It's a pretty hard bar to find on Dundas W., an absolute hidden treasure! Went there with some friends on a sunny Saturday afternoon, and it felt like stepping into a place far, far, far away from TO. And credit for that goes to Michael Johnson and The Red Rhythm Band.MJ, the bespectacled gentleman with oodles of energy and funny disposition who triples up as a bartender, a singer and a trumpeter! Singing about hidden beauty, happiness and the other nicer things in life, the band transforms this dive bar through their music. It's a pretty small place, very eclectic in its choice of interior articles, and gets filled very quickly. The fun-ness of the live music sets this dive bar apart from the other ones. read more

So this to me is the kind of place I would picture when the term 'dive bar' is used which I guess is Toronto's politer way of saying 'shit hole' which happens to be Birmingham's not so polite way. Wow - talk about being hard to spot, a brown board with the establishment's name scribbled on and hung up in the window is the only give away. Went here on a Sunday evening as decided to finally take a walk up the Ossington Strip and it was the music from the band that drew me in. The place is small! I reckon full capacity would be reached with 40 people, many standing side to side. As for appearance and clientèle. The bad news is that this place is totally no frills, a mix match of tables and chairs, various artwork on the wall with the far wall having a portrait painting of what I am guessing was the 'Communist's daughter' but the good news is that Sunday might just turn out to be hipster free day as the majority of customers were all 40+ and were there to enjoy the band. Though do be warned just walking up the Ossington strip will result in many encounters of the skinny jeaned kind. So the band, I am sure they are a regular act as again just above the back bar there is a chalked picture of them. The main singer was great, came around on his break to say hi to everyone but the highlight, for me, was the second guy who at different times played a slinky, spoons, a cheese grater and best of all a saw (awesome haunting sound). The food menu is at the end of the bar on a chalk board and none of the items seemed appealing enough for me to hang around and eat and only one couple was actually eating anything in the joint so I do not think people generally come here for the food. So for what reason people would repeatedly come here, I am not totally sure as I could not write a review that justified the obvious hype from other yelpers. read more

Love this place! So small and extremely cozy. Best jukebox! Friendly and efficient bartenders. Moderately priced drinks. Great atmosphere. Get here early if you want a seat. read more

Another hole in the wall of a place, The Communist's Daughter is very popular, but easily missed: the sign outside says Nazaré Snack Bar. This creates a word of mouth clientele that keeps this place busy on most nights. The jukebox wars (war being used in the friendliest way possible here) are fun as you're often left waiting for your batch of songs to show up. Of course, the opposite happens sometimes, and the bar owner will select albums to play, often which leave you equally satisfied. I'd try and continue describing how good this place, but I find nothing will do it justice the way Jimi S' review in here does. If you took the time to read this, make sure you read his review. read more

I stumbled upon this amazing place this past weekend when meeting up with a friend from uni. If you identify as a student/artist/recent grad/young professional on a budget, yet looking for a cozy, unpretentious spot to enjoy a gin and tonic, I'd go to Communist's Daughter in a heartbeat. Also, the jukebox in the backend of the bar is pretty sweet! read more

Huge fan. The Saturday afternoon "gypsy jazz" show with Michael J is a must see and I try to drop in whenever I can, if I can squeeze through the crowd! Great draft beer selection including Mill Street. They also serve sandwiches and simple grub (cheese plates, pickled eggs) all listed on the blackboard. This is just a bar with a good vibe. Went there one year for New Year's and everyone was just celebrating together. It's like a little oasis in Toronto - one of the few places where strangers will talk to each other in a generally unfriendly city. If you are there when there is no live music, you must check out the juke box. The selections change fairly often and are always eclectic and fun. I guarantee you'll find something you haven't heard in a while but love. read more

As everyone else has said, this place is cozy and homey and wonderful, the bar is super cheap, they play great music, staff makes you feel like home... But if you don't go on a good night, you will NOT find a seat. Many a time I have craved the warmth of Communist's Daughter, and have been greeted with the humidity of a thousand bodies crushed into a bar that is smaller than some washrooms. Despite the fact that the sign outside says "Nazaré Snack Bar" (I thought it was a Portuguese Sports Bar for the longest time -- they do this on purpose to keep people away), people are not swayed and they still show up in swarms on busy nights. Go on a weeknight to get the full experience of a great neighbourhood bar. read more

Hole in the wall where they play obscure vinyl and stock obsure booze. Seats maybe 20 people. No prentetion.

This is one of my favourite spots in Toronto: hipsters, locals, artists, students, and blue-collars alike come for no-nonsense fare like Molson Stock Ale and pickled eggs. The staff is very friendly and welcoming like the people that choose this bar to hang out. Often you can ended up chatting with anyone in there and the conversation is always meaningful and brings you joy since no one usually is interested in what job you do and how much you make. At the contrary: this is the kinda place where you can feel like you're at home, a place where you have friends even though you don't know anyone in there. It's the kind of working-class dive bar you could see yourself frequenting alone if you liked to tell bartenders your troubles, depending on your frame of reference. The decor is either reminiscent of the older, lingering social clubs that you can still find scattered in neighbourhoods like Dundas's west end. Easy to be missed, outside, the facade is misleading, because the six-year-old bar is still crowned with the outdated signage of the venue's previous incarnation, "Nazare Snack Bar" which can get confusing for first-time visitors. A chalkboard sign hanging in the window tips would-be customers off to its true name: "The Communist's Daughter". On Saturday and Sunday evenings, live bands play in the window at the front of the bar, making things even cozier in the remaining space of the rest of the bar. On Sundays instead, you can step inside to enjoy some good folk, acoustic set. This is a fabulous place, laid-back and happy-go-lucky where everybody's your "compagno" (comrade) and the few seats available are equally shared by everybody. read more

The name is appropriate in every way, from the sign out front to the atmosphere inside to the tables squashed against each other. One of the few places in Toronto which replicated the cafe environment of my beloved Krakow to a tee. The place is tiny but I've rarely seen anyone turned away of made to leave because it was too crowded - I've waited for tables, and always at least got enough seats. People don't mind sharing tables here, adding to the distinctly European flavor. Prices are very reasonable. The bartender is attentive and friendly, and the clientele laid back. A lot of hipsters, but that's a small price to pay. I agree with other reviews, this is a great place to while away an afternoon (or an evening) - you find this place and you won't wanna leave. Every time I come here I raise a glass to the Commie and his Daughter. You'll want to, too. Na zdrowie! read more

Best jukebox in the city. Come early, grab a seat and enjoy. There really is nothing bad to be said about this bar, except for the fact that I dislike going and being saddened with the fact that there is nowhere to sit. It gives me a warm feeling everytime I enter through the doors. Cutest place in the city. By far. Put on some Decemberists or Dolly Parton for me! read more

After hearing about this place for the longest time I finally found myself sitting inside this cosy little hideout nested in the West side of downtown Toronto (not too far from my house so bonus!). With a Mill Street Original Organic in hand and friends by my side I have to say Communist's Daughter totally lived up to the hype. http://www.vimeo.com/14900562 Saturday afternoons at 4pm. Be there. Apparently the band that was playing (not the regulars that day) normally play at The Painted Lady on Sundays at 6pm. That's just around the corner from Communist's Daughter so I'll have to check it out sometime. read more

Exactly as advertised - a real 'hip' dive bar with great craic (chat/banter) and no edge. Taxi drivers don't know it and it does take a bit of courage to a) find it, and b) cross the threshold but once you're there, you're family. Finding The Troggs and Badly Drawn Boy on the same jukebox is a highlight. Limited liquors so don't expect any fancy schmancy cocktails but what you get comes with a 'heavy elbow' kick. Cheers. read more

A nice neighbourhood joint. Relaxed and sparkly. Fun people hang out here. Eclectic crowd. Service is good. Small. No coffee. Limited food menu. Sometimes the ironic-retro jukebox thing gets a bit tired for me but most people seem to enjoy it. Perhaps I am a bit too old to find retro ironic :) And mostly the music is good - especially the live music on the weekends. read more

I concur with the other positive reviews here, this is a great place, with great beers, the best jukebox in the city, an awesome beer cheese sandwich, and a cosy, comfortable feel. I merely want to add that this is an especially perfect place to go for an early drink. While I rarely cram myself into its small place on a weekend evening, I love going there at 4:30 on a day off, coming in with some new books from Monkey's Paw, and sitting down to read for a few hours before it gets busy, finishing a few beers while I'm at it. For a few bucks I can customize my soundtrack, or, if the bartender is feeling generous, just request one of their cd's. It's a great, casual way to spend an afternoon. Not that I don't love attending on the occasional drunken friday night with friends, but for me the Daughter is best when it is peaceful, a welcome surrogate livingroom in which to chill and have a cheap stock ale. read more

One of the best bars in the city, if not the best! It's small, quaint, cozy, sometimes too crowded, but always has such a local, authentic field with great staff. It's worth checking Michael J play from 4-7 on Saturday nights. He does double duty as bartender and bandleader/singer/trumpeter. A story worth relating about this place, which describes how local and quaint the place is. On Christmas eve, Michael J was bartending. Instead of a normal night, he brought along christmas songbooks and by 11pm the whole place was singing along to carols - not just normal ones, but he and the crowd were teaching other czech and other global christmas songs. Can't beat a place like this! read more

I like this bar a lot. A lot, a lot. They have Innis and Gunn and Duggan's 9, and both these beers are awesome. The staff is great, and really patient, given that everytime I'm there I put Ann Peebles' "Can't Stand the Rain" on the jukebox. The jukebox is pretty rad, though (and this says more about me than the Commie) sometimes confusing causing me to play the same song twice (again, the bartenders are very patient). The pickled eggs are amazing, but don't be overzealous! I've been cut off, which is, believe me, more embarrassing than being cut off of drinks. read more

Small cozy spot, great atmosphere. Be sure to go there on Saturdays for live jazz featuring their head bartender. It starts at 3:30 and is full by 4PM. read more

I only go there when my friend Michael (who I met at the trumpet festival in serbia) is there. Otherwise, it is like Diet Coke, not the real thing. Michael was voted runner up for best bar tender in Toronto in this year's Now Magazine. Go when he is working (currently something like Monday after 8PM, Friday after 8PM and Saturday 4-8PM) and find out why he is the best. When he's not there, whoever they have working there usually seems crappy to me and I try to avoid it. The best thing you can see there is Michael's Gypsy Jazz show where he plays trumpet and sings while serving the whole room. People in that bar are much friendlier than most other places in Toronto and the bar is in general, very east-euro friendly. But please, go when Michael is there. He is the man. read more

Small and wonderful. The bartender is friendly and welcoming. We went on a Monday night - great music, great crowd, great everything. If you love records, be sure to bring your favourite on a Monday too. They'll play the A-Side and then the bar votes on a mystery record or "Decide on the B-Side". read more

If I am doing a whirlwind tour of Toronto for someone out of town, this is normally my bar of choice. It's petite, packed with ambiance, chatter, and dim lighting, and the friendliest bartenders that I can recall in Toronto. My only issue is that it is a tad pricey. Maybe it's a built-in cover charge for the word-of-mouth reputation, or a tax for sitting in one of their ten chairs, or the fact that it is was on Ossington before it was Bourgeossington, but whatever! No one is annoying and I always get a kick out of walking past it when I take a friend there. They do NOT take credit cards. read more

One of the few spots in the city that is simply perfect. Worth catching a seat at the bar and talking with strangers. Friendly bartenders, fascinating crowd. read more

One of my favorite places to have drinks with friends, well ok, most likely is my favorite!! The jukebox is well stocked, the staff is great and for me the locations couldn't be better. There is nothing bad to say about this place. read more

Communist's Daughter - Kthrin from 'King Khan and the Shrines' finds an ancestor at the Daughter.... - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Mismatched old diner chairs? Check. Weird art? Check. Cheap booze? Check. Maybe I'm missing something, because I don't feel the same sense of reverence that everyone does? As noted in my other reviews, I love divey bars, and this one ticked every box on that account. I could see coming here frequently if you lived nearby, but not necessarily something I would go out of my way for. That being said, the music was really good, and the vibe was pretty friendly. read more

Looks like the proximity to the hot Ossington strip has turned this into a pseudo-dive bar - even attracting a number of US reviews? Can we change the classification? Is it still a dive bar if you spend $150 at Foxley and walk up the street for a night cap? I give it high ratings for what it was 4 years ago or so when I first went to this dingy, edgy snack bar and enjoyed a bottle of, at the time obscure, Innis and Gunn. If they are now putting Mill Street on tap then I guess they are catering to the new clientele - and perhaps it is Mill Street Organic. Please change the classification to mainstream pub for all those that feel it is "hip". read more

Oh, the Communist's Daughter. I was a little skeptical at first because I had no idea where I was going, but this place is great. It's small, a little dimly lit, but a really positive vibe. A lot of the time it's standing room only, but there are only a few seats to begin with... The strawberry beer from Belgium is tasty and a cute size. Come early to avoid the food running out :) read more

No it is Nazare' snack bar, I wonder how many Portuguese people walk in asking if they sell shrimp patties, but it is that bar that your friend will take you to because a friend of a friend of a friend of their cousin told them about. Nice and cozy for a chat, affordable not loud music, perfetto. read more

I really really enjoy this bar. It's so cozy and I love that they still kept the old snack bar sign. Monday is the best day to go as they do the vinyl vote. I was touched a few Mondays ago when I showed up super late and the bartender put my record on right away. Dude knows his stuff because he knew the record was super rare and expensive and thanked me for bringing such a treasured item to the bar. Too bad the people who voted against playing side B didn't know. The bar is really really small.... cozy would be the proper word. Atmosphere is great, drinks are cheap and when you get mega wasted you can stumble over to the underwhelming lakeview for some late night poutine. Other reviewers wondering who the Communists Daughter is? It's actually a song by the band Neutral Milk Hotel on the album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Best Monday drinking spot in the city hands down. read more

Just a great little space. I love how subdued The Communist's Daughter was to find in the first place. (My date and I both admitted to walking by, twice.) Visited on a rainy Thursday and the place was still pretty full. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with little tables from the 70s and 80s lining the wall opposite the bar. The walls themselves are dressed with large paintings of polaroid pictures - giving the place a definite time-warp feel. There are two itty bitty booths in the very back near the jukebox (jukebox y'all!!) - steal them if you can. I'd also suggest throwing a couple quarters in the thing as soon as you arrive, in order to hear your songs play while the night goes on. We stayed until almost three to hear those sweet, sweet Beastie Boys. Would've been a full on 5-stars had the bartender been more attentive but no worries. We'll be back. read more

A nice Dive bar feel, that radiates warmth and you feel like you have been coming here for years; even though this is your first night here. The bar-lady was really helpful and courteous. Helped is decide on what to drink and they had quite a few options, for such a small place. I love the run down looks that can hold up to 30 people or so. Worth the trip to find it. read more

If a dirty living room full of hipsters is your scene, this is the bar for you. We're talking badly cracked walls, lamps that should be in an old house, bathrooms that smell, no reak, of urine, a really chilled out atmosphere, really friendly service, and great tunes. The bar, stools, tables and chairs look like those you'd find in a small vintage diner. The lighting is dim. A word of warning...this place is hard to find unless you know that the sign above the bar says Snack Bar, not The Communist's Daughter. We honestly walked back and forth in front of this place 4 or 5 times (alcohol may have been a factor) before we realized it was the inconspicuous sign in the window that we should be looking for. This place has character so I definitely get the appeal, I just wouldn't go out of my way to make the trek . A solid 3 stars for this one. read more

We came by late at night and place was packed... yet, they found us a spot by the heater (by the door) and had a crap-load of fun! Damn good beer, damn good fun... only negative is the size of the space read more

the Toronto Lover system: 5 stars = Must visit! 4 stars = Really good. I take my friends here. 3 stars = Somewhat worth it... if you have nowhere better to go. 2 stars = Below average. Attend only when necessary. 1 star = Do not visit! I'm not sure what everyone loves about Communist's Daughter. It's small, so it's uncomfortably warm, and everyone is seated closely together. There're also very few seats, so you're out of luck if you want to sit with a group of friends when it's busy. It has the same beers as everywhere else, and the food is no better than anywhere else. I'm sorry: I'm glad they're successful, but this bar is overhyped. 3 stars read more

Situated on the back wall of this cryptic watering hole is a very solemn portrait of "the daughter" herself staring you down as you try to snag one of the few seats that parallel the bar. Perhaps she's making sure that you'll fit in with the family. At the back sits a jukebox filled with songs easily amenable to fits of dancing or crooning. And when that's not playing, there is usually some sort of eclectic band at the front titillating their instruments, and if you're lucky, the bartender is double timing as the sax player. As a patron, you simply become part of a community of patrons - whether it's because of your close proximity to your neighbour, or the sultry, sweaty music flowing, or because everyone is enjoying tasty goodies like the commie salami sandwich, or the olive,almond and lupini bean plate or if you are a bona fide foodie, the beer cheese sandwich. There is quite a collection of bottled beer and a few great ones on tap, like Cobblestone's Pale Ale or MacLean's. The only hiccups might be (depending on your point of view) is that there is no air conditioning in the summer (pretty romantic though, listening to a great band, sweat dripping off your face and a caressing hand on your pint) and there is no sign on the front (perhaps just a testament to its popularity and mystique.). Simply put, you will feel at home, taken care of, and part of the family. read more

Communist's Daughter - a Krokano board sits on the wall of "The Communists Daughter" - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Okay service with an uninviting and pungent atmosphere. I really can't agree with the plethora of favourable reviews preceding me.

When a gentleman such as myself wants to have a drink in the afternoon, the quaint communists daughter reminds me of a time in Burma, during the war, when I enjoyed a whisky and a long cigarette in a spot where like minded gentlemen can enjoy a story about better times together. The communists daughter's name is not to be a turn off, there are no line ups for rations! Enjoy the drinks, youngsters! read more

great place to say the least. Went there with my cousin to have a drink and relax overall, a good night.

Different than we expected, but this was a great little bar! This bar was TINY! So it probably was not the best place for us to be meeting another couple for drinks as it was difficult to get seating together and there is limited room for standing as well. That being said, this was a great little bar and I plan to return. It's definitely a "hole in the wall" type of joint - but I that's definitely part of the charm. The beer menu was varied - some familiar beers and beers that were completely new to me as well! Great, local little spot. Bartender was great, music was good too and at the right volume for conversation. Seems like a good place to meet a friend (a duo) or just pop in and have a drink from time to time. read more

This place was great. The bartender was really nice and I'll repeat what another review said, good booze at decent prices. Something like $15 for a beer and 2 whiskey shots which was really good considering the strip of bars/restaurants along ossington that would cost way more. The atmosphere was cool, it felt conspirational. It looks like a place that will always be busy and the crowd was hipsters and regular folks. read more

Came on a Friday with a group of friends. It's quite cozy, definitely a nice place to chill. I felt my jeans get skinnier as I walked in, it's certainly packed with hipsters. The Whisky selection was nice and the canned beer was quite expensive. Not surprisingly it's cash only. A cool place to hang out, interesting snack selection too. read more