These Toronto Hotspots Offer a Feast for the Senses

“When folks come to eat, it’s not nearly coming to dinner—they get to have this immersive expertise,” says hospitality entrepreneur Dan Gunam, the person behind a number of hotspots in Toronto, together with Kissa, an attractive, new resto-lounge on King West, and Soluna, a seashore vibe impressed restaurant and lounge on Queen West.

To show his level, image this: As a Stevie Nicks music croons from the audio system (“Thunder solely occurs when it’s raining…”), a bunch of dressed-to-impress company at Kissa have fun the arrival of their cocktails. Dry-ice “smoke” rises from a reasonably teapot stuffed with the refreshing signature drink, Je Ne Regrette Rien, made with gin, yuzu liqueur, glowing jasmine tea and extra. At the Listening Bar, the DJ pulls from the stacks of vinyl records and, for a lot of the evening, spins nothing launched after 2014—the eclectic combine ranges from Beyoncé to the Beatles.

Dan Gunam, the hospitality entrepreneur behind a few of Toronto’s most iconic and noteworthy restaurant and nightlife venues. Photo: Katrin Usmanova

In reality, music and tradition are on the coronary heart of Kissa, in addition to Soluna. Here’s what to anticipate at each immersive eating places, the place dinner and drinks are solely the start.

The vibe-y scene at Kissa

At Kissa, the aesthetic is Twenties-inspired, with deep purple hues, velvet banquettes and crystal chandeliers, however the temper is all feel-good vibes. Gunam took inspiration from Japanese kissatens—informal tea homes the place you may take heed to up to date American music in the course of the Shōwa-era.

The Kissa inside is a moody Twenties-inspired vibe. Photo: Katrin Usmanova

But in Toronto, Gunam has elevated the idea to a Twenty first-century cocktail bar, full with attractive, floral-garnished fusion snacks and a DJ spinning songs that can make you set down your wagyu katsu sando simply so you may dance and sing together with Whitney Houston.

You may consider Kissa as a cool spot to pop into for only a few bites and drinks over a fantastic playlist. But earlier than it, you could simply end up drawn to the mirrored, neon-lit stairs that result in the nightclub upstairs to proceed your night.

Good drinks and nice music – what extra may you need from a resto-bar? Photo: Katrin Usmanova

NBA stars have fallen beneath the resto-lounge’s spell, too—LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler have held personal events at Kissa. And the resto’s month-to-month listening occasion collection, which showcases particular artists (Sade and pop artist Laye have been featured up to now), pulls in music followers from round Toronto.

The sunny aspect at Soluna

If Kissa is a contemporary tackle Japanese kissatens, Soluna is its beach-club cousin. Think: vibrant and ethereal, with handcrafted-in-Mexico macramé dreamcatchers and a bamboo ceiling overhead. It’s equal elements laidback California perspective, Mexican religious vibes, Mediterranean aptitude and Miami occasion power.

For the coastal menu, chef Ricardo Dominguez serves up dishes like sea bream ceviche, sweet-potato Thai noodles and completely grilled lamb chops with zingy tzatziki. Alongside wines from around the globe, the go-tos listed below are the craft cocktails. Try Gunam’s favorite: the Soluna espresso martini, an ideal stability of Patrón, espresso liqueur, Irish cream, salted caramel and espresso.

Soluna is a beachy escape proper within the coronary heart of town. Photo: Ryan Nangreaves

What completes the expertise at Soluna is the programming Gunam has curated. He’s devoted to introducing Toronto to music genres and artists, like South African Afro House artist resembling Caiiro, Haitian DJ Francis Mercier, Pablo Fierro from Canary Islands and Latin home DJ Hugel, to call only a few. “Lots of people didn’t know these artists after we first began bringing them in, and a few have an enormous following now,” says Gunam.

Going deeper with its cultural choices, Soluna hosts immersive experiences, too: Visit on Latin Wednesday nights to study salsa and bachata, for instance. Soluna is getting ready to introduce its new immersive four-act eating expertise that blends Aztec mythology with ritualistic dance to relate the creation and evolution of the world in line with Mexica beliefs. The program will run on Thursdays and Fridays and set to launch within the coming weeks.

One of the scrumptious craft cocktails on the Soluna menu. Photo: Ryan Nangreaves

On weekends, anticipate a supper-club expertise: With dinner comes a present, which may embrace palo santo-wielding performers or Aztec tribal dance productions. Then, as midnight approaches, the lights will go low. That’s your cue to take that white fabric serviette you’ve been handed and wave it within the air as drummers and dancers make their means across the restaurant, ushering in Soluna’s late-night revelry.

Is this Mykonos or Toronto? you may ask your self—and that’s the purpose. “I wished folks to really feel like we’ve taken them on a journey and an escape,” says Gunam. “The music, the meals, the decor—it’s all curated for these whose journey by no means ends.”

This content material was created by The Kit; Kissa and Soluna funded and authorized it.

The submit These Toronto Hotspots Offer a Feast for the Senses appeared first on The Kit.

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through The Kit https://thekit.ca/

May 15, 2024 at 03:11PM