The Vintage Conservatory

The Vintage Conservatory is a cool concept, great value, run by good guys. I’ve recommended it to all Iron Gate — Private Wine Management clients as a place to hold a little wine and entertain while in the downtown core. If you like wine and meeting new people it’s a great place.

My boyfriend and I joined this wine club shortly after it opened a few years ago. It’s set up like a lounge with a room for wine storage where members can store bottles of wine (and whatever else) in their humidity and temperature controlled lockers. Having moved back to Toronto recently, I thought it would be great to join to meet other young professionals, and we did. This is the perfect place to meet new people over a bottle of wine, or bring old friend by to help you enjoy one, or two or three. The price for a locker is reasonable given i can store a 10 $ bottle of wine that i would normally pay 50 $+ for at a restaurant, so two bottles of wine per month i and i consider that i saved money (contrary to some of the other comments below), plus got all the other bonus’ i mentioned.
I found other members to be very nice and approachable. Its located in a quiet nook of DT Toronto (east end) which makes it hassle-​free: no gridlock, plenty of cheap parking, no line ups no blaring music you cant stand (as opposed to the King West scene). The VC quickly became our «go-​to» place and we enjoy the classy atmosphere. We have also booked the private dining room to host an event (birthday). The food provided by Andrew the chef was not only amazingly delicious, but well priced, you cant get a meal like that for the value any where else in T. O… Whether you may be looking for wine storage, a place to meet people, a place to hang out after work/​weekends, or a place to host corporate events, I think that this place caters to all and the proprietors to a great job in running the place.

This place has gone downhill very quickly once it became popular.
When it started, it was cool and trendy because it was a neat concept, there were not too many members (it was secret), not too many corporate parties, pricing was reasonable and the owners were humble. Its exactly opposite now.
For the smallest locker it costs ~$ 95/​month to rent, (they charge you a 3% credit card fee) and there is a one time «initiation fee» of ~$ 75 as well. The location being on the east end near financial district is not ideal either.
The number of corporate events have increased dramatically. Most weeknights esp. Wed, Thurs and Fri you would have some bank or financial institution having a client session in the lounge (note the lounge is not too big) and you would be expected to keep your voices down (or keep your little session with your friends to a minimum) because «there is an event going on». The whole premise of paying a premium for a private member’s only club space is lost in my opinion.
Secondly, when it started the owners (Andrew and Costa), were a lot more humble and nice which has again dramatically changed after the «success» of this place. They are planning to open a couple other locations as they see this as more of a money making business machine now (nothing wrong with that) vs. what they sold me on — a small family owned type wine club where you would feel personally connected and welcomed. Completely commercial outfit now.
Its a great place if you want to hobnob with suits and old men.