The Best Hotel Bars in Toronto, Compared: Rooftops, Art Deco Lounges and Lobby Hideaways

Hotel bars are some of Toronto's most reliable nights out: polished service, serious cocktail programs and often a room with real character. They differ a lot, though. Some are dim speakeasy-style lounges, others are rooftop terraces with DJs. Here is how the main contenders compare.

Rooftops with a scene

Evangeline at the Ace Hotel sits between King West and Queen West and is an indoor-outdoor rooftop with two brick fireplaces and plants. It has weekend music and guest DJs, and the Ace Martini is the house signature. The Rooftop at the Broadview Hotel in Riverside is set in a historic building with a 360-degree glass facade and a skylight, with DJs spinning disco, house and hip-hop year-round; its Smokeshow cocktail mixes reposado tequila, mezcal, chipotle and pineapple. Writers Room at the Park Hyatt in Yorkville is the quieter, dressier rooftop: a 17th-floor room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a literary theme.

Art Deco and old-school glamour

Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York in the Financial District is the stately option. It has an Art Deco look after a recent refresh, a program led by mixologist James Grant, and a Birdbath Martini. Mister C. at the Bisha Hotel in the Entertainment District is dim and luxe with a speakeasy feel, plus DJs and entertainment Thursday to Sunday. If you want a piano and a fireplace, the Lobby Lounge at the Shangri-La offers live music daily from noon and afternoon tea in a refined, living-room style space.

Intimate and design-led

The Lobby Bar at the Drake Hotel in West Queen West is small, retro-styled and has only a handful of seats by the front windows, so arrive early. Flora Lounge at 1 Hotel Toronto brings reclaimed wood, driftwood and greenery to a few blocks south of King West, with live music on select nights. At the Nobu Hotel in the Theatre District, the sleek two-storey black-marble lobby lounge pairs Japanese tile detailing with a bronze chandelier.

The view-and-spirits splurge

Louix Louis on the 31st floor of the St. Regis is the gold-plated grand gesture: a 60-foot mural by Toronto artist Madison van Rijn, more than 500 dark spirits, and live music on Fridays.

How to choose

For dancing and a younger crowd, go to Evangeline or the Broadview rooftop. For a conversation-friendly date, choose Library Bar, the Shangri-La lounge or Flora. For a splurge with skyline views, pick Louix Louis or Writers Room. For something cosy and low-key, aim for the Drake's lobby bar early in the evening. Programming and hours change by season and by night, so check each venue's current schedule and dress expectations before you go, and plan a safe ride home.