Take a seat and enjoy a sip or two at Toronto’s best hotel lobby and rooftop bars.
Whether it’s for a day drink or a nightcap, these lobby bars are worth stopping into to enjoy a sip before heading back into your hotel room—even if you’re staying elsewhere.
And if you haven’t yet booked your Toronto hotel, avid cocktail enthusiasts, you may want to factor in “next-level hotel lobby bar” as a non-negotiable… and trust that each of these 10 bars make the cut!
For fantastic craft cocktails in the Entertainment District
With the theatres, nightclubs and restaurants always buzzing in this nightlife neighbourhood, the dimly lit, sexy Mister C. lobby bar in the Bisha Hotel Toronto is a luxe spot to duck into to enjoy a nightcap.
The design is dramatic (think plush velvet drapes, loads of dark marble and silver accents), giving the lounge a bit of an Art Deco, speakeasy vibe.
The party ramps up from Thursdays to Sundays when the bar features DJs and entertainment.
Must sip: Mister C Bramble, a concoction of Bombay sapphire, Chambord, lemon juice, fresh strawberries and blackberries.
For seasonal Toronto-inspired cocktails in the King West neighbourhood
Tucked a couple of blocks south of the clubby King West strip, Flora Lounge in 1 Hotel Toronto feels like an escape to nature, filled with sustainable decor crafted from reclaimed wood and driftwood, with plenty of greenery breathing even more natural beauty into the space.
By day, people tap away on their laptops at the oversized communal table and by night, the lobby bar becomes a quiet spot to grab a seat for a tête à tête over a drink or two. Every Friday, it blooms with live music courtesy of its Sounds of Flora series.
Must sip: Cozy up with Mom's Makin Muffins, a warming concoction of Mount Gay Eclipse, Licor 43, Amaro Averna, banana bread syrup, espresso, and walnut.
For an iconic lobby bar experience in the Financial District
Across from Union Station, the chateau-style Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar showcases its recent facelift with design details (satin fringe, rich leathers and 16th-century Renaissance paintings) that pay tribute to the hotel’s Art Deco history.
Award-winning mixologist James Grant directs the exceptional beverage program at this Financial District stalwart. The bar regularly hosts pop-up events in collaboration with famous bars from around the world, such as London’s The Connaught Bar.
Must sip: The Birdbath Martini, made with Quill vodka or gin (spirits made exclusively for the Library Bar), a house vermouth blend, house orange bitters, lemon oil, olives and pickled onions, served in a frozen martini glass.
For a modern take on cocktails in Parkdale
In the artsy, hipster part of West Queen West as you approach Parkdale, hit the Drake Hotel for the hotel’s chic, intimate Lobby Bar.
It’s sleekly retro in design but modern and innovative in its menu of craft cocktails. With just a handful of seats, the deep rose-hued bar stands alongside the front windows, making it an ideal spot to catch Queen West life passing by.
Must sip: Whether you lead a zero-proof lifestyle or are taking a break between cocktails, you won’t regret checking out the Book Babe, a charming rosewater, raspberry, lemon and lychee confection.
For a swellegant lounge in the Financial District
The Lobby Lounge at the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto is a refined and graceful living room-inspired space.
It’s filled with natural light, and a marble fireplace anchors the contemporary aesthetic. It’s decorated with floral arrangements and large-scale art.
A beautiful custom Italian Fazioli piano holds court. Enjoy live music daily from noon onwards as you nibble on petit fours during afternoon tea or enjoy a glass of wine.
In other words, it’s an ideal spot for, say, networking with someone you’re looking to impress.
Must sip: One of the Fireside Cocktails, such as the refreshing Melkam Gena, which is made with Casamigos Tequila Blanco, ginger liqueur and cranberry-clementine syrup.
For top-shelf dark spirits in the downtown core
Ensconced on the 31st floor of the St. Regis Toronto, Louix Louis makes an immediate impression with its bar display of over 500 dark spirits (it’s one of the largest collections in North America).
Overhead, Toronto artist Madison van Rijn’s stunning, 60-foot ceiling mural—inspired by a glass of Canadian whisky—pays tribute to Toronto’s heritage as one of the largest distillery districts in the world at the turn of the 19th century.
On Fridays, settle in for live music performances featuring The Golden Live Duo.
Must sip: Bartender Fernand Petiot is credited with creating the Bloody Mary cocktail at the St. Regis New York in the 1930s; it remains the hotel’s signature cocktail today.
Toronto’s St. Regis outpost serves up the Rouge 140, a nod to Toronto’s diversity and the 140 languages spoken in the city. It includes ingredients like Chinese oyster sauce with Portuguese piri piri and Jamaican jerk spices.
For inventive tipples with downtown views
Located equidistant from buzzy King Street West and eclectic Queen West, Evangeline enjoys a scenic perch atop the Ace Hotel.
Two massive brick fireplaces anchor this indoor/outdoor rooftop bar, creating a comfortable ambiance, with lush plants rounding out the coziness.
Music rules the weekend, with soulful Afrobeats, house and Afrohouse, thumping reggaeton, R&B, Brazilian funk and Amapiano and guest DJs galore.
Must sip: The Ace Martini (made with London Dry Gin, a vermouth blend and Ace tincture), which is garnished with a brilliant red Cerignola olive from Puglia, Italy.
For impressive drinks in the Theatre District
Before or after the theatre, head to Mercer Street so you can duck into Nobu Hotel Toronto. Make a beeline to the stylish black marble-clad lobby lounge, located on street level.
Sleek and refined, the two-story bar showcases handcrafted Japanese kawara-style roof tiles on illuminated pillars and a 28-foot bronze chainmail Lasvit chandelier (designed to exude the drapery of a kimono) that descends down from the mezzanine level.
Must sips: Rhum Diary, a beguiling mix of clarified rum, Cointreau, pineapple and coconut.
For classic cocktails with stellar city views in Yorkville
High above the luxury boutiques of Yorkville’s Mink Mile, say cheers at a revered rooftop bar that’s been frequented by Canadian literary legends over the past 50 years.
Reimagined for today, the Park Hyatt Toronto’s Writers Room Bar remains an attention grabber. The space is handsome, but with floor-to-ceiling windows and its spot on the 17th-floor rooftop, Toronto’s skyline steals the show here.
Must sip: The East Meets West cocktail, a beguiling mix of Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier, absinthe, lime, lime leaf, Thai spice, sencha green tea and whole milk clarification
For creative drinks in the Riverside neighbourhood
Stroll the residential east-end neighbourhood of Riverside and hit up The Rooftop at the historic Broadview Hotel. (Yes, the rumours are true: this landmark Romanesque-style building was once a boarding house and gentlemen’s club).
With a 360-degree glass facade and pyramidal skylight, the bar is flooded with natural light and delivers unparalleled views of the city and Don River.
All year long, DJs spin a mix of disco, house and hip-hop, while the handcrafted, seasonal cocktails keep coming.
Must sip: The Smokeshow. This cocktail features El Tequileño Reposado and mezcal, with a bracing hit of spicy chipotle and sweet pineapple juice.
This story has been updated with new details since it was first published in August 2022.
