Best 5 Bars in Toronto to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
By: Karen Le
Whether you decide to stay at home or go out to celebrate elsewhere, what better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a drink?
Like most metropolitan cities, Toronto has an abundance of bars claiming to be the “best”, but do they live up to the claim?
We’ve come up with 5 categories to help you find the best bar in Toronto to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
1. Best Bar in Toronto for Casual Drinks
If you’re looking for a place to go with friends and just have fun, Sneaky Dee’s is the place. Located at Bathurst and College since 1990, it has become well-known to the neighbourhood.
Don’t be fooled by their appearance. It’s popular and known as the best bar in Toronto for a reason! Their menu is full of crowd-pleasers, with six options on tap including Amsterdam Blonde, Alexander Keith’s and Beau’s Lug Tread.
Other than their selection, Sneaky Dee’s is acclaimed for its legacy within Toronto’s alternative circles. Many Toronto-centric indie bands have made it big performing on its stage. There are shows every week and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception.
Catch Sneaky Dee’s for the best casual drink in Toronto and some great music this St. Patrick’s Day.
2. Best Bar Experience in Toronto
Good drinks and music are only two factors for being the best bar in Toronto. A close second-runner up, if not tied for first, is Black Dice. It is located at 1574 Dundas West in Brockton Village.
Black Dice will transport you to Japan during the 1950s with its rockability vibes.
Miniscule vintage televisions playing old films cling to the ceiling. The entire venue is also plastered with old license plates and album covers. You’ll also find an old jukebox that still works and a pinball machine!
It features a wide selection of Japanese whisky and craft beer. Black Dice’s specialty is in sake and sake cocktails. Not surprisingly, they only accept cash but there is an ATM on site.
Although St. Patrick’s Day is more of a western holiday, you can take a break from it all here.
3. Best Pub in Toronto
You can’t celebrate an Irish holiday without an Irish pub.
Located at 14 Duncan St., Grace O’Malley is the best bar in Toronto to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Known as “Gracies” by their regulars, they are hosting an all-day party starting at 11 AM on March 17th. There will be festive green beer, live performances and specials on drinks.
On top of the variety of alcoholic drinks, fill your stomach up with some mac and cheese or Irish nachos.
There is no question that this is the best pub in Toronto to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
4. Best Asian Bar in Toronto
Toronto is one of the most multicultural places in the world. So it is not a surprise that it has bars with themes from different cultures.
The best Asian bar in Toronto is Mahjong Bar, located at 1276 Dundas St W.
A glowing keyhole doorway that leads to the rest of the 2000-square-foot space for a more casual place to drink and a small restaurant called The Cosy.
The Cosy gives off a vibe of Hong Kong in the ’60s inspired by the owner’s memories of family mahjong games played during gatherings.
You can order drinks such as The Peach Panther made with salted watermelon juice, soju, sherry and vinegar and The Tropic Thunder which is a refined take on a classic pina colada.
Mahjong Bar is a great place for casual drinks and great food. It’s definitely the best Asian bar in Toronto.
5. Most Unique Bar in Toronto
So far, the bars on this list all have that special something that makes them the best. But The Lockhart takes the cake home as the most unique bar in Toronto.
The Lockhart is a must-try for any fans of the wizarding world. Inspired by the Harry Potter series you can try different potions and elixirs. Of course, you will be able to try Butter Beer here as well as other craft beers on tap.
Besides the wizarding world, the drinks menu includes other nerdy sci-fi/fantasy references, like Star Trek: The Next Generation (The Captain Picard, Earl Grey-infused gin, agave, lime, tonic) and Watchmen (Dr. Manhattan, essentially a Manhattan).
Other St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Toronto
Drinking isn’t for everyone but there are other ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day such as the Mundy concert and annual parade.
On March 14th you can see Mundy live at the Horseshoe as a kickoff to the holiday celebration. Doors are at 9 pm with Donna O. opening the night at 9:30 pm followed by Michael Darcy & The Atlantic Tramps at 10:15 pm.
You definitely can’t miss the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 15th, 2020. It’s free to attend and suitable for all ages! Cheer on the spectacular floats, colourful costumes and amazing musical acts starting at 12 PM sharp.
You can get more information about the full celebration here.
If you feel like celebrating at home, you can try the 10 cocktails from Asia. Unsurprisingly, mint is a popular ingredient in many mixed drinks here in North America and Asia. There are many health benefits associated with mint. Learn more about them in “Top 5 Health Benefits of Mint”
Remember to drink responsibly and have fun! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
