Entertaining GuideVenues

Carlu

  • 444 Yonge St. (at College), 7th flr. View on map »
  • 416-597-1931
A breathtaking example of art moderne, the Carlu—a seventh-floor space at the top of the old Eaton’s building—was designed by one of the genre’s masters: Jacques Carlu, the famous French architect. Opened in 1931, it hosted high-society events for the next 40 years. Glenn Gould worshipped the auditorium for its acoustics. And the Round Room (450 for cocktails or 340 for dinner), the model for the Rainbow Room in New York, was a Toronto icon. After Eaton’s moved in 1977, the space lay vacant for 25 years. But it reopened in 2003 following an approximately $8-million renovation; today it attracts all kinds, from urban scenemakers to newlyweds to conferences. The look is ’30s glam, from the Lalique fountain in the Round Room to the ebony and bird’s-eye maple in the auditorium. The airy lobby opens onto a 1,200-seat concert hall that can accommodate 1,500 for cocktails or 600 for dinner. Bookings currently extend into 2009.
How much:
$1,100–$5,500 per room
Catering:
choose from four preferred caterers; dinner from $35 per person
Location
  • map marker #1
    444 Yonge St. (at College), 7th flr.
  • 416-597-1931

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