7 Best Bars in Old Town and the Distillery District, Toronto

This laid-back dive bar has an excellent selection of draft beers and classic pub fare, from poutine to nachos and chicken wings. It’s a fun spot to watch sports.

Pouring over 150 beers from 30 countries, including 50 on tap, this expansive restaurant and bar is well-regarded on the international beer scene. The highlight of the Bier Markt is its spacious, year-round sidewalk patio on the Esplanade, ideal for enjoying a cold brew on a leisurely afternoon.  The lines are ridiculous on weekends—do as the locals do and go midweek instead.

Founded in 1988, this cozy underground spot combines the charm of a beer cellar, the comfort of a library, and the fun of a pool hall. With over 40 taps of Canadian beer and a menu of globally inspired pub fare, it’s a perfect place to relax. The main room features several pool tables and a cozy fireplace area with couches, while an adjoining room hosts live folk, rock, and roots performances several times a week.

For more than 10 years, this bar and gastropub has been a nightlife staple in downtown Toronto. The front dining room serves Prohibition-style fare and generous portions, while the back transforms into a vibrant nightclub Thursday through Saturday, featuring an array of music genres like pop, dance, hip-hop, and soca. With more than 500 types of whiskey, it’s one of the city’s largest whiskey lounges—private tastings can be booked in advance. The venue caters to a 25-plus crowd, and a business casual dress code is recommended.

Brewing some of Toronto's most widely enjoyed craft beers, Mill Street Brewery runs a pair of adjoining brewpubs in the Distillery District. Enter off Tank House Lane to find the Mill Street Brew Pub, home of dressed-up bar eats, or veer down a side alley to feast at the modern Beer Hall. Both bars have several beer taps, with choices ranging from Mill Street staples like Organic Lager and Tankhouse Ale to seasonal and one-off beers. A bottle shop attached to the Brew Pub offers a selection of Mill Street offerings to go.

Just steps from the historic St. Lawrence Market, the restaurant and bar has been a neighborhood fixture for more than 30 years. The restaurant serves French-Moroccan fare, including tapas, eggplant Zaalouk, and tagines in traditional earthenware dishes. Inside, guests enter a Casablanca-inspired space, furnished with plush divans, rich fabrics, and lanterns. Sip a specialty cocktail like the Arabian caesar or Moroccan old-fashioned. It's also also known for its nightly belly dancing performances.

There may not be a better place in the city for a brewery and pub than in the brick-laned pedestrian-only Distillery District. Sixteen house-brewed beers are on tap; be sure to sample the signature trilogy: Organic, Tank House Ale and Wit. After a proper tasting, head to the on-site beer boutique where you can purchase some of your favorites. The pub serves dressed-up fare: beer-braised ribs, lobster grilled cheese and beer-steamed mussels. Alfresco tables are prime real estate in warm weather.