I love Toronto’s Septembers — the month acts as the soft transition from golden summers to idyllic autumns. In fact, nowhere does patio season as well as Toronto in the early fall. Regardless of the neighbourhood, your price-point, and your bedtime there will almost certainly be a bar that entices you to sit with a pint (or if you’re my roommate, shots!), and a plate of chips (or — again, if you’re my roommate — more shots!). However, it can often be tricky to compromise with friends on which bar is going to be home to your drunken misadventures. Typically, the motive is hinged on the atmosphere of the location, and frequently this vibe is wholly dependent on the music.
Bar: Ronnie’s Local 069
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
Addy: 69 Nassau St
Song: “Gumboots” — Paul Simon, Boyoyo Boys
I have a strong preference for hole in the wall bars instead of King Street West clubs, and during my four years at UofT I have been introduced to many cornerstones of Toronto’s drinking culture. However, Ronnie’s remains my favourite, and most frequented bar in the city. After the summer of my second year of undergrad, I was delighted to move from Little Italy to Kensington Market, for the sole reason that Ronnie’s would be three minutes from my home. My loyalty to this bar is embarrassing. For my birthday, my mate bought me a ‘Ronnie’s Local 069’ t-shirt, and the bar is my first choice for first (second, and third) dates. When my housemates and I were finding a new apartment to carry out our final year, I was adamant that the commute from our home to Ronnie’s had to be less than ten minutes (it’s nine). Ronnie’s makes me feel nostalgic (I’m still unsure for what), comfortable (I have gone in my pyjamas), and drunk (vital). Paul Simon’s Graceland is the best album of all time (fact), and I think the bartenders at Ronnie’s agree with me, because Simon & Garfunkel frequently bless the speakers. “Gumboots” is the perfect song to accompany a pint.
Bar: Big Trouble
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Addy: 460 Dundas St West, 2nd Floor
Song: “Outta My Mind” — Monsune
Big Trouble is the ideal spot for a low maintenance but simultaneously aesthetically pleasing snap (for the ‘gram? VSCO? TikTok? iCloud storage?). A fusion of two cultures, this Chinatown staple has great live music (pre-Covid-19) to accompany the baijiu bottles, vintage movie posters, and dumplings. Located just off Spadina, Big Trouble boasts at being a (not so) hidden snack bar. I wouldn’t recommend going for a first date because it looks like you’ve tried too hard to be alternative, but perfect for a technical second date — you know, a ‘first date’ post-one-night stand. Monsune is from Toronto, and the tune is effortlessly laid back whilst simultaneously hitting a high standard — just like Big Trouble! A good song, for what will be a good time. Promise.
Bar: The Drink
Neighbourhood: The Village
Addy: 459 Church St, 2nd Floor
Song: “Official” — Charli XCX
This bar is for the girls, and the gays! The Drink is a gay-owned, gay-run independent coffee shop (by day) and bar (also by day) in Toronto’s Village. My roommate adores The Drink, it’s probably his bar equivalent to Ronnie’s. When the world was still open, he would stumble home at 3am from a night of partying in the Village. The next morning — over a Venti Starbucks coffee — he would trip up his words in an earnest attempt to do justice to his night of dancing to PC music, performing with drag queens, and drinking shot, after shot, after shot. The Drink is a genuinely safe space for those who identify as LGBTQ+, and it’s the inclusive and non-judgmental atmosphere that makes it so special. I’ll forever associate The Drink with my roommate, and the music that he enjoys. Over the last two years, I have begrudgingly had to admit that I don’t hate all the tracks he has blasted in the shower. This kid waited 4 hours in a hotel lobby to see Charli XCX, which is why — in my mind — her song “Official” is the obvious musical allocation to this bar.
Bar: Labyrinth Lounge or ‘the Lab’
Neighbourhood: Annex
Addy: 298 Brunswick Ave
Song: “Doorman” — Slowthai, Mura Masa
The Lab is another dive bar! This time located in the Annex and borders the St. George campus. Similarly to Ronnie’s, The Lab only takes cash; they do, however, serve food. This means that you can line your stomach before a night of drinking. Due to their student friendly price range — you know, like $4 beer cheap — The Lab is definitely more appropriate than Ronnie’s for a ‘let’s get hammered tonight’ motive. When I asked the friend who introduced me to The Lab which song he would assign to this bar, he replied: “something objectively poor that everyone enjoys.” Naturally, I ignored his suggestion. Slowthai, in my opinion, is elite. However, similarly to The Lab, is an acquired taste. If you want something more generically palatable, I’d recommend The Maddy which is just down the road.
Bar: Escobar
Neighbourhood: King St West
Addy: 485 King St West
Song: “Mia” — Bad Bunny Feat Drake
Very occasionally, I can be persuaded to venture outside of my comfort zone and when I do I exclusively ‘party’ (I use this word very generously) at Escobar. And exclusive is exactly what Escobar prides itself in being. Password protected with a secret entrance affiliated to Baro, it’s hard to get into this bar, but very easy to leave (usually with someone else). Think: the hot girls with tiny skirts, and the finance bros from KPMG who hit on them all night. Think: dickhead DJ, ‘spenny shots, and bright Neon lights. Escobar embodies ‘here for a good time, not a long time’. BlogTO only gives Escobar 1/5 stars. Perhaps this is because they take issue with the vintage porn that wallpapers the bathroom, and feel strongly about how it slots the femme into the male’s lifelong fantasy of female sexuality... probaby not. The low rating is more likely the result of them not having access to the password. Escobar reminds me of luxury, bad-bitch energy, and hopefully at some point not being a broke student. It’s not a Toronto staple like Door Three, or Early Mercy but it is still very on brand for the 6ix. This, therefore, means there has to be a little Drake, but with some added spice.
Bar: Communist’s Daughter
Neighbourhood: Little Italy / Ossington
Addy: 1149 Dundas St West
Song: “White Flag “— Dido
Very much within my comfort zone, Communist’s Daughter is the cutest bar in my dream neighbourhood. Drinking at Commies is akin to reading Chekhov’s The Seagull, thinking to yourself: “fuck, I’m going to die one day”, ordering the equivalent of a bottle of red wine and drinking it completely by yourself. Something about this bar makes me feel heavy; this is probably a response to the bohemian style sofas, flickering Christmas lights, and the snug bar that almost kisses the tables. It’s all very romantic, but in a very ‘unrequited-love’ type of way. And no one sings unrequited-love quite as well as Dido.
SONGS THAT COULD HAVE MADE THE CUT:
RONNIE’S LOCAL 069
- “Millionaire” — Kelis
- “Dancing in the Dark” — Bruce Springsteen
- “Novacane” — Frank Ocean
- “Retrograde” — Maggie Rogers
BIG TROUBLE
- “Paris City Jazz” — Bellaire
- “Ms. Jackson” — Outkast, Stankonia
- “Feel It” — Octavian feat. Theophilus London
- “Feel Good Inc.” — Gorillaz
THE DRINK
- “TLSL (Stiches)” — Lava La Rue
- “God is a Woman” — Ariana Grande
- “Heart to Break” — Kim Petras
- “Rain on Me” — Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande
THE LAB
- “Getaway” — Blossoms
- “Leave Before the Lights Come On” — The Arctic Monkeys
- “Naïve” — The Kooks but Lily Allen cover
- “Heart of Glass" — Blondie
ESCOBAR
- “Girls @” — Joey Purp, Chance the Rapper
- “Sex With Me” — Rihanna
- “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)” — A$AP Rocky, Skepta
- “Paper Planes” — MIA
COMMUNIST’S DAUGHTER
- “Romeo and Juliet” — Dire Straits
- “There’s Too Much Love” — Belle and Sebastian
- “Torn” — Natalie Imbruglia
- “Love on the Brain” — Rihanna ■
Background: Photo by Hector Vasquez
Mid-article: Photo by Janine Riviere