Speakeasies of Toronto

Brett Tauer | November 21, 2019

As a culinary graduate, foodie, and cocktail mixologist, I have often been asked the question: “what are some of the best speakeasies and hidden bars in Toronto?” BarChef, Cocktail Bar (Jen Agg), Bar Isabel, Bar Raval, and LoPan are just some of the places that scratch the surface, but good places to start none-the-less.

First, we must ask ourselves: “what makes a good cocktail?” To me that would consist of the quality of alcohol used, the freshness and utilization of real fruit or citrus juices, and the level of service you receive coupled with the environment you’re in. A speakeasy or cocktail bar to me needs to be more upscale, maybe costing a little more but still affordable for the quality of the product. They usually have a rating of over 4.5 on Google Reviews which I monitor constantly.

You must also ask: “what experience am I looking for tonight?” People go to bars for different reasons. You could be on a date trying to impress someone, you could be out with some friends to watch a big game, you could even be out just to find your favourite drink experience in the city.

If you’re going out for a night on the town, my best suggestions are (including the ones above) The Shameful Tiki Room, PrettyUgly Bar, Hanmoto, Library Bar, The Cloak Bar, Mahjong Bar, Gift Shop, and my personal favourite Coffee Oysters Champagne (C.O.C.). The most interesting thing about C.O.C. is that the façade of the restaurant/ bar itself seems like a very neat place for a glass of bubbly and maybe some oysters; however (spoiler alert!) if you ask to see their private champagne room politely, you may be taken in there to see a certain surprise awaits. Without giving too much away of the presentation, they do eventually take you to the real speakeasy in the back, where the cocktails, service, and food are beyond phenomenal.

Barchef (image from view the vibe)                                                C.O.C. (image from Toronto Life)