Let’s face it: for all its glory and goodness, going out for drinks or a bite to eat in Toronto can cost a pretty penny. While many of the city’s most beloved wining and dining spots are definitely worth the splurge (if you can afford it), most of us appreciate a good deal these days – especially when it comes to Toronto’s famous eats and drinks. Fortunately, the city is full of happy hour and late night deals that offer a taste of some of Toronto’s best bars and restaurants at significantly reduced prices – if even for a few hours. Here are some of our favourites:
18 Best Happy Hour Spots In Toronto
1. The Drake Hotel
Queen West staple The Drake caters to an eclectic crowd, thanks to three distinctly different vibes that range from underground live music venue, to elevated dining spot, and rooftop watering hole. The common denominator is an artsy vibe and reliably good music. Come late afternoon, patrons are asked to shut their laptops and shake off the day with happy hour deals.
Happy Hour Times: Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
Happy Hour Deals: $1/ounce wine, $5 well, $6 beers, and $10 Aperol spritz; snacks like tuna tacos, hand rolls, lamb bacon skewers, mini-burgers, and fancy fries priced between $5-7.
2. Cafe Renée Bar
New Portland Street spot Cafe Renée has captured the hearts of Toronto’s elevated comfort food-loving set. Cozy, charming, and located in a converted house, the Parisian-inspired spot offers a French-Italian menu, packed with favourites like its gruyère sticks, lasagnia blanca, and the uncut ravioli – a quick Instagram star. The restaurant features a “secret” upstairs bar and a back garden.
Happy Hour Times: Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7pm.
Happy Hour Deals: $10 martinis.
3. Cactus Club Cafe
After work – especially on a Wednesday, Thursday, or game night – you’ll find all three levels of financial district’s Cactus Club Cafe filled with cocktail and beer-sipping patrons. Each level features a central bar that facilitates mingling by design, including a year-round rooftop option with a retractable roof. Cactus Club is known for its elevated casual dining fare.
Happy Hour Times: Daily, 3pm to 5pm; Sunday-Thursday 9pm to close; and Friday-Saturday 10pm to close.
Happy Hour Deals: Cactus Club features an extensive menu of eats (with nearly 20 well-rounded options that range in price from $8 to $27.50); cocktails ($5 to $10.75), beer ($5 to $8.25), and wine ($6 and $9.75) at notably reduced prices.
4. Skylight Bar at W Toronto
In Yorkville, the lush and eclectic Skylight Bar in the W Toronto offers a bustling rooftop oasis filled with both locals and out-of-towners. The indoor/outdoor space overlooks Bloor Street and is designed with nods back to the artistic spirit of the hippie revolution in Yorkville in the 60s. Here, you’ll find creative cocktails and a Mediterranean-inspired raw bar and mezze.
Happy Hour Times: Tuesday to Thursday,6pm to 7:30pm.
Happy Hour Deals: An assortment of 16-ounce beers ($10), a variety of five-once wines ($10); and cocktails ($12); a selection of $10 bites, like crispy hummus, falafel fries, shrimp cocktail, and fried cauliflower.
5. Earls Yorkville
Late last year, Earls gave Yorkville something to talk about when it opened up a sprawling new location in the Manulife Centre. Originating on the west coast of Canada, Earls is a premium casual dining chain that features creative comfort food and an elevated pub vibe. Like the other locations, the new spot features a large rectangular central bar and is filled with lush greenery.
Happy Hour Times: Daily 2pm to 5pm and Sunday to Thursday 11pm-close
Happy Hour Deals: Earls features an extensive menu of discounted eats, like the beloved Angry Chicken Lettuce Wraps, pizzas, noodle bowls, and oysters (ranging in price from $4 to $24, and $74 for the spot’s famous seafood platter); cocktails, beer, and wine at notably reduced prices ($5 to $14).
6. Chotto Matte
Bustling financial district spot Chotto Matte (55 Bloor Street West) – a global brand also found in cities like Miami, London, and San Francisco – is as well known for its upbeat vibe and impressive art as it is its no-fail menu of Japanese/Peruvian cuisine. Come late afternoon, the spot makes a perfect choice to entertain clients or catch up with friends over cocktails.
Happy Hour Times: Weekdays, 3pm to 5pm
Happy Hour Deals: Two for one cocktails; discounted beer, wine, and spirits, and an assortment of sharable snacks like shishito peppers, ceviche, tostadas, tataki, and sashimi at reduced prices ($4, $8 and $13).
7. Bar Reyna
In Yorkville, Bar Reyna offers cozy vibes and a well-curated menu of memorable Mediterranean bites. Located in a charming former house on Cumberland Street, the bar and snack bar features one of the best (year-round) patios in the city, with its greenery-filled back oasis. While Bar Reyna brings date night vibes, it is also a great spot for birthday dinners and smaller groups.
Happy Hour Times: Tuesday-Friday 3pm to 6pm
Happy Hour Deals: Select tapas (Arabic fries, green chickpea hummus, and falafel bites), wine, beer, and the kiwi chili margarita are all $7.
8. Black + Blue
Financial district steakhouse Black + Blue has become a quick go-to for impressing clients and celebrating special occasions since it opened the doors to the lavish spot May 2023. The multi-level restaurant is known for its top-tier seafood towers, premium cuts of Kobe beef, and opulent vibe that, invites shameless indulgence by design.
Happy Hour Times: Daily 2:30-5pm
Happy Hour Deals: Discounted cocktails, wine, and draft beer; discounted sharable bites like hand rolls ($5-$19), oysters ($15), mac and cheese sticks ($12), buttermilk fried chicken ($15), and wagyu hot stone ($32) – plus more.
9. Frenchy
The Hilton Toronto has undergone an impressive renovation. The star of the show is a completely revamped Parisian-inspired lobby level, and its new wining and dining spot, Frenchy. It offers a bustling yet refined vibe, complete with memorable fare like steak frites, mussels, baked brie, and French onion soup and easy-on-the-eyes cocktails.
Happy Hour Times: Daily 2pm-5pm.
Happy Hour Deals: Exclusive offers on cocktails and wine.
10. Mademoiselle Raw Bar and Grill
Located in the heart of the always bustling King West neighbourhood, Mademoiselle offers quality seafood, flowing cocktails and champagne, and an entertaining backstory (it was previously a long-time strip club, For Your Eyes Only). While this spot can get flashy come Friday and Saturday nights, it offers a less crowded and more relaxed vibe after work.
Happy Hour Times: Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7pm
Happy Hour Deals: An assortment of discounted cocktails, spirits (premium spirits $10), and wine; an assortment of discounted appetizers, including a sushi trio ($16), mini lobster roll ($12), lamb chops ($30 for two pieces), east and west coast oysters ($20 for six pieces), and grilled merguez sausage ($16).
11. Blue Bovine
Sprawling and swanky steak and seafood spot Blue Bovine redefined the dining experience at Union Station when it opened in January. A perfect pre-game or concert spot, the celebrated spot is the brainchild of famed Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, Toronto Maple Leaf Mitch Marner, and Toronto restaurant royalty, Nick Di Donato (Liberty Entertainment Group).
Happy Hour Times: Monday to Friday,3pm to 5pm.
Happy Hour Deals: Drink specials including hiballs ($9), beer ($9), wine ($10), and martinis ($15); an assortment of snacks for$10-$16, includingwagyu beef sliders, steak and tuna tartare, dumplings, and polenta squares (plus more).
12. Prohibition Social House
Arguably Leslieville’s crown jewel in the bar department, think of Prohibition as an upscale neighbourhood pub with elevated food offerings and a mixed bag of clientele. While the central bar or adjacent wall of booths is always a popular choice for patrons, a breezy back patio is perfect for summertime brews – especially during happy hour.
Happy Hour Times: Daily, 3pm to 6pm.
Happy Hour Deals: $5.75 beers, wines, and select shots.
13. Casa Madera
Bustling see-and-be-seen spot Casa Madera – located in the lush1 Hotel Toronto –is known for its elevated fusion of colourful Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine. While the unforgettable experience (ambience, décor, and menus) doesn’t exactly come cheap – especially if you want to order a handful of food items – happy hour makes less of a dent in the wallet.
Happy Hour Times: Tuesday to Friday, 5pm to 6pm.
Happy Hour Deals: Reduced cocktails, beer, and wine; bar bites and tacos.
14. Baro
King West spot Baro brings the vacation vibes after work with their rooftop Fiesta Hour. The multi-level spot is known for its creative Latin dishes, eclectic décor, and high-energy vibe. While the long-time party restaurant can get packed with revellers come later into the evening, a late afternoon snack or drink here offers a more refined vibe to sip and savour.
Happy Hour Times: Monday to Thursday, 5m to 7pm; Fridays 3pm to 5pm.
Happy Hour Deals: Drinks $15 and $16; food items are for $10 and $12.
15. Greta Bar
Massive new King West spot Greta bar is unlike anything else in entertainment district. In short, it’s basically an elevated Chuck-E-Cheese for grown-ups – compete with no shortage of flowing grown-up beverages. The arcade/bar offers video games, photo booths, DJs, and eats and drinks that go well beyond what you’d find at an old-school arcade.
Happy Hour Times: Monday all day; Tuesday to Thursday,4pm to 6pm; Friday and Saturday 3pm to 6pm.
Happy Hour Deals: $5 Red Bull; $7 house wine, beer, hiballs (one oz), shafts; $10 Casamigos Blanco & Reposado; $20.00 Don Julio 1942; and $30.00 Clase Azul Reposado.
16. Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery
Over in Liberty Village, the sprawling Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery is a lively spot that’s perfect for beers on its breezy dog-friendly patio and elevated, farm-to-table pub grub (from the celebrated Oliver & Bonacini), or catching the game. Beer lovers will appreciate the spot’s wide assortment of beers, as well as its onsite bottle shop.
Happy Hour Times: Daily 2:30pm to 5:30pm, 9pm to close; Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm, 9m to close.
Happy Hour Deals: Discounted red and white wine ($8), cocktails ($10), and select beers ($6.25); snacks like beef sliders, calamari, steak tartar, yorkie pudding and corn chip nachos, and truffle parmigiana fries ($9-17) weekdays 3pm to 6pm.
17. Abrielle
New, buzzed about coastal Mediterranean restaurant, Abrielle is inspired by the sultry flavours and rich culture of Southern France, Italy, and Spain and specializes in colourful, vegetable-forward dishes. The King Street spot’s unique cocktails offer a variety of flavours with vibrant colours and striking presentations and are reason to visit in themselves.
Happy Hour Times: Monday to Friday,4pm to 7pm.
Happy Hour Deals: Classic cocktails and wine by the glass for $14.
18. Selva Toronto
The bright, bold, and over-the-top Selva Toronto is known as much for its neon wall art that brings tripped out jungle vibes as it is its celebrated cuisine by famed Chef Nuit Regular. Happy hour here means a mini vacation filled with photo ops, tropical cocktails, and fresh fare that’s as colourful as the unforgettable walls.
Happy Hour Times: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 5pm to 8pm.
Happy Hour Deals: Drink specials like$1/ounce wine,$6.50 beer, $6.50 mixed drinks, and half-price cocktail towers (serves 4 to 6 people); food specials like $1 oysters, tropical salad ($11), tacos ($9 each), fried calamari ($11), and grilled chicken.
*The happy hour deals listed is in this article were correct at the date of publication, but make sure to check with the restaurants before heading over as specials do often rotate/change!
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