The cocktail scene in Toronto is ever-changing. With restaurateurs like Frankie Solarik and Jen Agg paving the way, the city is seeing a shift towards a new generation of modernist drinks that are transforming the cocktail experience altogether. From dives and tiki bars to upscale French-inspired speakeasies, there is a cocktail bar fit for everyone’s tastes.
Here are 10 of our favourite cocktails in the city.
10
214 King St W
Hotel À Toi's Punch Provençal
If we were to encapsulate the 1920’s prohibition era in one drink, this would be it. The Punch Provençal is made with gin, yellow chartreuse, St. Germaine, honey, jasmine and lavender. Fortified with milk for a creamy finish -- this delicate cocktail is soft, yet sultry.
9
878 Bloor St W
Civil Liberties' "Surprise Me"
Still not seeing a drink that sparks joy? Well, this one's for you. At Civil Liberties, there is no cocktail menu, so whether you're someone who knows exactly what they want or enjoys the occasional "surprise me" drink, the bartenders here will shake up something special just for you.
8
1378 Queen St W
The Shameful Tiki Room's Mai Tai
Whether it’s Mai Tai Monday or Tiki Tuesday, The Shameful Tiki Room has all your exotic tropical tiki needs. Their signature Mai Tai combines Appleton Signature blend rum, orange liqueur, a healthy dose of fresh lime juice and orgeat -- making it a perfect summer sipper.
7
589 King St W
Laissez Faire's Espresso Martini
A classic perfectly executed. Laissez Faire’s espresso martini blends vodka, Kahlua and espresso in a perfectly sweet and rich cocktail, making it the go-to dessert drink.
6
505 College St
Bar Raval's Dressed to Suppress
Itching to get away? Bar Raval will transport you to the heart of Barcelona with their delicious tapas, pintxos and Gaudi-esque architecture. A clean and complex cocktail, this aperitivo is made with ‘Nutty Sherry', Raval ‘Akvavit’, Martell VS and Fernet Branca.
5
163 Spadina Ave
The Bar at Alo's Tea & Biscuits
Adjoining Toronto's fine dining restaurant Alo, The Bar at Alo offers some of the city's finest libations, as well as a small bar menu. A pleasantly sweet cocktail, the Tea & Biscuits is made with Ketel One vodka, bergamot, elderflower, lemon and served with an oatmeal biscuit.
4
472 Queen St W
BarChef's Elderflowers and Fougère
BarChef has changed the cocktail scene in Toronto by challenging conventional notions of the cocktail experience and transforming it into a visceral and emotional experience. The Elderflowers and Fougère is a play on the word “fougère” which is used by perfumers to define green tones. Smoky mezcal is combined with freshly cut grass snow and refreshing cucumber, while elderflower, dill, basil, juniper and mint create a woodsy wonderland.
3
1168 Queen St W
Nuit Social's Blue Botanist
Nuit Social takes the gin fizz to another level with their undeniably delicious cocktail, the Blue Botanist. As the name suggests, this floral and fruity cocktail features muddled blueberries with gin and elderflower liqueur, freshly squeezed lemon juice and frothy egg whites.
2
923 Dundas St W
Cocktail Bar's Ballpark Old Fashioned
If you’re one to fall back on the tried and true, Cocktail Bar has a drink for you. Their Ballpark Old Fashioned puts a thoughtful spin on the classic -- using peanut infused rye, salted popcorn and ballpark bitters. Candles illuminate the joint, as rhythmic ballads of blues lull any patron into a permanent state of sweet relaxation.
1
291 King St W
Pancho y Emiliano's Margarita de Tamarindo
Margarita lovers rejoice! Pancho & Emiliano serves up a classic with a twist in their Margarita de Tamarindo. Cazadores tequila is perfectly balanced with the tanginess of tamarind juice and the subtle spice of the serrano chili salt rim.
The cocktail scene in Toronto is ever-changing. With restaurateurs like Frankie Solarik and Jen Agg paving the way, the city is seeing a shift towards a new generation of modernist drinks that are transforming the cocktail experience altogether. From dives and tiki bars to upscale French-inspired speakeasies, there is a cocktail bar fit for everyone’s tastes.
Here are 10 of our favourite cocktails in the city.
10
214 King St W
Hotel À Toi's Punch Provençal
If we were to encapsulate the 1920’s prohibition era in one drink, this would be it. The Punch Provençal is made with gin, yellow chartreuse, St. Germaine, honey, jasmine and lavender. Fortified with milk for a creamy finish -- this delicate cocktail is soft, yet sultry.
9
878 Bloor St W
Civil Liberties' "Surprise Me"
Still not seeing a drink that sparks joy? Well, this one's for you. At Civil Liberties, there is no cocktail menu, so whether you're someone who knows exactly what they want or enjoys the occasional "surprise me" drink, the bartenders here will shake up something special just for you.
8
1378 Queen St W
The Shameful Tiki Room's Mai Tai
Whether it’s Mai Tai Monday or Tiki Tuesday, The Shameful Tiki Room has all your exotic tropical tiki needs. Their signature Mai Tai combines Appleton Signature blend rum, orange liqueur, a healthy dose of fresh lime juice and orgeat -- making it a perfect summer sipper.
7
589 King St W
Laissez Faire's Espresso Martini
A classic perfectly executed. Laissez Faire’s espresso martini blends vodka, Kahlua and espresso in a perfectly sweet and rich cocktail, making it the go-to dessert drink.
6
505 College St
Bar Raval's Dressed to Suppress
Itching to get away? Bar Raval will transport you to the heart of Barcelona with their delicious tapas, pintxos and Gaudi-esque architecture. A clean and complex cocktail, this aperitivo is made with ‘Nutty Sherry', Raval ‘Akvavit’, Martell VS and Fernet Branca.
5
163 Spadina Ave
The Bar at Alo's Tea & Biscuits
Adjoining Toronto's fine dining restaurant Alo, The Bar at Alo offers some of the city's finest libations, as well as a small bar menu. A pleasantly sweet cocktail, the Tea & Biscuits is made with Ketel One vodka, bergamot, elderflower, lemon and served with an oatmeal biscuit.
4
472 Queen St W
BarChef's Elderflowers and Fougère
BarChef has changed the cocktail scene in Toronto by challenging conventional notions of the cocktail experience and transforming it into a visceral and emotional experience. The Elderflowers and Fougère is a play on the word “fougère” which is used by perfumers to define green tones. Smoky mezcal is combined with freshly cut grass snow and refreshing cucumber, while elderflower, dill, basil, juniper and mint create a woodsy wonderland.
3
1168 Queen St W
Nuit Social's Blue Botanist
Nuit Social takes the gin fizz to another level with their undeniably delicious cocktail, the Blue Botanist. As the name suggests, this floral and fruity cocktail features muddled blueberries with gin and elderflower liqueur, freshly squeezed lemon juice and frothy egg whites.
2
923 Dundas St W
Cocktail Bar's Ballpark Old Fashioned
If you’re one to fall back on the tried and true, Cocktail Bar has a drink for you. Their Ballpark Old Fashioned puts a thoughtful spin on the classic -- using peanut infused rye, salted popcorn and ballpark bitters. Candles illuminate the joint, as rhythmic ballads of blues lull any patron into a permanent state of sweet relaxation.
1
291 King St W
Pancho y Emiliano's Margarita de Tamarindo
Margarita lovers rejoice! Pancho & Emiliano serves up a classic with a twist in their Margarita de Tamarindo. Cazadores tequila is perfectly balanced with the tanginess of tamarind juice and the subtle spice of the serrano chili salt rim.
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