The Three Speed
1163 Bloor West, 647-430-3834, twitter.com/thethreespeed
There’s no question that the Communist’s Daughter at Dundas and Ossington is the hippest watering-hole in Hogtown. Problem is, with the bartender, the jukebox and a dozen or so customers, it’s virtually a full house.
And so the 56-seat Three Speed, a crazy-cool saloon in burgeoning Bloordale from the crew behind the Communist’s. Once a bike shop, the room – all exposed brick walls and kitschy Goodwill lamps – feels like its been there forever, like some west-side equivalent of the Cameron. Better still, there are no stretch limos, bottle service or DJs, just a coupla bikes locked to a tree out front, the house’s own lager on tap and the Velvet Underground or Cinnamon Girl-era Neil Young on the sound system. Watch for their imminent launch of Wallflower in the old Naco Gallery storefront at Dundas and Brock right about now.
Finalist
The Dakota Tavern
249 Ossington, 416-850-4579, thedakotatavern.com