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Institut

Name: Institut
Address: 620 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5S2H4, CA
Telephone: +16475265675

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MUS | CIN | LIT | ART
Underground speakeasy at .toronto
620 Spadina Ave

10/30/2026

“By The Window felt like a dream that never actually happened, yet I wanted to stop time and relive it, or maybe live inside it.”

Last month, we hosted “By The Window,” an immersive dinner experience rooted in Ukrainian food, storytelling, and nostalgia.

The evening took us back to the homes of our grandparents, through the lace curtains of their kitchen window, where soup was waiting, stories were being told, and there was always a place at the table.

Anna | PR & Comms wrote about her experience of slipping into this dream world.

Read the full essay on the SVI blog
(🔗 you know where)

Thank you, Anna, for the beautiful words!

10/23/2026

We can’t pick just one vibe, so we made a speakeasy that does a little bit of everything.

Tucked beneath 620 Spadina, INSTITUT is an underground Toronto hangout for live music, art, poetry, dance parties, curious conversations, and unique nights out. Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure situation.

We opened our doors five months ago and have had a lot of fun figuring out what this space can be. Now we’re taking a break to make everything perfect, but we’ll be back soon with more unexpected happenings and unique nights out in Toronto.

New here? Consider this your introduction. We can’t wait to meet you underground. 🫶

620 Spadina — around the back, through the lot, past the steel doors, down the stairs, through the wood laminate door.

10/19/2026

We’re still reminiscing on the magic of Ukrainian Heritage Month at INSTITUT. Swipe through for a few of our favourite moments. ❤️

We got lost in a dream over dinner. nón omnís moriár and Mark Marczyk invited us around the table for an immersive dinner rooted in Ukrainian food, music, and nostalgia. 💭🪟

We reconnected with our inner child through stories and drawing, ate the food of home, and broke bread with new and old friends around a long dinner table. 🥣

Ukrainian lirnyk, luthier and one-man band Гордій Старух made a stop in Toronto and brought an INSANE show to the basement.

Thank you for singing and dancing with us at this special event! You all seriously brought the energy.

Serhii Titov © read original poetry with Kirill Savransky at the piano, lit by the warm glow of candlelight. This was an absolutely perfect way to end the season. 🕯️

SVI Ukrainian Museum of Canada ON Ukrainian Canadian Research hosted a spotlight on literature with Ukrainian literary experts talking about the librarians, archivists and curators who are fighting to preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Then, Vita Art presented a preview of psychological drama “Black Panther & Polar Bear.”

“Cinema With Courage” presented a spotlight on Ukrainian Cinema as part of a TIFF Ukrainian Film Industry networking event.

Resident artists Kryva Kosa Band got us moving with folk village song and dance workshops. We think we maaay be dancing experts now. 💃

Our community is what makes INSTITUT come to life. Thank you for joining us in this journey. We can’t wait to see you all again soon!

A project of SVI
Supported by Shevchenko Foundation

📸 Cassandra Popescu Photography Taija Grey lookupstandout

10/05/2026

Last Friday, we went out with candles, music, poetry, and a little bit of movement.

Kryva Kosa Band opened the night with a dance workshop, getting everyone up and moving before we settled in for poetry and piano.

Serhii Titov © read on love and vulnerability, with Kirill Savransky at the piano. The room got quiet, the candles were glowing, and we were deep in our feels.

But it wasn’t all serious. There were skits, jokes, and Serhii playing matchmaker in a perfectly executed Love Is Blind recreation. To the couple who got chosen: should we be expecting a wedding invitation soon? 👀

This was the final event in our Ukrainian Heritage Month programming: a month of Ukrainian music, film, art, and story. It felt like a pretty perfect way to end it.

Over the past summer and fall, this space has been made special by the artists who’ve come through, and by all of you who’ve listened, danced, sung, laughed, and stayed with us underground. Thank you for making it what it is.

We’re taking a short break this fall while we work behind the scenes to make INSTITUT even better. We’ll be back with more programming, so stay tuned for updates on what’s coming next.

See you again soon. 🫶

📸 Cassandra Popescu Photography

A project of SVI
Supported by Shevchenko Foundation

10/05/2026

Last Friday, we went out with candles, music, poetry, and a little bit of song and dance.

Kryva Kosa Band opened the night with a workshop, getting everyone singing and moving before we settled in for poetry and piano.

Serhii Titov © read on love and vulnerability, with Kirill Savransky at the piano. The room got quiet, the candles were glowing, and we were deep in our feels.

But it wasn’t all serious. There were skits, jokes, and Serhii playing matchmaker in a perfectly executed Love Is Blind recreation. To the couple who got chosen: should we be expecting a wedding invitation soon? 👀

This was the final event in our Ukrainian Heritage Month programming: a month of Ukrainian music, film, art, and story. It felt like a pretty perfect way to end it.

Over the past summer and fall, this space has been made special by the artists who’ve come through, and by all of you who’ve listened, danced, sung, laughed, and stayed with us underground. Thank you for making it what it is.

We’re taking a short break this fall while we work behind the scenes to make INSTITUT even better. We’ll be back with more programming, so stay tuned for updates on what’s coming next.

See you again soon. 🫶

📸 Cassandra Popescu Photography

10/01/2026

Who knew the hurdy-gurdy could go so hard?

A couple weeks ago Ukrainian lirnyk, luthier and one-man band Гордій Старух hit the stage and you all showed us how to party.

We started out cozy, listening to mellow, hypnotizing tracks, and before we knew it things got loud - old sounds given a very new and electrifying twist.

By the end of the night, the crowd was serenading Gordiy right back.

Big thanks to Kryva Kosa Band for opening the night and getting everyone on the dance floor.

This was one of those nights we’ll never forget. Thank you to everyone who made it so special.

We have one more underground night on October 2 for Ukrainian Heritage Month - a dance workshop with Kryva Kosa Band followed by candlelight poetry and piano with Serhii Titov © and Kirill Savransky 🕯️🎹 Then we’ll be taking a little break, so come hang out with us one last time this fall.

October 2 @ 7 PM
🔗 you know where

620 Spadina — around the back, through the lot, past the steel doors, down the stairs, through the wood laminate door.

📸 Cassandra Popescu Photography

09/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us in our little dream world this week.

As part of Ukrainian Heritage Month, INSTITUT’s own nón omnís moriár and Mark Marczyk invited us around the table for an immersive dinner rooted in Ukrainian food, storytelling, music, and a little nostalgia.

The evening took us back to the homes of our grandparents, through the lace curtains of their kitchen window, where soup was waiting, stories were being told, and there was always a place at the table.

We’re so grateful to everyone who sat down with us to break bread, have a drink, draw, and share a story. And a big thanks to Johnny 🇺🇦 for spinning Ukrainian classics on vinyl all night.

We hope you’ll come back and sit with us again soon.

In the meantime, Ukrainian Heritage Month isn’t quite over yet. Join us October 2 for one more dance workshop with Kryva Kosa Band followed by a candlelight poetry night with Serhii Titov © and Kirill Savransky 🕯️🎹

See you underground.

620 Spadina Ave — around the back, through the lot, past the steel doors, down the stairs, through the wood laminate door.

📸 Cassandra Popescu Photography lookupstandout

09/24/2026

‼️ EXTRA TICKETS JUST RELEASED ‼️

Looks like we made too much soup, and you all sold out the first 3 seatings so we’ve added an extra dinner time slot at 9 PM!

Step into a world of food, music, memory, drawing, film and storytelling.

nón omnís moriár and her team are cooking Ukrainian cuisine with a dreamy twist, while Mark Marczyk builds ambient folk symphonies around the room.

We’ll start with a drink and music by Johnny 🇺🇦. Then follow us through lace curtains, projected film, shadow, and music to an immersive dinner.

Sit with strangers and friends over soup, bread, music, drawing, and stories.

September 24
Extra tickets just released 🎟️

620 Spadina Ave – around the back, through the lot, past the steel doors, down the stairs, through the wood laminate door.

Dress code: white attire

Vegetarian? Email [email protected] after purchasing your ticket and we’ll make sure there’s a bowl waiting for you. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accommodate other dietary restrictions.

09/22/2026

Earlier this month, we kicked off Ukrainian Heritage Month with books, archives, theatre, and a few very big questions.

Ukrainian literary experts gathered underground to talk about the librarians, archivists, and curators doing the work of keeping Ukraine’s cultural heritage alive.

Then Vita Art brought us select scenes from Volodymyr Vynnychenko’s “Black Panther & Polar Bear,” a psychological drama where a disagreement about art gets increasingly tangled up in love, family, and responsibility.

If you missed it, or simply want more, VITA ART premieres the full production of “Black Panther & Polar Bear” this Saturday, September 26 at Zahrava Ukrainian Drama Theater.

And we’re keeping Ukrainian Heritage Month going, too: an immersive Ukrainian dinner this Thursday Sept. 24, followed by candlelit poetry on October 2. Because we like to give you a range of experiences.

See you downstairs soon.

620 Spadina Ave – around the back, through the lot, past the steel doors, down the stairs, through the wood laminate door.

📸 Taija Grey

09/21/2026

We’ve been cooking up a dreamy little world for you. 💭🪟

Here’s a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of КОЛО ВІКОН / BY THE WINDOW, an immersive Ukrainian dinner.

Step into a world of food, music, memory, drawing, film and storytelling.

nón omnís moriár and her team are cooking Ukrainian cuisine with a dreamy twist, while Mark Marczyk builds ambient folk symphonies around the room.

We’ll start with a drink and music by Johnny 🇺🇦. Then follow us through lace curtains, projected film, shadow, and music to a long table set for 20.

Sit with strangers and friends over soup, bread, music, drawing, and stories.

September 24
Seatings at 6 PM, 7 PM & 8 PM
Tickets 🔗 you know where

620 Spadina Ave – around the back, through the lot, past the steel doors, down the stairs, through the wood laminate door.

Dress code: white attire

Vegetarian? Email [email protected] after purchasing your ticket and we’ll make sure there’s a bowl waiting for you. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accommodate other dietary restrictions.

Address

620 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON
M5S2H4

Opening Hours

5pm - 2am

Telephone

+16475265675

Website

facebook.com

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