Toronto's best happy hours, oyster specials, and sneaky deals
You're welcome.
Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by the cost of living … yeah, same. But there are certain things I’m unwilling to give up in the name of, well, living my life. Going out to dine and drink is one of those things and there are ways to indulge without dropping a small fortune.
I’m always on the hunt for good happy hours, prix fixe menus, and weekly specials like buck-a-shuck, so I’ve done the lord’s work of compiling a giant list of my Toronto favourites. There are over 40 restaurants and bars on this list with deals I’ve deemed too good to gatekeep.
I’ll review this guide quarterly (feels right) to make sure it’s always up to date and will keep adding more spots so you’ll never miss out. In the name of not gatekeeping, feel free to share with friends. I hope you’re hungry … and thirsty!
Ace Hotel:
Neighbourhood: Fashion District
What’s the deal: Sexy hotel with $12 wine by the glass and select cocktails weekdays 4 pm to 7pm
Bar Isabel:
Neighbourhood: Little Italy
What’s the deal: The closest thing we have to Spain. Saturday $69 lunch special for two and ½ priced cocktails 12 pm to 4 pm
Bar Koukla:
Neighbourhood: Ossington Strip (that’s a neighbourhood, ok?)
What’s the deal: Vibey spot for mezze and fun Greek wine—bottles are ½ priced every night from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm; $10 classic martinis after 9 pm
Birreria Volo & Bar Volo
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy // Downtown
What’s the deal: One’s a craft beer hall, the other’s more like a craft beer cave. Both have discounted drinks weekdays 4 to 6 pm. $6.50 house-brewed draft beer on Tuesday; ½ priced bottles of select wines on Wednesday
Big Trouble
Neighbourhood: China Town
What’s the deal: Fun snack bar and bar-bar above Sichuan Ren. $5 snacks, $8 dumplings, $6 house lager, $10 cocktails (no tax!!) 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Wednesday to Sunday
Burdock Brewery
Neighbourhood: Bloordale
What’s the deal: Your friendly neighbourhood brewery. $5 draft beer weekdays 5 pm to 6 pm. Sunday ½ priced wine, Tuesday ½ price cellar night
Chantecler 🦪
Neighbourhood: Bloorcourt
What’s the deal: Cutie French restaurant back from the ashes. $2 oysters, $10 snacks, $10 cocktails 5 pm to 6 pm every day except Tuesday (they’re closed). ½ priced bottles of wine on Monday
Chez Nous
Neighbourhood: Riverside
What’s the deal: No reso, all-Ontario wine bar. Daily $9 house wines, $6 select beers, $12 select cocktails 5 pm to 7 pm; ½ priced bottles after 11pm every night and all day Sunday
Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
Neighbourhood: King West
What’s the deal: Homey Jamaican cooking with Island Time weekdays 3 pm to 6 pm featuring $12 cocktails, $6 beer, $10 glasses of wine, and snacks starting at $6
Cocktail Bar
Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
What’s the deal: Just a really solid cocktail bar with a perfect back patio. Daily $12 menu drinks 5 pm to 7pm
Compton Ave.
Neighbourhood: Dundas West
What’s the deal: Moody cocktail bar that looks like a wealthy Londoner’s home. Daily $12 martinis 6 pm to 8 pm. Reso’s are recommended
The Cottage Cheese
Neighbourhood: Kensington
What’s the deal: Local fave for comforting Indian eats. Lunch just got a big upgrade with $10 - $12 small plates and drink specials weekdays 12 pm to 4 pm
Danforth Sidebar 🦪
Neighbourhood: Riverdale
What’s the deal: The bar literally beside Danforth Music Hall. $6 drinks 9:30 pm to close on show nights; 5 pm to 6 pm on non-show nights. Oyster deals every Wednesday when there are no shows happening
ēst 🦪
Neighbourhood: Riverside
What’s the deal: Modern French dining with friendly service. Buck-a-Shuck and 25% off bottles of sparkling wine Tuesday and Thursday. Oui.
General Public: Geary Ave
What’s the deal: Jen Agg’s most ambitious restaurant yet (my full review here). Select cocktails, beer, and wine starting at $8 every day from 4 pm to 6 pm. This is also the only time you can get their coveted, limited-quantity cheeseburger
Gloria in the Great Hall
Neighbourhood: West Queen West
What’s the deal: Casual French-American bistro with $10 martinis 5 pm to 7 pm daily
Good Company 🦪
Neighbourhood: Quest West
What’s the deal: A café-barbershop-snackbar with dollar-an-ounce house wine, ½ priced oysters, ½ priced wine list, and discounted snacks Tuesday to Sunday 3 pm to 6 pm. See you there?
Gusto 101 and 501
Neighbourhoods: King West // Corktown
What’s the deal: Pretty sure Gusto invented dollar-an-ounce house wine. It’s always available and always hits
Henry's
Neighbourhood: Queen West
What’s the deal: Fancy but not fussy restaurant meets wine shop with a beauty patio. Family-style prix fixe for $40 per person on Tuesday (I’m a sucker for a good roast chicken and potato pavé)
Hey Lucy
Neighbourhood: King West
What’s the deal: Nothing fancy. Come for the wood fired pizza, stay for the $6.99 select martinis every Wednesday
Island Oysters 🦪
Neighbourhood: Bloordale
What’s the deal: A little slice of the maritimes with rotating $2 oysters all night on Wednesday and $1.50 Malpeques every Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm
Jules Bistro
Neighbourhoods: Queen West // Leslieville
What’s the deal: ½ priced côte de boeuf at both locations every Tuesday. That’s 24 oz. of AAA ribeye with fries and a salad for like 59 bucks. They’re usually in the weeds. It’s usually pretty good
Ladybug Wine Bar
Neighbourhood: Corktown
What’s the deal: Unpretentious wine bar with a generous by-the-glass wine list. They have lots of deals throughout the week. My faves are their Tuesday $30 prix fixe, and Retail Sunday where you can sip any bottle in-house at low takeaway prices
Lapinou
Neighbourhood: King West
What’s the deal: An ode to Parisian bistros with $10 cocktails Tuesday to Saturday 5 pm to 7 pm and ½ priced bottles of wine Tuesday and Wednesday
Little Sister
Neighbourhoods: Davisville Village // King West
What’s the deal: Dutch-Indonesian food bar with big flavours and a daily Happy Jam menu featuring snacks starting at $6 and discounted drinks from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Melrose on Adelaide 🦪
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
What’s the deal: Buzzy cocktail bar with good charcuterie and sometimes nice service. Whatever, I’m here for Happy Hour 2 pm to 6 pm daily and 10 pm to 2 am Sunday to Wednesday. Buck-a-shuck all day Sunday; ½ priced bottles of wine on Wednesday
Paradise Grapevine:
Neighbourhoods: Geary Ave. // Bloorcourt
What’s the deal: Natural wine bar and cheeky urban winery. Both locations have $10 glasses of their house label wine 5 pm to 6 pm daily
Parquet:
Neighbourhood: Harbord Village
What’s the deal: French bones with some refreshing creativity weaved in. Their popular prix fixe is back Tuesday – Thursday with 3 courses for $50 per person, and they do not play around (steak tartare, lamb pasta, salmon with morels … go off)
Pearl Diver 🦪
Neighbourhood: Old Town
What’s the deal: Buckle the heck up oyster sluts. This absolute gem has a boatload of weekly specials, but the pièce de résistance is their 100 oysters for $100 on Thursday. Reso’s are recommended
Ricky + Oliva
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
What’s the deal: Quirky restaurant big on local ingredients. $10 glasses of select wines, $6 lagers, $12 Dillon’s batched cocktails 3 pm to 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday
The Comrade
Neighbourhood: Riverside
What’s the deal: A dark, sexy drinking den with big taxidermy energy and a famous prime rib burger. Get it for $16 (a steal given the ingredients) along with $12 select cocktails every day from 5 pm to 7 pm
The Dorset
Neighbourhood: The Well (that’s a neighbourhood, ok?)
What’s the deal: Rich British coastal grandma vibes with a Saturday short rib pie special for two. Includes chips (crisps), Brussels sprouts, two sides, AND a bottle of juicy red wine for 120 bucks. They also have Happy Hour throughout the week
Watson’s 🦪
Neighbourhood: Downtown
What’s the deal: Cocktail bar that’s too aggressive with their garnishes, but is forgiven thanks to buck-a-shuck oysters and ½ priced wine Sunday and Monday
Wynona
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
What’s the deal: One of those rare restaurants that can easily suit a chill Monday night and a special occasion. Fresh pastas, romantic decor, and a daily “Trust Us” menu with five courses for $75 per person
Waterworks Food Hall
Neighbourhood: King West
The deals:
Central Bar $6 local beer, $10 cocktails every day from 3 pm to 6 pm
Courtyard Patio too broke for Italian summer? How about daily $10 spritzes and Italian-inspired cocktails 3 pm to 6 pm? (psst, they host a daytime dance party from 2 pm to 5 pm on the last Sunday of every month)
Civil Works Glam cocktail bar on the mezzanine with daily $12 classic cocktails and $7 bar rail 11 pm to close
Grape Witches Curated selections of non-boring wine in a space that looks straight out of Architectural Digest. $12 rotating glasses and 20% off snacks weekdays 3pm to 6 pm. No corkage Sunday on the Courtyard Patio
Tantxo Argentinian steak house with $20 steak frites every Monday … like what?
*Bonus Happy Hours*
Look, sometimes the chains just hit.
The Esplanade Keg (my favourite Keg) has daily Happy Hour 4 pm to 6 pm and 10 pm to close with cocktails and food starting at $7
Joey’s Daily Happy Hour 3 pm to 6 pm // Sunday – Thursday 9 pm to close // Friday – Saturday 10 pm to close. Snacks and drinks starting at $5
Earl’s Happy Hour every day 3 pm to 6 pm and 10 pm to close. ½ priced drinks and cheap food like petite steak frites for $14
Cactus Club Daily Happy Hour 2 pm to 5 pm and 9 pm to close with drinks and snacks starting at $5; all day drink specials on Sunday