What are your favourite upscale bars/lounges in Toronto?
- Thread starter LC18
- Start date
We often head to the west end, to Timothy's Pub, on Browns Line.
Live music almost every evening of the week.
Comfortable well executed pub food, that takes it time coming out. Fast food it is not.
Eat din at say 7 or 8, band usually starts at 9.
If you want a table call and reserve a day or two in adavnce.
Pub holds about 80 people, a few less in winter when patio closes.
Cover for the band is usally $5 or $10 per person on the bill, and not paid at the door.
Or just come in by 7:30 to be sure to get a seat at the bar.
Crowd is 40's and up in age.
Live music almost every evening of the week.
Comfortable well executed pub food, that takes it time coming out. Fast food it is not.
Eat din at say 7 or 8, band usually starts at 9.
If you want a table call and reserve a day or two in adavnce.
Pub holds about 80 people, a few less in winter when patio closes.
Cover for the band is usally $5 or $10 per person on the bill, and not paid at the door.
Or just come in by 7:30 to be sure to get a seat at the bar.
Crowd is 40's and up in age.
Whats wrong with talking about a place with:
- few bar flies
- clean bathrooms
- furniture and fittings not torn up
- and the staff all are long time regulars, usually indicating good bar management.
If you want to start naming downtown hotel bars that:
- take an hour to drive to from where a lot of us live ,
-$25and up to park the car or take the train in.
-the need to press a shirt/pick up the dry cleaning first
before you can have an initial sit and chat, go at it.
- few bar flies
- clean bathrooms
- furniture and fittings not torn up
- and the staff all are long time regulars, usually indicating good bar management.
If you want to start naming downtown hotel bars that:
- take an hour to drive to from where a lot of us live ,
-$25and up to park the car or take the train in.
-the need to press a shirt/pick up the dry cleaning first
before you can have an initial sit and chat, go at it.
I realize I wont be contributing to the question but I would like to add something. Curious if I'm the only one who feels this way. I have wasted a lot of money at these upscale bars. What have I gained? Nothing. Places like these pubs - I have found more genuine people along with thier conversations. With regards to fancy bars, in my expereince, I meet more people who fall under the " opportunist " bracket. I get this feeling of a hollywood show. I have come across some great people everywhere, however, more so at establishments such as Tims.
Anyways in efforts to contribute to this topic I'll suggest somewhat of my "upscale" place....I like the Park Hyatt hotel bar. One and D bar is and will always be my least favorite. If I do downtown I like the west side of Toronto. Too old for King Street.
Port credit can be fun as well.
I'll shit up.
I'm going to Tims this weekend. It's been a while. Thanks for bringing up Tims.
The "Men's Keg Room" at the Rundown (on the right) was the pinnacle of panache and sophistication.
Library bar at royal York, bar at the Ritz Carlton, lobby bar at the Sheraton. All cool upscale places to drink, each with a different vibe.
As above, select hotel bars are always a good place. Usually the ambient music is quieter for conversation, the martinis are prepared correctly, and the service is unobtrusive. All dress codes are essentially welcome so you really can't feel out of place. And they always have the most comfortable seating.
I did like to use the Royal York bar for classier dates. But that was decades ago.
