#FOOD: CHEF’S LANE RETURNS AT DISTILLERY WINTER VILLAGE 2026 AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

The Distillery Winter Village returns from November 12, 2026, to January 3, 2027! Here are some of the culinary highlights to look out for this year.

CHEF’S LANE RETURNS

Following a successful debut last year, Chef’s Lane returns for 2026 with four new cabins, four acclaimed chefs and four one-of-a-kind, holiday-inspired dishes created exclusively for the Distillery Winter Village. This year’s experience has a fresh new look. The four cabins are turned inward to create an intimate, speakeasy-style laneway, complete with overhead lighting and peek-through windows that invite guests to discover what’s (and who’s) cooking inside. 

Meet the 2026 Chef’s Lane chefs:

• Michael Angeloni – Executive chef and co-owner of several Toronto restaurants, including Notte Ristorante, Pasta Privato, The Berczy Tavern and Michelin-recommended Restaurant Lucie.
  • MENU: Grilled Mortadella Skewers – Grilled mortadella skewers topped with fresh stracciatella, Sicilian pistachio and Bomba hot honey. $18.00
• Afrim Pristine – Canada’s premier Cheese Master and co-owner of Toronto’s iconic Cheese Boutique, a family-run institution serving the city for more than 50 years.
  • MENU: Afrim’s Cheesemaster Mac n Cheese – Garofalo Mafalde pasta tossed in Afrim’s special cheese blend, finished with Italian breadcrumbs and truffle Pecorino. $18.00
• Taylor Wells – Originally from Newfoundland on Canada’s East Coast, Taylor now leads the kitchen at The Carbon Bar, Toronto’s longstanding barbecue destination.
  • MENU: Winter Chicken Smokehouse Sandwich – Pulled chicken, smoked low and slow, served on brioche with smoked Gouda, crisp slaw, chimichurri aioli and apple cranberry relish. $18.00
• Arush Vardhan Singh – Co-founder of Shipra, a South Asian pop-up celebrating Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Arush brings a refined, technique-driven approach to Indian cooking, inspired by his fine-dining background and the traditional flavours of his childhood.
  • MENU: Amritsari Fish Pakora – Crispy, spicy haddock served with cilantro-mint chutney and chaat masala onions. $18.00

DEMETRES’ AMSTERDAM CANAL HOUSES

This year, Demetres and Scooped by Demetres are taking guests on a sweet journey around the world, with an international-inspired menu of indulgent desserts and treats, brought together by a brand-new Amsterdam Canal House installation on Gristmill Lane, just outside Scooped by Demetres.

Inspired by the iconic 17th-century grachtenpanden lining Amsterdam’s canals, the installation features a row of tall, narrow houses, each painted in a different jewel tone and topped with traditional stepped, bell or neck gables. Illuminated windows and doors create a warm, inviting glow, transporting guests to a European Christmas market.

Look out for the NEW Amsterdam Stroopwafel cabin nestled within the installation, where guests can enjoy supersized, freshly made stroopwafels, plus the RETURN of last year’s viral Hungarian-inspired Monkey Bread

WINTER WARM UP – THE SPIRIT OF YORK & BILLY’S BODEGA PATIO

Looking for the perfect place to escape the festival crowds, warm up and settle in with friends? The elevated, heated patio outside of The Spirit of York and the newly opened Billy’s Bodega offers exclusive Distillery Winter Village food and drink including the two-years famous Yorkie Burrito, a British-inspired Sunday roast wrapped in a golden Yorkshire pudding; Billy’s new comforting grilled cheese and winter vegetable soup, with optional smoked meat or bacon add-ons; and The Spirit of York’s lineup of festive winter cocktails, including a Sicilian-inspired Hot Toddy, Tiramisu Hot Chocolate, Whisky Hot Chocolate with torched marshmallows and Mulled Wine.

THE CANUCK TAVERN – ARCHEO PATIO

A love letter to the Great White North, The Canuck Tavern celebrates all things Canadian with a playful mix of hockey, cottage-country charm and iconic Canadian landscapes.

Settle into Muskoka chairs around the fire, catch a hockey game on the big screen or snap a photo in a canoe against a wilderness backdrop or on a ski chairlift overlooking snowy mountains.

Other highlights include a larger-than-life topiary moose, a hockey penalty box, tributes to famous Canadians including Terry Fox, Roberta Bondar and Michael J. Fox, and a message board where visitors can share what they love about Canada. Raise a glass with Canadian beer and spirits.

NAUGHTY OR NICE BAR – PURE SPIRITS COURTYARD

One of the Winter Village’s signature outdoor bars gets a refreshed look for 2026. The Naughty or Nice Bar returns with 50,000 white-and-blue holiday lights and a long, counter-height communal table offering more room to gather, mingle and enjoy seasonal drinks.

SILENT NIGHT DISCO – CLUNY TUNNEL

The Cluny Tunnel transforms into a glittering winter wonderland, complete with mirror balls, starburst lighting and giant disco ball-covered snow people. The space sets the stage for DJ nights on the heated patio, bringing a little extra sparkle and nightlife to the Distillery Winter Village.

Guests can also indulge in a decadent Parisian-style mousse au chocolat, available in three flavours: cherry, espresso or Belgian chocolate.

MERRY MATCHA – TRINITY STREET

A new stop for alcohol-free beverages, Merry Matcha brings a fresh and colourful addition to Distillery Winter Village drink lineup. Guests can choose from a variety of matcha flavours, including classic, coconut, strawberry rose, lavender, ube and vanilla.

VISIT COSTA RICA’S CHOCOLATE WATERFALL

A taste of the tropics comes to the Distillery Winter Village with Visit Costa Rica’s Chocolate Waterfall. Inspired by Costa Rica’s lush landscapes, this flowing chocolate waterfall is framed by tropical foliage, rocks, wildlife décor and festive lights.

Guests can enjoy chocolate-drizzled pineapple and banana treats, capture a holiday photo and step through an augmented reality portal to discover Costa Rica’s natural wonders. It’s a little taste of Costa Rican pura vida in the heart of Toronto’s holiday season.

JUST SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS AND FOOD CABINS WITH HOLIDAY FOOD OFFERINGS AT DISTILLERY WINTER VILLAGE:

• Cluny Bistro
• Demetres and Scooped by Demetres
• Chocoberry
• Dreamland Cotton Candy
• BOKU Distillery
• Sweetie Pie / The Fresh Hub
• Stick Shift Robata
• Peacock Bakehouse
• I Love Churros
• Real Empanada
• Potato Bar
• Little Shop of Lobsters
• Pierogi Miska
• Carousel Bakery
• The Whimsical Crispie Co.
• Soulpepper Theatre Company
• WuBa Eats
• Yorkie Burrito, The Spirit of York and Billy’s Bodega
• Mill Street Toronto
• The Sugar Post
• Craig’s Cookies
• Chef’s Lane featuring four new chefs 
• Sweet Crumble by Creative Treats
• Donut Princess
• Santa Spuds
• Japan Taco
• Grinch’s Grill
• Porky Donut
• Mousse au Chocolat