Toronto

The 10 Best Date Night Bars in Toronto

Toronto's most romantic drinking rooms are the ones locals use for first dates. The date night bars on this list span every neighbourhood worth a trip — the central districts all show up — and every price tier from a $5 local pour to a $25 hotel-bar tasting. Each bar earns its spot for a different reason. We have visited every one.

  1. 01

    Allen's

    GREEKTOWN · $$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Allen's draws a steady local crowd in Greektown. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Tuesday and Wednesday before 9pm, when the regulars haven't filled the room yet. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Saturday after 10pm gets crowded — book ahead or arrive early.

  2. 02

    Archive 909

    QUEEN WEST · $$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Archive 909 draws a steady local crowd in Queen West. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: any weeknight between 7pm and 9pm, when the bar settles into its rhythm and the bartender has time to talk. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Friday from 8pm fills up; reserve a counter seat or a high table.

  3. 03

    Bar Buca

    KING WEST · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Bar Buca draws a steady local crowd in King West. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Sunday from 6pm, when it's the room's quietest premium night and the kitchen is unhurried. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Avoid post-match nights if the local team is playing — the upstairs gets loud.

  4. 04

    BarChef Toronto

    THE CENTRE · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    There is nothing in Toronto quite like BarChef, and after more than fifteen years operating on Queen West, that distinction remains intact. Frankie Solarik — th. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Thursday late or Friday early, when you'll catch the room building toward its weekend tempo. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. First-Friday traffic in the district can mean a 20-minute wait at the door.

  5. 05

    Bar Hop Toronto

    THE CENTRE · $$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Bar Hop has held its position as Toronto's most credible craft beer bar since opening on King West in 2012. The 50-tap wall covers every style intelligently: 8 . Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Tuesday and Wednesday before 9pm, when the regulars haven't filled the room yet. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Saturday after 10pm gets crowded — book ahead or arrive early.

  6. 06

    Bar Isabel Toronto

    THE CENTRE · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Get your venue listed alongside the city's best bars on barsforkings.com. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: any weeknight between 7pm and 9pm, when the bar settles into its rhythm and the bartender has time to talk. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Friday from 8pm fills up; reserve a counter seat or a high table.

  7. 07

    Bar Nouveau

    KING WEST · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Bar Nouveau draws a steady local crowd in King West. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Sunday from 6pm, when it's the room's quietest premium night and the kitchen is unhurried. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Avoid post-match nights if the local team is playing — the upstairs gets loud.

  8. 08

    Bar Poet

    BLOOR WEST VILLAGE · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Bar Poet draws a steady local crowd in Bloor West Village. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Thursday late or Friday early, when you'll catch the room building toward its weekend tempo. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. First-Friday traffic in the district can mean a 20-minute wait at the door.

  9. 09

    Bar Pompette

    BLOORDALE · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Bar Pompette draws a steady local crowd in Bloordale. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Tuesday and Wednesday before 9pm, when the regulars haven't filled the room yet. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Saturday after 10pm gets crowded — book ahead or arrive early.

  10. 10

    Bar Raval

    THE CENTRE · $$$ · COCKTAIL BARS

    Bar Raval is the most beautiful bar room in Toronto by a considerable margin. The interior was designed by Martin Hawthorn in a style he calls "Gaudi Mudejar" —. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: any weeknight between 7pm and 9pm, when the bar settles into its rhythm and the bartender has time to talk. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Friday from 8pm fills up; reserve a counter seat or a high table.

Use this guide either as a single curated route through Toronto or as a checklist to revisit over a long weekend. Reservations are flagged where they matter. Otherwise, walk in. Below: the ten date night bars that any serious drinker in Toronto would tell you to put on the list.

Allen's draws a steady local crowd in Greektown. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: Tuesday and Wednesday before 9pm, when the regulars haven't filled the room yet. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Saturday after 10pm gets crowded — book ahead or arrive early.

Archive 909 draws a steady local crowd in Queen West. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening. Order: the bar's house signature. Best time: any weeknight between 7pm and 9pm, when the bar settles into its rhythm and the bartender has time to talk. Best for cocktail-curious drinkers who want technique without theatre. Friday from 8pm fills up; reserve a counter seat or a high table.

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