Where to Eat During TIFF: Five New Restaurants to Book Now
A guide to five new restaurants in Toronto for TIFF attendees, offering Middle Eastern, Tex-Mex, and Japanese whisky-focused dining. The spots include Arbequina, The Dirty Laundry, and Mizunara, each with signature dishes and cocktails. These venues cater to film festival deal-making and post-premiere meals.
The five venues span distinct culinary identities, from Arbequina’s Michelin-recognized Middle Eastern plates to Mizunara’s art-inspired Japanese whisky pairings. Each chef’s background shapes the menu—Abuzaid draws on Palestinian heritage, while Figueira cites travel and paintings as influences. The Dirty Laundry emphasizes affordability alongside Tex-Mex and cocktails, and Bar Romy focuses on simple Italian classics. Honey offers a Pan-Asian twist on dim sum, with a moody, red-lit dining room.
These restaurants are positioned for TIFF’s high-stakes rhythm: reservations are framed as essential for pre-premiere meals or deal-making. Signature dishes and drinks are named with prices, suggesting a curated experience for film industry insiders. The guide also highlights proximity to venues like Roy Thomson Hall, reinforcing their role as convenient, polished stops during the festival.
These new restaurants could shape Toronto’s dining landscape beyond TIFF, potentially attracting year-round food tourists and elevating the city’s reputation for diverse, chef-driven cuisine. The festival’s international visitors may spread word of these spots, boosting local business. However, the emphasis on premium pricing and exclusive reservations might widen access gaps, limiting who can participate in this cultural moment.