I love this place, and it has a special spot in my heart for being one of the first places in Toronto I visited that wasn't a stone's throw from UofT (and thus filled with loud undergrads). As others have mentioned, the back patio is great - and has been winterized nicely :) read more

Love the fun vibe of this place and the variety of people who come in. Lots of fun decorative elements that make you laugh. Great beer list. Fun cocktails for those who don't love beer. Bartenders are really attentive and on the ball. Great to stop by for a drink or two. read more

Sweaty Betty's - Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I had a truly horrible experience with a woman named Lisa. I believe she is a bouncer at this establishment. I was waiting in line in the vestibule after being told they were at capacity. I saw 6 people leave and went to ask her what the policy was on people entering, assuming it would be out one in. She started SCREAMING and CURSING at me for telling her how to do her job and that we were blocking the door. I told her that we were just waiting in line and she told us we were being a pain in her ass and would never be admitted. It should be noted there were 7 empty bar seats at this time, and others were coming in and out. Its important to add that at this time I was fully sober, and truly was just going to ask her the question. I truly consider myself a considerate person, and to have this verbal assault was unbelievably surprising and upsetting. I strongly recommend you avoid this establishment, for your emotional safety. read more

Great place for a late night drink! They have a fun little back patio with plenty of heaters, as well as a middle section with couches that is super cozy. I love coming by here for a quick pint before a night out on Ossington. read more

Amazing space, bartender were nice, friendly and knew a lot about the area as far as food, things to do and they were amazing read more

Sweaty Betty's - I got a tequila & pineapple. Drinks here were super strong, amazing and everyone was nice ! - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Don't go here ! They are verbally abusive and genuinely horrible. I was in town visiting my niece and I came here to meet some old college friends. I went up to the bouncer upon arrival and she said they were at capacity, totally reasonable as we were a group of 5, I kindly said no problem I will wait, and asked how long the estimated time was, the switch dramatically flipped as she then told me to go f**k myself and started harassing me verbally, like an insane person. I didn't want any trouble so left extremely shaken up. I should add, I was sober and with adult friends one of which was pregnant. Save yourself from going here !!! read more

Love this place, great ambience and always cool music. Drink selection is excellent ,one of the groovier interiors in TO read more

My friends and I decided to visit this bar on a weekday evening. Initially, the service was prompt and the bartender quickly served us a round of pickle backs. However, as we finished our first round and wanted to order cocktails, it was very difficult to grab the bartender's attention, even though it was an early evening on a weekday with minimal crowd. We were from out of the country and my friend only had a Florida ID, and neither of us had another form of ID. We were way above 19 and definitely looked it, yet the bartender examined our IDs for a long time. We also noticed fck florida signs in the bathroom, not sure if this was a cause of terrible service but definitely WILL NOT BE COMING BACK. When my friend asked him about the drinks on the menu, the bartender's response was dismissive and curt, telling her to "look on the menu." This kind of attitude was off-putting and made us feel unwelcome. It became evident that something was amiss with the service, so we decided to quietly leave. read more

Sweaty Betty's - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Great atmosphere and good drinks! The bartender was super helpful and patient with our group. It seems like there isn't enough seating at first but there is a patio in the back that adds to the charm of this place. I got the Pink Parrot which had just the right amount of sweetness. My friend got the Bees Knees and it had a ginger-y and fruity taste. I'd recommend for a bar crawl! read more

Sweaty Betty's - Pink parrot, jalapeño strawberry margarita, and some on tap IPA Beers - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

What a special place! Dropped in on our Toronto staycation for a drink and our bartender Pickles was wonderful! Learned that they also do a burlesque show on some weekends so will definitely be back to check that out. Queer owned, queer friendly business. Chill atmosphere. Lots of brews on draft as well. read more

Nice fun place, good ambience, intimate and quirky. I didn't get to see the patio out back, but it sounds fun too.

Solid food. But my experience was absolutely tarnished by a man whose head resembled a testicle. He was clearly trying to "be a man" but it just came off an ego driven and corny. I'm not even sure if he works there but he seems very insecure with his masculinity. Maybe he could use a hug and some hair. read more

There's so much character in this place I am blown away. We in our mid 30s and felt a bit out of place but who cares..had a great time!! Every section of the place, be it the patio or back room had oomph ana unique theme. We had 2 beers on tap and they went down real fine! read more

Sweaty Betty's - Lounge theme back room - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Sweaty Betty's is my kinda place. Divey, unique, not huge but comfy, good tunes, sweet bartenders and couches to sit with pals! Think biker bar without the brawls! I met some interesting locals, I tried my first poutine (brought in from another place), drank a bunch of brews until closing time. Look for the neon light to guide you to the back room and relax with brews and friends! I never got to meet Betty, but I wont forget-ty her place! read more

Sweaty Betty's - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We had just finished a spectacular meal at the nearby SoSo Food Club and were looking to start a New Year's Eve night of barhopping when Sweaty Betty's appeared before us. We walked in and managed to snag a sweet table in the back room. The ambiance at Sweaty Betty's is definitely the main attraction. It's kind of dark and mysterious, and the walls are covered with cool pieces of art. The couches add to the awesome vibe, for sure. I didn't try a cocktail, but the two beers I got were delicious and refreshing (and well priced!) This is definitely one of the best dive bars in town. read more

Best bar in the city, hands down. Wonderful owner and staff, and has a beautiful patio hidden in the back. Also dogs.

When I think dive bar, I think of something that looks exactly like Sweaty Betty's. Tucked away among the numerous bars and restaurants along Ossington, some pals and I stumbled into this one while we were just walking down the street. Can get quite packed and busy in here since it is a small space, but get up close and personal with some strangers and make some new friends. Follow the neon sign to the back and there is a lounge seating area with big comfy couches and cool art work. There is also a bigger patio in the back, but since I was visiting in the middle of December, drinking outside wasn't an option. The bartenders were super cool and were pouring us yummy gin and tonics and tequila for the X amount of hours we were there. They also let us bring in food from outside restaurants which was a huge win for me since halfway through my gal pal and I got hit with a huge poutine craving. Looking for a fun dive bar experience? Add Sweaty Betty's to your list. read more

I enjoyed my visit to Sweaty Betty's quite a bit. I was put off at first by the super-crowded front room, but after weaving my way towards the back, me and my buds found a nice lounge area to make merry in. It's pretty divey but doesn't feel old. Like they remodeled an old spot to feel like an old man day-drinking dive. Whatever they did, it drew me in for a few hours (and also drew like $100 out of my pocket). After the juice got me and my friends a little loose, we cozied up with some friendly locals and ended the night on a high note. I'd definitely go back the next time in Toronto. And it's named Sweaty Betty's. That rules. read more

It's dark, grimy, loud, and unpretentious. The decor is unique, sometimes creepy, and really interesting. Come here to chill and have a beer, everyone is super friendly. The patio is really nice in the summertime, and it's very cozy inside in the wintertime. It's a nice stop on your Ossington bar hop, but it's usually our last because we always have so much fun here we lose track of time. read more

Based on the size of this place I can see why Betty would be sweaty when this place is packed. There's a front area which looks like a traditional bar, a rear area that's more of a lounging place packed with furniture that looks like it was picked up off the side of the road, and a patio that is partially covered by foliage. Enjoy the pints at $1 off before 7:00 and don't forget to check out CD #48 on the jukebox, The Cure's Greatest Hits, I'm sure you'll love it. read more

Sweat Betty's is good as a dive bar. Imagine you having a drink or going to a house party with a bunch of your friends at someone's basement. Really homey and relax. Everything is self served so help yourself and order a drink at the bar and relax.... especially if you are sitting in the back room or at in the patio. Music is ear deafening loud... hmmm... I guess that's the way it is at a basement party just pump up the volume..... I was getting a headache sitting near the speakers.......... read more

I have been coming to Sweaty Betty's for years, and it won my heart from day one. Cheap drinks, decent service and no frills check all the boxes. Add to that an amazing backyard patio for the summer months and you have a winning combination. There is no food here but if you ask, they are usually fine with outside food. Cash only with an ATM in the basement, so bring your wallet! read more

To call this place a hole in the wall is a complete understatement. It's tucked away at the base of Ossington where it meets up with Queen Street and I'm wondering how many have walked by and not noticed it. I finally found it but it was a deliberate effort. Sweaty Betty's is comprised of two rooms; the main bar at the front and the lounge area with decorative bordering-on-antique couches at the rear. The drink menu and list of beers is decent and once the space begins to fill (around 11:00pm I notice) you get to know why the place has "sweaty" in the name. People are pressed cheek-to-jowl as they order drinks and try to find their way to the jukebox with musical selections as diverse as the clientele. It's a neat place to book-end a night with. If you go on the right night, you may see one of the bartenders doing curls with some dumbbells found behind the bar. Just how heavy are the pint glasses, then? read more

Sweaty Betty's - Sweaty Betty's. Best bring a hankie. - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The patio /. go right to the back and enjoy the squishy but cozy patio: The patio and "electric" furnishing. (Aka non matching!) read more

Sweaty Betty's - Straight to the point. Gotta appreciate that. - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Unique, dark and divey. Either you like it or you don't. They have a cozy patio in the back for those lovely summer days. Drinks are decent and not too pricey for the Ossington area. read more

Popped in here after work yesterday - I love this spot! The atmosphere and music are always awesome. It's cheap, cheerful, and never disappoints! If you're looking to have a couple casuals, this is definitely a place you should consider. They also have the cutest patio out back! In terms of food - I haven't personally ate here, but I heard the nachos are amazing! I'll have to go back to see for myself :) 5 stars for this fun little dive bar! read more

Walked with some lady friends of mine. Asked the bartender some simple questions about what's available. It was obvious from her response that women of colour are not welcome in this establishment. People of colour and allies go elsewhere. read more

Such a cute little hole in the wall bar on the Ossington strip! Came here one night after eating for my birthday and I've been a fan ever since! I love the set up of the place, it almost feels home-like with couches and lamps scattered throughout. However, my favourite place is the little hideaway that lies beyond the door - the outdoor patio! Filled with picnic-esque tables and chairs and little string lights strung above, this space is perfect for when you want to enjoy the weather and still have a few drinks! Drinks are average in price and the bar reminds me of something you'd see in someone's basement! read more

Am I at a bar or at a university student's house? This was a question I was asking myself throughout my stay at this bar. Sweaty Betty's is a small bar located on the up and coming Ossington strip. A group of us entered this bar on a Saturday as part of a pub crawl, and I must say that I truly enjoyed this stop of our crawl. This place is cozy and laid back, the front of the bar has a few tables and the back of the bar is akin to someone's living room with couches and chairs. The back room really did give me a house party vibe from my University days. The bar has a small selection of mostly local beers, I enjoyed a Mill St. cobble stone stout and was quite happy to be drinking it. One negative was that the music and atmosphere was a bit too loud making it difficult to converse with people around you. Overall this place is a cozy place to hang out and just chill with some friends if you are in the area, but I would not go out of my way to come here. read more

I give this 3 stars with mixed feelings. I love the venue, and the bartenders are always great... but the crowd. Hmmm. The first few times we went it was laid back and easy going, but it seems to have now been discovered by that wonderful group of trendy people that cause a venue to die. Or maybe I'm being too harsh and we just chose a few really bad nights to go on? Anyways. If you get a good crowd then it's great but, due to the small size of the venue, if you get a bad crowd it can be pretty terrible. read more

Everything from my previous review remains true. This place is no nonsense, this place has a cozy back room, this pace will get you drunk and then... you can order some pickles. But beyond the dive appeal, there's also the back patio. The back patio isn't that of a dive bar, it's that of dreams. Hanging plants, beautiful wood corner benches and clean tables for two. Summer Sweaty brings the heat! read more

Another dive bar on Ossington. Not a bad spot really and the patio is small but packs in a lot of people. The back room is like being in a weirdo's living room, lots of old furniture and creepy-ish photography all over the wall. Bartender was friendly, beer variety is limited but quite cheap. Go for the patio. read more

I was here with some fellow yelpers during a pub crawl event. The bar is small, cozy, dark and crowded. Drink's of choice appear to be Beer and shots from what I could see. The place can be loud when the music is going so may have to yell in a big group. Our group had a couch and a few chairs in the upstairs corner. They had a few beers on tap but bonus points for one of my fav's - Blanche du Chambly from Montreal. I ordered two pints and some shots. Prices are very reasonable and the shots were cheap. You need to order your drinks at the bar which I'm not used to, I prefer having drinks brought to the table - maybe I'm getting old! My pet peeve is the bathroom being downstairs with very narrow stairs. I imagine a few drunk folks have taken a fall through the years. I wouldn't go out of my way for a visit but would probably stop by for a pint if I'm in the area. BK read more

This place is a GREAT dive. It reminds me a lot of the bars I used to hang out at back in the day in Detroit. Charlotte the bartender is awesome. I told her I was from Detroit and she bought me a shot, who does that? This is not a bar pretending to be a dive it's a true dive. It was wall to wall people on a Friday night and I felt perfectly at home with the freaks and the hipsters. It was kind of chilly so I can't say that I was sweaty at Betty's. I will make sure to come back the next time I'm in town. read more

On-site pre-drinking. Stop #11 on the epic birthday bender was a quick one. My entourage and I (kidding!) stopped in for a pint before heading to a play a bit further down Queen W. The place wasn't what I expected for a bar at the bottom of Ossington (having only been to Levack Block previously), but it was early in the night and the place hadn't gotten packed yet. This is a nice cozy place for a pre-drink if you're going out on Ossington - you're already in the area and don't have to fight for a cab or streetcar as the night progresses and everyone starts to head into the neighbourhood. It's a cozy place, with dark coloar and plush furniture, a nice place to lounge for a while drink-in-hand. We scored some sofa chairs around a little table in the back and four of us had plenty of room to down a pint. Bar service only (if you care). read more

I really only go to Sweaty Betty's when it's patio season and then it is great! it's a small hip bar inside, but the patio is a good size and usually you can squeeze in to a seat. Decent beer selection at reasonable prices. They have a limited menu of chips and snacks, but that's not why I go. I go for the secluded cozy back patio. the cheap beers, and the friendly vibe. It's definitely a West Queen West/Ossington scene, but people seem to be on their best behavior here, so they're friendly and they'll make room for you. I guess you can say that Sweaty Betty's brings out the best in our hipster neighbors! read more

I really love sweaty betty's, although it's really only worth four stars in the summer. it's got a very new york kind of patio - long, narrow, all concrete, but an amazing place to hang out and drink all night. the one downside to betty's can be the crowd. it's generally pretty good, but there can be a high pretentious-hipster component which can get a bit annoying. if the crowd is good, people get involved in each other's conversations, and i've never left without meeting new people and having a fantastic time. read more

Saturday evening, looking for some place to chill out and wait as we gathered up other friends for an evening of fun, we stumbled across Sweaty Betty's. When we arrived there were only a few people here and up until we left the bar had not been very busy. I really love dive bars, and this place is great. Small, juke box (selection is ok), friendly staff nd cheap drinks before 7. The decor is fantatic, I loved the pictures at the back. I agree that it feels like you are in a house party but this is what I liked about the place. I can imagine this place gets pretty hot and stuffy when busy. My friend described the trip downstairs to the washrooms as "treacherous". I have no idea why other than there were stairs involved...that's probably enough following an afternoon drinking. Music: At times the music was pretty loud, louder when the DJ came on at 9 30, unfortunately we were about to leave for food so I never got to hear the DJ. read more

Yes, this is a hip joint. Populated by hip hipsters in sweaty, stretched out undershirts. PBR and Steigl rule here. Rum and Cokes are referred to as Cuba Libres. Couches and other retro furniture around the back, and sometimes too-loud music will drown out conversation, or at least make you huddle together to be heard. Did I mention the collection of vintage tattoo photos adorning the walls? Yes it's that kind of place. But you know what? We all kinda like these kinda places. read more

The original dive bar of Queen west, small place but I enjoy the specials. Great spot to wait for the ossington bus :) read more

Sweaty Betty's - Dive Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario