Arcadian

Arcadian is on the eighth floor of the Simpson Tower at 401 Bay Street.

About the venue

The Arcadian Court has been restored in its art deco style, with chandeliers modelled on the original Lalique fixtures. The Arcadian Loft has open concrete ceilings, a brick accent wall and views of Old and New City Hall. Food and beverage is provided by Oliver & Bonacini, with kosher catering available through partner caterers. The venue’s FAQ gives slightly different capacity figures (up to 450 seated in the Court, 1,500 total).

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a banquet hall and loft in Toronto, at 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Arcadian Court: 410 seated, 1,200 reception
• Arcadian Loft: 230 seated, 450 reception
• Court + Loft: 1,400 reception
• Arcadian Studio: 40 seated or 90 standing (30 with chef demonstration)

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 410 seated, 1,400 standing reception. Those are top figures for an empty room. A dance floor, a stage, a buffet or a photo booth each take space, so plan on fewer guests than the maximum once your layout is drawn.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts weddings, corporate events, galas and fundraisers, holiday parties and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, corporate holiday party hub, gala planning hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Which room or combination of rooms fits your guest count, and can another event run in the next room on the same night?
• What is included in the per-person package, and which items are extra (cake cutting, chair covers, late-night food, coat check)?
• Is there a built-in stage and dance floor, and what size are they?
• Can the kitchen handle the cuisine and dietary needs you have, including halal, kosher-style, vegetarian or nut-free menus?
• What time must music stop and the room be cleared?
• How many parking spaces are there, and is there a charge?

Planning entertainment here

Banquet halls usually have the ceiling height and floor space for most acts, from a strolling magician at cocktails to a stage show after dinner. Ask whether the stage has steps and power at the front, and how far the head table sits from it.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: oliverbonacini.com/event-venues/arcadian