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Drake One Fifty

Cocktail Heatmap: Where to Drink Right Now

by Carolyn Patricia Grisold
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by Carolyn Patricia Grisold
1 comment / new
Drake One Fifty

Ladies and Gentlemen, here it is: Eater's Cocktail Heatmap! Toast the city's bar skills with a quick tour of some of the best on offer. Whilst this list is limited to 10, it is meant to provide a snapshot of what's hot and new right now in the drinks scene.

So before you spill your Old Fashioned in a fury that your fave is not mentioned, why not state your case in the comments below? Where do you go for fabulous cocktails? What's your favourite drinks destination? What do you think about the city's return to the classics? And why does the west end offer so much more selection than the east?

From Hitch in Leslieville to 3030 in The Junction, here's where Torontonians are drinking today.


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Geraldine Restaurant

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Parkdale's old-timey cocktail darling, Geraldine actually is as charming as it appears. While the reviews are mixed on her food, consensus remains strong that Alexandra Albert's bar can do no wrong. Try: Widow's Kiss, with calvados, benedictine & chartreuse. [Photo: Wheretoeatout.ca]
1564 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1A6, Canada
647-352-8827
647-352-8827

The Huntsman Tavern

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The bar skills of The Huntsman Tavern's Aja Sax can always be trusted. Girl's done her time and it shows. Oh and this College Street gastropub is also cozy and comforting. Try: Scotchy Scotch Scotch, because Ron Burgundy so hot right now. [Photo: @TheHuntsmanTO]
890 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

3030 Dundas

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3030 has been around since 2012 but (other than for beer) it's kept off the drinks radar until recently. After hosting the finale of Bourbon Week, attention keeps being paid to this casual Junction bar. Also, their food has really upped its game. Try: Asking the bar to whip up something special. [3030DundasWest.com]
3030 Dundas St West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-769-5736
416-769-5736

Weldon Park

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Newcomer Weldon Park is one to watch. Another bar jumping on the barrel-aged cocktail bandwagon, its youthful vibe disguises a grown-up maturity behind the rails. They also embrace collaboration with featured guest bartenders. Try: the back room. [Weldon Park/Facebook]
569 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-551-7055
416-551-7055

Food & Liquor

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Parkdale's teeny weeny hotspot, Food & Liquor is clear with their intentions. The menu for drinks and snacks is short but sweet; emphasis is on creativity for both. The owner-chefs have worked at Campagnolo and Hotel Le Germain. Try: Pumpkin Sour, how apropos for the season. [Food & Liquor/Yelp]
1610 Queen St West, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1A8, Canada
(647) 748-7113
(647) 748-7113

The Chase

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The Chase's Shawn Mulvany recently won Toronto Cocktail Week's Hogtown Shakedown. It's rare, these days, for a high-brow resto like The Chase to have one of the city's best bars; lately those honours go to retro-fitted hipster joints. But luckily here you get your money's worth. Try: Asking Mulvany for a Dance With the Devil. [The Chase]
10 Temperance St, Toronto, On M5H 1Y5, Canada
647-348-7000
647-348-7000

THR & Co.

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THR & Co., brought to us by The Harbord Room, has been getting consistent rave reviews since its opening earlier this year. Its cocktail menu has been described as tight (though sometimes expensive), and less complicated than the original Harbord Room's. Try: Anything with Tromba. [THR & Co./Yelp]
97 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, Canada
647-748-7199
647-748-7199

The Drake One Fifty

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Everyone's talking about Drake lately; from the singer to the hotel, it's the word of the year. And with good measure: Drake One Fifty is as cool as we hoped. Try: skip the infamous $25 Baller Manhattan and go for a Brown Butter Maple Old Fashioned. [Drake One Fifty]
150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-363-6150
416-363-6150

Hitch

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There's no conspiracy to keep bars on the east side of the Don off top 10 lists, there's just more competition on the west. But that doesn't mean the east is a teetotaller. Far from it. Take Hitch for example. Moving into the spot of once-hyped Tomi-Kro, the bar brings great classic cocktails to Leslieville, evoking a Mad Men vibe to some, and a casual (though hipster) neighbourhood local to others. Try: a traditional Dark & Stormy. [Hitch/Toronto Pubs]
1216 Queen St E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(647) 351-7781
(647) 351-7781

Home Of The Brave

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With a cocktail menu that covers original blends, vintage standards and guest appearances, Home of the Brave's Veronica Saye was a semi-finalist at Toronto Cocktail Week's Hogtown Shakedown. Coming from La Carnita's Taylor Corrigan, HOTB has a country saloon style and serves up American comfort food. Try: a Jack-and-Coke slushie. [HOTB/Yelp]
589 King Street West, Toronto, Canada
416-366-2736
416-366-2736

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Geraldine Restaurant

1564 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1A6, Canada
Parkdale's old-timey cocktail darling, Geraldine actually is as charming as it appears. While the reviews are mixed on her food, consensus remains strong that Alexandra Albert's bar can do no wrong. Try: Widow's Kiss, with calvados, benedictine & chartreuse. [Photo: Wheretoeatout.ca]
1564 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1A6, Canada
647-352-8827
647-352-8827

The Huntsman Tavern

890 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The bar skills of The Huntsman Tavern's Aja Sax can always be trusted. Girl's done her time and it shows. Oh and this College Street gastropub is also cozy and comforting. Try: Scotchy Scotch Scotch, because Ron Burgundy so hot right now. [Photo: @TheHuntsmanTO]
890 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

3030 Dundas

3030 Dundas St West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3030 has been around since 2012 but (other than for beer) it's kept off the drinks radar until recently. After hosting the finale of Bourbon Week, attention keeps being paid to this casual Junction bar. Also, their food has really upped its game. Try: Asking the bar to whip up something special. [3030DundasWest.com]
3030 Dundas St West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-769-5736
416-769-5736

Weldon Park

569 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Newcomer Weldon Park is one to watch. Another bar jumping on the barrel-aged cocktail bandwagon, its youthful vibe disguises a grown-up maturity behind the rails. They also embrace collaboration with featured guest bartenders. Try: the back room. [Weldon Park/Facebook]
569 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-551-7055
416-551-7055

Food & Liquor

1610 Queen St West, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1A8, Canada
Parkdale's teeny weeny hotspot, Food & Liquor is clear with their intentions. The menu for drinks and snacks is short but sweet; emphasis is on creativity for both. The owner-chefs have worked at Campagnolo and Hotel Le Germain. Try: Pumpkin Sour, how apropos for the season. [Food & Liquor/Yelp]
1610 Queen St West, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1A8, Canada
(647) 748-7113
(647) 748-7113

The Chase

10 Temperance St, Toronto, On M5H 1Y5, Canada
The Chase's Shawn Mulvany recently won Toronto Cocktail Week's Hogtown Shakedown. It's rare, these days, for a high-brow resto like The Chase to have one of the city's best bars; lately those honours go to retro-fitted hipster joints. But luckily here you get your money's worth. Try: Asking Mulvany for a Dance With the Devil. [The Chase]
10 Temperance St, Toronto, On M5H 1Y5, Canada
647-348-7000
647-348-7000

THR & Co.

97 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, Canada
THR & Co., brought to us by The Harbord Room, has been getting consistent rave reviews since its opening earlier this year. Its cocktail menu has been described as tight (though sometimes expensive), and less complicated than the original Harbord Room's. Try: Anything with Tromba. [THR & Co./Yelp]
97 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, Canada
647-748-7199
647-748-7199

The Drake One Fifty

150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Everyone's talking about Drake lately; from the singer to the hotel, it's the word of the year. And with good measure: Drake One Fifty is as cool as we hoped. Try: skip the infamous $25 Baller Manhattan and go for a Brown Butter Maple Old Fashioned. [Drake One Fifty]
150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-363-6150
416-363-6150

Hitch

1216 Queen St E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
There's no conspiracy to keep bars on the east side of the Don off top 10 lists, there's just more competition on the west. But that doesn't mean the east is a teetotaller. Far from it. Take Hitch for example. Moving into the spot of once-hyped Tomi-Kro, the bar brings great classic cocktails to Leslieville, evoking a Mad Men vibe to some, and a casual (though hipster) neighbourhood local to others. Try: a traditional Dark & Stormy. [Hitch/Toronto Pubs]
1216 Queen St E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(647) 351-7781
(647) 351-7781

Home Of The Brave

589 King Street West, Toronto, Canada
With a cocktail menu that covers original blends, vintage standards and guest appearances, Home of the Brave's Veronica Saye was a semi-finalist at Toronto Cocktail Week's Hogtown Shakedown. Coming from La Carnita's Taylor Corrigan, HOTB has a country saloon style and serves up American comfort food. Try: a Jack-and-Coke slushie. [HOTB/Yelp]
589 King Street West, Toronto, Canada
416-366-2736
416-366-2736