Location: Toronto, Ontario. Canada
Awarded Heritage Toronto’s Built Craftsmanship award, named as a finalist for the 16th annual Hospitality Design Awards and shortlisted for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards UK, Paradise Theatre is a 1937 heritage Art Deco venue in Toronto’s Bloorcourt neighbourhood. The building on this site has operated as a cinema since 1910, and they are proud to continue its century-long tradition of bringing Torontonians together as it is a multi-purpose space, with the cinema space still intact.
The main goal was to design a world class theatre, restaurant and cocktail bar while maintaining the build’s integrity and art deco heritage. The lobby sets the mood with antique brass and mirrored ceilings surrounding the centrepiece concessions bar. This island style bar uses brass tubing reminiscent of old streetcars, its design a nod to the city of Toronto. In 2020, there is a planned lobby expansion into the building to the west.
Inside the theatre there are custom light fixtures that span the width of the lobby, a VIP mezzanine with its own private bar and two catwalks along the mezzanine, allowing the guests to get closer to performances in the space. The first five rows of ground floor seating can be folded directly into the floor, transforming the space from a traditional theatre to accommodate standing room or cabaret-style seating. On the balcony level, comfort with a touch of elegance reigns with a bar and special in-seat dining menu. Plush custom leather couches with built-in side tables offer a cozy atmosphere for 36 guests to enjoy an enhanced viewing experience, while 68 standing spaces are available adjacent to high-top tables along two catwalks.
The entire space was designed with the goal of creating a cultural and community hub for local artists, filmmakers, musicians and other performers. One that pays tribute to the building’s past and at the same time creates a plush, elegant space.
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