Beerbistro

Beerbistro (website, Twitter)
18 King Street East, Toronto ON M5C 1C4 (on the north side of King Street East, just east of Yonge Street) 416-815-7562
Google Maps

Pull your socks up, Beerbistro, there are dozens of less snobby pubs within walking distance.

I’ve been to the Beerbistro at least four times since I started this blog. I took notes most visits, but I just kept going to better pubs in the meantime and I would slipped my review of Beerbistro to the bottom of my pub review notes. I recently decided that it was now or never as I hoped that my earlier meh experiences were just coincidences. The Beerbistro is loud, despite being carpeted, probably due to its high ceiling, and the pub is divided into two areas with a large bar and related seating in one part and a more formal restaurant feel in the other. The crowd is business people, understandably.

On my most recent visit to the Beerbistro, I told the greeter that I was meeting two people for dinner. After a while, I decided to check my telephone as my companions hadn’t arrived and discovered they had been turned away as they had been told that they would not be seated for at least an hour! I could see several empty tables near me and I couldn’t see reserved signs on them. I bolted down my second drink and ran across the street to the Office Pub, which was quieter and less pretentious and found my companions there.

Number of visits by yours truly: four and no more, most recently on a weekday evening in April 2017
TTC information: just a minute’s walk east from King Station
Booze selection: just shy of 100 beers on menu, including one cider, which is a rotating tap. They have a tasting flight (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: swanky with beer pairing suggestions
Service staff: on my second last visit about a year ago, we were rushed out as it was crowded and we were not encouraged to spend the evening drinking, in fact an empty glass sat on our table for a lot longer than usual and was ignored by our waitress, then see above for missed dinner with friends
Prices: expensive
Toilets: needed cleaning 
Patio: on the west side, but very dark as between tall buildings
Wheelchair accessible: not really, hallway to toilets crowded and too many high-top tables for those who might not be able to sit at them
Televisions: three over the bar showing sports
Live music: doubt it
Piped-in music: Lenny Kravitz

Rating: three pints (out of five)

The Prenup Pub

The Prenup Pub (website, Twitter)
191 College Street, Toronto ON M5T 1P9 (on the south side, between Henry Street and Beverley Street, the nearest major intersection is University Avenue and College Street) 416-506-4040
Google Maps 

Being classy on College Street.

This pub used to be Molly Bloom’s, the embodiment of the student hangout. Molly Bloom’s was in dire need of an upgrade back in 2012, so I was not surprised when it was closed down shortly after my visit and became Pour Girl, which I never got around to reviewing. Then, in late 2014, Pour Girl evolved into the Prenup Pub. When I reviewed Molly Bloom’s, I was probably the oldest person in the pub by 15 years! For this visit to the Prenup Pub, it was practically the reverse. My companion and I were surrounded by lunching professors and gaggles of public service minions. I think I saw a handful of students in the two hours or so we spent there. We were there as it was the opening of the Trinity College book sale, so what better excuse than to check out a pub!

Perhaps, in an attempt to erase the lingering stains of Molly Bloom’s, the Prenup Pub has dark wood panelling, gorgeous light fixtures, and faux leather seats of various heights. The civilized atmosphere of the renovated pub confides its student dive heritage firmly to fleeting memory. Perhaps the only drawbacks are the too-small tables and the chairs which are slightly uncomfortable. The Prenup Pub is designed with different seating configurations in mind, so large groups can be accommodated (there is also a private party room available upstairs) as well as couples. There is also a replica of the famed Manneken Pis fountain that greets one as one enters and there are fountains outside as well.

Note, the Prenup Pub is owned by the same people who run the Village Idiot Pub, Sin & Redemption, and The Town Crier.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last on a weekday afternoon in October 2016
TTC information: just a six-minute walk west of Queen’s Park Station
Booze selection: very extensive, with approximately 130 beers including his lordship’s favourite, Leffe Brune, and several ciders, such as Rekorderlig, Cornish Gold, Strongbow, Thornbury, Somersby, and Schöfferhofer Grapefruit
Food selection: limited, but fancy
Service staff: very friendly
Prices: expensive
Toilets: nice
Patio: on the street facing north
Wheelchair accessible: no, steps at front. The patio is also not accessible
Televisions: none that we could see
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: Mr. Bowie’s “Heroes”

Rating: five pints (out of five) 

Tall Boys

Tall Boys (website, Twitter)
838 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M6G 1M2 (on the north side, between Carling Avenue and Shaw Street, the nearest major intersection is Ossington Avenue and Bloor Street West) 416-535-7486
Google Maps

One of Toronto’s better pubs!

A familiar name to those who read “Toronto’s best pubs” articles, Tall Boys has been around since late 2012, however it taken me all this time to review it. I must admit it’s the name that has kept me away, Tall Boys sounds cheesy, like Vickie’s Diner or a strip club. (By the way, I do know what a tall boy is.) Anyway, like any decent ancient Greek tragedy, I have been punished for my snobbery and Tall Boys was well worth the visit.

Tall Boys is one of those new-fangled hipster bars with wooden tables with lots of grey and splashes of red. Tall Boys was very popular the night in question, there was a line-up for tables, but the Toronto Raptors were in the playoffs at the time. However, it might be because according to their website, Tall Boys has ‘Toronto’s Largest Selection of Ontario Craft Beer” and “at any given time, we carry over 70 of the finest Ontario Craft Beer[s]”. Unfortunately, the Raptors lost that night, but my drinking companion and I had a good time there and will be back!

Note, cash only for bill under $20.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last, on a weekday evening in late April 2016
TTC information: closer to Ossington Station (three minutes), but it’s a prettier walk from Christie Station (six minutes) 
Booze selection: their approximately 70 beers are sorted by type, which is something all pubs should do. They also have four ciders — GLB Pompous Ass; Coffin Ridge Forbidden; Pommies Farmhouse; Shiny Apple Cider
Food selection: burgers, tacos, and sandwiches. I had the Tall Boy Burger, which is three patties, as well as a fried egg and other not-standard condiments. The burger had a skewer through it to transport it and there was a hush as it honed into view of our table. I had to eat two of the three patties separately as there was no way I could have eaten the burger at once. My late father would have been so proud of me! 
Service staff: very nice
Prices: good for food, not so much for booze
Toilets: clean, but a bit smelly
Patio: an up-and-over door onto Bloor Street West
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: two
Live music: no. Comedy on some Thursdays and trivia on Mondays
Piped-in music: modern

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five)

The Imperial Pub

The Imperial Pub (website)
54 Dundas Street East, Toronto ON M5B 1C7 (on the north-east corner of Dundas Street East and Victoria Street, the nearest major intersection is Dundas Street and Yonge Street) 416-977-4667
Google Maps

The pub that time forgot.

The Imperial Pub is in many ways your grandparents’ pub with its old-fashioned beer mugs, bright neon beer signs, ancient carpet, antique wooden chairs, overgrown potted plants, tin ceiling, etc. It also features a circular bar with a huge aquarium inside it on the downstairs level. However, the pub comes by its retro style legitimately as it was founded in 1944. (The pub has been updated since then, but probably not in the last four or five decades.)

The Imperial Pub is in an ideal location, just steps from the Eaton Centre, Ryerson University, and Dundas Square, all of which were established after the pub was built. As such, the crowd at the Imperial is a mixture of older patrons and young students. The pub has a back room that is used for concerts and other events (I went there several times a few years ago for board game nights, which they no longer seem to do — a pub blogger can have other interests other than visiting pubs). The upstairs features a library with leather sofas, foosball and there is a jukebox that has jazz music selections.

Number of visits by yours truly: ten or so, most recently on a weekday evening in March 2015
TTC information: just a two-minute walk east from Dundas Station
Booze selection: 60 beers with Thornby cider (they don’t have Pimm’s). The beer is served in old-fashioned mugs
Food selection: not for those on a diet, but pub food as it is meant to be
Service staff: friendly, but the kitchen was a little slow with our order
Prices: inexpensive
Toilets: clean, but cramped and very minimal
Patio: rooftop with a view of Dundas Square
Wheelchair accessible: the toilets are too small for a wheelchair
Televisions: a few
Live music: sometimes and comedy on Monday nights
Piped-in music: Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, “Big band stuff”

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

Betty’s

Betty’s (website, Twitter)
240 King Street East, Toronto ON M5A 1K1 (on the north side of King Street East, between Sherbourne Street and Princess Street) 416-368-1300
Google Maps

George Brown instructors, this is where your students are.

Betty’s is a popular haunt with George Brown College students, although it is too dark for doing one’s homework. It also draws in a varied crowd of families with young children and older men with its cheap eats, including a weekend brunch, and attention-sucking televisions showing sports, sports, sports. The uncomfortable booths fill up quickly as you can serve yourself with one of the build-in beer taps.  The walls of Betty’s are crowded with handy maps (pointing out Leicester was a breeze), photographs, beer-branded mirrors, paintings, and posters. The pub also has a pool table.

Betty’s is not the place to take your love on a first date because it’s a bit of a dive, I found a dirty knife under my booth and the table was sticky from previous clients.

Number of visits by yours truly: two or three visits, most recently in December 2014
TTC information: a two-minute ride east from King Station on the streetcar
Booze selection: I counted 72 beers including two taps at one’s booth, if you are lucky to get a booth. (You might want to get your server to pour your first pint at the booth tap so you can watch how they do it, I attempted one and got a glass full of yummy foam.) There are also flights available. For ciders/ginger beers, they have Magners, Waupoos, Keith’s, Strongbow, and Crabbie’s ginger beer (I don’t know if they have Pimm’s)
Food selection: comfort food with gluten-free options. Most other online reviewers say that you go for the beer, not for the food
Service staff: friendly and a lot of tattoos (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), but a tad forgetful, I never did find out if they had Pimm’s and our waiter had to be flagged down a couple of times
Prices: reasonable
Toilets: clean
Patio: north-facing and quite large, but there’s a skylight inside if it’s raining
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: at least four, but not that intrusive if you are trying to ignore them 
Live music: I don’t think so
Piped-in music: modern with Feist and Bedouin Soundclash

Rating: four pints (out of five)

WVRST

WVRST (website, Twitter)
609 King Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1M5 (on the south side of King Street West, just west of Portland Street, the nearest major intersection is King Street West and Bathurst Avenue) 416-703-7775
Google Maps 

WVRST is one of the best. 

We attempted to go to WVST during June’s Cider Week, but there was a huge line-up that weekday, so we went to the nearby Bier Markt instead. However, I wasn’t willing to give up on WVRST, so we returned in the middle of a weekday afternoon when my better half was off work and we had the place practically to ourselves. Some might argue that WVRST is not a pub, that it is a modern German-style beer hall, they might have a p[o]int, but, as I’ve written before, those people can set up their own blog about pubs and let me enjoy this treasure all by myself.

WVRST has a code of conduct outside and makes a big deal about when the tapes were last cleaned, which seems to be every second week. There are only communal tables and benches or backless stools, including one table that is sort of private with a low wall around it (there is a serious lack of hooks for coats and hats, which will make things crowded in the winter). It might not be the spot for a romantic date, but it is the spot to go to for beer and sausages.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last, on a weekday afternoon in August 2014
TTC information: take the King streetcar west from King Station (seven- to ten-minute journey — according to a very optimistic TTC itinerary) or take Bathurst Streetcar south from Bathurst to King, which will take about 12 minutes and then walk east
Booze selection: I counted 73 beers in bottles and 22 in casks, mainly Belgian (ah, Belgium, the land of beer) including lots of stouts and porters, as well as four ciders in bottles — Coffin Ridge, West Avenue, Southern Cliff, Spirit Tree — and four on tap, Hoity Toity, West Avenue, Twin Pines, and a scrumpy (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: sausages, sausages, sausages, including kangaroo and guinea fowl (there are vegetarian choices), with fries that can be fried in duck fat and dipping sauce. You order the meal at the back of the room and they bring it to you on a metallic tray with paper liners
Service staff: friendly
Prices: expensive
Toilets: two, but only two stalls in each, which means that there is probably a line-up on busy nights
Patio: nope
Wheelchair accessible: nope (as up several steps)
Televisions: a drop-down screen for some sporting events
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: modern

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five) 

Bier Markt (King West)

Bier Markt (King West) (website, Twitter)
600 King Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1M3 (on the corner of King Street West and Portland Street, the nearest major intersection is King Street West and Bathurst Avenue) 416-862-1175
Google Maps 

A great patio on King Street West with great beers. 

We ended up at here because WVRST was full due to June’s Cider Week and I needed some liquid refreshment — stat! So, fortunately, the Bier Markt just down the street fit the bill and an evening’s plans that seemed derailed was quickly set right. My partner in crime and I had been to the location several times before when it was the Amsterdam, but we hadn’t been to it since it became a Bier Markt. We sat on the patio, which I usually avoid, however, the weather was so nice, I risked a tan and agreed to a spot on the patio. We enjoyed a free beer sample and enjoyed the people and car watching.

The Bier Markt is very dark inside, in part because it is in a basement, like her sister pub on the Esplanade. Is this a branding attempt? Seating is varied downstairs with high top tables with backless stools and tables against a brick wall. All in all, a decent pub with lots of beer.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first on a weekday afternoon in June 2014
TTC information: take the King streetcar west from King Station (seven- to ten-minute journey — according to a very optimistic TTC itinerary) or take Bathurst Streetcar south from Bathurst to King, which will take about 12 minutes and then walk east
Booze selection: well over 100 beers from around the world, with a focus on Belgian beers. As always with a selection this large, be prepared for a back-up order as they might be out of your first choice. For those who are cider drinkers, they have Somersby, Blackthorn, Magners, two types of Rekorderligs and the nectar that is Crabbie’s (alas, no Pimm’s)
Food selection: fancy end with oysters, risotto and beer can chicken soup 
Service staff: good, however, this news story about the front-of-house female staff having to wear skimpy outfits might be something to keep in mind. Yes, they changed the policy, but they still had it and enforced it until people complained. I am not impressed with sexism with my booze  
Prices: expensive for the most part. However, it is cheaper for some beers
Toilets: nice, watch for the hidden ledge on the way to the toilet, I can see people stumbling over that in the darkness
Patio: west and one of the best in downtown, great for people watching
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: three
Live music: DJ on Wednesdays/something on Thursdays/live rock on Fridays/something on Saturdays (alas their website is useless at explaining what is happening on Thursdays and Saturdays) 
Piped-in music: modern

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

Tequila Bookworm

Tequila Bookworm (website, Twitter) 
512 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5V 2B3 (on the north side, between Ryerson Avenue and Denison Avenue, if coming north on Portland Avenue, it’s directly ahead) 416-504-2334
Google Maps 

Cider Mecca.

I belong to a cider appreciation society (it’s more a loose collective, but you get the idea) and it was through a recent event organized by the illustrious founder that I learned of Tequila Bookworm and their 16 ciders. Yes, 16 ciders. (By the way, I knew of Tequila Bookworm before the cider social, despite its attempts to hide with little to no signage, but I’d never gone in as I was usually on the way to somewhere else.) I have a feeling that Tequila Bookworm’s selection of ciders and beers rotate on a regular basis, so I won’t date this post with a current list, but apparently they go for the local stuff.

Tequila Bookworm is technically not a pub, it’s more a café, but as I’ve said in the past, if you don’t agree with me, you’re more than welcome to start your own blog. There are books along the top of the walls near the ceiling and it’s pretty crowded downstairs with lots of movable tables. Apparently they have free wifi, which is probably a bad idea as people don’t chat and don’t drink. Upstairs, there was a bordello red room with comfy seats leading to the patio and another room with old bus (?) chairs and a long bar.

(For Orphan Black fans, I am pretty sure this pub features in the eighth episode of the first season as an outside shot at the top of the road where Sarah’s mum lives.)

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last, on a Thursday evening in March 2013
TTC information: a six-minute streetcar ride (that’s what the TTC says) eastbound from Osgoode Station, or take the Spadina Street streetcar south from Spadina Station, which will drop you after a nine-minute ride at Queen Street West
Booze selection: 12 beers, a number of scotches and whiskeys, and 16 ciders — seriously (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: lots of hamburgers 
Service staff: very good
Prices: good for food
Toilets: could have been better, but could have been worse
Patio: upstairs at the back and tiny one at the front during the summer, the window at the front is an up-and-over door, so you might not be on the patio, but you can pretend
Wheelchair accessible: toilets downstairs, so nope
Televisions: none
Live music: DJ some nights
Piped-in music: modern, I have no idea what was playing. You know you’re old when…

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five) 

Allen’s

Allen’s (website)
143 Danforth Avenue, Toronto ON M4K 1N2 (on the south side, between Broadview Avenue and Bowden Street) 416-463-3086
Google Maps 

The place to go for whiskys and brunch, perhaps together, on the Danforth.

I was recently asked by someone who knows I write this blog why I don’t like Allen’s. It has to do with the service. We’ve walked into Allen’s and been ignored by the staff, or told that everything is reserved and treated like we’re suppose to know that you have to make a reservation on the weekend, and the noise was so loud one time that we fled to the Old Nick just down the street for some peace and quiet. On a strip with her sister pub Dora Keogh, Auld Spot, and the aforementioned Old Nick, I have managed to avoid Allen’s for several years, however, we decided to try Allen’s again to see if it was as bad as I remember. It wasn’t.

The clientele on the Saturday afternoon in question was mainly older, but it might have been the tail end of the brunch crowd and Allen’s is a very different place at night. It’s more restaurant at the back than pub and we sat in one of the booths near the front. Our server was very pleasant and did much to unblemish the memories of previous visits. I doubt I will go back to Allen’s given the other choices in the area, but if dragged there, I won’t sulk in a corner, which is the highest praise I can extend to the place given my elephant-like memory.

Number of visits by yours truly: my fourth or fifth visit, most recently on a Saturday afternoon in December 2012
TTC information: within stumbling distance of Broadview Station
Booze selection: more than 80 beers, most in bottles, with Waupoos and Strongbow ciders. They also have an extensive wine and whisky list, the latter is what Allen’s known for. Yes, they have Pimm’s
Food selection: fancier end of pub grub
Service staff: can be awful or, as it was most recently, can be pleasant
Prices: expensive
Toilets: they use the same cleaning agents as my grandparents, which was a little weird to realize. The toilets were clean
Patio: tiny smoking area on the Danforth but a nice big one on the south side
Wheelchair accessible: no, as the toilets are downstairs
Televisions: two tiny ones that I could see
Live music: no
Piped-in music: not on, but I seem to recall jazz on previous occasions

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five) 

The Town Crier

The Town Crier (website)
115 John Street, Toronto ON M5V 2E2 (on the east side, between Nelson Street and Adelaide Street West, the nearest major intersection is Richmond Street West and University Avenue) 416-204-9588
Google Maps

A delightful pub close to Queen Street West and the Theatre District!

I must admit I have become a little jaded when it comes to pubs, which is not surprising given my mandate to seek out new pubs and new taverns, to boldly go where no TorontoPubs blogger has gone before, and to report weekly. I am starting to visit pubs I have previously avoided as it feels a little like I am running out of unreviewed pubs. So it’s rather nice to go to a new pub and feel a little of that ol’ pub sparkle.

The Town Crier was better than expected for a number of reasons apart from my check list below — dark red walls with gilt crown mouldings, dark wood panelling, lovely light fixtures, and (warm) leatherette chairs. The only criticisms I have of the pub, apart from the situation in the ladies’ toilet (see below), is that the tables are very small, so that it felt a little cramped and that there is no air conditioning, however, they have tonnes of fans, so they do their best to make their patrons comfortable. We will be back.

Note, this pub is owned by the same people who run the Village Idiot Pub and Sin & Redemption and there is a large upstairs area, which can be reserved as a private party room.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last on a weekday evening in September 2012
TTC information: a seven-minute walk west and south from Osgoode Station or west and north from St. Andrew Station
Booze selection: almost 100 beers from around the world, including Leffe Brune and four ciders — Somersby, Thornby, Sir Perry, and Blackthorn (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: German focus with a twist (which was rather nice for my better half who had just come from the Fatherland and was pining for the cuisine)
Service staff: very good
Prices: not bad for the size of the servings
Toilets: unfortunately, the toilets were very messy on my most recent visit (2012.11.11). The ladies’ toilet stall on the outside wall might be best to avoid when the window is open as the person using the stall might give a show to the people who live across the way. Just saying…
Patio: west-facing Hooters, for some this might be considered a bonus
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: none
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: Feist, Neil Young

Rating: five pints (out of five) 

Bellwoods Brewery

Bellwoods Brewery (website, Twitter)
124 Ossington Avenue, Toronto ON M6J 2Z5 (on the west side, between Foxley Street and Argyle Street, the nearest major intersection is Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue) 416-535-4586
Google Maps 

Microbrewery and fancy restaurant — perfect for a date or two! 

The Bellwoods Brewery was first learned of by my better half and we decided to go there one evening as he didn’t want to cook and I didn’t want to go home. I arrived first and got a decent seat inside right next to the behind-glass on-site brewery. The chairs are mismatched and the table weather-beaten, this is on purpose as the place has only been around since April 2012. The menu was a little confusing as it was posted on the wall as just “cheese plate” and “meat plate” with prices. Fortunately, our waitress knew what was on each and was good with recommending various pints for us.

By the time we left, there was a lineup of six or seven people waiting for us to leave the Bellwoods Brewery and it was only a Tuesday evening. However, as there are only 40 seats inside — and 40 on the patio — I shouldn’t be that surprised. The pub has an excellent location as the TTC stops right in front of it, so it gets free exposure every six minutes or so most weekend evenings.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last, on a weekday evening in July 2012
TTC information: a seven-minute ride south from Ossington Station or a 15-minute ride west on the Dundas Streetcar from Dundas Station and then a four-minute walk south
Booze selection: 26 beers, including Spirit Tree and Sir Perry ciders. Tasters are available (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: simple menu, such as “cheese plate,” but fancy food such as duck hearts
Service staff: knowledgeable
Prices: if you are hungry you will pay a lot
Toilets: nice, one upstairs and one downstairs
Patio: east facing and large (seats about 40)
Wheelchair accessible: there is a toilet on the ground floor, but I don’t know if it’s large enough for a wheelchair, the rest of the pub was very tight for a wheelchair
Televisions: no, hallelujah
Live music: “eventually”
Piped-in music: new wavy country/Rolling Stones

Rating: five pints (out of five) 

Bier Markt (Esplanade)

Bier Markt (Esplanade) (website, Twitter)
58 The Esplanade, Toronto ON M5E 1R2 (on the north side, between Church Street and Scott Street) 416-862-7575
Google Maps 

Surrounded by other booze holes, the Bier Markt manages to stand apart. 

For some reason I have avoided going to the Bier Markt chain (there’s one on King West and another in the Shops at Don Mills) since starting this blog. The Bier Markt doesn’t have that je ne sais quoi that proper pubs have (I still haven’t distilled what that is), but it is a decent place for a pint as the extensive beer list is what sets it apart and it does take one’s breath away. Perhaps my avoidance has been because I know that most of my readers already know about it.

We went to the Bier Markt (Esplanade) as we were going to a wedding at the St. Lawrence Hall that afternoon and decided to celebrate before the celebrations began. The Bier Markt suffers a bit from an identity crisis, the front looks like a fancy restaurant, but there is an area at the back has huge speakers that would not look out of place at a concert. These said speakers are in front of a 16th-century mural (Pieter Bruegel’s The Peasant Dance), so that adds to the confusion. The tables are covered in white dining cloths with candles, but there are wooden benches for large groups. Plus, it’s dark, almost suspiciously so, however, I found the place to be clean and precise in its execution.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first on a Saturday afternoon in July 2012
TTC information: equidistant from Union and King, one block south of Front after passing Yonge Street
Booze selection: well over 100 beers from around the world, with a focus on Belgian beers. As always with a selection this large, be prepared for a back-up order as they might be out of your first choice. For those who are cider drinkers, they have Thornbury, Somersby, Sir Perry, Blackthorn, Rekorderlig and Rekorderlig elderflower (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: okay 
Service staff: slow, I actually started to get nervous that we would miss the wedding ceremony as our waitress kept disappearing. This news story about the front-of-house female staff having to wear skimpy outfits might be something to keep in mind. Yes, they changed the policy, but they still had it and enforced it until people complained. I am not impressed with sexism with my booze  
Prices: expensive for the most part, but look where you are. However, it is cheaper for some beers
Toilets: good
Patio: south and quite large
Wheelchair accessible: yes
Televisions: two in our section
Live music: Thursdays to Sundays, check the website for details
Piped-in music: can’t remember — sorry

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

Victory Cafe

Victory Cafe (website, Twitter)
581 Markham Street, Toronto ON M6G 2L7 (at the corner of Markham Street and Lennox Street, the nearest major intersection is Bathurst Street and Bloor Street West) 416-516-5787
Google Maps 

Decent pub in Toronto’s Mirvish Village.

Tucked away on a cool little street, the Victory Cafe is one of those pubs that you have to know is there as it’s off the beaten track. I like the Victory Cafe’s painted walls and the cozy feel of the pub, but there’s a bit of a problem with the service, one can feel that one is sitting in a dead zone or that one should be doing secret signs to get the waiter’s attention. The toilets also leave much to be desired, my beloved grandmother would have likely walked out after her inspection of the toilets — in her opinion: if the toilets are bad, then what is the kitchen like? — they always look like no one has been in there with a cleaning agent for a few days, see below for my personal horror story on my most recent trip.

However, in the Victory Cafe’s defence, it does offer a number of yummy beers and three different types of cider, and the menu is a refreshing change from the standard pub grub one gets. Once again, the Victory Cafe was chosen as one of Now Magazine‘s top pubs for 2012 and I have to disagree. It’s not bad, but the Victory Cafe is not great.

Number of visits by yours truly: four or five, most recently on a Saturday night in June 2012
TTC information: a three-minute walk from Bathurst Station, just walk to Bloor, then two blocks west and south to the first intersection
Booze selection: about 30 beers, mostly local, and Strongbow, Thornberry, and Williams ciders (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: hamburgers, lots of local and ethical offerings
Service staff: all male and friendly, however, we had trouble getting their attention several times
Prices: good
Toilets: terrible. I came downstairs from my second visit to the ladies that evening and discovered to my horror as I was sliding into my seat that I had toilet paper stuck to both of my shoes. Now I knew why a fellow smiled at me on his way up the stairs
Patio: west and south
Wheelchair accessible: no way
Televisions: two showing hockey 
Live music: sometimes
Piped-in music: loud

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

The Madison Avenue

The Madison Avenue (website, Twitter)
14 Madison Avenue, Toronto ON M5R 2S1 (on the east side, between Bloor Street East and Lowther Street, the nearest major intersection is Bloor Street West and Spadina Avenue) 416-927-1722
Google Maps

Your frat home away from home.

Ah, the Madison, or as some call it, the Maddy: a labyrinth of rooms entwining three Victorian houses together, poor service, and more pretty young things than a cougar would know what to do with. I went to the Madison with a friend who arrived early and was “kicked out” of the downstairs part as it didn’t open until nine (there were no signs) and then apparently sat for 20 minutes upstairs before being acknowledged by our waitress only moments before I arrived. Our waitress was pleasant, but it seemed there wasn’t quite enough servers for the crowds. And it was crowded! Almost dangerously so, and it was only seven when we left. I think my friend and I were the eldest people in the Madison by the time we managed to squeeze our way to the exit.

The Madison has pool tables that are poorly located next to the toilets making the facilities difficult to access as you politely wait for people to take their shots. There are dart boards, fireplaces, and interiors in the British style (meaning interior glass, velvet seats, etc.). The pub, located in the heart of the Annex, is open every day of the year and until two at night! Perhaps if I were in my early twenties, I would be in love with the Madison, instead I entrust this establishment to future generations of budding pub lovers as I probably won’t be back.

Number of visits by yours truly: second or third visit, most recently on a Friday afternoon in April 2012
TTC information: just a minute east from Spadina Station
Booze selection: 20 or so beers, including Magners cider (no Pimm’s). The website claims 150 draft taps, so those beers must have multiple taps
Food selection: no surprises
Service staff: see above for my friend’s adventures
Prices: reasonable
Toilets: very cramped
Patio: west-facing and rooftop, apparently it works out to five different patios on various levels
Wheelchair accessible: no way
Televisions: not as many as you’d expect, but we were in a quiet spot. According to the website, the pub has more than 50 televisions
Live music: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, starting at ten
Piped-in music: not on when we were there

Rating: two and a half pints (out of five) 

Hemingway’s

Hemingway’s (website, Twitter)
142 Cumberland Street, Toronto ON M5R 1A8 (on the north side, between Avenue Road and Bellair Street, the nearest major intersection is Avenue Road and Bloor Street West) 416-968-2828
Google Maps 

One of the few reasons to go to Yorkville.

I can’t recall my first visit to Hemingway’s as I’ve been going there for decades, but my most recent visit was because we wanted to see a film at the now defunct Cumberland movie theatre. We arrived too late for the then-current showing, so we decided kill time at a pub — sometimes the pieces just fall into place — while waiting for the next one.

Hemingway’s can get very crowded and it draws a younger crowd for the most part, that might have something to do with the fact that it’s open until two every night and is open every day of the year. I have no idea why Antipodeans (I love that word) frequent this pub, but they have good taste. The pub is decorated with books, travel posters, and a large picture of Hemingway and Castro, the seating inside is green leather benches with wooden chairs. Hemingway’s seems to be designed for groups, I’ve been here with a dozen or more friends and my husband, who used to work nearby, came here for company functions too.

Number of visits by yours truly: a dozen or so visits, most recently on a Sunday afternoon in July 2011
TTC information: Bay Station, exit from the west end and the pub is just across the street
Booze selection: I counted 54 beers, they also have cider, wine, and various mixed drinks (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: upscale pub food. We had the calamari and it wasn’t rubbery at all!
Service staff: attentive
Prices: reasonable for Yorkville
Toilets: the ones downstairs are not bad, I didn’t check the ones that are apparently upstairs
Patio: street level and upstairs at the front and at the back. The front upstairs is a smokers’ patio and the huge one at the back  — it can seat more than a hundred people — is partly covered in the summer, fully covered and heated in the winter (if my memory serves me well)
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: one over the bar
Live music: Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays in the winter
Piped-in music: dance dance dance music

Rating: four and a half  pints (out of five) 

Castro’s Lounge

Castro’s Lounge (website, Twitter)
2116 Queen Street East, Toronto ON M4E 1G1 (on the north side, between Wineva Avenue and Hammersmith Avenue, the nearest major intersection is Wineva Avenue and Queen Street East) 416-699-8272
Google Maps 

The place to go for beer in the Beaches.

I’ve been to Castro’s Lounge a number of times as we have a friend who used to live nearby, and the first time we went there I was impressed by the beer list. It’s a very small pub, with seating for about 35 people, including seating along a peninsula-like table that juts out of the bar. Other seating is small tables with chess-board inlays that can be moved around for larger groups and a number of stools along the up-and-over glass garage door that serves as a window. The garage door is up during the summer, which means that if someone is smoking on the street, the pub can be filled with the second-hand smoke.

The deep red walls are covered in photographs of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, John Lennon, Vladimir Lenin, and other notable visages of the 20th century. Castro’s Lounge has dirty bingo on Saturdays, which seems to be very popular as we tried to go there one night and were unable to get a proper seat as they were all reserved.

Number of visits by yours truly: five or six, most recently on a Saturday afternoon in early June 2011
TTC information: a 35-minute ride eastbound from Queen Station on the Queen streetcar or take the bus from Main Street Station (the 64 southbound) which will drop you after a 10-minute ride at Wineva Avenue and Queen Street East
Booze selection: lots to choose from, more than “150 mirco-brews and imports” from sign — with 38 Belgian beers — including cider (no Pimm’s). Like most places that boast a selection this large, be sure to have a back-up when ordering as the menu is out of date. On our most recent visit (2013.05.24) we were told that the beer list was online, which defends the purpose in having people socialize
Food selection: very basic all-vegetarian, you come for the booze
Service staff: the service is probably the only reason I am not giving Castro’s five out of five pints, it can be very slow
Prices: not bad
Toilets: very cool! The three toilets — girls, boys, overflow for both — are decorated with a collage of colourful pictures
Patio: smoking area to the south
Wheelchair accessible: small step and toilets are downstairs, so nope
Televisions: two, both rather small and usually muted
Live music: Mondays, Thursdays, dee-jay on Fridays, some Saturdays, and Sunday afternoons
Piped-in music: last time I was there the music was off

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five) 

Sarah’s Café and Bar

Sarah’s Café and Bar (website, Twitter)
1426 Danforth Avenue, Toronto ON M4J 1N4 (on the north side, at the corner of Monarch Park Avenue, the nearest major intersection is Coxwell Avenue and Danforth Avenue) 416-406-3121
Google Maps 

A diamond in the rough. 

Similar to our odyssey to the Gull and Firkin, my husband had hurt his Achilles tendon and was having difficulty walking. A friend had recommended the One in the Only Cafe on the Danforth to us, so we decided to check it out. We walked out after five minutes of sitting in the dark and being ignored by the staff. Perhaps we weren’t hip enough? We then went east to Seanachai, which used to be The Hargrave, which was closed that Sunday afternoon. We pressed our faces against the dirty windows and it looked like it was no longer in business (it’s now Rails and Ales). The one time we had been there, they weren’t serving food, even though it was dinnertime. On we trod and decided to go with something reliable.

Sarah’s is a diamond in the rough, near dives/greasy spoons/regulars-only places called Big Ronnie’s and Jane’s Happy Bar. Sarah’s follows the trend in that it has a person’s name in its title, but the similarities end there. Sarah’s is the type of place you could take your date or your mum. (Let’s put it this way, one of the times I was in Sarah’s, I was sitting beside a lesbian couple who were quietly dividing their assets post break-up.) I’ve been to Sarah’s a number of times over the years and it’s always a good time for me, not necessarily my nearby seating companions.

Sarah’s is very bohemian with big windows, lots of cushions, velvet-covered lampshades, and tables with fancy inlay. Strangely, it doesn’t look like the interior shots on the website, which seems misleading. The kitchen is front and centre, so you can try to see the progress of your dinner order. The place can get very busy late at night, but there is also a room in the back, so check that to see if there might be a spot for your group.

Number of visits by yours truly: five or six, most recently on a Sunday afternoon in early June 2011
TTC information: Greenwood Station or Coxwell Station. Looking at the map, it’s equidistant between the two
Booze selection: lots and lots to choose from, 13 on taps and 70 in bottles — with a Belgian focus — including pear cider (no Pimm’s). Like most places that boast a selection this large, be sure to have a back-up choice when ordering. They also have an extensive wine list
Food selection: the fancier and eclectic end of pub grub, such as cheese platters and mussels, but not a lot of selection. Apparently, Sarah’s also does catering
Service staff: very friendly, but can be slow
Prices: expensive
Toilets: two unisex and both leave something to be desired. The wheelchair-access toilet is better than the all-access one, in there my friend hit her head on the hand dryer as she was standing up.  My beloved grandmother would not have approved
Patio: two, one to the west and one to the south of building. The west one has a cover and both are of a decent size
Wheelchair accessible: one of the toilets is accessible with railings
Televisions: one in the back room that I have never seen turned on
Live music: open mic every Sunday afternoon
Piped-in music: The Smiths

Rating: five pints (out of five) 

Fynn’s of Temple Bar

Fynn’s of Temple Bar (website, Twitter)
489 King Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1K4 (on the south side, between Spadina Avenue and Portland Street, the nearest major intersection is Spadina Avenue and King Street West) 416-586-1331
Google Maps 

The place to unwind after a hard day at work.

Before this pub became Fynn’s of Temple Bar, it was a Fionn MacCool’s and the place where we celebrated my husband passing his oral defence for his Ph.D. We were going to go to (the now closed) Thuet (I do patronise other places apart from pubs, sometimes), but they had had a fire in their kitchen that night and closed as a result. So, plan B: pub. Anyway, I have been to Fynn’s a number of times since it changed hands and do recommend it. I tried to go to Fynn’s on St. Patrick’s Day this year, but they were charging a $10 cover (it was three in the afternoon!) and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to find a table for my group of four, so I went to The Firkin On King instead.

Fynn’s is one of the classier pubs in Toronto. The menus are bound in real leather and stained glass abounds. The pub is painted that nice burnt orange and dark wood is everywhere. The bar has high chairs instead of backless stools, which is a nice touch. There are two snugs, both probably seat eight to ten people; one has curtains, which I expect can be drawn together for privacy, while the other has its own private access to the bar!

Number of visits by yours truly: half a dozen or so, most recently on a Sunday afternoon in April 2011
TTC information: take the King streetcar west from King Station (7- to 10-minute journey — according to a very optimistic TTC itinerary) or the Spadina streetcar south from Spadina Station (14- to 16-minute journey)
Booze selection: extensive, lots of cocktails, including Caesars, mint juleps, and single malts. Yes, they have cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: the fancier end of pub grub with lamb shanks, etc.
Service staff: very friendly and patient with my questions galore
Prices: expensive, but worth it
Toilets: decent and pleasant smelling. There isn’t advertising in the toilet. The music in there was very loud
Patio: on the west, not very large (the picture above tries to show how narrow the patio is)
Wheelchair accessible: lots of steps, so certainly not
Televisions: two from where we were sitting
Live music: Wednesdays at nine and a dee-jay on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Piped-in music: Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” was playing while I was investigating the ladies’ toilet

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five) 

The Foggy Dew

The Foggy Dew Irish Pub (website, Twitter)
803 King Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1N4 (on the south side, at the corner of King Street and Niagara Street, the nearest major intersection is Bathurst Avenue and King Street West) 416-703-4042
Google Maps 

Perfect for after-work gatherings or to celebrate a Toronto FC win.

I’ve gone to the Foggy Dew a number of times since my first visit about three years ago and always enjoy myself there. I was there in 2010 for the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands as this pub was near the “Dutch area” of Liberty Village. We were some of the first to arrive that morning and managed to snag a very good table for our group. This pub appears to be a staunch supporter for Toronto FC, so keep that in mind.

What I like about the Foggy Dew is its atmosphere. The pub has a snug (which I have yet to sit in), lots of stained glass, small nooks and corners for sitting in that remind me of English pubs, and lots of dark wood. As the pub is a bit out of the way, being on the outskirts of Toronto’s true downtown, and not really near attractions — apart from Fort York — I haven’t gone here as much as I would like (however, that could be said of nearly any pub). That said, I am always surprised at how busy the pub is given its unhip location. The Foggy Dew is a sister pub to Pogue Mahone so if you like one, you’ll like the other.

Number of visits by yours truly: five or six, most recently on a Sunday afternoon in March 2011
TTC information: take the King streetcar west from King Station (10- to 15-minute journey) or the Bathurst bus south from Bathurst Station (15- to 20-minute journey)
Booze selection: lots to choose from, including two ciders (no Pimm’s). They had Leffe Brune when we were there most recently
Food selection: standard pub fare with an Irish twist, a little limited
Service staff: good
Prices: expensive
Toilets: rather nice
Patio: north of building and wraps around the west side
Wheelchair accessible: yes
Televisions: several, but the closest television to us was turned off during our most recent visit
Live music: every Saturday, check their website for listings
Piped-in music: ‘60s and ‘70s

Rating: five pints (out of five) 

The Yellow Griffin

The Yellow Griffin (website, Twitter)
2202 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M6S 1N4 (on the north side, between Runnymede Road and Kennedy Avenue) 416-763-3365
Google Maps

A unique – and tasty – idea in the eternal search for perfect pub grub.

I heard of the Yellow Griffin long before I ever visited it. Foodie friends of ours raved and raved about the menu and another friend who is into politics had his big launch there. We happened to be in the neighbourhood in August 2010 and thought to check it out. I was impressed, but the service is a little spotty. However, one goes to the Yellow Griffin for the burgers. You have eight bases (beef, chicken, etc.), 35 topping combinations (they say “over 35,” but it’s 35 on the nose), and nine sides which works out to 2,250 possibilities as the salmon burgers are limited to five topping combinations. Not too shabby! Although I will eat just about anything (liver, kidney, blue cheese, Marmite, anchovies, etc.), I have only had the Big Stilton Burger on beef as it’s what I like. They do have other menu items, but why bother?

The atmosphere is pleasant; the downstairs has booths with frosted glass or open tables and there are lots of mirrors and wood paneling. On Thursdays they have poker upstairs in their private party room, which you can book for parties. I popped my head up there for one such poker night and it was crowded! I went to one upstairs party in October 2010 and it was quite nice, except that the upstairs layout tends to fragment people, not drawn them together. There is a toilet, bar, and pool table upstairs.

Number of visits by yours truly: three so far, most recently on a weekday afternoon in February 2011
TTC information: Runnymede Station
Booze selection: more than 60 beers, including cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: this is why one goes; if you love burgers, you will love the Yellow Griffin. Do be prepared to wait for your food
Service staff: friendly, but not the most attentive even when the food is on your table
Prices: expensive, but you are going for the food and booze selection
Toilets: a tad whiffy, but clean. The inner light for the ladies’ stalls is hidden, so do look for it (near the hand towel dispenser) if you don’t want to be in the dark
Patio: small and south-facing
Wheelchair accessible: no, as toilets are in basement
Televisions: none downstairs, upstairs is a different matter
Live music: Tuesdays
Piped-in music: the first time I was there they were playing Jean-Baptiste Lully, the most recent time I was there the piped music was modern and a bit loud

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five) 

The Rhino Bar & Grill

The Rhino Bar & Grill (website)
1249 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M6K 1L5 (on the south side, west of Dufferin Street, between Elm Grove Avenue and Gwynne Avenue,  the nearest major intersection is Dufferin Avenue and Queen Street West) 416-535-8089
Google Maps

Excellent for those who enjoy trying new beers.

I stumbled across The Rhino in the summer of 2008 as I was looking for somewhere less expensive than the nearby Gladstone. My husband and I were struck by the incredible number of beers offered, including my beloved’s favourite elixir — Leffe Brune, which, as you might know, is hard to find. The menu also featured six ciders, but they only had three in stock that day.

We have been back several times, which is impressive given that The Rhino is not really near anywhere we usually go. It’s the destination for us, not a rest on the journey. I like the bar so much that I celebrated my 40th birthday there and reserved the back room, which has a different character to the front. It has tablecloths and more comfortable seating, so it’s nice for quieter gatherings. Apparently there is another room upstairs that can be reserved for parties. The front’s décor is standard bar style, nothing too fancy.

Update — 2013.05.19: I have been to The Rhino twice in the last month and their service is abysmal. The first time, our server was transferred to another section and forgot about us, leaving us alone for more than an hour. The second time, we were part of a party and our server constantly forgot to bring our drinks and food. We spent half of what we expected to spend as the server was so busy and unable to keep up. Get more servers!

Number of visits by yours truly: five or six, most recently on a Friday afternoon in January 2011
TTC information: take the Dufferin bus south from Dufferin Station (10- to 15-minute journey) or the Queen Street streetcar west from Queen Station (25- to 30-minute journey)
Booze selection: more than 300 beers with six ciders, including Strongbow, Blackthorn and Sir Perry (no Pimm’s), be warned that not all beers listed are regularly stocked, so have a back-up plan when ordering
Food selection: interesting, with a dash of imagination (it was the first time I ever had horseradish on my burger and I’ve been a convert ever since)
Service staff: too few servers — see above
Prices: quite reasonable for the food, the beers can get expensive
Toilets: clean
Patio: west of building facing onto Queen Street, so great for people watching
Wheelchair accessible: yes
Televisions: just two, so not annoying
Live music: no
Piped-in music: standard ‘80s was playing, but patrons can use the jukebox for their own choices

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five)