11 Best Bars in Toronto, Ontario

This restaurant, bar, and on-site brewery has been a smash hit since it opened in 2012. If the sun is shining, expect a line for the spacious patio, a great spot to sample the always evolving craft beer selection. Sour-beer fans should try the seasonal fruit-infused Jelly King, which has beer drinkers queueing up at the bottle shop on release day. The hearty snacks run the gamut from Canadian cheeses and terrine to a crispy Newfoundland cod sandwich.

The family that runs this narrow beer and cocktail bar has a side business importing rare brews from all over the world, so you know whatever's on tap—whether it's brewed in Ontario or Belgium—is going to be stellar. Weathered brick walls and a hidden back courtyard add to the old-world feel. Grab antipasti and pizzas if you're hungry, or hit up Bottega Volo two doors down for snacks and bottles to go.

Hidden in plain sight on the upper level of the Waterworks Food Hall, a former pipe and plumbing factory, this decadent art nouveau cocktail bar captures Toronto's \"Roaring '20s\" with its deliberate tribute to the building it's housed in. The menu features ingeniously crafted libations with cheeky industrial names like a Pounding Sand or the Strickling Bar. No ingredient goes to waste on the palate here, but the real catch is the bar's \"water program\" that features demineralized Toronto tap water that's been remineralized to replicate the profiles of popular springs from around the world. Tasty fusion snacks from the food hall below can also be ordered.

Built as a cinema in 1919, this stately theater is now a live music venue that attracts popular touring acts that run the gamut of punk, rock, rap, folk, electronic music, and even stand-up comedy. Notable performers have included Rihanna, Blue Rodeo, Father John Misty, and Echo and the Bunnymen.

Locals know the Drake as a hub for art, culture, food, and nightlife, with multiple spaces hosting events on any given night. The basement is home to the Drake Underground, a venue that hosts live music and DJ nights, while the rooftop Sky Yard patio serves drinks surrounded by eye-popping art installations.

Part rustic Balkan eatery, part cabaret, Drom Taberna is alive with the spirit of the Romani people. Every night of the week you'll be able to experience a wide range of global sounds from Middle Eastern--influenced flamenco to interactive Balfolk dancing going late into the evening. Menu must-tries include čevapi (a Bosnian grilled meat staple) and goulash, and no meal would be complete without a bowl of Ukrainian-style borscht. Armenian, Croatian, and Georgian wines dominate the drinks list, along with a dozen different herbal digestifs, rakijas, and palinkas (fruit brandies).

This legendary, low-ceilinged rock bar on Queen West has earned a reputation as the place to play for local acts and touring bands alike. Opened in 1947 as a country music venue, the Shoe (as it's often called) hosted greats like Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and the Carter Family. The venue's scope widened to include the emerging folk, rock, and punk scenes in the 1960s and '70s, giving way to early appearances by the Police, Tom Waits, and Talking Heads. The Rolling Stones even played a now-legendary surprise set here in 1997. Today, the venue books rock, indie, and punk acts from home and abroad.

Latin-music lovers of all ages dress up to get down to live Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and salsa music at this old-school hot spot. Now over two decades old, Lula has become a global music institution, going beyond those genres into samba, cumbia, reggae, Indigenous throat singing, and anything else you can think of. Weekend salsa nights include dance lessons, live band performances, and a prix-fixe menu. Lula is also an arts center, with dance and drumming lessons and a multitude of festivals and cultural events.

Since it was founded in 1973, Toronto's Second City—the younger sibling of the Second City in Chicago—has been showcasing some of the best comedy in Canada. Regular features include sketch comedy, improv battles, and seasonal revues. The recently re-opened complex houses three theaters and a restaurant, The Bentwood, with pricing running from C$15 to C$50 depending on seating and the show. 

Such Canadian literary luminaries as Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler have used the 17th-floor Park Hyatt bar as a setting in their writings, and now it's been renamed the Writers Room. A popular date spot, it's also a good place to sip a glass of wine, scotch, or a cocktail and soak in the city. The chic bar has big, open windows and an impressive patio that offers some of the most breathtaking views of the city, including the nearby ROM and University of Toronto. Inventive, spirit-forward cocktails (presented with quotes from books) come with little bowls of nuts and olives. There are also adventurous sharing plates like foie gras doughnuts, beef tartare, and oysters.

Though it's primarily a restaurant, Canoe, on the 54th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Bank tower, is worth a trip just for a drink at the bar and a panoramic view of the lake. It has what might be the city's best Niagara wine selection and an extensive list of international bottles, as well as cocktails and beer. It's popular with finance types from the neighboring towers, who suit the swank surroundings. Go just before sunset to make the most of the view.