ith the arrival of this year's Toronto International Film Festival - dripping, as it does, with flamboyance and fanfare - came a new and darker twist on a trend-setting Toronto resto-lounge. Yes, Lobby has managed to transcend its contemporary, white-washed, South Beach-inspired décor, adopting a more sophisticated, decidedly urban design.

Owner Jeff Mandell has married the old with the new, drawing inspiration for the refurbished ambiance from the '40s, with a tip of the hat to swank supper clubs like New York's Stork Club. Accentuating the usual throng of stilettos and eye-blinding bling, Lobby has uncorked itself with the effervescence of - let's say - fresh indulgence.

Delivered by Toronto's own Designer Guys (Matt Davis, Allen Chan and Anwar Mukhayesh), the new design is all about layers; there is a sense of the modern, the exotic, and the timeless. The walls have been wallpapered with original B&W photographs and enhanced with the addition of black banquettes and vases of African grass. Behind the white onyx bar and encased in glass are a series of elongated - and somewhat intimidating - stone masks. With custom-made black leather sofas, vintage-inspired mirrored tables, dimly lit ornate chandeliers and black mirrored ceilings, Lobby has successful launched into the second stage of its hyper trajectory.

Accustomed to serving the affluent and pompous, Lobby has upgraded its private back area with similarly extravagant ornamentation, including an exquisite hand-blown glass and amber chandelier. The VIP area is how Lobby secures its gravitas of slick style; usually reserved for private parties and visiting celebrities, the room has been with decked celeb-placating accoutrements, including a private entry/exit and one-way mirrors on 12-foot sliding doors, neatly separating the elite from the plebes.