The Distillery Winter Village returns November 12, turning the neighbourhood’s cobblestone streets into a Christmas playground for the holidays. Opening night starts at 4 p.m., with the big tree lighting at 6 p.m. The festivities continue daily through January 3.
This year brings some fun and tasty new additions, starting with a little trip to Amsterdam. On Gristmill Lane, Demetres has created a row of glowing, colourful canal houses, complete with a new cabin serving up giant, freshly pressed stroopwafels. Also back by popular demand is last year’s viral, gooey Hungarian monkey bread.
For serious comfort food, head down the brick alleys to Chef’s Lane, now reimagined as a cosy speakeasy-style strip with four top Toronto chefs cooking behind peek-through windows. On the menu: Cheese Boutique’s Afrim Pristine’s truffle Pecorino mac and cheese, Michael Angeloni’s hot honey mortadella skewers, Taylor Wells’ smoked chicken on brioche and Arush Vardhan Singh’s crispy Amritsari fish pakoras.
The fun continues across the courtyards, with a few new spots to explore. The Archeo patio becomes The Canuck Tavern, complete with Muskoka chairs, roaring fire pits, ski-chairlift photo ops and a giant topiary moose. In Cluny Tunnel, disco-ball snow people set the scene for weekend DJ sets, with Parisian chocolate mousse on hand while you dance. Nearby, a flowing Costa Rican chocolate waterfall drizzles over fresh fruit, while Trinity Street’s new Merry Matcha cabin serves up colourful lavender, strawberry rose and ube drinks.
The holiday favourites are back, too. Pure Spirits Courtyard’s Naughty or Nice Bar is getting a glow-up with 50,000 blue-and-white lights and a bigger communal table for festive get-togethers. Next door, Billy’s Bodega and The Spirit of York are serving up comfort food on their heated patio, including tiramisu hot chocolate and the famous Yorkie Burrito, a Sunday roast wrapped in a giant Yorkshire pudding. Newcomers Japan Taco and Billy’s grilled cheese join returning sweet treats from Craig’s Cookies and Carousel Bakery.
And while the temperature will certainly dip in December, a little cold-weather misery is part of the fun. Between the mulled drinks and enough festive food to keep you busy all night, the Distillery Winter Village makes a pretty good case for embracing the season.