The best bars and cafés Toronto

A well known bar in Toronto, particularly busy on weekends, which presents excellent jazz and blues shows at low cost. Sometimes the place also offers early afternoon shows (see website). That said, there are at least sixty shows presented there each month! It is possible to eat there and there is also a hotel in the same building. Another classic of the neighborhood!

This pool-nightclub-bar attracts a (very) affluent population that comes here mainly to be seen. White cabanas surround a gigantic pool, all in a sleek, designer style. With an incredible view of Lake Ontario, the CN Tower and the city skyline, you can enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine (nice selection) with a gourmet dish. A sophisticated and entertaining way to spend a warm summer afternoon. Program, guestlist and table reservation on the website.

We love this coffee shop located not far from Danforth Avenue. We love the look of the place with some retro items, the kindness of the employees and, especially, the coffee that is prepared with love thanks to the La Pavoni machine, a guarantee of quality. To accompany your espresso or cortado, the team concocts homemade delicacies such as scones, muffins, pastries, cookies, etc. To top it off, the coffee shop has a penchant for the visual arts and organizes discussions with artists in addition to displaying works of art on its walls.

If you're a lover of the pleasures of Bacchus, here's an address that will appeal to you, or rather two, as the wine bar has a branch on Geary Avenue. In both cases, you can enjoy excellent wines, including house wines, as Paradise Grapevine finally has its own facility on Geary. To accompany your drink, the Bloor Street location offers snacks, while the other offers a gourmet menu. For those who aren't too wine savvy, craft beers, ciders, seltzers and more are also on the slate.

Located in the Davenport district, off the beaten path, this microbrewery piqued our curiosity. We had heard a lot about it and we did not regret our visit. It occupies the premises of a century old barn that has been completely renovated. As for the beers, about twenty are proposed on cask, from sour beers to hoppy IPAs, including Lagers and Stouts. If the house vintages are delicious, wait until you taste the gourmet cuisine of Beast (the aromas are incredible). An address to discover!

Reyna on King is first and foremost a cocktail bar and a gourmet spot serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes. It's a daytime hangout, while in the evening, the lights are dimmed, the cocktails flow, the snacks are shared, and the 1990s hip-hop music sets the mood. If the menu is tempting during the day or at night, we recommend the brunch experience with its grilled cheese with lamb shank or its salmon tasting board. To discover: its little sister, Bar Reyna, located in the Yorkville district.

Located a stone's throw from its big brother, the French restaurant Pompette, this Little Italy bar specializes in signature cocktails, with an experienced mixologist at the helm. And these include several ingredients that smell of France, such as cognac from the House of Courvoisier or truffles from the Périgord. On sunny days, we recommend the Nitro Colada cocktail, a rather tasty version of the famous Pina Colada. There is also a nice selection of wines, not forgetting the small gourmet dishes, to share or not.

Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, this location brings together three specialties under one roof. It offers coffee from local roasters, a selection of oysters that changes every day it's open and the largest collection of bubbles in the city. Chef Olivia Seymour prepares succulent gourmet dishes that pair perfectly with the liquor menu: caviar, cheese and charcuterie, tuna tartar, beef carpaccio, fried chicken and more. Mention should also be made of the refined and chic decor and of the secret restaurant, À Toi.

Craft beer lovers, you won't be disappointed here! The place claims to have the largest selection in the province, with some 160 beers on tap. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy it all in the 250 seat beer garden! Otherwise the place is gigantic, spread over two floors, and attracts crowds at all hours, especially during Happy Hours. You can also have a good meal with an international menu (tacos, poke bowls, Korean fried chicken, burgers, etc.). Other branches in the country.

Open since summer 2022, this cocktail bar is THE new trendy spot in Yorkville to have a drink in an incredible decor evoking the Mid-century style, all signed by designer Lisa Ho. The cocktail list is broken down into categories including martinis, bubbles, vintage reserves, classics and more. The quality is there, as is the luxury if we judge by the Sazerac cocktail which also includes a portion of caviar. At the bar, the atmosphere is relaxed and subdued, and in the lounge, you can sway to the sound of the DJ.

Opened in 2015 in the Bloordale Village neighborhood, Burdock Microbrewery draws its inspiration from refreshing beers, whether they're Pale Ale, Sour (sour), Saison or German Lager, for example. It also produces Grape Ales, one of its specialties, which is a fusion between beer and wine, like its Lees aged with the lees of Chardonnay. We also recommend trying the house cuisine, which includes snacks (oysters, cheeses, cold cuts, etc.), burgers and seasonal dishes. Brunch on weekends.

Established in the Little Portugal neighborhood, Cry Baby Gallery is a standout address in Toronto, uniting the arts with cocktails. Indeed, when you step inside, the front room is an art gallery with exhibitions that change over the weeks and months (see Instagram page for programming). In the back, behind a thick curtain, is the hidden speakeasy-style bar. Hyper-subdued atmosphere, industrial chic look and nice choice of signature cocktails to chill out between two exhibitions.

In the Corktown neighborhood, there's an address that's worth a visit, opened by two friends with a passion for coffee, cocktails and good food. And that's what Henrietta Lane is all about: coffee by day, cocktails by night and tasty snacks for those little munchies. The menu also includes craft beers (very nice selection), seltzers, ciders, wines (by the glass or by the bottle) and tutti quanti. A small food menu accompanies the whole without forgetting the corner provisions to bring back at home all kinds of greedy products and alcohols.

Located in the Entertainment District, this address unites coffee, wine and good food in one place. A gourmet menu with Italian accents is offered on weekdays from 11am (2pm on weekends), and the weekend brunch is in the same vein with its frittata of the day or its Italian-style French toast. If in the morning you come to enjoy an espresso prepared according to the rules of the art, in the evening you can opt for one of the excellent wines served by the glass or by the bottle. Bonus: the place also has a bottega where you can buy fine products and wine to take away.

The all-graffiti sign is both intriguing and vaguely scary. The atmosphere is electric and friendly, and the live concerts energetic (check the website for the program and the theme nights). Well-known place of the punk-rock scene, the bar is frequented by a rather young population. A classic place to party until late (3am-4am, which is rare in Toronto!) and listen to good "indie" sound. Sneaky Dee's also serves a tex-mex cuisine as copious as cheap.

Opened a few years ago just above its big brother, the Khao San Road Thai restaurant, Bang Sue Bar specializes in cocktails and craft beer (mostly from Ontario). It also serves Thai and Asian-inspired snacks like fish balls with yellow curry sauce and fried chicken with sriracha hot sauce. Oysters are also featured on the slate on a regular basis. Mention should be made of the décor with its colorful lighting and the large mural by artist Jimmy Chiale. An address to discover!