255 Best Bars in Canada

Barely noticeable from the outside, this discreet, dimly lit cocktail den has won awards for design and been lauded by critics as one of the most beautiful bars, if not the most beautiful, in the city. Heavy drapes and propane "candles" in small glasses that reflect the surface of the labyrinthine wraparound bar imbue this chic space with a subdued speakeasy feel. Unlike an izakaya, you don't come here to eat but to drink, so few snacks are available. The bar stocks a nice selection of sakes and sojus, as well as Suntory Toki, a Japanese whiskey. Beers, killer cocktails, and a handpicked list of wines round out the drinks menu.

Known locally as a "musician’s bar," this live music venue is not limited to traditional tunes, showcasing all styles of music from rockabilly to jazz. You'll find local musicians, whose work rivals any in the world. A former garage, this building is full of history, not to mention a few tall tales. 

Calgary’s home of the blues, the Can features afternoon and nightly live performances, cocktails, and homestyle Southern cooking.

This is a fun place to sip on cocktails created from house-distilled spirits or pick up canned cocktails to go. They also serve bar snacks. 

The newly reopened bar is back in a pastel-hued venue serving colorful cocktails with DJs on the third floor every weekend. If you can, grab a spot on the charming back patio and have a drink with friends under twinkling hanging lights.

Long, lean, and creatively wood-paneled, this is among a fresh crop of Mount Pleasant breweries leading East Vancouver's craft beer resurgence. The brewery operations dictate the layout, and the tasting room’s communal tables attract a dedicated after-work crowd for pints, flights, and growler fills.

House-brewed concoctions like Raspberry Blond Beer or Mango Session IPA attract locals and tourists alike, and lately the kitchen has been serving up tapas-style pub food, including some healthy vegetarian and vegan options. In addition to the unique brews, check out the sprawling outdoor seating and nightly live music. A typical crowd at Brutopia is under 30, but older folks shouldn't feel out of place. With live music ranging from traditional Irish folk to the occasional punk or psychedelic ’60s garage band, this pub serves as a refreshing alternative to the slightly more upscale, trendy bars and nightclubs that mark the Crescent Street strip.

This British pub in St-Henri serves food that's a notch above the usual. Scotch eggs and the ploughman's lunch are paired with an English take on Québec's beloved poutine—with Stilton cheese and caramelized onions—though it's the fish-and-chips that really shine. Be sure to grab a pint of the Burgundy Lion Ale, or any of the many other beers on draft. If you're a whisky aficionado, the Burgundy Lion stocks Québec's largest list of blends, single malts, Scotches, Irish whiskies, bourbons, ryes, and other whiskies from around the globe. Two patios are open in the summer for alfresco drinking. Note that it can get loud in the evenings. On alternate Sundays, high tea is served in the true English style in the four-season solarium—by reservation only. 

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.

Bask in the aura of South Beach with fluorescent colors, chic cabanas, and a dance floor beneath the boughs of an acai tree. Local and international DJs keep the energy high and happening. FYI, dress to impress.  

Makeup, glitter, and glamorous costumes abound at this nightclub with drag-queen entertainment. Mado herself is a Québec celebrity (so much so that she was immortalized in wax at the now-defunct Grévin museum inside Centre Eaton). During karaoke and improv evenings, even the clientele can get involved.

In a century-old building, this pub, outfitted in shades of charcoal and ebony, serves Tex-Mex food, pasta, fish-and-chips, and local beers. Its patio bar, at Magog's main intersection, may not be peaceful, but it's a great spot to watch the world go by. Chansonniers (singers) belt out popular hits for a full house on Friday and Saturday evening starting at 6.

This pub is dedicated to all things Scottish. If the massive mural of the St. Andrew's Cross decorating the cozy back patio doesn't give it away, the enormous whiskey selection certainly will. There are more than 700 single malts, with selections dating as far back as the 1940s. The pub also hosts frequent tasting events featuring various distillers, and serves hearty Highland eats (haggis—real and vegan—included).

One of the city's treasured venues for indie rock, jazz, reggae, blues, folk, and hip-hop, this neighborhood bar is ideal for discovering up-and-coming local acts or forgotten international giants still touring. While you enjoy the music, take a look at the original art and sample some of the tasty vegetarian food.

Evoking the vibe of a 1950s British cocktail bar, this busy nightspot attracts a loyal crowd with its signature blends, cocktails on tap (try the boozy slushy), and local microbrews. The upscale pub menu includes favorites like smoked game hen, chickpea burger, and sticky toffee pudding, along with charcuterie and a cheese plate.

Five minutes from downtown Ottawa, sitting on the shores of Lake Leamy, this upscale casino has more than 1,900 slot machines, 60 gaming tables, and an electronic horse-racing track. The Théatre du Casino attracts a diverse mix of crooners and comedians, mostly popular Québécois performers.

Along with its gaming tables and slots, the casino has a large, state-of-the-art concert hall with a mixed lineup ranging from tribute bands to clairvoyants. Lesser-known local acts entertain for free in the pub on weekends. The casino is open from 10 am to 3 am, with table games from 4 pm.

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.

Ranked 31st in North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 list, Cloakroom, a classy cocktail bar, prides itself on its no-menu approach, mixing bespoke concoctions made to clients' tastes. The intimate bar, hidden at the back of a men's tailor shop within an elegant brownstone in Montréal's Golden Square Mile, exudes a secretive, speakeasy feel. To get there, walk into the building through the double wooden doors into a foyer area with rich wood paneling. Push through a partially open door and follow the dark corridor that leads into the bar. Once admitted, you'll find a dimly space with a long marble counter and red barstools that boasts an exquisite selection of rare and vintage spirits, with special emphasis on bourbon, vermouth, and amaro.

The granddaddy of the city's rock clubs has evolved into one of the dominant venues for jazz, reggae, techno, and rhythm and blues. Club Soda is a tall, narrow concert hall with high-tech design and 500 seats—all of them with great sight lines.

Small, semiprivate lounges are scattered throughout the three-story complex, and the beautiful rooftop terrace is one of the finest in the Village. Unity, open since 2002, is one of the longest-running, most inclusive dance clubs in town—although, despite some complaints, you'll often find as many straight women here as you will gay men. Open weekends from 10 pm to 3 am.

Restaurateur Jen Agg is a household name in Toronto, and the drinks are never an afterthought at her restaurants or at Cocktail Bar, where the ceiling is covered in pressed tin tiles and bottles gleam behind glass-paned cabinet doors. Across the street from Agg's other flagship spot, Bar Vendetta, this boozy haunt respects classic cocktail tradition—think Manhattans and absinthe concoctions, but rarely any vodka—but isn't afraid to take a few left turns either.

No advertised street number. A secret, nondescript steel door in the back. Imaginative, award-winning mixologists. A cocktail selection that changes with the seasons. Twists on old classics (think: an Old Fashioned with mezcal). Clear, no-nonsense house rules:

"Act your age, or you'll be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian."

"For all make out purposes, may we suggest our next door neighbour the William Gray hotel? Get a room."

And just for the men: "Know your alcohol limits. Stay classy."

"Erase the word 'slut' and 'gay' and any other abusive language from your vocabulary."

"Learn some dance moves. If you need help, ask our manager, Dan."

To be admitted, simply push the button and wait for the light to flicker red. What more could you want in a speakeasy?