression, and garnished with a Lemon Twist .
Director’s Cut
at Odd Duck at 93 Ontario St, Kitchener (September 10 to 20)
To celebrate the film festival season, MICHELIN-recommended Odd Duck debuts its limited-edition “Director’s Cut” cocktail, inspired by the 1922 silent-film classic Blood and Sand, starring Rudolph Valentino.
The restaurant gives the iconic Blood and Sand cocktail its own “director’s cut,” preserving its signature Scotch, cherry and citrus profile while reimagining it with Monkey Shoulder Scotch, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, sencha tea and blood orange, topped with a silky blood orange cold foam.
Keep an eye out for all things TIFF screenings and premieres, star-gazing spots, and the coolest events popping up in September!
