A few weeks back, I was lucky enough to have a guest post written by my friend in Greece, Nicole, about a cocktail tour of Athens. Friends of mine happened to be in Athens that week and set out on her tour, which they loved. This got me thinking, where do I suggest that people go cocktailing when they are in Toronto?
To answer this question, I set out one night, purely in the name of science (insert eye roll here), with Instagram friends Amy and Grayce to visit some new and old favourite Toronto spots. Amy and I decided to do a joint post on the topic, but to save this from being an incredibly long post, we are going to limit this to the first bars that we visited and do another post later on other spots. A big shout out to Amy and Grayce for their ideas and for sharing their cocktails!
First up, while the night is young, and the light is good, the newly reopened Grey Tiger. Grey Tiger is “an artist-run cocktail bar for new romantics”.
Becky and Ryan actually opened Grey Tiger (the name is an homage to their grey cat) a few years ago and ran it as a cafe by day and a bar by night. They closed, renovated and recently reopened it as a bar only (open at 4 pm). I loved the rescued warped windows they used!
You have to go just to check out their fabulous illustrated (by Becky) and written (by Ryan) cocktails menu.
Here you will find perfectly balanced cocktails and incantations to go with them! Grey Tiger prides itself on “bar cocktails as a magical art”.
I had the “My Mother’s Sister” while Amy tried the “Freedom Witch” and Grayce “The State of Public Magic”. Not sure what you want? Try a “Mark of the Bar Witch” for a bartender’s choice.
Amy’s scotch-based drink was served literally smoking.
Ryan’s love of cocktails goes back to being taught how to make a Manhattan by his mother! (Wouldn’t you just love to meet his Mom? She sounds like my kind of lady!)
“Blessed be this kitchen/of your elemental cures/let the warmth and wisdom/of your tender care endure/may your creations/nourish, heal and grow our family/just as our endless love and gratitude/ sustains your vital energy/so mote it be.” – “My Mother’s Sister” incantation.
Next stop the super close (less than one block away) Bar Neon and its cute patio.
Bar Neon is not a new kid on the block, having opened in 2012. If you have a group, get there early for one of the patio tables under the string of lights. Added bonus if you are traveling around: they also serve tapas (dips, salads, oysters), as well as slighter larger plates of food (calamari, wings, burgers).
We decided to share a trio of dips: sweet pea hummus, spicy eggplant and tzatziki with warm pitas with a crunch of salt on them.
For cocktails, Amy chose the “Raspberry Beret” which contains Soju (side note: we fell in love with Soju when we went to Seoul, South Korea) and a Calpico – a Japanese uncarbonated yogurt-like soft drink. The Calpico gave the drink a Raspberry creamsicle taste. Grayce went traditional with a “Pimms Cup”. I went with a “Bourbon Snap” given my love of ginger.
While “find a penny pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck” may be something you remember from childhood, the washroom at Bar Neon is NOT the place to do this….the bathroom floor is tiled with pennies!
I love the water fountain in the middle of the bar as well as the “Last Call” neon sign behind the bar!
Shameful Tiki Bar was stop number three. Who doesn’t love Tiki time?
Since 2015, Toronto has been getting its Tiki on at this popular Parkdale spot that’s the little sister to the original Vancouver location. If you are looking for a vintage Tiki experience, look no further. With its blowfish lights to the Polynesian touches and live music, The Shameful Tiki Bar is not to be missed!
The menu helpfully lets you know how strong your cocktail will be based on the number of barrels.
Grayce went strong with the “Tika Puka Puka”, Amy, traditional with the “Hurricane” and I stuck to bourbon with the “Bourbon Special” (pacing myself!).
Bringing a group or on a romantic date? You can share a “bowl”. (If you order the Volcano bowl, be prepared for the fog machine to go off! A Mystery Bowl, served in a large clam-shaped bowl, is announced by a gong being struck!)
No Toronto cocktail stop would be complete without the incredible Barchef. Since 2008, Barchef has been creating cocktail art! Their ever-changing cocktail menu is broken up into different categories: Sweet & Sour (“Typically juice-based cocktails incorporating fresh herbs, bitters and syrups for complexity and length”); Sipping (“A classic style; booze heavy, complex and composed to savour”); and Modernist (“A contemporary and progressive approach to the craft, incorporating aromatics and ingredients which create an immersive and multi-sensory experience”). They also feature bottle-aged cocktails.
Warning: Grayce’s “Coconut & Absinthe Sour” was a coconut treat that packed a hidden punch! I stayed with my ginger theme with the “Ginger and Orange” served in a Moscow Mule-like copper mug.
Amy kept her smoking show streak going with the “Elderflower & Fougère. A big thank you and shout out to Amy for this video!
The Elderflower & Fougère is served in two parts: a drink and an also ice cream-like side that is an Espuma of Spruce gin and Chartreuse, dill flower, lime, basil sorbet, mint and Chartreuse gel, and lemongrass and Elderflower snow. Fougère is “the olfactory description used in the perfume industry to define compositions incorporating fresh crisp greens, bright florals and woods. Flavours of Mezcal, spruce, cucumber, elderflower, freshly cut green grass, basil, mint, Chartreuse and green cardamom.” How’s that for a complex cocktail?
Barchef has a kitchen that serves snacks and fun food such as the apricot meringues that are artistically served and let you blow smoke like a dragon!
Barchef also boasts impressive lists of whisky (American, Japanese, Indian, Canadian, Irish and Swedish), bourbon (Kentucky and American) and Scotch. Absinthe lovers, you will be in heaven with the Barchef Absinthe fountain.
Want to bring Barchef home? The LCBO now carries Barchef Project The Toasted Old Fashioned. Just pour and enjoy!
That’s a wrap on Cocktailing Toronto Part One! Stay tuned for future cocktail adventures! (Have a place you love to go and want others to hear about it? Drop me a note!)
Where:
Grey Tiger – 1190 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N2; Open 4PM – 2AM Wednesday – Sunday
Bar Neon – 1226 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N3; Open 11AM – 11PM Monday – Sunday
Shameful Tiki Bar – 1378 Queen Street West Toronto, ON M6K 1L7; Open from 5PM – 1AM Sunday – Wednesday/5PM -2AM Thursday-Saturday
Barchef – 472 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2B2; Open 6PM – 2AM Monday – Sunday
Great post! Really enjoying the insider cocktail info!
Thanks! A few suggestions for next time you are in Toronto!
Yum Yum. Can’t waiy for my next toronto trip!
Would love to take you around to these spots!