Cathy MerrittMy friends prefer to take a nap or go on a hike when their lives get too hectic. For me, I prefer going to lounges. What better way to forget my problems than sitting back, drinking a cool cocktail, and maybe enjoying some live entertainment?
Toronto is teeming with many bar lounges, so I never run out of options. It also means I get to choose one depending on the mood: do I want to watch a live comedy act or a live music band, or do I just want silence?
If you want to chill out in style, here are some of my local lounge recommendations.
Fox on John
– From: foxonjohn
Address: 106 John St #3
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +16477480369
By day, Fox on John is a brunch spot (and a wonderful one, at that—one of the best in town), but by night, it completely transforms into a casual, lively lounge.
My favorite drink to get is the Pear Fizz Glass cocktail. Drinking this is a fun sensory experience because of the fizz, and once that dies down, my tongue gets treated to a burst of fruity sweetness.
Of course, I have to pair my drink with a dish. My go-to is their Fox Poutine; it’s served fast, and it’s filling. Plus, I can’t resist the fries, cheese curds, and savory gravy combination!
| Pro Tip: If you want to host a private event here, fill out this form. |
C Suite
– From: barcsuite
Address: 126A Cumberland St
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday—5 pm to 12 am
- Thursday—5 pm to 1 am
- Saturday—5 pm to 2 am
Contact Number: +14163864611
C Suite is a hidden gem on Cumberland Street. It’s small and cozy, and its atmosphere is dark and moody, as it’s inspired by 1920s speakeasies.
The menu here is filled with snacks you would normally find in five-star restaurants. My favorite thing to get is the Duck Breast Carpaccio. The meat is tender and juicy, and I love how umami and savory it tastes.
For my drinks, I usually stay simple; just a glass of red wine will do.
| Pro Tip: Since this spot is pretty small, I recommend you reserve your spot ahead of time. You can do so by sending an email to [email protected]. |
Civil Liberties
– From: civlibto
Address: 878 Bloor St W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6 pm to 2 am
Contact Number: +14165465634
Speaking of lounges inspired by speakeasies, another one you might want to check out is the Civil Liberties Bar.
What makes this lounge interesting is that there’s no menu here. Instead, you just tell the mixologist what you’re in the mood for, and they whip out something based on what you told them!
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, this bar holds cocktail classes. If you want to book your spot as soon as they release classes, I recommend following them on EventBrite. |
The Rooftop at The Broadview Hotel
– From: broadviewhotel
Address: The Broadview Hotel, 106 Broadview Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—4 pm to 10:30 pm
Contact Number: +14163628439
Are you looking for dining spots with a good view? Head to The Rooftop at The Broadview Hotel. This spot has a 360º glass facade and a pyramidal skylight, so the twinkling cityscape—and sky—is all you can see!
I love to treat myself to a charcuterie board. The prosciutto, which has been aged for 2 years, is perfection—delicately sweet and savory—and it tastes even better paired with the salty salami and olives.
To wash everything down, I recommend the Madame Violette cocktail. It’s sweet, fruity, and tart. So refreshing!
| Pro Tip: The Rooftop is one of the venues at The Broadview Hotel. You can celebrate your wedding here! |
The Little Jerry
– From: ashleyymckay
Address: 418 College St
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday—7 pm to 1 am
- Thursday—7 pm to 2 am
- Friday to Sunday—6 pm to 2 am
Contact Number: +14165515981
The Little Jerry is the best lounge if you’re a music lover. This spot has an impressive collection of vinyl records, so you can listen to classics and modern hits while nursing your drink.
The food menu here is straightforward and simple. I usually get the potato gnocchi, which is smothered in the most delectable and buttery sauce.
For the drinks, I don’t go too crazy. Most of the time, I stick to a can of beer, but I do indulge by getting an expensive wine sometimes.
| Pro Tip: If you’re coming here for dinner or later, I recommend booking your spot ahead of time. Evening tends to be the peak hours here. |
Grossman’s Tavern
– From: grossmanstavern
Address: 377 Spadina Ave.
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14169777000
What I love about Grossman’s Tavern is that it’s partly a music venue, so there’s always a live band or solo artist performing every night.
It’s a great way for me to expand my musical taste. I’m mostly a pop enjoyer, but this lounge exposes me to other genres as well, such as bluegrass, roots, folk, jazz, and rock.
While enjoying the performance, I order a Grossman’s Burger Deluxe, which is juicy and savory. It comes with fries that are super thick and salty. Definitely not a healthy meal, but it just tastes so good, especially when I eat it late at night.
| Pro Tip: This bar hosts an Amy Louie Grossman’s Music Scholarship (ALGMS), which funds a musician or band with C$2,000 that they can use to further their careers. For more information, check out this page. |
Baro Rooftop
– From: barotoronto
Address: 485 King St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday—5 pm to 12 am
- Thursday and Friday—5 pm to 1 am
- Saturday—11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 1 am
- Sunday—11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14163638388
Baro Toronto has several dining venues in one building, and Baro Rooftop is the best one if you just want to lounge. It has a patio with greenery, so you can enjoy fresh air and a view of the city while drinking your cocktails or eating your meals.
The food and drinks here are inspired by Latin American cuisine. I love to get the Papi Colada here. With pineapples, lime, and Bacardi Superior, it tastes like a summer vacation on a tropical island!
| Pro Tip: Give a gift card to a loved one who loves to hang out in lounges. |
Writers Room Bar
– From: writersroombar
Address: 4 Avenue Rd, Park Hyatt Toronto
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday—3 pm to 12 am
- Thursday to Saturday—11:30 am to 1 am
- Sunday—11:30 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +14169251234
Located on the 17th floor of Park Hyatt Toronto, Writers Room Bar is another lounge you should visit if you like seeing the gorgeous Toronto cityscape.
The cocktails here, which are inspired by classic books, are a hit for me. My current favorite is Refuge because it combines bitter and sweet flavors perfectly.
When it comes to food, I love to get Korean fried chicken because it’s a comfort meal for me. But sometimes, I treat myself to a dessert like the silky and earthy pumpkin-spiced cheesecake.
| Pro Tip: If you want to host an event here, you can send your request to [email protected]. |
The Lab416
– From: comedylab.to
Address: 298 Brunswick Ave
Operating Hours: Thursday to Saturday—6 pm to 1 am
Contact Number: +14169257775
In addition to being a casual lounge, The Lab416 is also a dive bar, which means that the drinks and food here are relatively cheap. This is perfect if you’re short on cash but still want to chill outside.
They serve popular cocktails, and my favorite one to order is the Long Island Iced Tea—such a classic. As for the food, you can expect traditional pub fare. I love getting the crispy chicken sandwich because it’s hearty and satisfying.
| Pro Tip: If you want to celebrate a special event here, contact the bar via the number above to let them know. |
The Reservoir Lounge
– From: reservoirlounge
Address: 52 Wellington St E
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Saturday—7:30 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14169550887
The great thing about The Reservoir Lounge is that it completely embraces the speakeasy vibes. Every time I step inside, I feel like I’ve been whisked away to the 1920s. There’s a new jazz band performing every night.
While the musicians are giving their all on the stage, I indulge in any of their pizzas, especially the roasted churrasco chicken. It’s spicy, earthy, and a bit acidic—oh, and of course, super cheesy. The perfect late-night treat!
| Pro Tip: Every Wednesday and Thursday, you can get their oysters for half the usual price! |
Bar + Karaoke Lounge
– From: barplus_karakoe
Address: 360 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday—5 pm to 2 am
- Friday and Saturday—3 pm to 2 am
Contact Number: +14163407154
Most of the time, I go to lounges to relax, but sometimes, I do love to sing my heart out. Whenever I’m in the mood to stage my own concert, Bar + Karaoke Lounge is where I go. This place even has non-English songs, which is great because I listen to a lot of K-pop!
To refill my energy, I love to chomp chicken wings down. There’s a variety of dipping sauces here, but so far, my favorite is the honey mustard because it’s sweet and spicy at the same time.
| Pro Tip: If you’re coming with a group, I recommend booking your spot ahead of time. You can do so by filling out this form. |
CC Lounge and Whisky Bar
– From: confront
Address: 45 Front St E
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday—5 pm to 11 pm
- Thursday and Friday—5 pm to 2 am
- Saturday—6 pm to 2 am
Contact Number: +14163624777
Dark and moody, CC Lounge and Whisky Bar is the ideal place to sulk and brood like you’re in a music video for a sad song (I totally have never pretended to do this). It also helps that they have good food and drinks, so I’m tempted to lounge for a long time.
I love to go all out and treat myself to a ribeye steak dish. It’s 12 oz, so it’s pretty hefty, and it’s served with an earthy truffle mashed potato. The jus is made with whisky, so it has elegant, floral notes on top of the savory flavor.
For the drinks, I usually just stick to whisky. It’s the specialty here, so they have all the amazing brands like Gibsons Sterling and Pike Creek.
| Pro Tip: If you want to host an event here, fill out this form. |
Flora Lounge
– From: 1hotel.toronto
Address: 550 Wellington St W Suite D, 1 Hotel Toronto
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—2 pm to 12 am
- Friday—2 pm to 2 am
- Saturday—12 pm to 2 am
- Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14166013591
I admit the primary reason I’m obsessed with Floral Lounge is because of its interior decor. It’s nature-inspired, so there are green plants everywhere, and the color palette features neutral, muted colors. It’s just so serene!
Since I come here in the evening, the bites I order are dinner sliders. They’re made with candied maple bacon and smoked cheddar, so they have an interesting sweet, savory, and smoky combination.
I pair that with Flora’s Paloma, a cocktail with a lovely vanilla flavor.
| Pro Tip: Do you want to host an event here? If yes, fill out this form. |
Clockwork Champagne and Cocktails
– From: clockworktoronto
Address: 100 Front St W, Fairmont Royal York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14163682511
Clockwork Champagne and Cocktails has that swanky atmosphere that makes you feel like a million bucks. It’s also quiet and intimate, so it’s a great place to go on a date with.
If I’m feeling extra indulgent, I splurge on La Tour Royal. It’s a tower of seafood—lobsters, snow crab legs, oysters, and more! You better bring someone with you because you can’t finish them all.
Their lineup of cocktails is also great. I love the High Noon cocktail, which has Don Julio Reposado, Bulleit Bourbon, wood spice, and sherry. Its flavor profile is warm and bright.
| Pro Tip: This spot also offers afternoon tea. I recommend trying it because it’s super fun and relaxing. |
The Lounge at the Drake Hotel
– From: thedrakehotel
Address: 1150 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday—8 am to 12 am
- Thursday to Saturday—8 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14165315042
I love how The Lounge at the Drake Hotel looks so glitzy and glamorous; it makes me want to party with my girls. This place also has different menus depending on the time of day, so my orders are almost never the same every time I visit.
That said, I do have to recommend their steak frites. The steak is so tender, and the peppercorn jus adds a lovely savory, kind of spicy kick to every bite.
For my drink, I love Better in Pears. This cocktail is fruity and tart, with a hint of mint in the background.
| Pro Tips: If you’re coming with a large group, you need to book ahead of time by sending an email to [email protected]. If you want to host a special event here, fill out this form. |
Lula Lounge
– From: lulalounge
Address: 1585 Dundas St W
Operating Hours:
- Friday and Saturday—7 pm to 2:30 am
- Sunday—12 pm to 3 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14165880307
A friend described Lula Lounge as “like being on a tropical vacation,” and now that I’ve visited it (multiple times, in fact), I totally get what she meant. This place is just so full of energy!
There’s live music playing and people dancing. It’s definitely not the lounge to go if you want peace and quiet.
This spot has a prix fixe dinner menu, so you’ll be eating multiple courses. So far, the standouts for me are pollo al horno (smoky roasted halal chicken and fluffy, tangy rice) and braised beef cheeks (the savory flavors penetrate deep into the meat).
| Pro Tips: Lula Lounge hosts drag brunch shows often. It’s super fun! They host Cuban Fridays every week. It’s a special experience where you eat a three-course dinner and enjoy a dance lesson (with a live salsa band playing) right after. Celebrate your special event here. You can even host a wedding here. |
