The best bars and cafés Canada

Sometimes we make unexpected discoveries while wandering through the city. And what a nice surprise this nice microbrewery located right next to the Broadview Hotel! We loved the Let's Go Exploring, a double IPA with pine, citrus and melon flavors, as well as the Justacuppacawfee, an oatmeal coffee stout. For any beer craze, there is a refrigerated area next to the bar where you can take home the beers you liked. You can also have a snack on the spot (mention the weekend brunch, kitchen closed on Monday).

Opening in the summer of 2019, this address stands out from the rest. Firstly, the decor: trees inside and small strings of white lights hanging that give us the impression of being on the terrace. Secondly, the prices: several cocktails at low prices without forgetting the pizzas and other nibbles. Third, the atmosphere: punk-rock music during our passage with the old episodes of the famous Canadian series Degrassi on the TV screens (nostalgia, when you hold us!). In short, we loved it!

Opened a few years ago, it is one of the best places to go out in the Danforth district. As soon as you step in, you'll know that the place is specialized with its refrigerators full of craft beers. For those who want a stronger aperitif, the house offers whiskies, bourbons, gins and the like. There is also a small food menu, with snacks, poutines, sandwiches, burgers, etc. We love the back room, which gives the impression of being on a terrace, with its large wooden tables and its string of lights on the ceiling.

From amateur brewers to professionals of the beer world, Stéphane and Shehzad are behind the beautiful project that is Bandit Brewery. Established in the heart of Roncesvalles, the microbrewery has not been empty since its opening, and for good reason. The place is beautiful, especially in summer when you can enjoy your pint in the beer garden. In the glass, beers of all styles including a sour beer with cherries and blackberries, an IPA with wildflower honey or barley wine aged in bourbon barrels. The gourmet menu is also up to the task.

The first microbrewery in the village has set up shop facing the bay. The setting is magnificent - with a beautiful terrace to boot - to savor one of their house beers. And we must believe that we are not the only ones who like their nectars, as they won eight awards at the prestigious World Beer Awards in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2021. That same year, the team took the opportunity to reinvent their gourmet menu, a selection that always matches the beers on the slate. Bonus: an adjoining boutique space.

If you feel like indulging in the famous afternoon tea ritual, this is the place to go! The Place Dufferin restaurant, located on the terrace of the same name, offers this fine gourmet experience in the best possible way. When you arrive, you'll be served a temptation of flavoured fruit. Then comes the ritual: Creamy Earl Grey, Golden Dragon Jasmine, Organic Oolong Goddess and several other delicious LOT 35 teas from Metropolitan Tea, accompanied by scones, traditional sandwiches, bites, pastries and mignardises. A must!

Another good address in the Old East Village neighborhood is this small independent coffee shop. The place specializes inpour-over coffee, a highly fashionable trend in third-wave coffee shops, as well as espresso made with coffees from Ontario roaster Trebilcock Coffee Roasters Inc. 10Eighteen also offers homemade or artisanal food from local artisans, such as toast, breakfast sandwiches, healthy bowls, cinnamon buns, etc. Perfect for a break!

It's the little brother of Buvette Scott, still in the spirit of a friendly buvette, but with a few features that differentiate Sardines from its elder brother. Here, the emphasis is on craft beers, whether from Quebec or imported via a specialized agency (several Belgian lambics are worth a detour), not to mention a fine selection of wines. To accompany all this, there are a few nibbles that vary according to inspiration, such as assortments of artisanal charcuterie and cheeses, oysters and vitello tonneto.

Located in the Delta Toronto Hotel, this beautiful design establishment is a whisky mecca, offering the largest selection of Canadian whiskies in Toronto. We recommend the tasting palettes, each of which is declined according to an origin or a brand, such as the palette dedicated to Nikka products. The place also concocts an array of classic and signature cocktails, and some wines and beers are on the slate. For those who are a little peckish, gourmet dishes are offered (definitely try the salted caramel and whiskey cake).

A nice little café on Queen Street that works in a social economy perspective, notably by offering tasty fair trade coffees and small gourmet dishes made with healthy and seasonal products. To accompany your latte or espresso, you can choose a pastry, a salad or a good sandwich like the Original Breakfast with fried egg, bacon, lettuce and cheese. There are also a few options for vegetarians and gluten intolerant people. Bonus: the place displays the works of local artists on its walls.

It's hard to miss the building of this microbrewery: it is covered with large murals. Art is highlighted here, even on the labels of the beers featuring indie music bands and visual artists. To discover the delicious house nectars, nothing beats a trip to the superb beer garden adjacent to the installations (several places inside as well). The place also concocts artisanal ciders, gins and rums, not to mention a second branch in Toronto to double the pleasure.

Founded in 2005, Nickel Brook has a great reputation on the Ontario brewing scene. What's more, for the past few years, the microbrewery has been experimenting with small batches for its limited editions, in addition to using bourbon and pinot noir barrels to age its beers. Its brand new tasting room offers about twenty beers in barrels, without forgetting the boutique corner where you can stock up on homemade nectars and items bearing the effigy of the microbrewery. Another branch in Etobicoke.

This microbrewery specializes in hoppy, sour and spontaneously fermented beers, not to mention barrel-aged nectars made with Niagara wines. To discover them, a tasting room is set up on site and offers the house wines as well as small and large dishes to satisfy any appetite. A beer garden and a hop field complete the picture. To top it all off, a boutique area allows you to buy your favorite beers as well as items bearing the Bench logo.

Since its creation in the early 1990s, this bar with its more than original decoration has seduced lovers of rock, retro 80's, punk, glam, metal, funk from the 70's and British pop. The front is quite, shall we say, interesting, since it is surrounded by bicycle carcasses and other scrap metal of unknown origin. Impossible to pass by without noticing her! The interior is in the same tone, garage atmosphere. A sign of good health, the bar is crowded, and people are elbowing each other to order their beer. Nice evening entertainment program.

Located in the heart of the trendy Yorkville district, Hemingway's New Zealand bar is the ideal place to have a good time. The four terraces in the summer are very popular with regulars who come to relax with friends or couples. Open for more than 40 years, it is a true institution in Toronto. Bonus: shows, quiz nights and sports games on giant screens. Don't miss: the celebrations of the national holidays of Australia and New Zealand as well as St. Patrick's Day.

Located in an alley, one could easily pass by the brewery without seeing it. We thank the poster put on Greenwood which indicates us the way! The place reminds us of the American breweries with its tasting room installed a few steps from the tanks. Knowing that the brewery enjoys a good reputation, we wanted to taste everything. We liked the Greenwood IPA with its juicy flavours, as well as the Squeeze Play Bumbleberry, a sour beer with field fruits, and the If You Hear Any Noise, a sour beer with a black forest cake taste.

This is one of our favorite breweries, a must in Barrie. First of all, because we love their beers, then to savor their vintages in the tasting room and to stock up on souvenirs in the store, liquid or not. Free guided tours are offered several times a day on weekends (1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.) and will take you from the brewhouse to the bottling plant. We thank the team for the VIP visit outside the visiting hours!

A tiny place too cute with its tapestries and retro frames, or with its mismatched chairs in the room next to the main bar. Eulalie's Corner Store is an address to discover if you like craft beer and cocktails. The selection may not be exhaustive, but it is perfect for a drink with friends. The food is also worth a visit, offering the fried chicken sandwich, the grilled vegetable wrap, the American Southwestern burger or the mac & cheese with fried Brussels sprouts.

This grandiose bar is entered through a tiny black door. The transparent roof reveals a romantic counter. Cocktails are light and delicate, like the Vol de Nuit (calvados, sherry, rum, crème de mûre, lemon and thyme) or round and gourmet, like the Bon pour le Moral (vodka, coconut, curacao, elderberry, rum, orange, pineapple, lemon and vanilla). Good news: you can also accompany your cocktail with a pizza from next door: Fugazzi Pizza. Even if the price is a few dollars higher when you go through this privileged setting.

When the mercury rises, a seasonal bar sets up shop in the hidden courtyard of the Museum of Fine Arts. For a drink with friends or loved ones, this is clearly the place to go! The bar is also known for its gourmet menu including poke bowls, oysters, charcuterie boards, tartars and delicious pizzas. Bonus: live entertainment and two other bars, Tavern on the Falls (Ottawa River Falls) and Tavern on the Hill (Major's Hill Park).

The Ministry of Coffee and Social Affairs is a trendy coffee shop in the Hintonburg neighborhood that is also trendy. It's one of those beautiful industrial-chic places that many other coffee shops are adopting. Its coffees are sourced from the best roasters in the area, the country and even around the world. We also love its hot chocolate with Nutella... a delight! Three other locations in Ottawa and two affiliated locations in Qatar.

Open since early January 2020, this trendy address stands in drastic contrast to the Chinatown businesses around, Spark Beer is a small craft brewery that loves hops and surette, but not only. To accompany our pint, the house offers tasty pizzas prepared with regional products like cheeses from St. Albert or sausages from Valley Sausage Co. In addition, there is a program of events such as the Happy Hour Drag, vinyl nights, etc. An address often crowded with people, that's a good sign!

Occupying the former premises of a South-East Asian grocery store (we are here in the heart of Chinatown), Corner Peach is a trendy spot to have a drink and eat well. At noon, they serve small gourmet plates, before giving way to the bar in the middle of the afternoon with some snacks on the slate. In the evening, one comes here to have a drink or to savor a delicious local cuisine. You should also discover its gourmet store that sells homemade products such as sauces, dips, prepared dishes, sweets, etc.

If beer is not your cup of tea, you'll have to pass. Otherwise, you're in heaven. While there are about 20 beers available at the pumps, the majority of which are from Ontario, the bottle menu is quite impressive. The beers are classified by style, including an amazing selection of lambics. If you don't find what you're looking for here, there's no way around it. In addition, there is a very nice selection of natural wines and a menu that includes cheeses and charcuterie and seasonal dishes that are reminiscent of Mediterranean cuisine.

Two friends with a passion for coffee started this micro-coffee shop in the Glebe district where the first branch is still located (801 Bank Street). There, as in their downtown location, everything is centered around coffee, its origin, its quality but also the respect of its small producers. In a pretty white and uncluttered room, you can choose to taste your coffee immediately or buy it in beans or ground for home. Several sweets are also available to accompany your coffee.

It is in a pretty historical building that the small brewery Gan Brewing Company has settled. The interior, just as warm, gives the air of a mountain chalet. Adjacent to the brewing facilities, the tasting room allows you to discover the house vintages. At the time of writing, nearly a dozen beers were available in cans (Lager, American Pale Ale, IPA, Stout, etc.), but other beers are added to the slate according to the seasons and experiments. A nice stop in the heart of the village!

This is clearly one of the most country-style breweries in Ontario, run by the Parsons family. The building housing the tasting room and beer store is made from reclaimed wood, set between a barley field and a hop field, with a beautiful beer garden in the middle of nature. Six regular beers are on the menu, along with countless seasonal and experimental beers of the most creative kind. They also serve a cuisine with world flavors concocted from local products. A must!

This small microbrewery is located on the banks of the Seguin River, with a breathtaking view of the famous railway bridge. We love the look of its tasting room and, on nice days, its beautiful terraces are highly coveted (with heated domes in winter!). On tap are regular brews like the house's flagship lager ale, IPA, Kettle Sour and bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, not to mention the seasonal beers on rotation. A tempting gourmet menu is also available, as well as a weekend brunch.

At the corner of rue Notre-Dame Ouest and rue de Courcelle, this well-decorated neighborhood bar offers a rather classic and limited selection of beers, quickly compensated for by its relaxed atmosphere and cocktail menu. Snacks and hearty platters are also on offer. The bar often organizes events in partnership with local restaurants. Good to know: the leafy terrace stays sunny well into summer. A great place to discover the authentic spirit of the Saint-Henri district.

It all starts at a bicycle cafe that roams the streets of the city... Then, in 2016, Maxime and his two associates open their first café in the Petite-Patrie. In addition to a range of caffeinated drinks made from home-roasted beans, they serve excellent pastries and baked goods and simple, healthy snacks (sandwiches and bowls). This small neighbourhood address is so successful that another space will be opened downtown (café during the day, private room in the evening) in 2019, followed by a new roasting workshop on Masson Drive in 2020.

A superb space on the waterfront promoting local food and sustainability. You can stock up on local Quebec produce, especially at the Saturday farmers' market. On sunny days, you can also sit out on the magnificent terrace and enjoy a freshly squeezed juice, an organic, micro-torrefied coffee, or a glass of wine accompanied by local cheeses. Hungry eaters can turn to the food courts and the weekend gourmet brunch (9am-3pm). An essential break during a stroll through the Old Port!

A classic in the Cabbagetown area for over thirty years, this coffee shop has not aged a bit. The place still attracts its regulars who come to surf the web while sipping a good latte with a home-made sweet. Founded by a bicycle enthusiast in 1992, as the bike perched on top of the bar testifies, Jet Fuel is also highly frequented by the city's cycling community. In short, the place is nice and offers visual art exhibitions that change every month!

Located in the heart of Place Royale, the first branch of this renowned coffee roaster invites you to take a well-deserved break, whether you're in the mood for a good espresso, an iced caramel fleur de sel latte or a homemade lemonade. You can also eat there, as the menu offers snacks, pastries, salads, sandwiches and delicious pastries for sweet teeth. There are several other locations in Quebec City, including the one on Rue des Jardins with its pretty interior courtyard, as well as one on Île d'Orléans.

Located in the heart of Tadoussac village, this coffee-shop has been serving locals and tourists alike since 2021. Hot or iced, all beverages are prepared here with care and love (especially the smoothies made with Nordic berries such as camerise and sea buckthorn). For a snack, pastries, salads, sandwiches, lunch bowls and other on-the-go delights are on offer, with options for vegetarians, vegans and gluten intolerants. Bonus: a small boutique corner with coffee-shop branded items.

The town of Bonaventure finally has its own microbrewery! Opened in summer 2022 in a beautiful, uncluttered space, it serves locals and visitors in search of local flavours. A dozen house nectars appear on the slate, and for discovery, we recommend the tasting tray of 4 small glasses. You can also enjoy a bite to eat on the premises, not to mention a program of shows, quiz nights and more. Board games available.

The former Caveau-Théâtre is now a microbrewery. The place's past and regional history are reflected in the names of the beers, such as La Guerre des Clochers (rye stout), the name of the last play performed at the Caveau-Théâtre before it closed, or La Dame des Neiges (Belgian white with forest essences), a reference to the patron saint of Trois-Pistoles. Programming of literary, musical and artistic events, and brunch on summer weekends.

A true North Shore microbrewery, its offerings include a Hefeweizen (a German-inspired wheat beer), an American IPA (bitter and floral hops), an English Bitter with "crâââbe" (yes, yes!) and a Farmhouse Ale (strong Saison with dune pepper), as well as tasty snacks and appetizers featuring tasty local produce. Also worth a visit: the Usine Saint-Pancrace, a brewing facility (self-guided discovery tour offered) and a boutique where you can stock up on home-brewed beers.

We love this multi-purpose place! Café bistro first, with a menu of light meals consisting of fine pizzas, succulent paninis, gourmet salads and other delicacies decorated with edible flowers, to be accompanied by a beer from the region. A cultural bistro with a varied artistic program: performing arts shows, art exhibitions, artists' workshops... Finally, a boutique with a great selection of regional products, art objects, weaving, etc. The owners have made this barn the cultural heart of the village.

This vast bar opened in September 2019, the day after the Montreal Climate March. Coincidence? Whatever the case, this new address on Plaza Saint-Hubert seems to be winning its bet, judging by the crowds who flock there for a drink (some twenty craft beers and house cocktails) or to attend an event ('live' every weekend and a karaoke night every Wednesday).

Little thirsty? Little peck? Pain in the legs? Just curious? Any excuse is good to discover this café, a little hidden treasure of the neighborhood. Located in a former bank, the decor is simply grandiose, from the floor to the ceiling through the columns. At the top of the large steps, you will find a quiet café area as well as a shared work area with meeting rooms and offices, where you can book an office for a day or a month. Very good coffee and fresh pastries every day.

A summer destination par excellence, this outdoor "village" is managed by the organization La Pépinière|Espaces Collectifs, which also manages other such sites in the city. The village is located a few steps from the St. Lawrence River and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. In addition to the sand and deckchairs that immerse us in the South, you can have a drink, a bite to eat and enjoy a free program that includes live shows or DJs almost every day.

If Montrealers are familiar with Paquebot Café, the^4th branch has chosen to set up shop by the sea. Isabelle Huard and Samuel Perreault, already well involved in the company (Samuel opened the first café in Montreal), are at the helm of this ultra-friendly place that is a café by day and a bar by night. Specialty coffees from his joint venture ZAB Roaster, natural wines, local microbrewery beers, brunches, gourmet sweet treats... it's all there! In summer, try Cafélimo, a coffee and lemonade drink.