Cheers to the holiday season, Toronto! Across the city, festive bars are mixing and serving up the flavours of winter in a glass.
Whether you’re after an Instagram-worthy cocktail, something to really say “‘tis the season,” or a warm and spicy classic to fight off the winter chill, the city’s got you covered for the holidays.
Here are some of the finest cocktails in the most holiday themed places to sip your way through in Toronto this winter.
FESTIVE COCKTAILS
Miracle Toronto
- Location: 875 Bloor St. W. and 235 Queens Quay W.
Christmas pop-up bar Miracle is the real-deal holiday experience in Toronto!
With two wonderfully decorated locations open this year, guests can indulge in some really festive cocktails served in the most extraordinary glasses and mugs. Some creatively-named stand-outs on the menu include the Chrismasaurus, a pineapple rum and mezcal spiced drink served in a cute dinosaur mug, as well as Rudolph’s Replacement, a delicious combination of vodka, coffee liquor, almond milk and more aromatics.
A drink at Miracle also means giving back to the community, as $1 of every drink sold is donated to Nellie’s Women’s Shelter, which provides shelter, education and advocacy for women and children in the GTA.
Project Gigglewater
- Location: 1329 Dundas St. W.
This decked out Christmas cocktail bar is draped in festive splendour and serving up some tasty holiday specials.
The signature cocktail North Pole Express is surely a winter wonderland in a glass, featuring vodka, peppermint, and salted caramel flavours. And who said you can’t feel a little beachy while in the North Pole? Coco Noël Spritz is another offering, featuring Planteray rum, Malibu, passionfruit and an Aperol sparkle – it’s like Christmas meets the tropics! Project Gigglewater also offers up a delicious food menu with comfort-favourites, like big mac spring rolls, smash burgers and holiday stuffing corn dogs.
Aleria
- Location: 1070 Queen St. W.
Greek restaurant Aleria is bringing Christmas to Queen St. with a line-up of Santa’s sips of the season!
Santa Baby is a must-try dessert-like cocktail, featuring vanilla vodka, strawberry RumChata and oatmilk topped with whipped cream. If something juicy is more your speed, the Mrs. Claus Spritz might be up your alley, loaded with dragon fruit-infused tequila, lime, Peach Schnapps and topped with bubbly Prosecco. And if you’re looking for something to pair these sips with, Aleria offers a number of sharables and entrée items such as spanakopita, feta fries and chicken souvlaki.
WINTER COCKTAILS
NORDIC by BarChef
- Location: 437 Wellington St. W.
Nordic by BarChef invites guests to enjoy reimagined cocktails in the mythical realm of its cozy Scandinavian yurt.
These art-in-a-glass holiday features include Cedar Eggnog, a mixture of Bumbu rum, orange liqueur cream and bitters, as well as the Winter Negroni, an elevated take on the classic with Malfy gin, sweet vermouth, campari and more aromatics. This immersive experience tucked away at The Well is festive and truly embodies the holiday season!
The Drake Hotel
- Location: 1150 Queen St. W.
The Drake is leaning into winter with kitschy decor, twinkling lights, and a lineup of seasonal cocktails at its Sleigh Bar every weekend.
The True North brings Canadian flavours of maple and Lot 40 Rye Whiskey together for the perfect end-of-night sip, while the Ye Ol’ Mule is a refreshed cranberry-forward delight. For something timeless and seasonal twist, look no further than the Drake Nog, delivering a bold take on the classic drink featuring house-made eggnog and cedar-infused whisky.
EPOCH Bar & Kitchen
- Location: 181 Wellington St. W.
At EPOCH, it’s all about the holiday sips.
Seasonal cocktails like the Nogfather, house eggnog with Dominican Brugal Añejo puts a spicy twist on a beloved staple, while the Gingerbread Man, a remixed espresso martini topped with a floating gingerbread man brings out the season’s rich flavours. And for those craving a bite to eat on the side, there are tons of food options to choose, from gruyere grilled cheese to oxtail patties.
WARM AND HOT COCKTAILS
Holiday Hills at STACKT Market
- Location: 28 Bathurst St.
Holiday Hills brings the heat to STACKT Market with a lineup of warm and cozy beverages and winter-themed cocktails perfect for sipping as you wander the festive grounds.
There are tons of holiday specials to choose from, like mulled wine at the Winter Wine Bar, Finlandia Vodka’s Winter Retreat bringing all the warmth to a chilly season, and the Speakeasy Espresso Martini Bar, serving up the classic cocktail in a cozy, festive atmosphere.
Little Sister presents Java Jingle
- Location: 102 Portland St. and 2031 Yonge St.
Dutch-Indo restaurant Little Sister returns this season with its holiday café-bar hybrid Java Jingle!
Java Jingle features 12 festive cocktails and seasonal shots, and some highlights include the vodka and gingerbread liqueur-forward Polar Express, as well as the Noggy Colada, which blends creamy eggnog vibes with tropical goodness. For more information on Java Jingle, visit Now Toronto’s Event Calendar.
Distillery Winter Village
- Location: 55 Mill St.
The Distillery Winter Village is the ultimate holiday destination each winter, and this year, it’s bringing nine themed outdoor bars to toast to the occasion! Some stand-outs include the Naughty or Nice Bar, which offers warm classics like mulled wine and hot sangria, as well as Peppermint Patio’s candy-cane inspired cocktail, fitting for the Madrina patio turned red-and-white striped wonderland.
For more events like these, check out our events calendar powered by Destination Toronto, and to list your event, click here.
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