Need a little something to lift your spirit? Several Canadian bars were just named among the best in North America, serving up tasty and unique drinks you'll definitely want to try.
The 50 Best has revealed its list of North America's 50 Best Bars for 2024, naming several Toronto bars, Montreal speakeasies and Vancouver watering holes that are simply a cut above the rest.
From joints serving up bespoke drinks to hidden bars with creative co*cktails, you'll want to add these spots to your foodie bucket list.
Here are the seven best bars in Canada for 2024, according to the 50 Best:
7. Atwater co*cktail Club
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 512 Ave. Atwater, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Called one of Montreal’s "most charismatic bars," Atwater co*cktail Club is a creative bar found tucked away at the end of a graffiti-lined alleyway.
Here, you'll find "elegant drinks made with high-quality ingredients and serious behind-the-scenes techniques," such as "40 Thieves" (made with Whisky Canadian Club 100% Rye, lemon, pineapple, tahini and sesame oil) and "Federal Reserve" (Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Appleton 8 rum, Lucano amaro, aromatic bitters, black walnut bitters and cinnamon).
A walk-in-only space, be prepared to wait in line on busy nights, says the 50 Best.
6. The Keefer Bar
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 135 Keefer St., Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: Located in the heart of Chinatown in Vancouver, the Keefer Bar is an apothecary-inspired co*cktail bar serving up an assortment of unique, whimsical drinks, such as the "Sharp-Tongued Cat" (Northern Keep vodka, Blanche de Normandie, blanc vermouth, green apple cordial and hojicha) and "Wonderland Waltz" (Nikka Days Japanese whisky, dry vermouth, raspberry, Cointreau, lapsang, chocolate, mint and a smoking cookie).
According to 50 Best, classic co*cktails here are "just as honed," with the Keefer 75 called a "fantastic rendition on the original."
5. Bar Mordecai
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 1272 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Like something right out of a Wes Anderson movie, Bar Mordecai in Toronto offers a menu of "fun and focused" co*cktails, with drink names such as "Tame Impala," "Final Boss," and "New Rizz."
In addition to the whimsical drinks, Bar Mordecai also offers "deeply satisfying, carefully crafted riffs on classic co*cktails," according to the 50 Best, such as its Royal Old Fashioned, alcoholic soft serve ice cream, all-you-can-eat spaghetti nights, and karaoke.
4. Cloakroom
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 2175 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Called one of North America's "truest speakeasies," Cloakroom is a bar in the Golden Square Mile of Montreal that is accessed through the back of a tailor shop.
The no-menu, no-reservations bar serves up bespoke drinks and is home to "one of Montreal's finest selections of vintage spirits," according to the 50 Best.
3. Bar Pompette
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 607 College St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located in Toronto's Little Italy, Bar Pompette "elicits the joyful feeling of sitting in a French café or bar," says the 50 Best.
The walk-in-only bar offers an array of both modern and classic co*cktails, with seasonal rotations.
Expect classics like an espresso martini and unique options like Bakery Punch, a co*cktail that highlights the cinnamon roll from the bar's sister bakery, Bakery Pompette.
2. Botanist Bar
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 1038 Canada Pl., Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: Named the second best bar in Canada, Vancouver's Botanist Bar is a bar and co*cktail lab at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in the downtown area.
The bar serves "sophisticated yet whimsical" beverages with a "select number of chemist-like experiential designs," such as a co*cktail served with an edible cloud that magically floats above the drink.
"As the seasons change, so does the co*cktail menu, and the featured spirit-free options are just as inventive as the booze-fuelled ones," says the 50 Best.
1. Civil Liberties
Price: 💸💸
Address: 878 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: You won't find a set menu at this Toronto bar, which was named the best bar in Canada.
Marked simply by a pineapple and the words "This must be the place," the bar is not your traditional speakeasy.
Instead of a menu, the bar's "highly knowledgeable bartenders" will ask you questions about your tastes and make a drink just for you.
"Operating on a ‘kind over cool’ philosophy, Civil Liberties has become a Toronto favourite that serves both cheap beers and craft co*cktails with just as much pride and care," says The 50 Best.
The full list of the 50 best bars in North America can be viewed here.
Happy sipping!
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