With more and more business professionals hosting events, intimate dinners and masterminds for clients, colleagues and industry leaders, we decided to bring a little more hospitality to the experience.
Introducing a new BUZZ feature dedicated to unique places to gather, connect and host from inspiring restaurants and private dining rooms to distinctive venues and unforgettable spaces.
Because where you bring people together matters. The right setting can transform a meeting into a meaningful conversation, a dinner into a relationship-building experience, and an event into something people remember.
Consider this your invitation to discover some of the most interesting places to meet, host, connect and create your own BUZZ. Welcome to our first BUZZ Hospitality Feature.
There’s a little corner of Toronto that feels worlds away from the city—and tucked inside it is a restaurant worth discovering.
Located within the historic Old Mill Toronto Hotel at 9 Old Mill Road, Canto Restaurant offers an elevated yet approachable dining experience surrounded by the charm and nostalgia of one of Toronto’s most storied properties. Set along the Humber River, the Old Mill is known for its European-inspired atmosphere, historic character and cozy sense of place. Canto adds a contemporary dining experience to that setting, bringing together Italian-inspired cuisine, seasonal ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere.
While the Old Mill has long been a destination for hotel stays, celebrations and special occasions, Canto offers another reason to make the trip west. The restaurant is designed to welcome both hotel guests and local diners, making it an inviting neighbourhood destination for everything from an intimate dinner to a relaxed evening over cocktails.
The menu takes its cues from Italian culinary traditions while incorporating local and seasonal ingredients and international influences. Handmade pastas are a particular highlight, including Tagliolini al Pomodoro, fresh egg pasta served with cherry tomato sauce and basil; Potato Gnocchi with asparagus, king oyster mushrooms and crispy smoked pancetta; and Cavatelli & Zampina, featuring handmade pasta, veal Barese sausage, cherry tomatoes, arugula and shaved pecorino.
For something to start, the Fregola Salad combines Sardinian toasted pasta with avocado, zucchini, baby spinach and burrata, while Capesante & Panzanella pairs seared Digby scallops with tomatoes, cucumber, fresh herbs, sourdough crostini and aged balsamic.
And Canto isn’t just about dinner. The bar is a destination in its own right, with a cocktail menu that ranges from Italian-inspired classics to contemporary creations. The Bellini Bianca puts a fresh spin on the classic Bellini with Prosecco, St-Germain and peach, while the French 75 combines gin, Limoncello and Prosecco. For something more spirit-forward, the Paper Plane brings together bourbon, Aperol and Amaro Nonino.
What makes Canto particularly appealing is the combination of setting and experience. You can arrive for dinner and find yourself surrounded by the Old Mill’s historic architecture and Humber Valley setting, then settle in for a menu that feels distinctly contemporary. It’s a place where the atmosphere encourages lingering—whether over handmade pasta, a glass of wine or a cocktail at the bar.
For Torontonians who may have driven past the Old Mill countless times without venturing inside, Canto is an invitation to rediscover this corner of the city. And for those already familiar with the hotel, it offers another reason to return.
Canto may be located within one of Toronto’s most historic hospitality destinations, but its appeal is very much of the moment: Italian-inspired food, thoughtful cocktails and a warm, contemporary dining experience in an unexpectedly beautiful setting.
Address: 9 Old Mill Rd, Etobicoke, ON M8X 1G5
Website: https://www.cantoresto.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canto_restaurant/
