The classic pastime of the pub crawl is still going strong, and Toronto is loaded with a wealth of choices for local bars, taverns, and public houses to drink your way through.
With an overwhelming number of excellent Toronto pubs and bars to choose from, here’s a list of some noteworthy spots in the city that promise terrific food, tasty drinks, and a buzzing atmosphere that are ideal for your next pub crawl adventure.
Who knows? You may just discover your new favourite local haunt or pint of beer!
The Queen & Beaver Public House
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Gastropub
Address: 35 Elm St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: If you’re looking for a classic British pub experience in Toronto, The Queen & Beaver ought to be on your list.
Unpretentious but thoughtfully designed English pub grub is made from scratch at this cozy watering hole, with comforting dishes like beef and onion pies, butternut squash and chickpea curry, and ale-battered haddock and chips with mushy peas.
The beer list is also appropriate for the setting, featuring British pub staples like Guinness and Fuller’s mixed in with some local craft beer selections.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Town Crier Pub
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: German, Belgian
Address: 115 John St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located on John St. mere steps away from major entertainment venues like the TIFF Bell Lightbox and Princess of Wales Theatre, the lively Town Crier is a prime spot to sip on international craft beers and a tasty menu of German and Belgian bites.
The robust tap list features 50 popular and lesser-known brews from places like Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, and Italy, while the menu of genuinely great pub eats favours dishes like schnitzel, sausages, mussels, sandwiches, flatbreads, and beyond.
For a Euro-style pub experience, this needs to be on your list. Prost!
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
The Wren
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Southern-style
Address: 1382 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: This cozy pub on the Danforth sets itself apart with its creative menu of modern, Southern-inspired fare and thoughtful craft beer selections.
The Wren holds a high reputation for its standout food, great menu of drinks, and friendly staff. Rotating selections of well-curated craft beer are ever-changing, so no two visits will offer the same range of options.
The food menu — which is predominantly made up of hearty handhelds and shareable comfort eats — also regularly shifts, matched by creative daily specials.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
House on Parliament
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Gastropub
Address: 454 Parliament St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: With two patios and a cozy indoor dining area, House on Parliament takes the traditional pub experience and elevates it into something that goes beyond your typical watering hole.
Expect a menu of dishes like smoked duck breast salad, wagyu burgers, steak frites, wild Nova Scotian fish and chips, and smoked trout and horseradish pâté: offerings that take standard pub classics and kick them up a few notches with chef-driven touches and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.
Pair those with a compact yet thoughtful list of beers on tap as well as cider, wine, and house cocktails, and you’ve got a unique pub crawl experience with an extra dash of class.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
C'est What?
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Bar bites
Address: 67 Front St E, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: On top of the endearingly punny name, C’est What? is another popular Toronto destination for great beer, food, vibes, and live music.
Sandwiches, salads, burgers, poutines, and share plates dominate the focused menu of bar bites, and the extensive beer list is always full of terrific selections that favour breweries in Toronto and surrounding areas like Etobicoke, Niagara, and Hamilton.
C’est What? also sets itself apart from other pub experiences by brewing its own beer, with an ever-changing selection of creative, small-batch brews on hand in a variety of styles from IPAs to red ales to stouts.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Storm Crow Manor
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pub fare
Address: 580 Church St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Certainly one of Toronto’s most unique pub experiences, Storm Crow Manor is a regular haunt for lovers of pop culture and all things nerdy. In fact, they call themselves "Canada’s nerdiest bar!"
Playful pub food, creative cocktails, and fun vibes cater to fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Game of Thrones, and other icons of fantasy and sci-fi. Lively events are frequent here, like the upcoming Halloween in July, which brings the joy of spooky season to summertime.
If you’re getting a little tired of the same old pub experience on your next pub crawl, spice things up by tossing Storm Crow Manor into the mix!
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
Bar Hop
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pub fare
Address: 391 King St. W. and 137 Peter St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Another one for the truest craft beer lovers and hop heads, Bar Hop - which holds the title of one of Toronto’s original craft beer bars - always manages to have one of the most diverse and well-curated tap lists of local, regional, and international craft beer in the city.
With two popular locations, visitors can expect an appealing menu of modern, elevated pub bites including shareable appetizers like wonton nachos or bone marrow crostini; varieties of loaded fries; and handhelds like burgers and fried chicken sandwiches.
Wash those down with a Vim and Vigor Pilsner from Tooth & Nail in Ottawa or a hazy, fruit-forward IPA from Badlands in Caledon, and you’re in business.
Accessibility: Varies by location
Imperial Pub
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pub fare
Address: 54 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Fewer and fewer Toronto pubs offer authentic old-school charm, and the Imperial Pub is one of the city’s most noteworthy, longstanding spots.
Mere steps away from the overstimulating bustle of Yonge-Dundas Square, the homey Imperial Pub has been going strong as a family-owned and operated business for a whopping 80 years. A pub certainly doesn’t last that long without a devoted fan base, and the Imperial sure has one: a host of regulars routinely hit up this local favourite, which has a library lounge with couches on the second floor and a lovely rooftop patio.
Domestic and craft beers aplenty dominate the menu, and the food is pure pub comfort: think burgers, wraps, nachos, fish and chips, and chicken wings.
Accessibility: Small step at front entrance, no automatic door
If you want to create a bar crawl with less booze, check out this list of Toronto craft breweries serving delicious beverages for alcoholic drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
