The Drake has been a Toronto institution since time immemorial. No, not really. But it did open 20 years ago, shaking up the West Queen West strip and setting the seedy area down a path of gentrification that would lead it to become one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. Since then, The Drake has opened its new Modern Wing, and expanded to Prince Edward County with The Drake Devonshire and The Drake Motor Inn.
Still, the OG Toronto spot never ceases to amaze us with its arts programming, events and iconic menu. While new Toronto restaurants come and go, and the best restaurants in Toronto constantly change, The Drake has remained a constant fixture in the city, even with a new chef at the helm.
Tara Newell
Drake Cafe: The vibe
This summer saw the reinvention of The Drake's Sky Yard rooftop patio and the corner café. Including the main dining room, the hotel offers three very different, all art-filled settings where locals and visitors can enjoy drinks and bites.
Long and narrow, The Drake Cafe is lined with garage-door windows that let natural light — and sometimes fresh air — into the funky restaurant. Muted hues of green, red, orange and blue dance around the playful space, punctuated by art pieces. Outside, a large wood patio offers plenty of relaxed seating and picnic benches.
On a summer Friday afternoon, the café is comfortably quiet, with just a few other guests while the patio is buzzy with large groups and casual dates.
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Read moreDrake Cafe: The menu
Swing by the café before 11 a.m. during the week and you can grab glistening Glory Hole doughnuts, and coffee. The fluffy treats come in a myriad of different flavours and are absolutely divine. Weekends see brunch offered in the café, and there are distinct lunch and dinner menus.
I didn't read the description closely, so when The Drake Hot Chicken sandwich arrives, it's the opposite of the image I had conjured in my mind. A heap of shredded chicken and sprinkling of peas sits on a thick slice of pillowy pullman loaf. It's served with a cup of gravy-esque hot sauce that I liberally pour over top. While it's not what I expect, the pleasantly spicy sauce gives the chicken a great flavour.
On the other hand, the lobster roll is exactly what I expect, in a good way.
Tara Newell
Finally, the clock strikes 4 p.m. and we can order from The Drake's daily happy hour menu — it's one of the best happy hours in the city. Coming in under $10, snacks like Fancy Fries, topped with pecorino and truffle, and shishito peppers are tasty shareables that make a date or an after-work outing easy. The perfectly sized, single-serve bites are also great. Yellowfin tuna tartare tacos come in a super crunchy wonton shell, while steak tartare with zesty capers and shallots is piled onto a thick crostini.
The best thing on the menu, though, is the Mini Drake Burger, a bite-sized version of the city-famous handheld. It's got all the flavour and juicy goodness without the commitment of a full meal, which is a dream come true for someone like me who wants to try different things but also always wants to order The Drake Burger.
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Read moreDrake Cafe: The drink list
During happy hour, classic, crowd-pleasing cocktails like the paloma, margarita and pimm's cup come in between $10 and $15. None of the ones we try are especially boozy; they're easy-drinking, light and sessionable serves.
On the regular menu, cocktails are more creative and offer a wider range of flavour profiles. The Pink Me Up is a sweet and tart treat with raspberry, lychee and lemon; Paradise Lost is a spicy, strawberry margarita with a good kick; and the 4-1-Spritz is a refreshing and dry summer drink with hints of stone fruit.
Tara Newell
With the reimagined The Drake Cafe and the top-notch new happy hour, The Drake remains an easy go-to for locals and visitors to enjoy day-to-night drinks and bites.
Happy hour drinks and bites for two: around $60 before tax and tip
