Holiday Season 2014 is just around the corner. The autumn leaves have begun to turn and now is the time to choose that perfect place in which to host your holiday party.
And what a choice we Torontonians have!  Our restaurants offer food from around the globe. Our bars and lounges are helmed by creative mixologists using sprits to concoct drinks that are innovative as well as delicious. We are truly enjoying an explosion of culinary talent in our city and it is all there for us to enjoy this holiday season.
Is it a casual laid back evening you are after or a night of fine dining and fine wines?  Is your gathering an intimate affair or are you looking to celebrate with a large gang of colleagues or friends?  Here are a few suggestions to guide you in your decisions for this year’s festivities.
The food you choose will set the mood
Los Colibris (private dining room). Photos courtesy of David GoorevitchÂ
Mexican cuisine-haute as well as street food has taken the city by storm. A recent addition to Toronto’s love affair with Mexican food can be found at Los Colibris, where the Chef lovingly prepares recipes from Vera Cruz passed down from her mother and grandmother. Private rooms are available for small and larger groups for an elegant and refined dining experience.
Meanwhile, downstairs at sister restaurant El Cabalitto your group will enjoy Mexican street food with tequila, tequila and more tequila. The atmosphere here is lively and fun and you will be transported away from Toronto’s cold to Mexico’s heat for the evening.
Momofuku, Chef David Chang’s sensational Asian fusion restaurant sits on University Ave providing a magnificent view of Toronto’s grand boulevard. There are a number of venues within the restaurant to host private dining events. Menus are specially curated for your event and served family style. A celebration at Momofuku will be an event that will not soon be forgotten!
Location is everything!
El Catrin. Photo courtesy of David Goorevitch
The Distillery District transforms itself with the Toronto Christmas Market during the holiday season. Based on an old European tradition, the Christmas Market features unique handicrafts from local vendors, street entertainers, carolers and choirs. And all of this is in addition to some of the best dining venues in the city. Archeo and El Catrin are just a few of the terrific restaurants in which to host your party and enjoy Christmas with a European twist.
For something a little more casual but no less eye-catching, try  on Queen’s Quay. Located in a landmark historical building from the 1920’s, the Brewhouse is surrounded by water on three sides. It offers a 14,000 square foot facility with a working craft brewery and authentic wood burning oven in the open kitchen, keeping you nice and cozy as you gaze out at the wintery waters of Lake Ontario.
Clubs and Lounges –a laid back choice for holiday cheerÂ
Pravda Vodka Bar. Photo courtesy of David GoorevitchÂ
Big comfy couches perfect for sinking into, eclectic neon artwork, the warmth of exposed brick and rich wood, restrooms designed to delight the eye – these are but some of the characteristics of club venues that shape the entertainment landscape in Toronto.  Clubs can accommodate larger groups for more casual affairs offering food stations and opportunities for dancing and mingling. Bloke & 4th, Cube and the Courthouse are but a few of the clubs available to host your event. Or looking to immerse yourself in the world of vodka and the land of Russia? Pravda Vodka Bar offers a Russian-inspired dining experience specifically designed for vodka pairing.
With holiday season approaching, the choices for unique, specialized and unusual venues are yours to entertain.
Have you found a great place for a holiday event? Let us know in the comments section below!
