Just when we thought its alcohol stranglehold couldn’t get any worse, the LCBO strikes right at the onset of summer. But there are still plenty of Toronto bottle shops and other places to purchase alcohol while we wait patiently for the LCBO to sort out its differences with the province about the expansion of alcohol sales.
Once October hits, we can finally shop for wine, beer and RTDs at grocery and convenience stores — just like the rest of the country. Until then, why not support our local Toronto breweries and wineries (yes, the city has its own winery!), or discover a new favourite Toronto bottle shop.
During the strike, LCBO will still be providing our favourite Toronto restaurants and the best bars with their deliveries, so you can still pull up to Toronto’s amazing patios or intimate wine bars for a bevvy. But if you need something at home or on the go, turn to this list of Toronto bottle shops, breweries and other places to buy alcohol that aren’t the LCBO.
28 Toronto bottle shops, distilleries, breweries and other places where you can buy alcohol right now
Bottle Shops
1. Grape Witches
1247 Dundas St. W.
Dundas West spot, Grape Witches has an incredibly wide selection of bottles, with natural wines high up on the priority list. Find Old World serves alongside Canadian names in this wine bar and bottle shop. Once you’re there, you might be tempted to stay a while on their beautiful back patio sipping wine by the glass and snacking on small plates. They also deliver.
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Read more2. Bottega Volo
608 College St.
Tucked just beyond The Royal Theatre’s entryway spotlights and sparkling glass doors, Bottega Volo is a warm and friendly bottle shop and grocery from the family behind the city’s popular beer hall, Bar Volo, and Birrerria Volo. Unique and hard-to-find imported beer has long been synonymous with the Volo name. New releases fly off the fridge shelves, always stocked with local brews like Godspeed and Bellwoods. Fine Italian aperitivo, digestifs and bubbly seltzers join forces with low-intervention and natural wines to give Bottega Volo one of the most impressive and diverse selections in the city that could stand toe-to-toe with international bottle shops.
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Read more3. Ricky + Olivia
996 Queen St. E.
Leslieville’s newest wine bar is named after hospitality couple Ricky Casipe and Olivia Simpson, who have teamed up with Adrian Proszowski to launch this buzzy new opening. You won’t find wines from Old-World heavyweights like France and Italy: Ricky + Olivia exclusively serves and sells wine from Ontario. Head to the bottle shop at the front of the restaurant where friendly staff will help you find a funky local vino that’s perfect for you.
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Read more4. Neverland
371 Queen St. W.
During the pandemic, the French/British bistro Peter Pan transformed into Peter Pantry, a wine and grocery shop. Now they’ve expanded into a fully stocked bottle shop and wine bar next door, dubbed Peter Pan’s Neverland. The list of vino varieties stretches on for days, with bottles hailing from all over. Rare finds like skin-contact wines, sparkling reds and vermouth also make an appearance. While you’re here, pick up some pantry staples, too.
5. HotBlack Coffee
Multiple Locations
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It’s all in the name at this coffee shop, known for serving some of the best straight-up java in the city. Their shop features bottles from local wineries, along with locally sourced pantry items. Stop by to grab your wake-up juice and your wind-down juice.
6. Midfield Wine Bar
1434 Dundas St. W.
Midfield is our go-to spot for low-intervention wines sourced from all over the world. Their bottle shop selection includes plenty of pét-nats and orange wines, along with seasonal favourites, plus they dip into their cellar for some really special bottles.
7. La Palette
492 Queen St. W.
French restaurant La Palette’s full-blown bottle shop offers a long list of rare, old-world wines that could never be found on an LCBO shelf.
8. Salt Wine Bar
225 Ossington Ave.
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For a wine shopping experience that will make you feel like you've teleported to the Iberian Peninsula, run, don't walk, to Salt Wine Bar. With a wide assortment of imported Portuguese and Spanish wines and delectable provisions like jamón ibérico and bags of truffle chips, you'll be skipping through the mercado.
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Read more9. Downtown Winery
30 Ossington Ave.
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You don't have to leave the city to get a full winery experience. Downtown Winery on Ossington, just north of Queen, has all the wine-country fixings, minus the vines — but we’d rather sip on grapes than stare at them, anyway. Their bottle shop has over 30 styles to choose from. They specialize in Old World wines from Europe but with a New World technique — storing, ageing and blending right here in Toronto. Downtown Winery also sells convenient and cute cans of wine along with large format options. There’s also a small food market.
10. Wine Butler
Unit G, 100 Bridgeland Ave.
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If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at winemaking, or just wish you could get quality vino for a cheaper price, Wine Butler is for you. Sign up, select your wines and, once they’re ready, visit their studio at Dufferin and the 401 to bottle your own wine. It’s cheap, easy and you can buy in bulk — just don’t forget to bring your own bottles from home.
11. Mercatino E Vini
1091 Queen St. E.
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The people who brought you Leslieville’s neighbourhood favourite, Ascari Enoteca, are also behind this charming wine bar and bottle shop just a few doors down. Mercatino E Vini sells dozens of exclusive Italian wines, liqueurs and pre-batched cocktails, plus meal kits and pantry staples. Staff will often let you try before you buy, or you can order a glass to enjoy in their foliage-filled back lounge.
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Read more12. Conci
1300 Gerrard St. E.
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This adorable French bakery in Little India is known for its croissants, pain au chocolat and macarons. However, it’s also sneakily harbouring some great bottles of wine to-go with all of that incredible flaky goodness. Pick up a bottle on your next visit and keep your eyes peeled for the gourmet events their sister spot Bissou in Cabbagetown puts on from time to time.
13. Blue Door Wine Shop
1010 Bloor St. W.
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Located within Bloorcourt’s charming Paradise Theatre, Blue Door Wine Shop stocks eclectic wines from around the world. They even have a wine club that delivers three sommelier-selected consignment bottles every month, plus perks like discounted Osteria Rialto wine dinners.
14. The Deep End
3106 Dundas St. W.
The bottles in this teeny bottle shop, tucked inside the Junction’s Doc’s Green Door Lounge, feature handwritten cards describing the wine’s tasting notes and other information to pique your interest. There’s a focus on responsibly farmed vino here.
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Read more15. Paradise Grapevine
841 Bloor St. W.
There’s no such thing as a quick visit to Paradise Grapevine, Ontario’s oldest independent wine shop. It’s easy to get sucked in, browsing the rare “unicorn” bottles, or Paradise Grapevine’s colourful house varietals. Everything here is fun, approachable and delicious.
16. 99 Bottles
925 Kingston Rd.
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If you’re throwing a party in the Beaches, this café and boutique store is all you need to stock up for the perfect night. Pick up international wines, cider and local craft beer, plus non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.
17. Bossanova Wine and Beer
103 Roncesvalles Ave.
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At this bottle shop and tasting room on Roncy, Ben Plisky-Somers and Dan Grant curate a large selection of wine and beer from independent or family-owned businesses. You’re likely to find your next favourite organic, biodynamic or natural bottle here.
18. Dear Grain Sourdough Studio
48 Ossington Ave.
You might know Dear Grain for their freshly baked sourdough and other breads, but the shop also doubles as a grocery store with plenty of specialty items, bottles of wine and a fridge stocked with cans. You can find unusual serves here like Wilda — an easy drinking mead that we’re head over heels for.
19. Unboxed Market
1263 Dundas St. W.
Toronto’s favourite zero-waste grocery store recently added alcohol to its offerings. Find a whole section of wine bottles to pick up with your grocery haul. They also have great non-alcoholic options like adaptogenic drinks, flavoured sparkling waters, teas and more.
Distilleries
20. Reid’s Distillery
32 Logan Ave
You may have only seen the eye-catching, jewel-textured gin bottle on LCBO shelves, but Reid’s Distillery is located right in downtown Toronto — and you can buy directly from them. Shop their gin, pre-made cocktails and cans online or head down to the distillery and tasting room near Lakeshore East and Carlaw. Check their schedule of events to visit during their concert series or start your Saturday with a yoga and gin session. They also offer mixology classes and a cocktail afternoon tea.
21. Nickel 9 Distillery
90 Cawthra Ave, Unit #100
The Junction Triangle and surrounding area is known for its many breweries, but it’s also home to Nickel 9 Distillery, a producer of small-batch spirits. Book a tour and tasting or a cocktail class, or order their spirits and cocktails kits for pickup or delivery. They offer a wide range of spirits, including gin, vodka, rum, brandy and liqueurs. Their Antler Cedar Gin is made in partnership with the eponymous Dundas West restaurant.
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Read more22. Civil Pours
28 Logan Ave.
@ava_dor_ltd
Want a killer cocktail at home but don’t have the chops or the energy to whip it up yourself? The team behind Civil Liberties, dubbed Canada’s Best Bar in 2022 and 2023, recently transitioned their Civil Pours pop-up into a full-blown cocktail distillery. Shop online for pre-batched jalapeño margs, espresso martinis and more, or find them in select Toronto retailers.
23. Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers
4833 Tufford Rd, Beamsville
Visit the distillery and tasting room on your next trip to Niagara, or simply order online. Dillon’s ships their quality spirits, cocktail kits, and pre-made and canned cocktails across Canada. From their flavoured gins to their white rye whisky, there’s plenty to love and explore.
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Read moreBreweries
24. Bellwoods Brewery
Multiple Locations
Jelly Kings don’t just appear at the LCBO on their own — they come from Bellwoods Brewery, which has one location on the Ossington strip and one in North York at Lawrence and Caledonia. Get them straight from the source and you can try all of the unique, limited run flavours, along with other brews like IPAs and pilsners. They deliver, which might be best so you’re not tempted by the Ossington brew pub’s buzzy patio and delicious bites.
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Read more25. Left Field
Multiple Locations
With taprooms on either end of town (Left Field Liberty Village and Leslieville) and delivery options for Toronto and beyond, there’s no excuse for not supporting this excellent local brewery. We love the Piña Power for a fruit-forward summery sip, but you can’t argue with the crushable Ice Cold Beer on sweltering hot days.
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Read more26. Saulter Street Brewery
31 Saulter St. #1
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Barn breweries are usually reserved for rural parts of Ontario, but Saulter Street’s brewery, taproom and bottle shop is located right in the heart of Leslieville. Local delivery is available, but we suggest making a trip and finding your favourite beer — German wheat beer, mango raspberry sour, pilsner — after lots of, ahem, lengthy exploration.
27. Blood Brothers Brewing
165 Geary Ave.
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Blood Brothers Brewing has been on Geary Avenue since long before it became the popular enclave it is today. The spacious taproom, where there are usually 19 beers on tap, is open from noon until 11 p.m. every day.
28. Henderson Brewing Co.
128A Sterling Rd.
This Junction-based brewery has been supplying the beer lovers of Toronto with cans of craft deliciousness since 2015. Head to their dog-friendly taproom and bottle shop, or order online.
