What a great cocktail bar. I've been to some of the most popular and highly recommended ones around…read morethe downtown area (as an infrequent visitor) and this beats pretty much all of them hands down. The bar staff was super friendly and an absolute blast to chat with (we got there before the nightlife rush). The music was a bit loud which they admitted they weren't allowed to turn down and made it difficult to hear both them and even each other while sitting at the bar with a speaker on the wall every 5 feet behind us, but it was exceptional nonetheless. After a couple rounds of drinks, my favorite was definitely the Three Rum Problem with the bubbled goodness (chemistry is fun!) but really all the drinks were creative, layered, and innovative and exciting. You could tell these guys really knew their stuff. And for being on the more interesting side with the cocktail innovation, their prices were solid to boot. This is definitely my go-to place on this end of town and worth seeking out even if you're not in the neighborhood.

Went here for their giggly Christmas holiday bar on Christmas Eve. It was decked up with lots of…read moredecorations and Christmas wallpaper. Seating times are limited but our food came out relatively quickly. We got pumpkin Mac n cheese, Turkey potato croquettes, and festive porkie skewers. The pumpkin Mac and Turkey croquettes were great but the porkie skewers were more fat than meat and served over cold sweet potato mash so it wasn't the best. For cocktails, you absolutely must get "a flipping Christmas story". It was so good and creamy and tasted like Christmas. The "all is dram all is bright" is also good as a stirred cocktail with a Christmas twist. But the "coco Noel spritz" and "naughty toddy" were just ok. If we'd known a flipping Christmas story was that good we honestly would've got a round of just that cocktail. Overall, it was a nice holiday activity and compared to most of the other Christmas bars in the city, this one is worth going to.

Was here for a birthday celebration and great spot for some drinks and food…read more Got the 1/2 dozen oysters, there were big and fresh. The ceviche was really good and I like that there was a lot of plantain chips. The burrata was so smooth and creamy, so good with the sourdough. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. And the ambiance change throughout the night when the DJ was out playing some good music.

Came on a Saturday evening around 7 with a group of four and were seated fairly quickly. We tried…read moretheir happy hour drink (can't remember what it was called, it had a rather long name); it was tangy and you could really taste the alcohol. I still thought it was yummy but my friends thought the alcohol taste was too strong. We shared the patatas bravas, chorizo, and then the tres leches for dessert. All the food was good, nothing to write home about but nothing to complain about either - however, the tres leches in particular was great. It had such a pretty presentation with flowers all over it, and it was moist and very yummy. Our server was very friendly.

The live music definitely adds something special; and the decor is very cool. We had a 6pm…read morereservation, and the place was pretty empty, but did start to fill up around 7pm. We ordered two of their cocktails - and we found both great; good combination of flavours and excellent presentation. They had some constraints in the kitchen, so the food orders were taken late and some items were not available. I can say that the braai platters had an authentic taste; but with items missing, opportunity was lost for the truly authentic platter. Given the constraints, the service was excellent - friendly, and we were kept well up to date. Would love to come again.

I had Mrs. Robinson on my bookmark list for a long time and was excited to try it as part of my…read morebirthday celebration. Unfortunately, while the vibe was nice with cool live music... the drinks and staff need improvement. Our server seemed a bit off/rude and kept getting our bills wrong. The drinks we ordered (some suggested by server) were not very good. They need to find a better mixologist. We tried a few cocktails and I even ordered an expresso martini thinking that might be fairly standard? Everyone in my group tried drinks from each other and all agreed our drinks were bad. My expresso martini was so bad I couldn't even finish and just returned it. We only ordered fries, since we had dinner earlier so can't comment on food. Ended up leaving for another bar even though we could have ordered a few more cocktails. If you really want to try this place, I would suggest it for just beers. Good with friends for something casual but because of service I wouldn't bring a date, coworker or celebrate any special occasions. Really too bad, could have been a hot spot if they fix these things.

Food was amazing, wine was great, banana pie was incredible. Great service. Strong recommending!read more

Recently went to Alobar for a birthday. I have actually been to this restaurant a few times before…read more The restaurant itself is quite comfortable, with an elegant decor and ambiance. My only problem is that they don't have enough lighting, so it tends to get quite dark (hence my lack of good pictures). The wait staff is accommodating, but they have forgotten to bring side dishes on two separate occasions I have visited. Also, on one occasion they started to clear a plate before we were done with it, which was annoying. The food is quite good. I particularly enjoy the bread, prawns, and mille-feuille dessert (has a nostalgic element for me as it tastes like an elevated Passion Flakie which I would have as a child). I had the lamb saddle as a main on my most recent visit which had good flavour, but was a bit too chewy. Overall, Alobar is a good choice for dinner, but has a few flaws which holds it back.

I've been to Cherry's High Dive a handful of times, but each time I've gone it's been a great and…read morememorable experience. The dive bar kind of has more of a rustic, casual vibe, with the crowded hustle and bustle of the servers carrying food. The main walkway used to find indoor seating and bathrooms is a tight squeeze, and it's only really one way traffic to get around the dive bar. The food is great, with moderately quick wait times and fair pricing. The fries are really good, and so are the mozzarella sticks-- the cheese pull is so worth it!! If you're looking for a chill night out with friends, with a homey ambiance and food that's more than worth the price, Cherry's is a great option!

A really cool and unique spot! Love the vibe and perfect place to hang out to watch a game, play…read morepool, and eat. They even had a Photo Booth! Food - 4.1/5 - Smash burger with curly fries - it was a pretty good smash burger. I'd get it again, for sure. The curly fries really hit too. The pizza looked amazing and loved how it was a thin crust - would try that next time! Ambiance - 5/5 - Many screens to watch sports games, high top table booths, a bar area, and just overall a vibe! Perfect vibe for what it's meant for. Service - 5/5 - Friendly and fast service!

This is the bar up above Khao San Road. Darkly lit, vibey place with some neon and cool music in…read morebackground. Good spot to have a drink while waiting for a table downstairs. Drink menu has some interesting Thai themed takes on classic cocktails. Had the Letters From Iwo Jima Thai version of an Old Fashioned and it was pretty good. Guac and Chips was solid - homemade chips and good quac. King Oyster Mushroom was quite tasty although a bit too salty. Overall (4/5) - not a bad little place pre-dinner.

Nice place to stop by for a drink. Didn't have any food but the menu looked interesting. We sat at…read morethe bar upstairs with big TV's and a great vibe. Our bartender was nice and attentive with a real wit about her saying funny lines and entertaining. Next time will get some food but the drinks I can attest are well pored.

Celebrated a birthday here and it was fantastic. The cocktails are unique and beautifully crafted,…read morethe ambience is intimate and elegant, and the bartender was welcoming and attentive. Perfect place for a fun night out with friends.

4.5 stars. Almost…read moreperfect but they're probably short staffed and so the roll out is a bit slow. We tried a bunch of things and everything tasted spectacular - bird's punch is a delicious clarified one, foreign correspondent also tropical yet balanced,Balthazar and gilded rose.

Best cocktails of the trip for this #22 on the best of North America's '26 bars. 4.5 stars…read more Cocktails: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - James was a wonderful host with great recommendations. Even when one was a miss for me, he followed up with a winner - Claire De Lune: gin, vanilla, almost clarified punch style was my favorite. 5 stars - Spiced Prophecy: tequila, ginger, and mint drink was so smooth and effervescent and came with a little sparkly fire show with a wreath of steel wool around it. 5 stars - Fun vibe though was a thin hallway with just a few tables - Style: Q-bert black and white cube flooring Midlights - Some heavy on the scotch flavor which isn't my thing Lowlights - Came from dinner so didn't have room to try snacks

I'm a big fan of Manhattans, so when I heard that Mother was serving up a supposedly top-notch…read moreversion, I knew I had to check it out for myself. I arrived at around 6:30 on a recent Wednesday and the place was about half full. I snagged a spot at the end of the bar and began perusing the menu. Obviously I had to get the Bobby Burns in Manhattan ("Bourbon, Canadian Whisky, Blended Scotch, Italian Vermouth Blend, aromatic Bitters, Salted Vanilla and Drambuie. Burnt caramel with bright aromatics") and it was ready a few minutes later. It's incredible. It's right up there with the best Manhattans I've ever had, and it's sure possible it might be the best. The balance of flavors is right on point, and it's also been incorporated with other tastes that work perfectly. (I returned to Mother a few weeks later and it was just as good the second time.) I was feeling a little peckish, so I went ahead and ordered the Jerk Chicken Karaage. It arrived piping hot and was a far bigger portion than I had anticipated. I figured I'd never be able to finish it, but it was so delicious I inhaled the whole thing. For my second drink, I went with the Honey + ("100% Agave Reposado Tequila, Espadin Mezcal, Ontario Bee Pollen, Salted Lavender Honey & Fresh Citrus. Floral, Smoky & Tart"), and it was so satisfying and flavorful. (I'm all about that Manhattan, though.) Mother is a terrific place. The atmosphere is awesome and my bartender was super friendly and helpful. It deserves its place as one of the city's very best cocktail bars.