Toronto’s “work hard, play hard” ethos is reflected in the many spots throughout the city that get the après work scene right, with everything from daily food and drink specials that won’t dent the wallet, to opportunities for personal and professional mingling.
If you’re looking for a place to shake off the daily grind, reward yourself for closing that deal, bond with colleagues, entertain clients, or meet a date, we suggest heading to these Toronto spots for drinks after work.
16 Best Places To Grab After-Work Drinks In Toronto
1.Bar Reyna & Reyna On King (158 Cumberland St. and 354 King St. E)
Neighbourhood: Yorkville & Corktown
Mediterranean snack spots Bar Reyna and Reyna on King offer half-price glasses of wine weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to complement a well-curated menu of small bites. Located in a two-storey Victorian house, Bar Reyna features a heated patio, with a cozy vibe for sipping and swirling, and buck-a-shuck oysters on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The smaller Reyna on King caters to those seeking a more intimate place to mingle, complete with the sounds of 90s hip-hop.
2. King Taps (100 King St. W)
Neighbourhood: Financial District
Don’t let the sea of suits and business attire fool you; the vibe at financial district watering hole King Taps is relaxed and even mildly rowdy at times. Despite its moving and shaking clientele, this spot is relatively affordable, with daily food and drink specials. King Taps is especially enticing in the warmer months, when its breezy patio offers prime real estate for after-work cocktail sipping.
3. The Pilot (22 Cumberland St.)
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
It’s no secret to the local advertising and marketing professionals that The Pilot is the place to be after work to both network and party with likeminded young professionals – especially from March to December, when the heated rooftop patio is open for business. The nearly 75-year-old pub-like spot features comforting snacks and flowing beers at affordable prices.
4. Baro (485 King St. W)
Neighbourhood: King West
If you’re in the market to see and be seen in a scene-y venue, grab your coworkers and visit King West’s Latin-influenced hot spot Baro once the workday ends. Hit Baro Wednesday through Saturday 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. for Fiesta Hour at the spot’s second floor Pablo Snack Bar, where you can enjoy $5 snacks and drinks. Baro’s year-round rooftop offers a tropical dose of vacation even in the darker months.
5. Prohibition Gastrohouse (696 Queen St. E)
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
For the east-of-Yonge set, Leslieville’s Prohibition Gastrohouse is a solid after-work option. At this elevated local pub, you’ll find no shortage of upscale and creative comfort food (including a truffle mac and cheese that’s been voted among the best in the city and the addictive Le Big Mac flatbread) and $5.75 drinks for Hooch Hour (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), including bar rail, all beers, and select wines.
6. The Keg on King Street (560 King Street W.)
Neighbourhood: King West
The Keg on King West offers more of a mature and upbeat vibe compared to some of its more generic and family-friendly counterparts. While the restaurant chain is known for its indulgent steaks and hefty-ish dinner tabs, The Keg offers daily “Cocktail Hour” deals, like specially priced drinks and appetizers. Word of advice: you may want to get there early on game night.
7. Walrus Pub & Beer Hall (187 Bay St.)
Neighbourhood: Financial District
In the financial district, The Walrus offers a refined university bar vibe (minus the sloppy early-twenty somethings) with its sophisticated pub-like feel, no shortage of ping-pong tables, and flowing beer of all varieties. Tucked away in the back is a hidden patio, which houses a large bar and plenty of seating for wining and dining in the warmer months.
8. Dbar At Four Seasons Toronto (60 Yorkville Ave.)
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
For a fancier (and pricier) après work scene, freshen up and head to Dbar in the Four Seasons hotel. In this sophisticated spot, you’ll find movers and shakers from many industries (along with the inevitable ladies who lunch) and can enjoy innovative cocktails, craft beers, artisanal cheeses, and refined small plates – all with a side of discreet people watching.
9. Hemingway’s (142 Cumberland St.)
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
Longtime Yorkville institution Hemingway’s offers arefreshingly unpretentious and welcoming vibe relative to some other spots in the upscale boutique and restaurant-filled neighbourhood. The three-story, New Zealand-inspired bar features a year-round rooftop patio with central bar (one of three bars in the spot) that is conducive to chatting with friends and strangers. Highlights include 24 draft beers on tap and daily food specials.
10. District Eatery (303 King St. W)
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
If you’re looking for clean eats, but a lively, cocktail-filled vibe as well, hit District Eatery. The menu welcomes all dietary restrictions, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, and features an assortment of craft cocktails and beer. Daily drink specials include things like half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and $5 mules all day Monday. A bustling rooftop patio amps up the appeal of this millennial-packed place.
11. The Carbon Bar (99 Queen St. E)
Neighbourhood: Queen East
Upscale BBQ spot The Carbon Bar attracts the post-work crowd to its bar and lounge area come 5 p.m. Here, the mature clientele (you’ll find few recent university grads at this spot) can enjoy $4 beer and $6 wine from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Carbon Bar’s menu features satisfying, down-home-feeling snacks, plates, and platters should you decide to stay for dinner.
12. Belfast Love Public House (548 King St. W)
Neighbourhood: King West
King West’s Belfast Love Public House is an Irish(ish) pub with an entertainment district twist. Catering to a high-energy young professional crowd (key word: young), this sprawling spot offers dozens of beers on tap, a pool table, a busy patio, and elevated – but completely comforting – pub grub.
13. Local Liberty Village (100-171 E Liberty St.)
Neighbourhood: Liberty Village
For a casual spot to eat and drink hit the millennial-filled Local Liberty Village. Offering an inviting pub-like vibe where you can always catch “the game,” Local features a central bar with surrounding tables, where guests enjoy a rotating selection of craft beer and elevated bar food. Local offers an assortment of happy hour drink and snack specials daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (and after 9 p.m.), as well as daily drink specials.
14. Craft Beer Market (1 Adelaide St. E)
Neighbourhood: Financial District
Shake off the workday and celebrate career wins of all sizes at the massive, beer-filled Craft Beer Market. The relaxed but bustling financial district venue houses Canada’s largest selection of draft beer and features daily happy hour specials from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (and 9 p.m. to close, should you be so ambitious), which start as low as $4.
15. Bar Fancy (1070 Queen W.)
Neighbourhood: Queen West
If the always eclectic and character-filled Queen West is more your vibe that a suit-filled spot, rustic snack bar Bar Fancy makes a reliable and relaxed happy hour option. Here, you can enjoy cheap chicken and beer, as well as half-priced oysters from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. When you order a drink, the spot’s famous fried chicken is just $2 a piece.
16. Pravda Vodka Bar (44 Wellington St. W)
Neighbourhood: St. Lawrence Market
If you’re a vodka lover, Pravda Vodka Bar supports your happy hour needs wholeheartedly – complete with $7 martinis and a complimentary appetizer from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The Russian-inspired vodka bar completes the experience with things like DJs, live music, and impressive performers (think, aerial artists). Stay for dinner, and enjoy things like an assortment of pierogies, artisan cheese, meatballs or hearty entrees.
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