Top 5 bars in… Toronto

The diversity of Canada’s biggest city is mirrored in its variety of cocktails and bars, which offer a winning combination of the old and the new, writes Brittany Seki.

Toronto bars are inspired by the city past and present

Toronto is known for having a rich diversity, and when it comes to its melting pot of colourful cocktails and bars there’s no exception. The lines are blurred between the historical and the modern, and the local and the globally-inspired. Throw in a base of the city’s past with a shot of unconventional techniques and you’ve got the recipe for a signature downtown bar. Whether searching for a simple apéritif or a 10-piece sweet and sour, Torontonians always find what they’re thirsting for.

Even during the national prohibition of alcohol, in 1918, the city continued to quench its thirst in bold ways. As part of the Canadian War Measures Act during World War One, Gooderham and Worts (now the renowned Distillery District), one of Toronto’s first and largest distilleries, was forced to reallocate its resources to produce acetone for the war effort. However, that didn’t stop the company from selling whisky to bootleggers like notorious mob boss Rocco Perri and his lover Bessie Starkman. These rum runners sold the goods to ‘speakeasies’ or ‘blind pigs’ that began popping up in secret locations, where the illegal spirits were sold privately to placate the victims of Prohibition.

Modern-day Toronto has seen the return of the speakeasy theme, paying homage to bootlegging legends such as Perri (who went missing in 1944). Cocktails focus on both the pre- and post-Prohibition era, offering classics like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans.

In 1934, selling alcohol became legal in hotels, which meant great news for some of Toronto’s vintage wet spots, like the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, The Drake Hotel and The Gladstone Hotel. The legacies these venues hold are preserved in the traditional cocktails and early 20th century architecture. Yet what keeps the fires burning for these bars is the collaboration of the old and the new, a cocktail evolution to rival even New York’s bar scene.

Revolutionary local bartenders are inspired by the classics but add a touch of contemporary flair to tasty new concoctions. Even service is changing – some locations remove table service and menus altogether, creating a bond between bartender and customer as they collaborate to discover a personalised drink. On the other side, establishments such as BarChef provide an all-encompassing experience of the senses, pairing tastes, smells, presentation and even touch with the spirits offered. Icy cold winters in this city are no secret, and tiki-themed cocktails (in pineapples!) and bars provide a warm remedy for Torontonians.

No matter what their taste, patrons can walk into any cocktail bar in Toronto and find a drink just for them.

Click through the next few pages to discover our pick of the top five best bars in Toronto.

BarChef

472 Queen Street West

Enter this dimly lit molecular cocktail bar and a mosaic of aromas hits you. Lavender, dill and smoked hickory are some of many syrups and bitters cooked up in-house. The Vanilla and Hickory Smoked Manhattan is a must-have. Co-owned by renowned mixologist Frankie Solarik and sommelier Brent VanderVeen, this venue offers a rare experience for the taste buds.

The Drake Hotel

1150 Queen Street West

A Toronto classic, this now-modern boutique hotel is over 100-years-old, contains 19 rooms (including a lounge, patio and underground bar) and has survived through both World Wars. The cultural hotspot is known for art, music and Sandy De Almeida’s legendary cocktails. With its adventurous use of ingredients like cedar-infused Bourbon, there’s no doubt a night at The Drake will be delicious.

Escobar

606 King Street West

You can’t enter this back door gem without a password. Escobar reflects the speakeasy feel during Canada’s Prohibition in World War One. Named after drug lord Pablo Escobar, the bar is decorated with Mexican paraphernalia and hides behind a fridge door at the back of Latin restaurant Valdez. As for the drink selection, bartenders have creative freedom.

SpiritHouse

487 Adelaide Street West

This suave cocktail bar is home to a vast variety of high-end spirits for bartenders to play with and patrons to enjoy. The venue couples as a school run by the Toronto Institute of Bartending, so you know the drinks are measured and mixed to perfection. If an Old Fashioned is your go-to, SpiritHouse won’t disappoint.

Civil Liberties

878 Bloor Street West

Nick Kennedy, Cole Stanford, David Huynh and the amazing cast of characters behind the warm little bar have no cocktail menu. But tell them what you like (both original and classic) and it will appear. The trio’s concoctions are tastier than you could ever imagine.