Sponsored By Destination Toronto
Seven Toronto Venues That’ll 100 Percent Defy Your Attendees’ Expectations
Meet in a city that goes all in on memorable event spaces.
Whether you’re planning a high-impact keynote or a swanky soiree, Toronto is home to venues that go way beyond your standard conference expectations. From spaces with sky-high views to shark tanks (yes, really!), these seven spots are 100 percent unexpected — and will have even the most seasoned attendees saying, “Wait … this is a venue?”
Evergreen Brick Works: Green Space and Industrial Charm
Nestled in the heart of Toronto’s lush ravines, Evergreen Brick Works — a 19th-century brick factory restored into an eco-friendly event space — blends heritage charm with nature. It offers flexible indoor/outdoor spaces ideal for panels, workshops, and receptions of up to 2,000 guests. The venue walks the green talk with LEED Platinum buildings, rainwater reuse, ground-source heat pumps, on-site caterers, and more. Planners are 100 percent in on the industrial-chic vibe and fresh air over fluorescent lighting.
CN Tower: Sky-High Wow Factor
The CN Tower is more than just a Toronto landmark, it’s a vertical venue with 100 percent impact. Soaring 1,136 feet above the city, this venue’s jaw-dropping views — sometimes all the way to Niagara Falls — guarantee Instagrammable moments before the first speaker even hits the mic. Host board meetings, presentations, or receptions in the restaurant, cinema, meeting rooms, or viewing platform for up to 700 guests. And the on-site catering team is serving Canadian-inspired fare (East Coast mussels, anyone?).
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada: Under the Sea
Where else can attendees sip cocktails while sharks glide overhead? Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada offers a surreal underwater setting for events of all sizes, from full buyouts for up to 1,200 guests to intimate dinners for 40 guests. This venue is 100 percent out of the ordinary, with 20,000 marine animals, 50 live exhibits, and over 100 interactive displays. Plus, you can add on a custom dive show — complete with an underwater branded sign reveal. It’s a splashy photo op that’ll guarantee your event makes waves.
Steam Whistle Brewery: Casual-Cool and Craft Beer
Housed inside a 1920s National Historic Site turned event space and steps from the CN Tower and Rogers Centre, Steam Whistle Brewing is central, stylish, and laid-back. With capacity for up to 6,000 guests, the venue offers flexible spaces, skyline views, and heritage-rich details like cobblestone patios, vintage locomotives, and exposed rail tracks. Before your networking event or corporate party, book a tour for your group and go 100 percent in on learning the story of Canada’s largest single-brand independent brewery.
The Bata Shoe Museum: Fashion Meets History
This architectural wonder on Bloor Street is ideal for meeting planners who want to walk a different path (pun 100 percent intended). There are less than 50 shoe museums in the entire world, and this one, the Bata Shoe Museum, has a collection of nearly 15,000 shoes — spanning 4,500 years — offering a unique cultural backdrop for receptions, panels, and intimate gatherings. Event spaces range from 25 to a full buyout for 200.
STACKT Market: Modular Design and Big-City Energy
Built from 130 shipping containers, STACKT is North America’s largest shipping-container market, covering 100,000 square feet with 14 adaptable spaces and a capacity of almost 3,000 guests. With killer city views, this quirky, ever-evolving venue goes 100 percent in on the vibe with microbreweries, food pop-ups, indie shops, top chefs, public art, and more. And, as a year-round venue, STACKT transforms with the calendar — think fire pits, warming huts, and outdoor curling in winter and lawn games and sprawling patios in summer.
Chefs Hall: Global Menu for Foodies
Chefs Hall offers a smorgasbord of Toronto’s top food vendors under one roof, serving up everything from poke bowls and smash burgers to tacos, tempura, and craft cocktails. With 18,000 square feet of customizable space — including two large halls, a lounge, two bars, and open-air patios — it offers flexible layouts and plenty of room to roam, sip, and sample. From brand events and launch parties to team socials and client mixers, this venue offers versatility and a global menu guests will 100 percent talk about afterward.
To explore all the exciting experiences Toronto has in store for your events, connect with Destination Toronto and tap into a wealth of tips, resources, and local expertise.
