13 editor picks in Toronto.
Food tour in Kensington Market
Toronto's First Food Tour: Taste the World in Kensington Market
2 of these places are in Kensington Market
Toronto's cocktail culture lives in its west-end laneways and storefronts, where neighbourhood bars run from speakeasy to neon. Bar Raval on College Street brings a Gaudi-inspired Spanish room to Little Italy, BarChef on Queen Street West built its name on theatrical, slow-built drinks, and the Communist's Daughter on Dundas Street West holds the dive-bar end around Ossington.
13 cocktail bar places in Toronto we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Toronto · Cocktail Bar across every city.
Order A vermouth on the rocks with a slice of jamon iberico.
Bar Raval on College runs vermouth on tap and Spanish bar snacks from a mahogany Art Nouveau counter since 2015, Grant van Gameren's room the Michelin Bib.
Order Tell the bartender three flavours you like and let them mix.
Civil Liberties on Bloor at Ossington runs a no-menu speakeasy since 2014, bartenders mixing drinks to your taste in an industrial-vibe back room.
Order Whatever the bar manager David Greig is excited about that night.
Cocktail Bar on Dundas West is Jen Agg's drink room since 2013, the menu split seasonal, bold, citrusy, liquor forward and wild cards, sister to Grey Gardens.
Order The signature smoked Manhattan presented under a glass dome.
BarChef on Queen West is Frankie Solarik's modernist cocktail bar since 2008, theatrical drinks with dry ice, smoked glass domes and botanical foams.
Order A Pandan Highball with the bahn mi sliders.
Mahjong Bar on Dundas West pours Asian-inspired cocktails behind a Vietnamese sandwich-shop facade since 2016, a speakeasy through the back door.
Order A spritz and the cured fish board.
Dreyfus on Harbord is the Annex's reference cocktail and natural-wine bar since 2018, chef Zach Kolomeir's small-plate kitchen under 50 seats.
Order A house cocktail with the bao buns and crispy rice.
Pinkerton's Snack Bar on Gerrard East is the city's reference snack-and-cocktail dive since 2017, owner Marc Baglio's pan-Asian plates and drinks.
Order A pint of local lager with a shot of rye.
The Communist's Daughter on Dundas at Ossington is the strip's reference dive bar since 2003, a former Portuguese diner with low ceilings and cheap beer.
Order A classic Mai Tai with the salt-and-pepper squid.
Miss Thing's on Queen West in Parkdale runs Polynesian tiki cocktails and Pacific Rim plates since 2013, the painted bamboo interior the strip's reference.
Order The signature Pompette Spritz or whatever the bar is pouring on draft.
Bar Pompette on College Street is the aperitif bar above Pompette since 2018, North America's 50 Best Bars ranked #8 in 2026 with a low-ABV cocktail program.
Order The Mordecai Martini, served with house olives.
Bar Mordecai on Dundas West is a retro Wes-Anderson cocktail room since 2020, World's 50 Best Discovery list with vintage and modern drinks.
Order A round on the bocce court with a tapped cocktail.
Track & Field on College Street is the lawn-games cocktail bar that returned in October 2021, two floors with bocce, shuffleboard and a photo booth.
Order A $4.50 domestic bottle on the back patio, BYO food from down the street.
The Done Right Inn on Queen West is the strip's reference dive bar, $4.50 domestic bottles, $6 pints and a century-old tree shading the back patio.
