It’s list season, baby, and Toronto’s best bars are getting the recognition they deserve. Sure, no ranking can fully capture the city’s ever-evolving roster of movers and shakers, but lists like the North America’s 50 Best Bars (or our very own foodism ICON Awards) give us a reason to raise our tipples to the people behind them. If you’re planning your next night out, you can’t go wrong with any of the spots on these lists.
North America’s 50 Best Bars stirred things up this year by doubling their list from 50 to 100, and Toronto showed up in a big way. More local spots made the cut than ever before; a few of our long-time favourites (and exciting new Toronto spots) finally got their flowers.
So, you’ve scored a reservation or snagged a barstool on a packed night at one of these hotspots, and now it’s showtime. You show up thirsty, dreaming of working your way through the whole menu. But your wallet has other plans: two drinks, max, it whispers from your pocket. Time to choose wisely. The good news is, at these top-tier bars, there’s no such thing as a bad cocktail. Still, if we had to pick, a few stand above the rest. From the signature sips that made these spots famous to fresh new creations turning heads, these are the must-try drinks at Toronto’s must-visit bars.
Library Bar
View on Instagram
Birdbath Martini
The Fairmont Royal York’s glitzy cocktail den has long been one of our favourite bars in the city, so we were thrilled to see it earn a well-deserved spot on this year’s list. We’ve been singing the praises of their iconic Birdbath Martini for years: It's a finely tuned, tableside spectacle made with Library Bar's exclusive Quill vodka and gin, which is distilled by Dillon’s and available only at the Royal York. It’s a one-of-a-kind cocktail worth dressing up a little fancier for.
Strawberry Fields
If martinis aren’t your style, the Strawberry Fields mixes the fruit with tomato, lemon and basil for a fruit-forward and summery sipper. Fun fact: It’s inspired by The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever.”
Civil Works
Hector Vasquez
Strickling Bar
One of the most exciting new openings of 2024, Civil Works lands at #55 on North America’s Best Bars list. We’re not surprised — Élise Hanson is one to watch in the bartending scene, and was one of foodism’s 2024 ICONS. Hanson’s Strickling Bar is one of my favourite cocktails in the city; its warm, miso, caramel-coffee finish takes you on a flavour journey.
Hector Vasquez
Pounding Sand
A bit less spirit-forward but just as savoury, the Pounding Sand is an al pastor taco in a glass, with a corn-husk-infused mezcal hesperidium, house achiote cordial and masa foam (the “tortilla”).
Cry Baby Gallery
Zombie
A speakeasy hidden behind an art gallery, Cry Baby Gallery's quality cocktails aren't so secret. Their take on a Zombie, a classic tiki tipple comprised of at least three different rums, features a house rum blend and sorrel.
I Was In The Pool
If you’re on the lookout for something a bit more “down-to-earth,” the I Was In The Pool mixes carrot juice with mango and grapefruit. Cry Baby Gallery’s menu is always changing, so don’t be afraid to try something new when you’re there, too.
Slice of Life
Silver Fizz
Savour heaps of hops from Burdock Brewery's Ducks IPA, then fruity herbaceousness from Ohme Farms sorrel in this tall, refreshing tipple.
Espresso Martini
While Slice of Life’s menu changes monthly to keep things ultra-seasonal, a few standout libations have earned a permanent spot. The Espresso Martini is one of them; it's unlike any you’ve had before. Built on a base of smoky mezcal, it’s topped with a warm, cascara-infused cream (served at 70 C) with caramelized white chocolate, then finished with a sprinkle of dehydrated miso.
Bar Pompette
Ashley van der Laan
Cornichon
Recently crowned the Best Bar in Canada, Bar Pompette’s most raved-about cocktail isn’t your average ‘tini. Dill pickle distillate and dill oil give Bar Pompette’s crisp gin martini a briney twist.
Nitro Colada
Even more impressive is the Nitro Colada, which is made by clarifying fresh pineapple juice with coconut water before mixing it with a spiced almond syrup and a rum fat-washed with coconut oil. It’s served on tap with nitrogen to give it a creamy, foamy texture.
Civil Liberties
There's no menu at this drinking den that’s surprisingly down-to-earth, especially considering how many awards and accolades they’ve scraped up over the years. Pull up a stool in the grungy bar with a hint of a tropical theme, and feel a wave of nostalgia seeing all the old Canadian pennies encased in the bartop. The expert mixologists will whip up anything you fancy, so be ready to order by selecting your spirit choice and flavour profile, then sit back and watch them masterfully mix up your personalized concoction.
Bar Mordecai
Igor Aldomar
Tame Impala
The more we know about Bar Mordecai’s Tame Impala cocktail, the better. Pair this fresh tequila, lime, chai and ginger sipper with slightly out-of-key singing in this moody haunt’s no-fee karaoke rooms.
Content Creator
The Content Creator will transform you into the paparazzi, snapping pics of this glamorous pornstar martini riff and its accompanying prosecco shot. Just keep the flash off, please.
Mother Cocktail Bar
View on Instagram
Toasted chai piña colada
We’ll never climb down from our soapbox for this luxurious, summery sipper from Mother on Queen West. Lemongrass-infused rum meets ingredients that sound like they belong on a mouth-watering dessert menu: toasted chai cream, caramelized yogurt, coconut sorbet and lacto-fermented pineapple and ginger.
Porcelain
There’s a whole bouquet of floral flavour in the Porcelain, a sake and jasmine baijiu concoction with more coconut, lacto-fermented pear and toasted wild rice.
Simpl Things
Josh Kobayashi
Plum & Circumstance
Don't just take our word for it — owner and renowned mixologist Evelyn Chick listed this twist on a Paloma, with plum-infused tequila and umeshu wine as her favourite new drink at Simpl Things.
Sup Wit Dat?!
The embodiment of Simpl Things' cool-casual-refined concept, the Sup Wit Dat?! deftly straddles complexity and simplicity. There are only five ingredients here, but the inclusion of balsam fir takes this mezcal margarita in a delightfully crushable direction. If you look up "summer cocktail" in the dictionary, you'll find one of these lurking within the pages.
