From January 25th to February 7th Winterlicious is back, which means it’s time to explore some of the best restaurants in the city without breaking the bank!
From Yorkville to West Queen West to the Financial District, there are tons of amazing options, and we’ve rounded up the best places to check out during Winterlicious.
Reservations are now open, so make sure to book yours while there are still spots available (they’ll fill up fast!).
Bar Buca
Instagram/ @barbuca
This Italian-inspired kitchen and bar is the perfect King West hot spot to duck into if you’re wanting to check out Winterlicious. They only accept walk-ins, so whether you can’t commit to a reservation or you just find yourself in the area, this is the spot for you. Their menu, created by Chef Rob Gentile, is packed with flavour and features lot of vegetarian options. We recommend the Pasta E Broccoli, the Calamari Grigliata, and the Panna Cotta for dessert!
Cactus Club
Instagram/ @cactusclubcafe
Originally hailing from the west coast, Cactus Club has become a Toronto staple. Drinks after work? Cactus Club. Power lunch with your team? Cactus Club. Girls night? Cactus Club. Fantastic Winterlicious offerings? Cactus Club. Their lunch menu features some of their classic dishes (hello Butternut Squash Ravioli and Feenie Burger) and is a great choice for a power lunch. From their dinner menu, we recommend the Peppercorn Sirloin, Grilled Dijon Salmon, and the Key Lime Parfait Duo to finish it off.
Bosk
Instagram/ @boskto
Located in the Shangri-La Toronto, Bosk is a sophisticated, polished and delicious Winterlicious option. Their asian-inspired dishes (with a distinctly Canadian flare) are packed with flavour, and the environment is stunning; the recipe for a perfect date night! We recommend the Hen Egg Pasta Sheets, the Slow Cooked Beef Short rib and the Prawn Terrine. Their wine wall also holds over 700 bottles, so your server will be able to recommend the perfect one to compliment your meal.
The Drake
Instagram/ @zalbertsen
This Toronto classic is the perfect blend of culture, art, and delicious food. Their Winterlicious menu, this year created by Chef Zac Albertson, is perfect for the cold snap Toronto’s currently facing (Beer Cheese Soup, hello!). Walking into The Drake, you will immediately feel welcomed and at home with staff eager to greet you day and night. While you’re checking out the Winterlicious menu, why not make it a full night with a show at The Underground; they always have amazing artists coming in, check out their listings here.
Mistura
Instagram/ @mistura_sopra
Mistura may be one of the lesser known restaurants participating in Winterlicious, but don’t sleep on this one. Their classic Italian food is second to none, with family recipes that have been on the menu for upwards of 20 years. We recommend trying out the Beet Risotto (it has delicious chunks of gorgonzola cheese throughout it), Nonna’s Lasagna and Tiramisu to finish!
Cafe Boulud
Instagram/ @abhishekdekate
Cafe Boulud in the Four Seasons Toronto is a full culinary dining experience that isn’t to be missed. From the mind of Chef Daniel Boulud, the menu is a bright mix of fresh and classic flavours. Be sure to order the Butternut Squash Soup, and the Grapefruit Sundae for dessert.
Insomnia
Instagram/ @insomniatoronto
This go-to Annex hotspot located at Bloor and Bathurst is known for their cocktails and brunches, and specifically for their famous home fries. For Winterlicious this year, you can take advantage of their brunch offerings with their $23 lunch seating, featuring classics like the PB & J Buckwheat Short-Stack, Eggs Memphis, and their Vegan Chocolate Layer Cake! If you’re going for dinner, the Fried Chicken and Waffles paired with one of their cocktails is a must.
Honourable Mentions:
Oretta
Instagram/@oretta
Located on King St. West just west of Bathurst is the ultra-Instagrammable Oretta. Visitors can slide into the art deco-inspired space for a $28 lunch seating featuring dishes like Beef Carpaccio, Burrata Pugiliese, veal ragu, pan seared salmon, and Sicilian Cannolo, or plan a dinner date for $48 per person and nosh on mains like flat iron steak and pan seared sea bass. Whatever dish you choose, you won’t regret it!
Noce
Instagram/@noce
Another Italian spot that can’t be beat is Noce, and they’ve got 20 years of experience to prove it. Head to this Queen West establishment for a $33 lunch that features wood fired arctic char, grilled Cornish hen, “Sex In A Pan” (aka Nutella and vanilla pudding in a pecan crust topped with mascarpone cheese, chocolate, and sponge toffee. Or indulge in their $53 dinner seating and experience a delicious wood fired Ontario veal chop and salmon crudo.
District Eatery
Instagram/@districteatery
District Eatery’s Winterlicious lunch and dinner run on the more affordable side, with a $23 lunch option that includes Grilled Peach and Beet Salad, Bowl of Zen (District’s take on the tuna poke), and Vegan Cheesecake. The dinner option will run you $33 for three courses with items like Piri Piri Roasted Chicken, Philly Carbone Flatbread, and Garlic Oil Zucchini Pasta. With lots of vegetarian and vegan options — and an amazing cocktail selection to boot — District Eatery is a a great option for everyone in your friend group!
Featured image: Instagram/ @boskto
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With millennials leaning away from the traditional wedding format, this pop-up style is a novel, unexpected solution. It’s the perfect way for people looking to get married to do it in an amazing environment but also at the right price point. For $1999 + tax, couples get to enjoy a full wedding experience without extravagant expenses or sweating the details.
After the recent success of the two pop-up wedding chapels at The Drake Hotel, The Drake will be bringing the experience to the stunning Prince Edward County in partnership with Love by Lynzie. On July 12th, Drake Devonshire will become the perfect backdrop for rebellious hearts to officially make things official. If you’ve ever seen it before, you know it’s the ideal place to read your vows.
This pop-up will embrace a warm, rustic feeling through its vendors and aesthetics, including fresh lavender, lemonade stands, homemade pies, lawn games and an outdoor ceremony on our beautiful grounds. There will be a photo-booth, a backdrop with a two-person bicycle and our fabulous roster of local vendors.
Here’s what you can expect from the full package:
+ Ceremony venue & de?cor, styled by Love by Lynzie
+ A legal officiant
+ Photography of ceremony and a 45-minute portrait session + Bouquet and Boutonnie?re (or two of each)
+ A toast and treats for up to 20 guests
+ Live Ceremony Music
+ A personal Wedding Coordinator
On top of that, a minimum of $350 from the total chapel cost from each couple is donated to charity. Each chapel is partnered with a charity of choice. So far, we’ve raised over $9,000 on our first two chapels.
If you’re interested in reserving a spot email: office@lovebylynzie.com
Featured Image: Instagram/@thedrake
Would you be interested in having a pop-up style wedding at the Drake Devonshire? Let us know in the comments.
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Drake Hotel Properties is extremely thrilled to announce the opening of Drake Mini Bar, an exciting new destination for food, drink, art and culture at 150 York St, across the lobby from Drake One Fifty. Part eatery, part bar, it offers an adventurous small plate menu with hand-crafted cocktails and an eclectic wine and beer selection. Set in signature Drake aesthetic with Douglas fir wood, teal leather and natural stone surrounded by curated art, Drake Mini Bar reimagines the classic hotel bar experience from early to late night.
Photo Credit: Steve Tsai
The Drake Mini Bar is finally open to the public this month! Guests of Drake Mini Bar will be able to grab their morning espresso with made-from-scratch breakfast offerings, bring colleagues or clients for a quick power lunch, stop by for a bite and cocktail before an event, or enjoy a night out. Along with an interior courtyard patio perfect for people watching, Drake Mini Bar will feature a 55-seat outdoor patio directly at the corner of York and Adelaide starting in early summer 2018, offering a rare chance to appreciate a street-level view of Toronto’s impressive skyscrapers.
Photo Credit: Steve Tsai
“We love being part of the cultural renaissance in the Financial District with Drake One Fifty right next door, and can’t wait to share this food, drink and culture gem with locals and visitors alike,” said Jeff Stober, the CEO, and founder of Drake Hotel Properties.
Photo Credit: Kayla Rocca
In true collaborative Drake style, you can expect menu items like house-cured charcuterie, handmade pasta, daily baked bread, and seasonal ferments and pickles are made daily at Drake Commissary in the Junction Triangle.
Photo Credit: Kayla Rocca
Menu items include:
- Wild Argentinian shrimp with dill cream, capers, rye toast
- Mashed potato “dumpling” with roast chicken broth, black garlic, leeks, crispy chicken skin
- Ocean trout sashimi with soy vinaigrette, wasabi and cucumber, dehydrated lemon, salmon roe
- Burnt eggplant with tahini cre?me frai?che, blood orange, mint, basil
- Black cod with zucchini, ginger, jalapen?o, green onion
Photo Credit: Kayla Rocca
Drake Mini Bar will feature a rich craft temperance cocktail menu, with a full list of non- alcoholic beverages for those looking for some tasty cocktails without the alcohol. Teas will be from local purveyor Pluck Teas, and the elevated coffee program will feature drinks such as Butter Coconut Coffee, made with Reunion Island’s Drake Blend, grass-fed ghee, and coconut oil, and a Turmeric Latte, with turmeric, honey and steamed almond milk.
Photo Credit: Kayla Rocca
Designed with long-time Drake partner +tongtong, alongside Alex Simpson and The Drake’s in-house design team, Drake Mini Bar layers together jewel colours, textiles, patterned wood, mosaic tiles, and leathers to create a timeless, all-occasion space that closes the gap between work and play. The space features only custom furniture, including its own renowned one-armed stool and wall-to-wall banquette with classic Drake teal leather.
Photo Credit: Steve Tsai
The sun-soaked space will bring the indoor energy out to play in an oasis filled with living plants and will include a restored 15- foot waterfall fountain and vibrant customized outdoor furniture.
With such incredible food, cocktails and a really stunning interior, you have to add it to your must-try restaurants.
Featured Image: Steve Tsai
Do you think you will try out Drake Mini Bar? Let us know in the comments!
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We’ve got some extremely exciting news for you! According to the Vaughan Mills Facebook page, the Drake General Store will be opening their doors at Vaughan Mills on March 15, 2018!!
The Drake General Store carries everything you need and more from clothes and jewelry to decor and books. They sell chocolate, plant holders, cooking utensils, water bottles, cell phone accessories – You get it, they have everything! It’s the perfect place to buy a gift for absolutely any type of person. There’s a wide variety of price options and everything there is made of the best quality.
Make sure to check out their Instagram page@DrakeGeneralStore!
Source: Facebook/@VaughanMills
Featured Image: Instagram/@DrakeGeneralStore
Which is your favourite Drake General Store? Let us know in the comments.
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