A Leslieville bar crawl might be one of the most relaxed and enjoyable nights out in all of Toronto. The east end apathetically dodges try-hard cool and just is its laid-back self. The bars are cozy, service is attentive, and the overall vibe is best described as chill.
Think of the Roy Public House (894 Queen East, 416-465-3331, theroy.ca) as the Cheers of the east side. The beer list is uncomplicated, the grub hearty, and regulars abound – it’s a pub pure and simple. Weekend brunch comes with $5 mimosas, Bloody Marys and spiked coffee. Sounds like an ideal starting point to me.
Tanja-Tiziana
Goods & Provisions
After soaking up the simple pleasures of pub life, sophistication calls at Skin + Bones (980 Queen East, 416-524-5209, skinandbonesto.com), where the routinely freshened wine list is stacked with international gems by the taste (3 oz), glass or bottle. Cozy up to the extra-long bar to embrace the full experience, from aperitifs to a meal with wine pairings and – why not? – an Amaro to send you on your merry way.
After a healthy dose of fernet, you should be set to tackle a delicious cocktail or two at the snug and funky Goods and Provisions (1124 Queen East, 647-340-1738, goodsandprovisionsrestaurant.com), the easterly sister of Riverside’s Comrade (758 Queen East, 416-778-9449), before moving on to more cocktails and perhaps a stabilizing snack at Hitch (1216 Queen East, 647-352-7781, hitchlimited.com). Named for the late, great Christopher Hitchens, this comfy spot has the surface trappings of a hipster bar – dim-set Edison bulbs, taxidermy, reclaimed wood, a whiskey-heavy cocktail list – without even a whisper of douchiness. The ambience is laid-back and genuine, making Hitch a neighbourhood favourite for its inexpensive cocktails and friendly bartenders.
Tanja-Tiziana
Hitch
A brisk jog eastward lands you at Ceili Cottage (1301 Queen East, 416-406-1301, ceilicottage.com), where the promise of a cool Guinness and a dozen plump oysters awaits. It’s impossible to ignore the glistening shelves of whiskey, 25 Irish bottlings, along with bourbon, Scotch and Canadian drams.
Tanja-Tiziana
Bill Hicks
Now that you’re firmly on the whisky train, wrap up the evening at the tiny Bill Hicks Bar (946 Queen East), the ultimate east-end dive (in a très cool, eclectic, good-times-and-cheap-beer kind of way). The ceiling and walls here are lined with relic vinyl and album art, there’s tabletop Pacman just begging to be played, and you can kick back in the late-night shade of the thatched-roof bar and ask the bartender to line up whisky shots to toast a successful night.
drinks@nowtoronto.com | @s_parns