50 Best Bars near East York

“My son and I were looking for a cup of coffee, and were drawn to 367 Cafe by the promise of a patio. It's in the back and can be heated. Essentially this is a cozy cafe and sports bar. The very friendly proprietor told us it isn't worth his while to try to serve meals during the pandemic. The espresso was very good, however.“

“Stepping into Sophie's isn't just about watching a game or having a bite to eat, it's like coming home. The moment you're greeted by owners George and Sophie, you feel an instant warmth that's rare to find. They don't just run a business — they're the heart of the place, always taking the time to chat and make sure everyone feels like a regular. What truly sets Sophie's apart is their deep commitment to the community. Whether they're hosting a fundraiser or sponsoring a sports event, George and Sophie consistently show up and give back. They're also unwavering LGBTQ+ allies, creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone. It's clear they care about more than just their bottom line, they care about the people and the neighbourhood they serve. Sophie's is more than a sports bar, it's a true community hub, and we're lucky to have it.“

“I would give 5 stars to the staff—they were very friendly and attentive, which made for a welcoming experience.

The ambience was convenient and cozy, making it a comfortable spot to grab a bite after grocery shopping.

Unfortunately, the food didn’t meet expectations. We ordered the Swiss burgers, which were dry and lacked quality in both taste and ingredients.“

“The food is always amazing, service is always impeccable and they always have top notch entertainment. If you want to try great Macedonian food and Balkan food in general and you live in Toronto, this is the place to visit.“

“By far the best restaurant in Toronto so far. I came here for my birthday and the experience was transcendent. First, the service was top tier level, the waiter that took care of us was gentlemen with a great vibe. Best server I had in my life. They seated us according to our request (nice seating away from the entrance). They also printed a birthday card for me which was very considerate. They also called and emailed asking us very detailed oriented questions ahead of the dinner which was top notch. They also switched our utensils every meal which is a small detail yet powerful dinner experience detail. Sparkling water was also complimentary versus other restaurants. The pace of the food was perfect as well and they also gave me a small birthday cake!

Food was immaculate. An eye opening experience. I cannot even describe the food/art that I have eaten. Nothing disappointed me. They used the best of the best ingredients. Every dish was perfectly curated and every bite was orgasmic. If I was a multi millionaire, I would come here everyday. All the food was at the right temperature, nothing got stuck to our teeth, and I would say the egg & toast dish was one very memorable.

Now as for the atmosphere, the decor was elegant but the restaurant isn’t very big, thus the difficulty of getting a reservation. It was comfy and treated us extremely well.

Overall I recommend it for special occasions, not for a huge party but great for 4 people family or with your significant other. I will be coming back for sure one day.“

“I'll keep the secret, but just go! It's delicious and perfect!“

“I was attending Toronto Pride this past weekend and found this beautiful hidden gem and the staff were so friendly knowing that I was alone. fantastic food and fun drinks“

“A classic French restaurant with a great atmosphere and complimentary cocktails that taste unique.“

“Really enjoyed the atmosphere and Ceci was a great server ! Recommend Rob’s pizza.“

“Brunch at Ruby Soho was mostly fun and delicious but slightly slow.

Came here for a birthday brunch with a group of 14 girls and overall had a great experience! The food was beautifully plated and full of flavor, with a few standout dishes.

The Classic Breakfast was simple and delicious the raspberry jam that came with the toast was amazing. Only thing that lacked was the corn bread it was dense and dry.

Pork Belly Benny was rich and flavourful the pork belly was almost candy like sweet, crunch and fatty.

The only letdown was the Avocado Toast, It felt a bit bland and got lost under the sprouts.

Our waitress was friendly and did her best due to short staffing but overall it was still very slow service.“

“Perched discreetly above the bustling Le Banane restaurant, Bar Banane isn't just a waiting area; it’s a destination in its own right—a cool, sophisticated escape for the discerning drinker.

The atmosphere whispers of exclusivity, but the service is anything but stuffy. It's truly great, with attentive staff who guide you through a fascinating drink menu. Forget the standard fare; the cocktail program here is genuinely interesting and ambitious. Offerings like the Lovely Rita, a smoky, intriguing Mezcal-based concoction, and the Message in a Bottle hint at a thoughtful, high-level approach to mixology. (And for those who appreciate the classics, a dedicated selection of Negronis during Negroni Week certainly demonstrated their commitment to cocktail culture.)

As a devoted fan of pisco, I opted for the Message in a Bottle, a daring blend anchored by pisco and vanilla liqueur. While the spirit-forward nature of the drink was admittedly strong for my palate, its construction was undeniably expert. It achieved a beautiful balance, showing the skill of the bartender. The presentation was elevated further by a perfectly placed, torched peach garnish, adding a subtle, sweet, and smoky dimension that was a true delight.

Bar Banane operates on a higher plane of cocktail execution. It strikes that perfect balance: inventive drinks, impeccable service, and an atmosphere that feels both exclusive and welcoming. The strength of the menu is compelling enough to ensure that a return visit is not just a plan, but a priority!“

“Gabbys Danforth.... Rude staff and an even more rude owner... don't bother complaining about anything because you're just going to get cussed at... absolutely appalling behavior... the usual crowd are loud obnoxious and seriously over their limits. I've witnessed tables and chairs falling all over the place on many occasions because people are way too intoxicated to think. The owner acts like he's untouchable and says things like " you're in a bar what do you expect " . I expect to be treated as a paying customer. Never going there again. also... one of the servers is literally always drunk out of her mind... my very first visit she was crying about her ex... and almost every time I ordered wings SHE GOT MY ORDER WRONG....over and over again!! let's just say ive had many free wings and stuff from her as an apology... I gave them a chance. several actually. but after that conversation with the owner.... im done. DO NOT RECOMMENDED!!!!“

“Three speed is one of those rare gems in the city that is consistently reliable in all categories and yet incredibly easy going non pretentious. Great food, drink and friendly service. 10/10

Make sure to ask Mark for a muddy caeser!!“

“I celebrated a milestone birthday here over the summer and had such great support for every aspect of the planning - from booking the venue to picking food to making sure that all of my guests would be accommodated, including the four-legged variety! I booked out the entirety of the inside knowing that I would get access to the outside, weather and space permitting. Staff was fun and friendly and made sure my guests had a very memorable night. Thank you for helping me celebrate my birthday!“

“My new favourite karaoke place!! The rooms and sound system were great, and the food and drinks were amazing! Highly recommend the pork sekuwa and the mustang aloo. Our server Tashi was also super nice and attentive. She was so patient with our group despite us calling her so many times. I'm definitely coming back!“

“On a visit to Toronto and was taken to The Only Cafe to listen to the live music. A nice atmosphere, good selection of drinks and friendly service.“

“So tasty, and the drinks are so good, strong, and delicious. Great staff who are friendly and make you feel at home!“

“We love this place! Great time for kids and adults alike.“

“Highly recommend this place! I’m actually chef too, so, this guys do really amazing quality, believe me 👍 atmosphere good for the date or lonely dinner, stylish place with good music and light! You can feel how chef really care about everything when you eating! And also very fresh fish for sashimi!“

“Great service, classic pinball machines, good beer selection.“

“Great staff, always helpful and knowledgeable. Comfortable environment for any and all, great game selection and Tuesday night MTG drafts!“

“Everything was outstanding! We had a great table, a super nice server, and amazing food. The standouts were the beef jerky, the tapioca dumplings, and the BBQ chicken. For cocktails, highly recommend the Bean There Done That—it has White Russian vibes but with tea and condensed milk. 10/10, would eat there again.“

“Jonathan was amazing! He made me the cocktail, “between you and me” it was amazing and his hospitality was amazing !! We discovered this place by accident! And it did not disappoint. Jonathan was so fun watching him makes drinks was so fun“

“Went for an engagement party in the back party room. The bar itself was hopping on a Friday night with full tables and bar seating. The food was ok for platter/party service. Excellent selection of brews on tap and in cans. Cocktail menu looked interesting.“

“A wonderful venue for community building and meeting new people. Great staff, artsy atmosphere and inclusive. Thanks to Joshua and team for being supportive of the arts!“

“A great hangout on a Friday night. Comfy atmosphere and top shelf service. We ordered Nagasaki jjampong and paired it with Soju, followed by yuzu high ball. It conjured memories of Omeide yokocho in Tokyo or midtown Busan. Highly recommend it if you are in North York.“

“I've eaten here a few times and the food is always good! I order something different each time and it's always delicious. They also have good prices on food and drink specials (around $16 for food and $7/pint). Good local beer too! I also love the music featured here. Cool cozy place to hang out!“

“We were a group of 3 people and we'd been bar hopping all night and we were on our way home when we passed Decoy Bar and loved the vibe of the place so we just went in and was greeted by our friendly bartender Brandon. My friends and I had a blast! Brandon made us instantly feel welcomed, talked to us about the drinks and we ended up ordering a cocktail called Simply Cindy and it was the best drink of the night! We had gone to two other bars previously and by far the vibes at Decoy Bar and drinks and Brandon made the night super memorable. Will definitely visit again soon!“

“Enjoyed a lovely cocktail after the show.“

“A group of us visited Pizza Wine Disco last week and had the absolute best time! From the moment we walked in, everything was perfect. The music was amazing and everyone danced all night long. The drinks were perfectly mixed, super refreshing, and served extremly fast. We had the pleasure of meeting Bibek, the manager, who was incredibly kind and welcoming. You can tell he genuinely cares about the guests and the vibe of the place. The rest of the staff were all super friendly as well. If I could give 6 stars, I would. We’ll definitely be returning soon!“

“Great spot for creative cocktails.“

“Every time I rent an item, it's in pristine condition. Delivery is always punctual, set up smoothly, and picked up without any hassle. Super reliable and so easy to work with! And the best part—there’s such a huge selection of stunning items to choose from for all kinds of events. Highly recommend!“

“It would appear from their website and reviews that have food.... but really it's just sandwiches and nibbles...very drinks focused.... versus food focused... Me and my date left rather hungry but we were suitably hammered on the amazing cocktails ... so it will worked out in the end LOL“

“Been going to The Horn for many, many years. We've gotten to know all the staff who are absolutely amazing. It's one of our regular spots in the neighbourhood to have a delish local lager (or three, who are we kidding, right Dave?!) a munchie and chill on one of the best backyard patios in the city. There's always a game on and the vibe on the inside is laid back and comfy. Kristin and the crew are all gems! 5/5!“

“We wandered in here at happy hour with no expectations and were blown away at the quality of the cocktails, atmosphere, snacks, and service. Meg took care of us and Gus is the mastermind behind the beverage program - 10/10 for both!! An amazing selection of margs and we were sorely tempted by the $6 Guinness. Try the Aperol Margarita or the Midnight Monarch. You won't be disappointed“

“The food was incredible. We got the Steamed Black Cod in Laksa with Vermicelli and the Kaya Toast for dessert both to share since we weren't super hungry. Both really hit the spot! One small things: our seats weren't super comfy at the table up the stairs by the kitchen. But all in all a great spot.“

“Cool neighbourhood spot. 15 dollar cocktails, good menu, paper planes, negroni's, old fashions, espresso martinis, all the core ones every good cocktail bar should have. I think it's also a cafe during the day.

They had a live DJ playing some Berlin type music not too loud which was a nice touch. There is some seating space in front of the patio, and next to the building to hang out. Tall beer cans and cocktails are 7-8 bucks which is a good deal. They have some non-alcoholic beers too which is nice.

Inside has that cool vintage hipster Berlin feel to it. No cover, no lineups, just a nice local neighbourhood bar near the bridge and a bunch of other autoshops. Was walking back from an art gallery and we just literally stumbled upon it and sat down for a catch up drink.

I feel like Toronto needs more places like this. Quiet neighbourhood bars with a nice selection of music, quality cocktails, not too expensive, no lines ups. Nice slightly mature place for people to catch up and have a drink without having to venture heavily into the Dundas West bar scene where it's way more hectic. Probably fits like 20 people so it's nice and intimate. Kind of reminds me of some of the bottle shops in Montreal where you can either drink it there and vibe or take it to the park right next to it. Place has some character to it. Would like to see it have a good solid run in Toronto's independent bar scene and be supported by the neighbourhood.

Next time I'm back I'll try out the cocktail menu and see if that's fire too. Can selection was interesting. I got a fruit punch vodka seltzer with 2 grams of sugar which was good. LBGTQ+ friendly but open to anybody really. Still has that cool Dundas West OG grunge premium dive bar feel all the hipsters like me enjoy. Keep up the great work Tommy!“

“Came here on a Saturday night for a few drinks and apps.

For drinks, I got the non alcoholic Silent G which was super tasty.
For food we ordered the chicken and tuna melt empanadas as well as the Dumplings - all were delicious !

Atmosphere and service was also great! 😊“

“Great place for late night drinks or brunch! I love the new buck a shuck deal upstairs in their oyster house, and they have such delicious food offerings up there as well. Will be back!“

“Had such a lovely time here. The staff is talented and so helpful. I love the variety of different paintings you can choose from and they serve cocktails, not just wine. Love it! I will be doing this again💕“

“The absolute best of Dundas West. 🔥“

“Popped into Triple A with our very elderly pup this weekend and had a fantastic time! She was treated like royalty and could get very used to it. Great selection of beers and cider on draft and a lovely mix of humans and dogs. Looking forward to coming back!“

“I rented this place to film in, and it was amazing! Oz is super nice and so helpful. The space is beautiful and designed really well. Came a few days before filming to scope it out and had some food drinks and both were great and well priced! Couldn't recommend this place more“

“Sampo Snack Bar is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, the warm atmosphere and friendly team make you feel right at home. The menu strikes the perfect balance between comfort and creativity—every dish is packed with bold flavors, thoughtful presentation, and top-quality ingredients.

The cocktails are just as impressive—well-crafted, balanced, and refreshingly inventive. Whether you’re there for a quick bite, a casual night out, or a late-night hang, Sampo hits the mark every time. It’s clear the team puts genuine care into everything they do.

A must-visit spot that keeps you coming back. Highly recommended!“

“Tucked in the enclave of Leslieville is this gem of a restaurant Goods and Provisions. The ambiance is great with warm wood paneling on the walls and low warm tone lighting. The wall decorations are eclectic and help create the vibe. I was impressed with the playlist as well and was told that it was the owners fav song selections.
However the star of this restaurant is the food. Shared steak tartare and duck frites. The steak tartare was fresh and vibrant and the toasty bread was an excellent accompaniment. The duck was tender and juicy and the jus on the fries was great.
I had the grilled octopus as well which was served on a crisp hash brown that was divine. This was one great meal. The server informed us that the menu changes weekly. How wonderful! A small menu done well.
I will definitely be returning.“

“Cozy little bar with a nice back patio. Stopped here for a drink after dinner so I didn’t try their great looking boards. $10 cocktail special even on a Friday night, had a bees knees and it was good. Nice chill vibe, will definitely be back!“

“Always a great time, great vibe and great ppl, without exception! Special shout out to Adam! 😁“

“This place was absolutely divine! Not one dish was anything less than a 5 star meal- but the biggest highlight was the seafood udon, it was creamy, perfectly balanced, and left us all wanting more. The service was great as well! Absolutely no complaints and we can’t wait to come back!“