The best bars in Toronto span award-winning cocktail bars (BarChef, which cites Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List), hidden speakeasies, neighbourhood institution dives (Sneaky Dee’s, Cameron House), rooftop infinity pools (KOST at Bisha, Lavelle’s 16-storey deck), wine bars (Bar Raval’s sculpted-wood Spanish room), and the Drake Hotel’s rotating cultural programs. From Spanish pintxos to Mexican mezcal cellars, natural-wine bars to Tokyo-style listening rooms, the Toronto bar scene has matured into one of North America’s most distinctive. This complete guide covers the best bars in Toronto across cocktail bars, dives, speakeasies, wine bars, and rooftop bars in 2026, with neighbourhood breakdowns and answers to the questions visitors ask most. For broader context, see our complete Toronto nightlife guide.
For the global rankings, see the official World’s 50 Best Bars list.
Best Bars in Toronto: Cocktail Bars
BarChef
Multi-sensory cocktails — smoke, dust, edible terrariums — that turn an evening drink into theatre. Cites a place on Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List in 2018 and 2020. Multi-course cocktail tasting menus available.
Reservations recommended; late-night counter seats sometimes available walk-in. Price: $25–$50 per cocktail.
PrettyUgly
Queen West craft cocktail bar with whimsical, slightly absurd drinks named after Toronto inside jokes. Casual atmosphere; great for groups.
Civil Liberties
Bloor Street cocktail bar with no menu — tell the bartender what you like and they make something unique on the spot. Best for adventurous drinkers.
The Roof Lounge at Park Hyatt Toronto
The 18th-floor cocktail bar at the Park Hyatt offers one of Toronto’s most romantic skyline views. Midcentury Mad Men style. Classic cocktails. Margaret Atwood is rumoured to have written here.
Cocktails $20–$30. Outdoor patio in summer.
Bar Raval
Spanish pintxos and natural wine in one of the most beautiful rooms in Toronto. Sculpted wooden interior. No reservations; arrive at 5:30 p.m. for counter seats.
Reposado Tequila Library
Ossington tequila bar with 200+ tequilas and mezcals including rare Mexican releases. The patio out back is a sprawling string-lit garden.
Madrina
Distillery District cocktail bar with strong Latin American program. Best for date nights.
Best Bars in Toronto: Speakeasies & Hidden Bars
El Rey Mezcal Bar
Hidden basement bar in Kensington Market. Specializes in mezcal and Latin spirits. Atmospheric basement room.
Hail Mary
Little Italy speakeasy with DJ programming, drink deals, and a youthful crowd. No-cover-charge / no-guest-list policy.
The Cloak Bar
Hidden cocktail bar in the Distillery District. Subtle entrance.
Track & Field
Beneath Hail Mary, Track & Field combines bocce, tabletop shuffleboard, and a dance floor. Best for groups.
The Rabbit Hole
Hidden King West speakeasy with old-school cocktail program.
Best Bars in Toronto: Rooftop Bars
See our complete rooftop restaurants Toronto guide for detailed coverage of:
KOST at Bisha Hotel: 44th-floor rooftop with Toronto’s most-photographed pool view.
Lavelle: 16-storey rooftop with three pools and 360-degree views.
Open Aera: 39th-floor Yorkville rooftop.
The Broadview Hotel Rooftop: 360-degree glass facade.
Harriet’s at 1 Hotel Toronto: Sustainability-focused rooftop.
The Chase: 5th-floor Financial District rooftop in the Dineen Building.
Drake Sky Yard: Drake Hotel’s long-running Queen West rooftop.
Best Bars in Toronto: Wine Bars
Bar Isabel
Spanish-influenced wine bar with shareable plates. Whole grilled octopus is the signature.
Bar Raval
Sister to Bar Isabel. Natural wine and Spanish pintxos. The most beautiful room in Toronto.
Café Cancan
Spanish sherry bar with creative cocktails.
Grey Gardens
Kensington Market natural wine bar with strong food program.
Paris Paris
Toronto natural-wine institution with French sensibility.
Constantine
Anatolian-influenced wine bar with strong shareable plate program.
Best Bars in Toronto: Dive Bars & Pubs
Sneaky Dee’s
Toronto institution at College and Bathurst. Live music venue, late-night nachos, weekend brunch. Has launched countless Canadian indie careers.
Cameron House
Queen West live music venue. Sunday open mics have launched dozens of Canadian indie acts.
The Dakota Tavern
Queen Street West live music venue. Bluegrass, country, and indie programming.
Bar Mordecai
Little Italy cocktail bar with creative drinks and small plates.
Reservoir Lounge
Old Town basement bar with nightly live jazz programming since 1990s.
The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar
Queen West jazz bar operating since 1951. No cover; nightly jazz.
Best Bars in Toronto: By Neighbourhood
Queen West & West Queen West
BarChef, PrettyUgly, Drake Sky Yard, The Dakota Tavern, Cameron House, The Rex. Dense cocktail and live music cluster.
Little Italy
Bar Raval, Bar Isabel, DaiLõ, Hail Mary, Track & Field, El Convento Rico, Café Cancan. The best cocktail-and-Spanish wine cluster.
King West & Entertainment District
Lavelle, KOST at Bisha, BarChef-adjacent, Maker Pizza Bar. Trendy and rooftop-focused.
Yorkville
Park Hyatt Roof Lounge, Open Aera, ONE Restaurant, Harriet’s at 1 Hotel Toronto. Upscale Mink Mile-adjacent.
Kensington Market
El Rey Mezcal Bar, Grey Gardens. Hidden bars and natural wine.
The Annex
Civil Liberties, Mod Club, Lee’s Palace. Indie music focus.
Distillery District
Madrina, Cluny Bistro, El Catrin (Mexican cocktails), Pure Spirits Oyster House. Cobblestoned heritage atmosphere.
Old Town & Financial District
The Chase, Reservoir Lounge, Boxcar Social Temperance, BarHop. Office-worker and Financial District-focused.
Riverside & East End
The Broadview Hotel Rooftop, various Riverside cocktail bars. Quieter than downtown options.
Best Bars in Toronto: For Different Visitors
First-Time Visitors
Bar Raval (most beautiful room), Park Hyatt Roof Lounge (sunset views), KOST at Bisha (Toronto’s most-photographed rooftop). One of each delivers the iconic Toronto bar experience.
Cocktail Enthusiasts
BarChef (multi-sensory tasting), Civil Liberties (no-menu approach), Reposado Tequila Library (200+ tequilas).
Wine Lovers
Bar Raval, Grey Gardens, Paris Paris, Bar Isabel. Natural wine and Spanish-influenced wine programs.
Live Music Fans
Sneaky Dee’s, Cameron House, The Dakota Tavern, The Rex, Reservoir Lounge. Toronto’s legendary live music venues.
Date Night
Park Hyatt Roof Lounge, Bar Raval, BarChef, KOST sunset, Madrina. Romantic atmospheres with strong cocktail programs.
Speakeasy Hunters
El Rey Mezcal Bar, Hail Mary, The Cloak Bar. Hidden bars across the city.
Group Outings
Lavelle (rooftop deck), Track & Field (bocce + bar), Drake Sky Yard, KOST at Bisha. Spaces that accommodate larger groups.
Late-Night
Sneaky Dee’s (open until 2 a.m.), various Spadina Chinatown spots, BarChef late-night counter, KOST extended hours on weekends.
Best Bars in Toronto: Tipping & Etiquette
Tipping: 18–20% of pre-tax bill is standard at sit-down bars. $1–$2 per drink at counter service.
Dress Code: Most cocktail bars enforce smart casual. Athletic wear and beachwear inappropriate for upscale bars. Drake Sky Yard, Sneaky Dee’s, and casual neighbourhood bars are more relaxed.
Reservations: Recommended at BarChef, Lavelle, KOST, Open Aera, Park Hyatt Roof Lounge. Walk-ins fine at Bar Raval (counter) and Sneaky Dee’s.
Cover Charges: Some live music venues have cover charges ($5–$15). The Reservoir Lounge and Rex Hotel are typically free.
Last Call: Ontario law mandates last call at 2 a.m. for alcohol service. Bars typically stop serving at 1:45 a.m. on most weeknights, 2 a.m. on weekends.
Best Bars in Toronto: Booking Tips
Book ahead for peak times. Friday and Saturday evenings at popular bars require reservations 1–2 weeks ahead.
Use OpenTable, Resy, and Tock. Most bookable bars use one of these platforms.
Try walk-in counter seats. Bar Raval, BarChef, and several other bars hold counter seats for walk-ins.
Visit weeknights. Tuesday-Thursday have shorter waits and easier reservations.
Check the Toronto Cocktail Week schedule. Annual bar week features special programming and limited-time menus.
Best Bars in Toronto: History
Toronto’s bar scene has evolved dramatically since the late 1990s, transforming from primarily British-style pubs and casual neighbourhood bars to one of North America’s most distinctive cocktail and bar scenes.
The 2000s and 2010s brought the cocktail revolution — BarChef, Bar Raval, and others establishing Toronto on the international cocktail map. The 2020s have continued the momentum with rooftop bars, natural wine programs, and the speakeasy resurgence.
Toronto’s bar scene now competes with major international bar cities — New York, London, Tokyo — for global recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Bars in Toronto
What is the best bar in Toronto?
BarChef is a leading name among Toronto cocktail bars and cites a place on Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List in 2018 and 2020. Bar Raval (most beautiful room) and Park Hyatt Roof Lounge (most romantic) are also routinely cited as the best bars in Toronto.
Where is BarChef in Toronto?
BarChef is on Queen Street West. Reservations recommended; late-night counter seats sometimes available walk-in.
When does last call happen in Toronto?
Ontario law mandates last call at 2 a.m. for alcohol service. Bars typically stop serving at 1:45 a.m. on most weeknights, 2 a.m. on weekends.
How much do cocktails cost in Toronto?
Standard cocktails: $14–$20. Specialty cocktails at high-end bars: $20–$30. BarChef multi-sensory tasting: $25–$50 per cocktail.
Are reservations required at Toronto bars?
For peak times at popular bars: yes. Bar Raval, BarChef, Lavelle, KOST, Open Aera all benefit from reservations. Many casual neighbourhood bars take walk-ins.
Where are the best speakeasies in Toronto?
Hail Mary (Little Italy), The Cloak Bar (Distillery District), El Rey Mezcal Bar (Kensington basement), and The Rabbit Hole (King West).
What’s the best wine bar in Toronto?
Bar Raval (Spanish-influenced wine, the most beautiful room), Grey Gardens (Kensington natural wine), Bar Isabel (sister to Bar Raval), Paris Paris (French natural wine).
When are Toronto bars busiest?
Friday and Saturday evenings 9 p.m.–1 a.m. Major event weekends (TIFF, Pride, Caribana) push reservations 2–3 weeks ahead.
Is the Toronto bar scene worth visiting?
Yes — Toronto’s bar scene now competes with major international bar cities. The combination of world-class cocktail bars, beautiful spaces (Bar Raval), unique experiences (BarChef), and rooftop infinity pools makes it among North America’s most distinctive bar destinations.
One category deserves its own treatment, because the criteria are completely different: a bar you would choose for a cocktail is rarely the bar you want when the Leafs are in overtime. Sound policy, screen sightlines and whether the room will actually react to a goal matter more than the drinks list. We sort the city’s viewing rooms by neighbourhood and by sport in our guide to the best sports bars in Toronto.
Plan Your Best Bars in Toronto Tour
The best bars in Toronto reward visitors who plan a multi-bar evening. For first-time visitors, target one cocktail bar (BarChef or Bar Raval), one rooftop (KOST or Lavelle), and one speakeasy (Hail Mary). For wine enthusiasts, focus on Little Italy and Kensington wine bars. For live music fans, the Sneaky Dee’s/Cameron House/Dakota Tavern circuit is unbeatable. Whatever your style, book ahead for popular bars, dress smart casual, tip 18–20%, and let Toronto’s bar scene surprise you.
For more nightlife inspiration, see our complete Toronto nightlife guide, our rooftop restaurants Toronto guide, our best restaurants in Toronto guide, and our Toronto hidden gems guide. For more specific nights out, see Toronto’s rooftop bars and the city’s craft breweries.
