TORONTO — Toronto’s historic Hotel Victoria has restored its lobby as a new social eatery called Mossop’s Social House (Mossop’s), which is named after the original proprietor of the hotel.
Led by general manager Jordan Gravelle and Food-and-Beverage manager Jhovaine Brown, Mossop’s is a bright and welcoming café, eatery and bar built to accommodate any type of social gathering. The vibrant space is rooted in history with early 20th-century decor including living-room-inspired seating areas, wrap-around bar, harvest tables and cozy nooks perfect for a productive working session or sipping cocktails while listening to a live band.
Designed by Toronto-based chef Tomer Markovitz, Mossop’s menu includes dishes such as avocado toast, Nutella French toast, omelettes and Shakshuka (breakfast), pitas, Za’atar fries, salads and hummus bowls (lunch) and steak, chicken or cauliflower skewers, kebabs and branzino (dinner).
The eatery also serves Detour Coffee and a wide variety of teas. Cocktails are crafted with the flavours of the Levant region, including pomegranate, arak, za’atar and molasses. There are twists on the classics such as the Arak Mojito, Za’atar Paloma and Absolutely Fireproof Caesar, and signature cocktails including Victoria Ghost (inspired by the history of the hotel), the Queen Victoria High Tea (named for the hotel’s namesake) and the Punch Me Up, which is Brown’s take on the Espresso Martini. Several zero-proof mocktails are also available.
Mossop’s most unique feature is its Mosaic Room, a large multi-use space that’s named for the mosaic-tile flooring uncovered during Hotel Victoria’s 2023 renovation. Gravelle will use the space to host planned programming, including chocolate workshops and coffee tastings, and can also be rented out for special events. The Mosaic Room also serves as a gallery for local artists. Through a partnership with Toronto’s Open Studio, the first exhibition, “Making an Impression,” has begun in the space showcasing local talent until Mar. 3, 2024.
“The hotel is steeped in rich history with 125 years of stories inside these walls,” says Gravelle. “When you visit, you will find various nods to the time when Hotel Mossop first opened in 1909, including the check-in sign above the bar, the tasselled lamps that adorn the bar and the glass-blown bowls that are filled with Double Bubble. We’ve also left pieces intact that pay homage, including the incredible stained-glass archways that bear the 1909 crest of the original Hotel Mossop, later to become the Hotel Victoria.”
