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Library Bar

Toronto

• Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2026

New Entry

The "world famous" Birdbath Martini, an ice-cold classic that's thrown and served tableside, may get a lot of love on social media, but hardcore cocktail buffs are way more smitten with the new collection featured in Lights, the thoughtful new drinks menu at the Library Bar. Each drink tells the story of a scene from In the Skin of The Lion, a renowned book by Micheal Ondaatje that chronicles the tale of how Toronto became modern. Folks behind on their reading needn't worry about losing the plot, thanks to literal (and playful) interpretations, such as the show-stopping Belly of the Beast, a tiki-esque cocktail served in the "skin" of a porcelain lion vessel, or The Builder, a spirit-forward drink served with a slab of edible "concrete." Plus, Lights is peppered with cheat notes and stunning illustrations that reference the Group of Seven, an early 20th century art movement that represents peak Canadiana.

Library Bar, a deeply cherished Toronto icon, comes by its literary aspirations honestly, opening in 1971 in a space that once housed the Fairmont Royal York's guest library. News of a renovation a few years back had some locals and regular guests worried, but everyone was delighted to discover that the new splash of maximalist whimsy in no way disturbed the aura that comes from decades of hosting milestone celebrations, movie stars and jazz legends. Not to mention the many neighbours who love the comfort that comes from sitting at the bar and washing back a top-notch prime rib sandwich with a sturdy classic-inspired cocktail.

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