From a sunlit rooftop downtown to a cozy nook in the Annex

There’s no doubt that Toronto is in the midst of a hotel bar renaissance. Alluring interiors, inventive cocktails menus and a curated calendar of events and live music make hotel bars some of the city’s best destinations for date night, happy hour and late-hour night caps. From new kids on the block to long-time city staples, we’ve rounded up some of the best, and most stylish, hotel bars in Toronto to pick your poison.

Broadview Bistro + Bar

Deemed “the heart of the Broadview Hotel,” Bistro + Bar is an elegant daytime destination to perk up with coffee and waffles or wind down with a local Saison. With views of bustling Queen Street and the Thompson Street Parkette, this sunlit lobby bar is both cosmopolitan and casual. Reserve your spot here.

Evangeline

With interiors informed by the romance of the silver screen, this new rooftop bar at Toronto’s Ace Hotel is an ode to the city’s history of industry and innovation. Curl up by the fireplace or browse its Cooper Cole-curated art space for an elevated evening in good company. Reserve your spot here.

The Annex Wine Bar

The Annex Hotel’s lobby bar, with an alleyway entrance under a beautiful arcade, transforms from a daytime café to a bôite serving bold sips and steak tartare by sunset. Frequently showcasing live music and local art projects, this boutique bar offers an unrivalled local community experience. Reserve your spot here.

Writers Room

On the seventeenth floor of the Park Hyatt Toronto, Studio Munge has instilled new life to the beloved rooftop martini bar paying homage to the history of literary legends who’ve frequented the hotel, including Margaret Atwood and Farley Mowat. Beyond its impressive art collection, a globally-minded food menu makes the Writers Room a culturally-rich choice for evening snack and swill. Reserve your spot here.

Flora Lounge

An escape to nature informs the interiors of this Wellington Street watering hole, one of the best hotel bars in Toronto, designed by The Rockwell Group. Spanning the lobby of the 1 Hotel, Flora Lounge is a bohemian-style bar and snackery with all the ingredients for a good time. Featuring its own Garden Pavilion, Flora shines brightest with its sustainably focused dishes sourced from local farms and crafted around its effervescent cocktail, wine, and champagne menus. Reserve your spot here.

The Modern Wing Lobby Bar

A forerunner of the boutique experience in Toronto, the Modern Wing’s street-facing bar at The Drake Hotel is where art deco meets ’70s groove. Whether you choose to start or end your night here, we recommend the Queen Street Dawa, an indulgent mix of vodka, sencha tea, melon, lime and honey—it pairs perfectly with the spicy sake maki. Reserve your spot here.

d|bar

Dinner in Yorkville is a foolproof and fashionable plan for a romantic evening out on the town. But before the night’s end, grab a nightcap at one of the neighbourhood’s most popular hotel lobby bars. From the acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud, d|bar at the Four Seasons Toronto is a spacious yet intimate spot with plenty of tables for two. For a pick-me-up, we recommend the bar’s signature espresso martini. Reserve your spot here.

Mister C Bar

If the Bisha Hotel’s lobby bar should be described in one word, it would be opulent. Emerald green features, luxe lounge areas and an exceptional cocktail and cuisine menu make up all the ingredients for a five-star hotel bar. A final touch to Mister C Bar’s unique ambiance is its calendar of live jazz acts and DJs who keep the spirits up and the mood just right. Reserve your spot here.