By: Tyler
1) First on our list is The Only Café located conveniently
near Donland’s station at 972 Danforth Avenue. This place has one of the best
craft beer selections in the entire city ranging from bacon flavoured stout to
their most expensive bottle of beer, which is about $40. As the East Enders
secret, it’s combined with a neat café directly beside the bar with a curtain
separating the two rooms; this place is a great hide out if your with buddies
or your date. If you would need a better excuse to go I’d say check it out on
Sundays, they offer $5 pints for everything on tap.
2) Second would have to be a place I discovered walking from
College to Queen late one night. The place isn’t easy to find as is the
butterfly it’s named after, The Monarch is the closest place in the city that
would leave you feeling like your in a safe house or back in the Jazz age.
Located in the middle of a residential area at 12 Clinton Street, it offers a
really warm and close atmosphere. Plus every patron there hasn’t had the luxury
you’ve had, they had to find this gem the hard way: self-discovery. Upstairs is
a single well kept pool table, your standard bar affair and sports on TV, plus
a great pinball machine! The best part is you look down over the street through
old wooden double hung windows and see a quite neighbourhood, which is just
different considering it’s Toronto, but in a good way. A good selection of
beer, awesome $4 fries, a sweet pool table, and a secure atmosphere. What’s
more perfect for a quite night?
3) Next on our list is a book that’s always judged by its
cover, and I completely understand why because I use to judge it by its cover.
And let me tell you, its cover sucks. But if you are willing to give it a
chance, the place offers one of the most relaxing atmospheres of any bar I’ve
seen. Lets just start with they offer free popcorn, provide super comfy leather
couches, and of course another pool table (its not the best) but that isn’t the
point. Located near the Future Shop at 54 Dundas Street East, The Imperial bar
is perfect for an after work place to have a beer and some food that will not
break the bank but most importantly, it wants you to feel at home… literally.
Quite background music, nothing fancy at all, just some couches with free
popcorn and a crowd that’s there for the same reason; I just want to sit back,
relax, and have a beer. When you are ready to go home the subway is right beside
you.
4) This place isn’t cheap and they charge downtown prices.
However, they’re located smack dab in the middle of the beaches so they can get
away with their pricing. At the corner of Kingston and Queen Street East, Murphy’s
Law Irish Pub has one of the best rooftop patios you can find and it comes with
an awesome view of the city, Woodbine Park, and the ladies. Hit this place on a
Tuesday when they have wing night and if you’re with a date you can hit up the
movie theatre across the street for their discount movie day (Beaches Cinema).
Spectacular chicken wings, your standard selection of beer, and again awesome
chicken wings. This place is meant to be during the spring and summer. My only
issue with the place is the high employee turnover can lead to some
questionable service.
5) Up next on our list is located near Spadina station at
296 Brunswick Avenue and no it’s not the Madison or The Brunny, but instead
it’s called The Green Room. This place has a really cool back alley entrance
and is bumping during the summer months. They have a really cool layout with a
really awesome hidden patio, and two floors lined with booths, couches, and
tables. Is anyone up for Sangria Sundays? Although I have yet to try it, it
looks amazing. And they have awesome sweet potato fries too; mix that with a
pitcher of Blanche de Chambly and your set for a night of good drinking.
6) The Town Crier Pub & Halfway Beer House located at
115 John Street might be a bar that you’ve never heard of but if you have been
in the John and Adelaide area then you’ve probably past it. This place is just
across from the Hooters and they offer not only a really unique and pleasant
atmosphere, but also have over 50 draft beers on tap from around the world.
From other reviews, the food is good as I have yet to try, however, this place
is really good if you just want to sit and try something new. They have the
main floor set below ground, is dimly lit, so it offers a very traditional pub feeling. If you have just come from
seeing a film at the Scotiabank theatre and fancy a drink you should check this
place out!
7) Last but not least is Sarah’s Café & Bar located at
1426 Danforth Avenue with Greenwood as the closest station? Get off at Coxwell,
and you won’t have to walk by a stretch of sketchy bars that are just outside
Greenwood. Is it a one hit wonder? No, but it’s a local hot spot for sure. And
during the summer they have an awesome patio that works either for a mid
morning cappuccino or afternoon drinks with friends, or a date. Having
previously worked at The Cyclepath Danforth just down the road, I was able to
check this spot out a few times. They offer your average drink list, great
food; actually their fries come in a really cool spiral cone, and a sweet
patio.
Top ten, top five, and top seven what’s the difference?
These are some great spots that are located throughout the city so no matter
where you are, there is no reason to say there isn’t a good bar near you.
