39 Best Gastropubs in Toronto

“Great atmosphere wonderful staff awesome food!💖“

“Appetizers, drinks, entrees and especially the dessert was on 🔥🔥🔥“

“On Saturday, November 23, 2024 me and my triplet sisters hosted our 50th Decades Themed Birthday Party!!! We had a blast! The Kingston House Restaurant is a hidden treasure. The event space downstairs was the perfect venue exactly what we were looking for. The owner Chris and his staff were very generous and accommodating which helped us create an unforgettable and memorable experience for us and our guests. The food and service were excellent and they let us decorate! If you are looking for a restaurant that feels like family with a warm and friendly atmosphere then this is the place for you!“

“Wear MAGA hat and a conservative T-shirt. Watch the staff go berserk. Hilarious. Diversity of everything except opinions 😅“

“We stopped here on our journey around Toronto. Staff is friendly, the food was amazing. The prices are on par and the servings are perfect size. It’s been 2 days and I want more hot chicken tacos.“

“They have a great menu and the buck a shuck day is fantastic but do get there early as we heard that they ran out. The cocktails are well balanced and the staff were very helpful when we were trying to select a wine. The food is good and I plan to return“

“Great Restaurant. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is great. The Live Jazz Brunch is a great experience“

“Our party (couple and 5 y.o. daughter) enjoyed delicious food and drinks, and friendly service. Would return if ever back in the area!“

“Amazing drinks and food! The atmosphere and food were amazing. Spa day tomorrow!“

“I love this place, and try to go every time I'm in Toronto. They keep an excellent and creative list of craft beers that are locally sourced. The staff are great, as is the food and the overall vibe.“

“The Edmund Burke is a fantastic holiday tradition for us coming to see the Charlie brown christmas show. The food never fails to disappoint, but the service and atmosphere are really special! We had great service from Ashley and crew and really loved the special attention paid to our kids! A really wonderful place for a family to have a fun meal!“

“Visiting from Denver, CO. Found this place by chance and it is excellent. Chris is friendly and more importantly knowledgeable about the local beers he serves. We're only in town for a few days but we will stop in every night that were in Toronto.“

“Great place to visit and watch a match. Highly recommended the authentic roast beef dinner on the weekend. The beef was just melt in your mouth goodness. The Yorkshire pudding was also on point! Washed down with a good English pint!“

“Excellent food and drinks, had the BLAT and absolutely loved it. 🥑Cocktails are fantastic. 🍹Super friendly service! 😁Highly recommend.“

“Amazing place for dinner and drinks! Authentic food and great atmosphere!“

“Family friendly atmosphere with fantastic attentive service. Highly recommend and I will be going again soon.“

“This bar is a true gem. Great atmosphere and great selection of drinks, but the best part are the bar tenders. Such happy and personable folks, who not only are great servers but are also interested in their patrons. Highly recommend a visit.“

“Highly recommend. Service was great. Casual fun. The place is Clean and the food are tasty and fresh.“

“MMMMMMHHHHHHHHMMMMMM let's talk about The Commoner, folks. My partner and I went to The Commoner's patio on June 22, 2022 for a drink and dinner for what was really our first traditional date in about 18 months (COVID can kick rocks, for so many more important reasons than stunting my social life, but also for stunting my social life). The patio was fantastic, warm and welcoming with heat lamps should we need them and plenty of space, and the food couldn't have been better. We got the tuna tostada, braised beef sliders, and truffle fries to share and walked away with that feeling of being pleasantly full but not bursting at the seams. Achieving such a balance can be a Wallenda-esque highwire act performed in tandem between an enthusiastic diner and a generous restaurant - I'm happy to report that we arrived on the other side of this tortured metaphor in great shape.

Let's talk drinks! Now I'm a simple man who doesn't need much to be happy (read: can be boring) so I sucked down a couple of Blood Brothers Inner Eyes and could not have been happier. But do not let me guide you down the path of mistaken assumptions that may force you to conclude that my lack of creativity was the result of a limited drink list! Whereas many others have shortened up their offerings in the face of COVID (understandable, of course), The Commoner seems to have prioritized choice among their beers, wines, ciders, and cocktails. The Future Sanchez Life Partner (programming note: partners feeling like they need to take new last names is an antiquated patriarchal practice that takes on colonialist undertones in interracial relationships such as the one in which I find myself engaged - don't let the Boomers guilt you into reinforcing institutional inequity) got herself a glass of wine and, more notably, the house radler which is highly recommended for anyone looking for a light summer offering. 10/10

But alas, we've come to the part of the review where it's time to enumerate our regrets, of which I have but one: not getting our server's name to call out. This Guy (and we're actually going to make that a proper noun because, again, no name) was friendly, kind, warm, welcoming, funny, respectful of ongoing conversations yet attentive and seemingly right there anytime we needed anything. In the hopes that his manager sees this, he was (and presumably still is but I can't say for sure) tall, had his hair in cornrows, and seemed to have some pretty extensive tattoo action going on. Sweet guy, took our experience from "great" to "exemplary". Life is all about relationships and This Guy made us feel like friends from the moment we arrived. Also he didn't rip on my Boston hat, which I appreciate. Go Sox.“

“Its been a weird experience for me tbh. restaurant is very strategic and easy to access. But when i walked into the restaurant (2nd floor), there were some people who were leaving, slipped from the stairs, one of the employees just looked, did nothing, and walked away (definitely not the best customer service imo). Whole place is a great vibe! Very different from regular restaurants. Feels like we are being transported to another country, which is amazing! We ordered risotto (not the best according to my friends), onion rings (very bland), fries (ok?), sourdough crumpets (ok? Feels like we’re eating english muffins), fish and chips (decent), and salmon (salmon is great, but the potatoes tasted very oily for me). I would definitely come for the drinks and vibe. But food wise…definitely had better. Sorry“

“Great food and staff, good music and several screens to watch games 5 star“

“Such great bar for both food and drinks. Everything on the menu is so well crafted and the selection of drinks is amazing with practically anything you could think of. The atmosphere of the bar is relaxing but can be a bit loud at peak dining hours.“

“Brilliant pub and food!!!!“

“Great beer selection. Everything made to order to meet our dietary needs. Amazing pastas and Veal Chop was perfectly seasoned. The chicken Parmesan was really tender.“

“It’s a nice little bar and restaurant in the neighbourhood. We sat at the bar and it was pretty tight but I believe it’s part of the experience for you to get closer to each other. We were craving for oysters on Valentine’s Day so we went here. It took a while for the oysters to come because it was packed but other than that it was all good. Will go back and try their food and wine.“

“I loved this pub so much I got married here! We had a small ceremony (20 people) on the dreamy back patio and a medium reception (55 people) on the upper floors. Steve and his staff were a dream to work with. I won't get into all the details but it was like working with a proper wedding planning team with the benefit (and cost!) of a casual, cozy pub wedding. Everyone raved about the food and the staff.“

“Went there with a group of friends and we really liked the place. Great atmosphere and huge selection of European beers. The food was amazing and the staff were super friendly and accommodating. Definitely going back and bringing friends. Great place for anyone visiting. Ask for Mohamed super cool guy, he made great suggestions for beer and food.“

“Always an excellent experience and many tasteful food choices at Her Father’s. This review is to commend Josh for taking the time and going the extra mile to accommodate arranging a gift certificate for my daughter’s upcoming birthday while I was out of town. Very professional, courteous, and responsive and his support was greatly appreciated when the website process ran into a glitch. Thank you Josh.“

“Super cute locally owned locally operated spot. Friendly and quick service, food was great. Simple good stuff. Definitely recommend for a quick lunch date or a meal and a beer/cocktail. Nice selection, food is good, service is nice, would be happy to go again.“

“Great beer selection and a fantastic breakfast sandwich!“

“We came tonight for our friends 50 th birthday party! We all had an amazing time! The food and service was amazing:)Thank you to our server Dee! (The receipt says Dinh-‘em) Your service was amazing!“

“While I may not call the Junction home, I’ve discovered that Axis Café is the neighborhood’s best-kept secret. This modest spot is the heart of the area, where locals gather to catch up, swap stories, and soak in the charm of their vibrant community. Whether you're meeting friends, catching up on local gossip, or just enjoying the atmosphere, this is the place to be.

Of course, if you prefer solitude, snag a table for one, savor a drink, dive into a good book, and watch the Junction come to life around you.

I haven’t yet experienced Axis’s nightlife, but word on the street is that it’s the perfect place to kick off—or wind down—your evening. Their beer selection is solid, ranging from craft brews to the classics, and any bar that serves Pabst Blue Ribbon gets a nod of approval from me.

The food? Delicious and thoughtfully prepared, with something on the menu for everyone. So, if you find yourself in the Junction, or are curious to explore, make Axis Café your first stop. You won’t be disappointed.“

“The gentlemen here (one of them named Niko) are very hospitable and run a very functional bar that emphasizes social interactions, respect, and above all kindness. Amazing humans. They try to get to know each patron and are genuinely interested in every customer. This place attracts a positive crowd
Above all, their tap selection is excellent.“

“My husband and I wanted a relaxed dinner without getting all fancy dressed and we had gone to this spot for drinks once before, months ago. All of the food around us looked so delicious but we had already had dinner. So when we were looking for a casual spot last minute , I thought of this place. I’m so glad I made the mental note. The food was delicious! We had to wait a little for a table , which is totally understandable on a Friday night ,, no reso, but we were kindly assured by a couple of servers that we would be seated quickly and we were. We were taken care of by several people and the wine was great. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars on food is because of the shucking of the oysters, although they were very tasty they had a lot of shell , the mignonette, however was one of the best in the city , and the carrot cake … I’m picky . It’s a very comfortable atmosphere and will be our go-to in our neighbourhood. Absolutely a must try.“

“Always an amazing menu and the flavors are unreal. Everyone needs to experience this place! You can’t go wrong and won’t be disappointed.“

“Last time I was at Indie Alehouse was during a craft beer crawl with some friends pre-COVID. This time was for a friend's birthday dinner.

I didn't have any beer as I generally try to drink less these days, but my friends love the beer here, and wow was the food great. I got the fried chicken sandwich which was delicious, and the popcorn with rosemary Parmesan is a must try.

Atmosphere is great here! Would definitely recommend.“

“Maurizio is the best ❤️ everyone is friendly and the atmosphere is nice and relaxing! 😊“

“Dan was a great server when we were there recently for breakfast. All our food was exactly as we ordered it and was delicious. Highly recommend“

“It was very good food and great customer service I recommend The Fox to anybody!!“