I don’t want to show things, but to give people the desire to see."
Welcome to Varda – the new lounge and café-bar on the third floor of TIFF Lightbox, named in honour of the celebrated French filmmaker Agnès Varda. Varda is the new downtown destination for high-quality delicious coffee, conversation, sophisticated drinks, and snacks.
Join us for special cinq à sept offerings on Member Tuesdays in homage to Varda’s Cléo de 5 à 7.
1928-2019
The films of Agnès Varda, like the director herself, have been celebrated for their playfulness, curiosity, and empathy. Over a career that spanned seven decades, the “godmother of the French New Wave” worked tirelessly in documentary and fiction — often blurring the line between the two to create portraits that are both inventive and profound.
As she once said, her favourite subjects were “the rebels, the people who fight for their own life.” Many of Varda’s films are about women navigating the world, uncertain but hopeful. By turning the camera on herself, her loved ones, and the lives of those rarely represented on screen, she gave us a new, intimate way of looking at the world. “In my films, I always wanted to make people see deeply,” she once said. “I don't want to show things, but to give people the desire to see.”
Duck confit, pickled cucumber, vegan hoisin, bao
Five-spice tofu, dan dan sauce, napa cabbage, chopped pickled mustard greens, bao (vegan)
Pulsed edamame and avocado dip, served with wonton chips
Available Saturdays and Sundays until 4pm
Mimosa (premium triple sec, orange juice, sparkling wine, orange slice garnish) with choice of croissant
Croissant-like dough formed into a circle with a creamy and decadent filling.
Strawberry
Strawberry filling uses house-made strawberry compote, folded into a creamy filling.
Lemon
Lemon filling uses a tangy yet sweet lemon curd, folded into a creamy filling.
Crème Brûlée
Crème Brûlée Roll is filled with a creamy-custardy-pillowy filling, made with real vanilla, not artificially flavoured. Then it is coated with sugar and torched to a caramel.
Cream of Earl Grey
Organic Assam Breakfast
Organic Sencha
Premium Jasmine
Organic Moringa Mint
Organic Chamomile Lemongrass
Lemon Ginger Rooibos
2oz bourbon, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, garnished with orange peel
2 rye whiskey, 1oz sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, garnished with cocktail cherries or a lemon twist
1.25oz gin, 1.25oz campari, 1.25oz sweet vermouth, garnished with an orange twist
Espresso, 1.5oz vodka, 1oz frangelico, 1oz coffee cream liqueur
1oz gin, 4oz sparkling wine, lemon juice, simple syrup, garnished with lemon peel
3oz vodka, 1oz vermouth, garnished with green olive
Our signature cocktail. 1oz crème de cassis, 3oz sparkling wine, Angostura bitters, floral bitter
Cranberry juice, ginger ale, garnished with a sugared orange zest rim and orange twist
Chilled black Assam tea, in-house salted lime cordial, ginger beer, garnished with lime
Lager
Beyond Reason Pale Ale
Life in the Clouds IPA
Stranger Than Fiction Porter
Daily Forecast - Mimosa Sour
Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva6oz / $12
Francis Coppola Diamond
Collection, Cabernet Sauvignon
6oz / $14
Meiomi Pinot Noir6oz / $14
Xavier Vignon GigondasBottle / $78
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc6oz / $12
Willm Réserve Riesling6oz / $14
Wakefield Estate Label Chardonnay 20226oz / $14
Pierre Riffault Domaine
de Carroir Perrin, Sancerre
Bottle / $65
Henry of Pelham Rosé6oz / $12
Gérard Bertrand
Côte des Roses, Rosé
6oz / $14
Francis Coppola Sofia, Rosé
Bottle / $45
Freixenet Cordon Negro
Brut Cava
6oz / $12
Chateau de Montgueret
Cremant de Loire Brut
Bottle / $45
Veuve Clicquot BrutBottle / $125
ALL ITEMS PRICED AT $8.85
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE TAX
OLD FASHIONED
2oz bourbon, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, garnished with orange peel
2 rye whiskey, 1oz sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, garnished with cocktail cherries or a lemon twist, if preferred
1.25oz gin, 1.25oz campari, 1.25oz sweet vermouth, garnished with an orange twist
NIGHT TRAIN
Espresso, 1.5oz vodka, 1oz frangelico, 1oz coffee cream liqueur
FRENCH 75
1oz gin, 4oz sparkling wine, lemon juice, simple syrup, garnished with lemon peel
VODKA MARTINI
3oz vodka, 1oz vermouth, garnished with green olive
ROSALIE ROYALE
Our signature cocktail. 1oz crème de cassis, 3oz sparkling wine, angostura bitters, floral bitter
RED
Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva6oz
WHITE
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc6oz
ROSÉ
Henry of Pelham Rosé6oz
SPARKLING
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava6oz
PERONI
COLLECTIVE ARTS
Lager
Beyond Reason Pale Ale
Life in the Clouds IPA
Stranger Than Fiction Porter
Daily Forecast - Mimosa Sour
