Best Toronto restaurants for celebrity spotting during TIFF 2025
If you want to do some serious star-spotting at TIFF 2025, these are the Toronto restaurants that you should be checking out.
Ringing in its 50th year of celebrating film on the streets of Toronto, TIFF 2025 promises to be one of the biggest installments of the festival yet, and that includes some big names making appearances.
So far, A-listers who are expected to attend include Angelina Jolie, Saoirse Ronan, Matthew McConaughey, Channing Tatum, Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller and Keanu Reeves, as they are all slated to walk carpets at this year’s festival.
If you, like many, are hoping to do some star-spotting over the course of the festival — which runs from Sept 4 to the 14 — why not pair it with a great meal? Celebrities have to eat, too, after all, and we’ve got all the intel on the restaurants where you’ve got the best chance of seeing them.
Here are some of the Toronto restaurants where you’re most likely to spot celebrities during TIFF 2025:
Abrielle
Located inside the Sutton Place Hotel at the corner of King West and Blue Jays Way, it doesn’t get much more in-the-action than this.
While there’s no shortage of restaurants along the King West strip that becomes Festival Street during TIFF, though, this one is right at the edge, and a decidedly quieter and refined experience than others in the area. You might just spy a celeb stopping by for an apres-premiere cocktail at the bar.
Address: 335 King St. W.
Phone: 416-915-3760
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Adrak
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If the Jonas Brothers say it’s good, you just have to believe them. The band of brothers stopped by this Michelin-recommended Yorkville Indian fine dining establishment while filming a mysterious project in the city earlier this year, and we’re confident that they’ve spread the word to all of their cinema-centric colleagues.
It’s also located in what is perhaps the city’s biggest celebrity hub, so it’s a sure shot for any stars of the screen who are craving Indian during the festival.
Address: 138 Avenue Rd.
Phone: 416-413-0777
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Cafe Boulud
It doesn’t get more quintessential of a Toronto celebrity hotspot than the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, located directly in the heart of Yorkville, and its in-house restaurant, headed up by renowned chef Daniel Boulud, is the go-to spot to keep our beloved actors fed.
The hotel, Cafe Boulud and dbar, it’s bar, are set to host several special events throughout the festival, including an exclusive Vanity Fair party hosted by Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater, Baz Luhrmann and Alice Winocour on Sept. 7. You may not be able to get tickets to that one, but who knows, book a reservation at Cafe Boulud and you might just find yourself rubbing elbows with the overflow.
Address: 60 Yorkville Ave.
Phone: 416-693-6000
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estiatorio Milos
As one of the most renowned Greek restaurants in the world, boasting locations in Dubai, Las Vegas, Singapore, NYC, Miami and Montreal, it’s only fair to assume that no small number of celebrities will opt with the familiar (though no less spectacular) and swing by this opulent Financial District spot.
Last year, before it was even officially open to the public, this restaurant hosted a slew of who’s-who during TIFF, including the official after party for Francis Ford Coppola’s divisive flick, Megalopolis, which saw stars like the director himself and Adam Driver dine at the restaurant.
Address: 330 Bay St.
Phone: 416-462-7260
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Minami
An official hospitality partner of the film festival and a celebrity hotspot in its own right (even Justin Trudeau has dined there, so maybe he’ll bring his new friend Katy Perry along sometime), this colourful King West Japanese restaurant is sure to be flooded with celebrities.
It also helps, of course, that it’s right across the street from the Royal Alexandra Theatre, one of the festival’s screening locations, and the centre of it all, the TIFF Lightbox. As a bonus, they’ve also got a special menu on offer just for the festivities.
Address: 225 King St. W.
Phone: 416-519-9182
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Nobu
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Okay, we’re spitballing here a bit with this one, but come on, it’s almost too easy to predict that at least a handful of A-Listers will flock to the newly (ish) minted Toronto location of this celebrated Japanese chain from chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
Serving chef Nobu’s proprietary style of sushi and other Japanese-inspired dishes, Nobu Toronto has already garnered its fair share of celebrity attention, including top marks from the one and only Martha Stewart. It’s only a matter of time before it’s flooded with household names.
Address: 25 Mercer St.
Phone: 365-922-8800
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ONE Restaurant
Not unlike its Yorkville neighbour, the Four Seasons, the Hazleton Hotel has seen throngs of A-listers pass through its storied halls, and more than a few who’ve stopped to fuel up at its ONE Restaurant.
Headed up by Mark McEwan, a celebrity in his own right, the restaurant serves a lavish eclectic menu featuring favourites like Steak “Tartart” and Grilled Octopus “Al Pastor.” For the hotel’s part, it’s hosted the likes of Ben Affleck, Blake Lively, Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt, to name only a few.
Address: 116 Yorkville Ave.
Phone: 416-961-9600
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PAI
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This local staple for Northern Thai cuisine from prolific chef Nuit Regular is a star magnet on any average day, but TIFF 2025 promises to take things to a new level.
One of the restaurant’s biggest fans is Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, who is premiering his latest film, Frankenstein, at the festival this year. He took the entire cast there for dinner while filming was underway, so we’re betting on a celebratory return, including the film’s stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth.
Address: 18 Duncan St.
Phone: 416-901-4724
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Pukka
This St. Clair West Indian restaurant is not only an official hospitality partner for the festival, but it’ll also be catering an official screening of Neeraj Ghaywan and Martin Scorsese’s Homebound.
On premiere night, visitors and guests of honour will be indulging in light bites supplied by the longstanding restaurant, so we wouldn’t be surprised if a few new converts make their way up to the restaurant during their time in the city.
Address: 778 St. Clair Ave. W
Phone: 416-342-1906
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Soluna
This tropical oasis on Queen West has hosted A-listers including Jennifer Lawrence, Zac Efron, Drake, Daniel Craig and Diplo in its time, and TIFF 2025 is shaping up to be no different.
During the festival, it’s slated to be home to a slew of parties and special events, so expect a never-ending lineup of black cars with tinted windows parked outside. It might be tricky to actually get in, depending on when you go, but you’re more than likely to catch a glimpse of some of your favourite stars entering the premises.
Address: 314 Queen St. W.
Phone: 647-368-8162
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TOCA
Really, where better to spot some stars than the Ritz-Carlton? During the festival, you can bank on seeing at least one familiar face coming in and out of the luxury hotel. It’s hosted heavy-hitters like Elton John, Beyonce and Taylor Swift over the years, so expect the upper echelon to be out and about.
The hotel is home to three restaurants: TOCA, an Italian restaurant, their bar and terrace, EPOCH and LANO, their wine bar-by-night and cafe-by-day, so you have ample opportunity to try to snag a coveted celeb selfie while also indulging in some fine dining.
Address: 181 Wellington St. W.
Phone: 416-572-8008
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