Though you’re more likely to run into Brad ‘n’ Angelina at Toys R Us than Truffles, if you want to hang with most visiting Hollywood royalty you have to stalk them in their natural habitat: luxury hotels and expensive restos with private rooms.
Start by parking yourself at the Studio Café just off the lobby of the Four Seasons (21 Avenue Rd, at Yorkville, 416-964-0411) or the bar at the nearby Windsor Arms (18 St. Thomas, at Bloor, 416-971-9666). Better yet, grab a ringside seat on the wraparound curbside patio at Mark McEwan’s One in the Hazelton Hotel (see listing, page 38). Open from 7 in the morning till well past midnight, it’s the hottest TIFF ticket in town.
Close by, you’re guaranteed star sightings at Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner (see listings, this page), Greg Couillard‘s Spice Room & Chutney Bar (55 Avenue Rd, at Yorkville, 416-935-0000) and C5 (100 Queen’s Pk, at Bloor, 416-586-7928) on the roof of the refurbished ROM.
After the galas, the cinematic set head for Flow (133 Yorkville, at Avenue Rd, 416-925-2143), the revitalized Sassafraz (100 Cumberland, at Bellair, 416-964-2222) and raunchy seafood trat Joso’s (202 Davenport, at Avenue Rd, 416-925-1903).
Celebs who shun the spotlight can be found chowing down at Bob Bermann and Barbara Gordon‘s Boba (90 Avenue Rd, at Boswell, 416-961-2622), sneaking a smoke on the secluded patio at Michelle’s Brasserie (162 Cumberland, at Avenue Rd,
416-944-1504) or going for ice cream at Summer’s (see listing, page 38).
Downtown, the action centres around the luxe Cosmoplitan Hotel (8 Colbourne, at Yonge, 416-350-2000) and cutting-edge kitchens like Lucien (36 Wellington East, at Leader Lane, 416-504-9990), George (111 Queen East, at Mutual, 416-863-6006) and the recently launched Nota Bene (see listing, this page). The basement party spaces at both Rosewater Supper Club (19 Toronto, at Adelaide, 416-214-5888) and Colborne Lane (45 Colborne, at Church, 416-368-9009) are bound to be buzzing.
Over on the west side, the alternative Hollywood crowd staying at the Drake Hotel (see listing, this page) will be fighting for tables at Susur Lee‘s new Madeline’s (601 King West, at Portland, 416-603-2205) as well as ultra-hip Delux (see listing, this page) and Foxley (207 Ossington, at Dundas West, 416-534-8520). They might even dodge the paps at the Dakota Tavern’s (249 Ossington, at Dundas West, 416-850-4579) Sunday bluegrass brunch.
And don’t forget vegetarian restaurants like Café 668 (see listing, page 38) – Mike Myers is a fan – or Live Organic Food Bar (264 Dupont, at Spadina, 416-515-2002), where Woody Harrelson has been known to rave about the raw food lineup. Bold-type celebs also like hanging out at low-key out-of-the-way boîtes like La Bruschetta (1317 St. Clair West, at St. Clarens, 416-656-8622). Tell owner Silvia Piantoni that the Jolie-Pitts sent you.
stevend@nowtoronto.com
