42 Best Bars in Hamilton

“Sherlock Holmes movie set? Did I just walk into a Sherlock Holmes scene on Ottawa st? What a wonderful setup. Totally relaxed from the moment you walk through the front doors. And that’s saying something walking off Ottawa St. I used to live in the neighbourhood. Might be a good thing that I don’t anymore. As this place is a gem. For those who know, they kinda keep it quiet. It’s small but perfect. And talk about calming. Easy to get into one of the comfortable chairs and sink right into this place. Karen a friend of mine had put up a few pictures about the place. I commented on the post. And wrote that it looked wonderful and I should give it a try. Karen said that if I did she would meet me there. Well let me tell you it will not be the last time for sure. Ashley and Alex behind the bar were amazing. Perfectly suited and great folks. Now, I was looking at the fantastic drinks that kept coming out. And the next time I go I would like to try a few of the concoctions. I didn’t see that they had flights (smaller versions). But I am very sure they could make something up. I most definitely will return. And look forward to spending a few hours in that calming atmosphere. One thing that was very prevalent to me. All of the patrons had their phones either upside down or put away. The direct communication by all in the place. Why that was great to see. See you all soon! Thank you so much Karen. What a wonderful evening. Ashley and Alex, looking forward to seeing you again.“

“Crooksy’s is a true gem. Everything you could want from a neighbourhood pub. Great food, incredible prices (especially if you stick to weekly specials), fun and quality staff. Crooksy’s is the kind of place you can walk into by yourself and walk out with 3 new friends. If you haven’t tried the wings, you should!!“

“I have been coming to BN for years. Came on the 24th for my birthday and had a phenomenal experience. Service was amazing (albeit we were the only two people in the restaurant lol) we had the tasting menu which will leave you with more than enough food for two people at a very reasonable price for all that you get. Stand out dish was the steak frites. The BEST cooked fries you will ever have will be here at Berkeley. Steak was also cooked perfectly to our liking. Cocktail menu is fun and innovative. We were also given complementary prosecco for the special occasion. I’d recommend this place to anyone looking to celebrate or just have a nice night out.“

“The best! Atmosphere, staff, menu, clientele… everything is always wonderful.“

“Saturday night was my first visit to HD and I have to say I was impressed. As a person who has known Dave for many years he has hit a home run here. The clientele, vibe and the service were exceptional. I don't drink anymore and the staff quickly pivoted to non alcohol options and even had booze-less Tequila. Will be back very soon“

“UPDATE: Foodbox provided me a replacement box of onion rings on my next order. Overall, they onion rings were okay, A little on the underdone/soft side, but better than being burnt. The Fish & Chips continued to be average and okay. Their fries, which I tried this time too, where pretty good, and the Tar Tar sauce continued to be pretty good too.

I am glad I have them another chance, even if it's not the most amazing food, it's a pretty decent value based on what you get for what you pay, so if you're looking for some good, affordable, decent value, average quality fish and chips. This place ain't that bad.

ORIGINAL REVEIW: Ordered fish and chips from Food Box a few days ago (been busy since then). It was a busy night and we were craving fish and chips so we placed an order. When it arrived, the fish was on par with your average fish and chips place, fair for the price, and the in-house tar-tar sauce was good too.

However, the onion rings were were outright burnt. I am not sure how this passed any visual or quality inspection. The onions inside were shriveled to leather and the outsides were burn and hard as a rock. They were inedible. We were left without a side for our meal.

I am finally getting around to writing a review now so others can be prepared to the quality they can expect if they order, however, I hope this is a one-off and Food Box reaches out to me to give them another chance.“

“Service was great, prices were great and food was fantastic. Good times 😜“

“Excellent place to meet with friends or meet new friends. Sports on large screen tvs, foosball table, pool table and ATM. Terrific food, best bifana on a bun in the city. The shrimp 🍤 is amazing.
Perfect place for large parties or groups of any size.
Tell them Mike sent you 😉“

“awesome place for a pint and a bite. Great patio, fantastic staff!“

“Always a good atmosphere, Incredible mixture of patrons from lawyers to window washers. Hamilton's version of "Cheers"“

“Best food in the city!!! Great grilled cheese. especially and tony Williams was great promoter“

“Please don’t go because we love it.“

“Great place , highly recommended“

“We had excellent service tonight. Juliana was so nice and such a people person. Sure went out i ok f her way to make us feel taken care of. Service was exceptional.“

“Great bands for a great time.“

“big bar selection, tasty dawgs, cool staff, killer VHS collection, decent Lays chips service“

“I love this bar! Grown and Sexy vibes� Lots to do for a mature evening out with friends�����“

“Absolutely incredible experience every single time I visit Coolars Bar! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and full of great energy. It’s the kind of place where you can truly relax, have a great time, and feel like a regular even if it’s your first visit 🍻✨
Angie is an absolute doll 💖 — always smiling, attentive, and genuinely caring about every customer. She goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is taken care of and having a great time. You can tell she loves what she does, and it shows in every interaction 😊👏
Ivana is just as amazing — professional, friendly, and always on point with service 🍹🔥 Drinks are perfect every time, ice cold and refreshing ❄️🍺, and she keeps the vibe upbeat and fun all night long. She really knows how to keep things running smoothly while making everyone feel special 🙌
And I can’t forget the other gorgeous young lady working there 💃 — she deserves just as much recognition! Super friendly, attentive, and adds so much to the great energy of the place. The whole team works so well together, and it really makes a huge difference 🌟
And let’s talk about the food 🤤🔥 — the wings are absolutely unreal! Crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection every single time 🍗👌 Easily some of the best wings around, and paired with those ice-cold drinks, you can’t go wrong!
The service here is top-tier, the staff is incredible, and the atmosphere is unbeatable 🎶🍸 Whether you're stopping in for a quick drink or staying for the night, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time 😎
Hands down one of the best bars around — highly recommend to anyone looking for great vibes, amazing people, delicious food, and an unforgettable night out 🥳🍾 5 stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“It's a neighborhood bar I've always had good times at, Friday nights are live music, shoutouts to Kendra she's a killer bartender. Everyone else sucks. It's a good place to go have a drink and just forget about your problems. Recommend“

“Excellent quality food and fabulous service. Thanks to Zechariah for taking such good care of us! Everything was outstanding“

“I don't usually leave reviews but I just wanted to comment on the amazing service I always receive when coming into Kelsey's. I am made to feel welcome and service is fast and accommodating. Cailen and Emily always make delicious drinks as well as provide fantastic recommendations! I look forward to coming back and hopefully being served by them again!“

“This bar is located inside Tim Horton's field and I'm pretty sure only open during events. The service is a little slow but probably because it's during games and very busy there. You can get liquor here which is nice bc some of the bar areas in Tim Horton's field only serve beer.“

“Great lengths taken by the owners helps to make The Venu Bar & Lounge a welcoming inviting atmosphere where delicious cocktails combined with ice cold brews fuels the taste buds towards gratuitous appetizers and shareable main dishes amongst a friendly open kick back and chill evening ....

Parking: There are no shortage of availability in regards to nearby parking options...“

“fast friendly service. Great for singing and dancing“

“≈⭐️4️⃣.4️⃣⭐️≈~Open everyday until 2am?~Rough around the edges; but very old school, lowkey, & inclusive?\?/⚧️\?~Has a pool table?~Music?~inc. a lot of Karaoke opportunitiesIF Ü like that?~Affordable, & good drinks?~Safe as Ü can expect☮️~?Nice bartenders~?≈“

“Great place - wings are awesome and the free pool on sundays is sweet!!“

“Great atmosphere and delicious food. Great experience“

“My friend and I drove to B-Side Social from Niagara after winning a dozen free oysters and it did not disappoint! The oysters were so good we ordered an additional dozen along with the caprese salad and it was phenomenal! All of the staff was amazing. The owner (I think) or at least the GM came and chatted with us a few times, she had great energy! Our server Autumn was super cute and did a bang up job! Will def recommend and return!“

“We were just there to celebrate a friends 65th Birthday...Alison bar Mgr and the restaurant Mgr made sure our evening was special..Too our two waiters Mike and Adam you guys were amazing.....I can not thank you all enough for caring about our special occasion and making it even more special. Thank You All doing much . Until our next visit.“

““My cousin took me here for my 19th birthday, and I had an absolutely amazing time! The karaoke was such a blast, and the vibe was just right. The service was top-notch, and the food was delicious—definitely a place I’d recommend if you’re looking for a fun night out!”“

“Stopped by today, as it is really nice out and decided to try the food. We took it to go, and I have to say, the food is fantastic and worth the wait! Emily deserves a special mention too - she is awesome, and you can bet we'll be back!“

“Great place and atmosphere“

“This cozy restaurant has left the best impression. Came for a romantic date night after a friend recommended it. Great atmosphere, excellent service (Dan was amazing), delicious dishes and drinks, and wonderful dessert. I highly recommend and will be returning again.“

“Cute little café with a nice concept. I loved the QR code ordering system—it gave me time to look through the menu and decide what I wanted without feeling rushed.

We sat on the patio, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s right on the street, and the tables and chairs were small and not very comfortable.

We ordered the S’mores Latte, the Ice Ice Baby cold brew, and two breakfast sandwiches (the Gatsby and the Malibu), which came to about $50. The Malibu was definitely the standout and was absolutely delicious. The drinks and the Gatsby were fine, but nothing particularly memorable.

Overall, it was a pleasant visit, but for the price, I was expecting a bit more. The Malibu was worth trying, but everything else felt a little underwhelming.“

“Always a great time here. Between the friendly bar staff, the fun but on point security and door staff, and the amazing array of karaoke, drag shows, court events, and dancing nights, I can always find something to do at The Well Hamilton“

“Came here last year to see Judgement , i was visibly pregnant and the peers here was very kind and offered me a seat , i was treated well here and nobody moshed near me lol. Great experience and thanks again for everyones kindness when i was super pregnant lol“

“I really really like the food. It’s like the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had and the burger was amazing too. I just hope that the server could stop asking “how’s it going” every 15 mins. I clearly has a face of I want to be alone but I still got couple servers that came to me. The restaurant was at a quiet time and it’s not near closing. So I wonder…I was just trying to enjoying my time😭“

“Cannot thank Morgan enough for making our evening even more special! Morgan was so fun and friendly and interactive. Asked right away if there was something special that brought us in- we were there celebrating my daughter’s university graduation. She made the experience just that- more than a dinner- it was an experience. We laughed and Morgan laughed right along with us! Butternut squash pasta was 10/10, chicken tacos above what was expected - the bruschetta was a perfect starter! Personally I didn’t feel the steak lived up to the hype of a Milestones steak- but was still delicious. We plan to return for more “milestones” to this Milestones location! Thanks Morgan!!!!“

“Best club best staff!!! Front door staff is the best.. will definitely be going back!!“

“My wife and I go here quite often. Everytime we do we are welcomed with a smile and outstanding service. We look forward to dining at this location. Connor is a attentive server with a positive attitude and a great memory of what his clients enjoys when visiting. Thank you Connor for making us feel at home! We look forward to seeing you soon!!!“

“Game day for the Ticats. Paired down menu which is totally understandable. We arrived before the game. I was a bit worried… it is an older building, and some renovations (bathrooms) would come in handy. This was like being at a tailgate party!!!
After the game, holy heack! Busy!!!
The staff were amazing! Quick, efficient, friendly. I love and applaud great service! This establishment goes beyond!!! Well done! We will be back“