The city of Toronto has an deathless love for film , sports , and outdoor patio setups , but great cocktail programs have become its fancy woman . There ’s always a new establishment pop up in someone ’s region – a pub , tavern , cafe , or an upscale home bar with upscale bros – and because of that , there are myriad drink selection begging to be give away . To help oneself , we ’ve labialise up 50 sottish must - have that truly represent Toronto ’s multicultural vibration and its newfound affinity for well - pour out drink .
Cucumber Fizz
BarChef
The folks here are molecular mixology wizards , and because of that , BarChef has become an everyday lachrymation trap for secret splurgers . The Cucumber Fizz is a fairly introductory go - to – shuffle vodka , maraschino , cucumber , and elderflower pressé – but its quality is top - ledge .
Inner Circle
Bar Begonia
Anthony Rose ’s later speculation is a Parisian - style bar that solicits cocktails from Oliver Stern ( Toronto Temperance Society ) , whose house originals experiment with everything from celery vodka to cold brewage coffee berry . Then , there ’s the Inner Circle ( $ 16 ) , which shakes things up with blended Scotch , pineapple genial , Citrus paradisi , and IPA .
Contratto Spritz
Archive
Joel and Joshua Corea ’s " young " wine bar has all the goods to be the best vinotheque in the city entirely because the stave are logical wine geeks . The Dundas West spot offers an impressive list of Bolshevik and whites , while creative effort like the Contratto Spritz ( white vermouth , sparkling wine , limonata ) complement the ginmill ’s put - back , warm surround .
Moon Under Mezcal
The Lowdown
The newbie on Augusta is a 21st - one C speakeasy that can literally be found below Torito Tapas Bar . What it lacks in sizing , it makes up for with a scrap of ingenuity . The distance serve up a smorgasbord of collation , including Spanish olives and ham & cheese board , and the beverage are n’t afraid to get a fiddling artsy . The Moon Under Mezcal ( $ 12 ) is a herbaceous agave cocktail that ’s a tribute to George Orwell ’s ideal fictional pub sign of the zodiac , the Moon Under Water .
My Favorite Ex-Girlfriend
Bar Isabel
The College St restaurant ’s notable refresher course is just like any other ex : it ’s feisty , slightly bitter , and sweet when it wants to be , mainly because it ’s a shaken blend of Absolut Elyx , livid peach - infused Bianco vermouth , Aperol , grenadine , Citrus paradisi , lemon , and teapot bitter .
Zona Rosa
The Addisons Residence
The Addisons Residence is another waiting area - meets - golf-club attraction that ’s divided into a kitchen , a animation room , and a rec way . But the real escapade lies in the hands of mixologist Manny Contreras . The " Master Tequilier " takes his artistic creation form very in earnest , and it ’s why the Zona Rosa , his unanimous go - to , offsets 1.5 oz of tequila blanco with Briottet Triple Sec liqueur , hibiscus agave , and a calculated dab of fresh lime juice .
Agua frescas
Macho Radio Bar
The super - new Tex - Mex junction occupies the infinite that was once Citta , and thanks to innovation business firm Studio Munge , it ’s fully decked out in neon lights and arcade classics such as Galaga and Ms. Pac - Man . The independent attraction , however , is the enclosed patio and how it go hand - in - hand with the alcoholic agua frescas ( spike ‘em with tequila , vodka , gin , bloodless rum , whisky , or bourbon ) . If you ’re with friends , you may as well click into a Macho Pitcher ( $ 35 ) of the hooey .
Pixie Blood
Bar Raval
Bar Raval is a pintxos bar that bleeds civilization thanks to a menu with everything from peewee crudo ( $ 13 ) to Galician - dash octopus ( $ 8) and adobo pork bocadillo ( $ 11 ) , and the alien ism carries over to its cocktail list . The Pixie Blood ( $ 16 ) might seem like an peculiar choice , but it ’s a tequila drink for the fearless that mixes Espolon Blanco with cinnamon grenadine , lime , unripe yellowish green , and absinthe .
Cosmo TO
Apt. 200
This Montreal transplantation is fully fit with couches , puddle tables , andNBA Jam , but at heart , it ’s a clubhouse / couch loanblend that likes to party with speciality cocktails . One pop request is the Cosmo TO , made with hibiscus - infuse vodka , thyme - steep Cointreau , lime , and cranberry succus , and is tart enough to be a sidekick for any ad-lib IRL flirting .
Garibaldi
Maple Leaf Tavern
The historical Maple Leaf Tavern recently re - opened after three years of redevelopment , and despite its reputation for being hole - in - the - wall , it ’s start a new chapter . The Tavern ’s new cocktail program was acquire by New York streak guy / author Naren Young , and it ’s full of innovative delights , like the Garibaldi – a drink that just whips together Campari and fresh orange succus .
Fuzzy Wawa
Miss Thing’s
Nav Sangha ’s Wrongbar lately transubstantiate into Miss Thing ’s , but it ’s still a spot for drinks , vibraphone , and self - craziness . Cue the Fuzzy Wawa , which is basically a daiquiri in a coconut palm with Havana Club 3 - class , lemon grass sake , kaffir lime syrup , and coconut bitters .
Boutique Blush
Boutique Bar
Just how boutique is Julien Salomone ’s Boutique Bar ? For appetizer , the cocktail sofa is a martini asylum for the young professional character , and one of its main attractions is the eponymous Boutique Blush . The beverage merge white wine , triple sec liqueur , whitened cranberry juice , and fresh raspberry puree for a sweet yet tart conclusion .
After The Frost
The Library Bar
If hotel prevention are overrated , then the Royal York Library Bar is the exception . The everyday blot is grace out with robust afternoon tea & whiskey inclination , and then there are the handcraft cocktails – including this gelid delight that mixes Royal York Methedrine wine , Belvedere vodka , and Grand Marnier . The good part ? It ’s shaken over ice and garnishee with a individual frozen grape .
Vieux Soirée
Momofuku Nikai
If you’re able to get past Nikai ’s Momofuku ramen and roasted Elmer Reizenstein cake , then go straight for the Vieux Soirée ( $ 14 ) . It ’s no Paper Plane ( $ 14 ) or Brisca Fresca ( $ 12 ) , but it ’s a snug post - dinner sipper that combine peach rye with rum and a herbal cordial .
The Cherry Seinfeld
Montauk
Dustin Keating ’s hangout can be a major cocktail tease thanks to its metropolis - wide collabs , guest barkeeper , and ever - rotating list of feature . But if you do happen to find The Cherry Seinfeld in its natural habitat , dictate a one shot ( or three ) . The uncommon Montauk brew commingle together bourbon , cherry gin , Cocchi Americano , Citrus limon , egg white , Angostura , and " the juice that come from the cherry jar . " In other words , no soup for you !
Pit-Fired Old Fashioned
The Carbon Bar
Hidde Zomer ’s kitchen revolve around a woods firing pit that smokes the common BBQ monetary standard ( brisket , sausage , rive porc ) and adds a new dimension of tang to certain cocktail . One example is Carbon ’s Pit - Fired Old Fashioned ( $ 14 ) – a rustic smoke ‘ n ’ oak tree adaptation made with smoked Pike Creek rye whisky , Sortilege liqueur , orange , sugar , and Angostura bitter .
Dealer’s choice
Civil Liberties Bar
Co - owners Nick Kennedy , Cole Stanford , and David Huynh built Civil Liberties from the primer up ( literally ) , and it ’s partially why the aura hones in comfort . The " Ananas comosus bar " treats all drinks equally , as there is n’t a physical cocktail leaning , but it ’s just more inducement to have one of the nonrational mixologist analyze your needs .
The Rural Road
Hunters Landing
Wiser ’s Canadian whiskey ? insure . Grade - A Ontario maple syrup ? Check . A cinnamon stick for garnish ? Double check . The Rural Road should be a dessert cocktail , but it ’s more of a dispatcher to assist you take on Hunters ' signature Pisces tacos , breakfast board , and general brunch transportation .
Eglinton West
Nightowl
Nightowl has gained notoriety for its chintzy eats , boozy float , and nostalgic foosball table , but the real attractor is the cocktail lean . Drinks are name after different area in Toronto ( ie . Spadina , Augusta , Sugar Beach ) , and one popular must - examine is the Eglinton West – a " slight Jamaica"-approved nightcap that ’s a powerful blend of rum and mango tree with a intimation of lime .
New Orleans Frappé
The Cloak Bar
The Cloak is mostly hidden underneath Marben , but it ’s no secret that its ingathering of spirits and liqueurs is top - notch . The bartenders will plug up anything , and the New Orleans Frappé , an inviting blend of drinking chocolate butter - wash away anisette de Bordeaux , orgeat , and cream , is proof .
Athol Brose
The Harbord Room
A trip to The Harbord Room normally lead to a ravenous round of burgers , charred sides , and Thunnus alalunga tuna crudo , but there ’s also nothing wrong with going for a swallow or two , especially when it ’s terrace season . The Lady Sniper ( $ 16 ) and Endless English Summers ( $ 12 ) are worth a sip , but do n’t overlook this traditional Scottish concoction ( $ 13 ) that use Auchentoshan 12 - Year Scotch , honey , fizz cream , and shave nutmeg , and dates all the way back to the 1400s .
The Joe Carter
Home Of The Brave
nursing home Of The Brave ’s latest is a elevated slam of Marketing 101 , but it also go on to be one of the metropolis ’s tastiest frozen cocktail . At its sum , The Joe Carter is a merriment combo of the Blue Bird Slushie ( vodka , blue caracao , lemon ) and Smasharita Slushie ( Tromba , Cointreau , lime succus ) . And on game 24-hour interval , it hits like a walk - off blast down the left field of honor line .
Gold Fashioned
The Black Hoof Cocktail Bar
To keep it simple : the Cocktail Bar at the Black Hoof knows its cocktail . The Jen Agg establishment pours a bunch of classic ( Hoof Manhattan , Corpse Reviver # 2 ) and seasonal libations ( Griddler , Absinthe Whip ) , but here , it ’s all about the wildcards . The Gold Fashioned is one drinking that goes outside the norm : an unprecedented premix of butter - Zea mays everta brandy , yellow chartreuse , bitters , and Cherry Coke .
Choose your own adventure
Cold Tea
Cold Tea is pucker aside in a nondescript part of Kensington , but even so , the bar has turn into a late - Nox blistering bit for faint sum , barbecue pork buns , and pelvis - hop classics . There ’s no shame in asking for a specific drinkable , but the barkeeper hold the rulebook out the windowpane – be a risk taker .
Kentucky County Punch
The County General
southerly libations are a thing here , and there ’s nothing more twangy than the signature punch , made with Wild Turkey , Benedictine , pear brandy , pear bitters , and seasonal fruits .
Maharaja
The Drake Hotel
Do yourself a favor and befriend one of The Drake ’s occupant bartenders . The Maharaja , Sandy De Almeida ’s custom delicacy , is a portmanteau word of Havana Club 7 - class rummy , pineapple , falernum , and ginger beer . It ’ll be a smooth revelation in the centre of July .
Yoga Mat
D.W. Alexander Bar
If your yoga urges are turn into an addiction , bring down D.W. Alexander . This lounge has made a name for itself as a post - work hideaway , and its achiever can be assign to its gin - based spin - offs , like the Yoga Mat , shaken with seasonal mixed berry preserves , mint , and lemon juice , and pass with a splash of prosecco .
Punch Americano
FIGO
Figo is the case of post where you ’ll stay for the panna cotta or another helping of wild boar ragu , but it does n’t do " introductory " when it comes to signature cocktail . The Italian eating house boasts an untraditional list , and at the top is its famous Punch Americano – a fluid portmanteau of Cocchi Americano , Cocchi Rosa , Bacardi Superior , blank wine , whitened cranberry , and reinvigorated stinker , in a meth ( $ 15 ) or a decanter ( $ 60 ) for a party of four .
“Burnt” Pineapple Pisco Sour
Little Sister
The Davisville nutrient bar has build up a reputation on small plate and Indonesian - Dutch cuisine , but Little Sister ’s cocktails add a whole new layer to its acquire combination . The full crapulence is the “ sunburn ” Pineapple Pisco Sour , an angostura bark - scorched mix of El Gobernador , Domaine de Canton , egg gabardine , and blacken pineapple beloved puree . It has a bit of a kicking , so pair it with an order of rendang tacos or Balinese spiced chicken .
The Lockhart Caesar
The Lockhart
Caesar ? At a Harry Potter - theme bar ? It ’s dependable , and you should in spades believe the hype . The Little Portugal spot pop the question a mean brunch menu and an array of boozy fan fable ( Big Bad Wolf , The Captain Picard ) , but the theme song Caesar stand up out : how could you deny a drink made with a mysterious yet not - so - secret ingredient call " dying potion " ?
Kon Tiki
The Shore Leave
Kon Tiki , Julian Altrows and Zach Littlejohn ’s boozy island pleasure , is a mix of Zombie rum , passion - pineapple , absinthe , agave , and coconut foam that ’s fundamentally served in a frozen pineapple . Serious question : is it summer yet ?
Royal Oak
Northwood
The Northwood squad recently took it upon themselves to make a " boozy but summery Bourbon dynasty deglutition " which resulted in the Royal Oak ( $ 13 ) . The spirit - drive original is a 2.75 oz mix of Elijah Craig 12 - Year , Cocchi Americano , Amaro Nonino , and grapefruit .
Quiet Storm
Odd Thomas Bar
For what it ’s deserving , Odd Thomas is most for certain queer . The beer taproom / nightclub space inhabits the 2nd floor of the Mascot Brewery and Beer Garden Complex , and it ’s all about " bring forth weird " with adventurous craft brews ( $ 8) and Frisco Sours ( $ 13 ) . Its take on a Quiet Storm ( $ 13 ) is the unadulterated late - night pal as Bacardi 8 and red bush vermouth mingle with lemon & ginger sirup .
Snow Bunny
The One Eighty
cocktail on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre ? Why not ? The # sentiment are worth it , and so is the Snow Bunny – a bourbon - lover ’s cocktail with Bourbon dynasty , apple cider , ginger beer , and candy ginger .
Dutty Wine
Patois
Patois ' cocktail listing is full of summertime sippers . The Dutty Wine ( $ 14 ) portmanteau word carmine or white wine with blank rum , pineapple succus , basswood , and powdered ginger ale , and like other Patois selects , it can be upsized to a teapot " pitcher " ( $ 52 ) .
Corvette Summer
The Loveless Cafe
nominate after aMy Bloody Valentine album , Loveless specializes in espressos , snacks , and cocktails ( with an emphasis on cocktails ) . One special standout is the Corvette Summer ( $ 11 ) – a tequila - based drunkenness spike with Citrus paradisi , calcium oxide , tonic syrup , and soda ash .
Kremlin Lemon Breeze
Pravda Vodka Bar
Rumen Dimitroff ’s Russian - themed vodka house knows a thing or two about vodka ( plainly ) , and this refresher spikes the citron tree sort with limoncello , prosecco , and unused lemon yellow succus .
Passionfruit Julep
Raca Café & Bar
Ivana Raca ’s Queensway hangout is worth the trip , as its to the full outfitted with Bali - inspire decor , an cozy back patio , and knockout that holler French and Italian culinary art . Then there ’s Ed Grim ’s cocktail menu , which include julep that permit Bourbon dynasty and passion yield puree go on their own slight honeymoon .
Parts & Labour
The Dark Bourbon Manhattan ( $ 14 ) , Canadian Tuxedo ( $ 14 ) , and Barrel Aged “ Tegroni ” ( $ 19 ) are all smash at Matty Matheson ’s spot . But go with the dealer ’s choice .
Puck Bunny
Real Sports Bar & Grill
Real Sports is home to all things Jays , Leafs , and raptorial bird , and so it ’s only fitting that the drink list is anchored by notorious sports figures . The Puck Bunny is a mix of hiss vodka , cassis , Punica granatum juice , lemonade , and washing soda , and on a uncollectible night , it can copulate well with defeat .
Rumhattan
Rhum Corner
Jen Agg is still hell on earth - bent on dismantling the villainous evil conglomerate known as " vodka , " but there ’s no denying her foxiness . Rhum Corner is a Caribbean haven that promote classic Mai Tais ( $ 12 ) and daiquiris ( $ 13 ) with the unmatched piña colada slushie ( $ 8) . The Rumhattan ( $ 11 ) is a favorite , conflate up rummy , Antica , maraschino , and firm bitters .
Hong Kong Martini
Roll Play Bar & Lounge
scroll Play ’s Hong Kong Martini ( $ 12 ) is a creative variance of the Yuanyang / Kopi Cham , and the jolt is material , geminate house - made Earl Grey gin rummy with doses of espresso and evaporated Milk River . It ’s sweeter than sweet , but it ’s the gross pick - me - up for Downtown dwellers that rely on chai afternoon tea caffe latte .
The Bowls
The Shameful Tiki Room
Rod Moore and Alana Noduega ’s Tiki hideout is decked out in bamboo , pufferfish lamp , and a snapshot of South Pacific culture , but the only things that count are the Bowls . They come in in three unlike varieties – the Mystery Bowl ( $ 23 ) , the Voodoo Bowl ( $ 50 ) , and the Volcano Bowl ( $ 40 ) – and they ’re pumped with secret spices , juice , rums , and syrups .
Netflix And Chill
SpiritHouse
Secretly created by the family behind the Toronto Institute of Bartending , SpiritHouse ’s version of Netflix And Chill ( $ 14 ) pairs browned butter and popcorn - infuse bourbon with amaro , orchard apple tree cyder , orangish reduction , egg white , ignominious walnut bitters , fresh lemon , and sign of the zodiac popcorn .
Roses Are Red
Skin + Bones
pelt + Bones bank on group dining and aromatic cocktails such as Roses Are Red , which romances with Cocchi Americano Rosa , gin , and rose liqueur .
Tame Impala
Track & Field
Toronto ’s first - ever lawn games bar will make you get the ring together for some shovelboard , but stay for this Jap which supports " Lonerism " with a trio of tequila , ginger beer , and chai Camellia sinensis .
Liquid Wisdom
Toronto Temperance Society
The Toronto Temperance Society is currently accepting Modern applications to practice " the art of drink well , " and while new members can attend seminar and tastings , they ’ll also be capable to luxuriate in TTS ’ keen drinking list . One authoritative gem is Liquid Wisdom – a fancy theatre cocktail that intertwines chamomile - instill Scotch with sweet-smelling pear liqueur , honey , lemon , egg white , bitters , and absinthe dry wash .
Apple Pie Sour
The Wickson Social
To lap down all the snack at The Wickson , there ’s the Apple Pie Sour ( $ 14 ) , which stirs together bisongrass vodka , Calvados , lemon tree , orchard apple tree , egg white , and house - made allspice tree syrup .
The Swashbuckler
The Whippoorwill Restaurant & Tavern
The infamous Whippoorwill burger has a room of bringing time to a stand , but gratefully the Bloordale Village spot has a $ 12 sidekick called The Swashbuckler . It ’s a judicious mix of Brugal Anejo rummy , Lustau Amontillado sherry , Bowmore 12 - Year Scotch , and house - made hazelnut falernum ; exotic and tranquil .
Blackberry Caipirinha
The Wren
Dennis and Rhonda Kimeda ’s Southern - style home base will slow down you down , but the Brazilian raw material , the Blackberry Caipirinha , will cull you justly back up with its nectarous blend of white rummy , lime , scratch , and blackberries .
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Courtesy of Botique Bar
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Niamh Maher
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Courtesy of Little Sister
Courtesy of Northwood
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