10 Swank Lounges In Toronto For Your Next Smart Cocktail
Whether you seek an after-work cocktail or a decadent evening out, the city’s selection of lounges serve up glamour and sophistication. This top 10 list of Toronto’s best lounges includes refined King West hotel bars, eccentric Queen East dance spots and many options in-between.
1812 LOUNGE
This uber stylish club/lounge in the renowned Thompson Hotel covers 2,286 square feet of glamorous space equipped for a perfectly decadent night out. Two bars, leather booths and a spacious, mood-lit dance floor make this one of the city’s most seductive clubs. This is the place to bring the friends and lovers you most want to impress.
550 Wellington Street West | 416-640-7778 | ThompsonHotels.com
SWITCH
A favourite among young urban professionals, this playful resto-lounge is themed like a vintage carnival – and not only in décor. Theatrical performers like jugglers and flame-eaters grace the crowd after 10 p.m. If that doesn’t hold your attention, try your hand at a choice of seven retro arcade games, or grab some upscale finger snacks in the rec room. Get on the guest list to bypass lengthy lineups.
55 Colborne Street East | 647-660-0990 | SwitchToronto.com
THE ONE EIGHTY
This resto-lounge on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre building in Yorkville has been voted Toronto’s best view. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room offer a stellar view of downtown and uptown, and north and south patios offer stargazers a chance to camp out with a cocktail under canopy tents. The One Eighty also boasts an award-winning menu consisting of innovative tapas-style appetizers that are perfect for sharing.
55 Bloor Street West | 416-967-0000 | PanoramaLounge.com
2CATS LOUNGE
2Cats Lounge is one of King Street West’s most popular hangouts for cocktails and conversation. With plenty of seating, a music playlist consisting of everybody’s favourite oldies, and affordable drinks, it’s no wonder 2Cats attracts such a large crowd.
569 King Street West | 416-923-1065 | 2Cats.ca
LULA LOUNGE
Lula Lounge specializes in bringing world music to Toronto, offering salsa dance classes all weekend, Friday night jazz performances and a Sunday Cuban brunch. There’s never a dull moment in this colourful lounge in Little Portugal, where Toronto’s salsa community lets loose.
1585 Dundas Street West | 416-588-0307 | Lula.ca
BRASSAII
Known to attract A-list celebrities during events such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Brassaii Restaurant and Lounge is the lounge of choice for many socialites and local media moguls. The lively weekly programming including dance parties and DJ sets draws a trendy crowd who cool off on the cobblestone courtyard patio – considered one of the best in the city.
461 King Street West | 416-598-4730 | Brassaii.com
REPOSADO
Tequila lovers rejoice – Reposado has the largest selection of (legal) premium tequila downtown. Come for the cocktails and tapas and stick around for the live gypsy jazz and swing performances, which transform the small bar into something of a speakeasy on weekends.
136 Ossington Avenue | 416-532-6474 | ReposadoBar.com
HOOF COCKTAIL BAR
Toronto’s expert purveyors of house-cured charcuterie also make a mean cocktail. In their clandestine cocktail bar across the street from the restaurant, you can choose from a curated list of classic cocktails all made with as much care as their meat plates. The atmosphere is elegant, but the crowd is boisterous. Try the signature Hoof Manhattan, which is made with 10-year aged rye and house bitters.
923 Dundas Street West | 416-792-7511 | HoofCocktailBar.com
NIKAI
The second floor lounge in the famous ramen-dealing Momofuku complex boasts a serene vibe with leather sofas overlooking the noodle bar below. For the post-work crowd downtown, the selection of classic and original cocktails (incorporating ingredients like miso and kasu), Ontario beers, wine, sake and snacks has everything you need to unwind.
190 University Avenue | Momofuku.com
WAYLA LOUNGE
WAYLA, a.k.a. “What Are You Looking At,” brings a colourful crowd to the otherwise sleepy intersection at Carlaw and Queen East. The no-nonsense, casual bar lounge (think: throw pillows, exposed brick and concrete floors) is a great spot for conversation, but on weekends a raucous lineup of themed parties (think: 90’s, Diva DivaDiva and Karaoke) heats up the dance floor.
996 Queen Street East | 416-901-5570 | WAYLABar.ca
Didn’t find anything that struck your nightlife fancy on this list? Toronto has many more lounges, bars and clubs to appeal to all interests.