Our Favourite Wine Bars in Toronto

Surprisingly, for girls who spend a considerable amount of time under the influence, we are fairly discerning critics.  Wine bars — and just about everything else — must jump through some blazing hoops before getting The Wine Sisters Seal of Approval.

So, after many, many nights of research carefully noting the atmosphere, service, food and wine, we think we’ve put together a list of what we think is the crème de la crème.  However, it’s possible a few vinous gems have escaped our attention, and if they have, drop us a line to give us a head’s up about what we’re missing.

Ciao Wine Bar – 133 Yorkville Ave
www.ciaowinebar.com
Bored wanna-be starlets and uber cool nouveau Euros fill this cavernous space, for Friday night Prosecco and pizza.
Ciao is indeed a place to see and be seen for the Yorkville set, as beautiful young things flaunt what their stylists gave them while being careful to look dismissive and disinterested.
But there’s plenty to look at in here, from the televisions in the bar, to the bustling street outside through the wall of windows, to the soaring glass shelving behind the bar, glittering with potions of all kinds.  A lot of effort went into this space, and the owners are rewarded with a full house, as those who are ready for some fun have already discovered.  It’s not a date place but it is a good spot to go with a group.
A massive wine list is focused heavily on Italian — as the name Ciao would suggest.  Well priced, with an impressive half bottle selection that favours red over white.  Reds also dominate on the by the glass list.  Wines by the bottle offer up a great selection, with a good number of bottles in the $50 – $80 range, that make it hard to pick just one.  There’s also a good amount of wines for the less adventurous, though we would argue it’s a bit boring, even for the
playing-it-safe crowd.
Food is good, though the paper menu could use an update (it still lists zucchini flowers, even though they’re only in season in July).  Pizzas are where it’s at, with crisp, flaky crust and fresh, toothsome toppings.
Open Sunday – Wednesday 11:30am – 12am, Thursday – Saturday 11:30am – 2am

Wine Bar – 9 Church St
www.9church.com
Romantic, elegant and quiet, this is the former home of Jamie Kennedy’s Wine Bar, but just because the great JK has left the building, doesn’t mean the creativity has.
It looks like the new owners (who took over about 2 years ago) have realized why mess with a good thing, leaving the interior very much the same as when it was in the hands of Chef Kennedy.
The eclectic and affordable wine list boasts over 200 bottles, and the 30 wines by the glass are available in both 3oz and 6oz pours (prices range from $5 – $17 for the small pour and $11 – $35 for the big pour).  While there’s lots to please the Pinot Grigio loyalists, there’s also a few nice options for those looking for a bit of a vinous adventure.  Worried about dropping a few bucks on a glass you may not like?  No worries, professional and attentive servers will offer up a sample to try before you buy, if requested.
Wine Bar is a sharing plates kind of place, and what they offer up changes daily.  We enjoyed a carb lovers’ feast of wild mushroom polenta and flatbread, which were both delicious & flavourful – but we were a bit disappointed with the cheese plate. Value priced at only $16, it did come with 5 cheeses, but in such measly portions (we guess half an ounce per cheese, if that) that it was tough to share with the group.  We’d rather see fewer cheeses and slightly bigger portions, or an increase in price and at least an ounce of each cheese.  It is a wine bar after all, and cheese is vino’s better half.
Open Sat-Thurs 4pm-11pm (Bar stays open til at least 1am)
Fri-Sat 11:30am – 11pm (Bar stays open til 2am)

Crush – 455 King St W
www.crushwinebar.com
We’ve never had a bad experience here, and each time we’ve been — whether for lunch or dinner — the spacious dining room and bar has been packed with patrons: lunches are filled with King West designers sealing deals  with clients while dinners are for cosmopolitan couples dining out so as not to ruin their Viking kitchens in their bohemian styled lofts.
It’s no wonder the beautiful people choose Crush as a regular stomping ground: it’s soaring ceilings, wood beams and gigantic windows that flood the space with light take what could have been an imposing and cold room and instead make it inviting and homey.
In the bar, large windows overlook the hustle and bustle of King St., while the fireplace keeps things cozy.
About 18 wines are offered by the glass in 3oz and 5oz pours — and are also conveniently broken down into “themes” of three glasses (eg. Thirst Quenching Whites).  Care to sample the flight?  Crush offers that too, for a package price.
By the bottle there’s something for every price point from modest $39 Canadian Rieslings to breathtaking $2,000 La Tache.  Order yourself a glass of bubbly before settling in to read the tome, it’ll take a while.
As we mentioned, we’ve never had a bad meal here. From bar “snacks” like charcuterie and cheese to three course dinners, offerings are generous and delicious.  Crush seems to focus more on classic meals, which is a bit of a relief in the face of the current trend of poached heart and gizzard served at most trendy eateries.
Crush is doing something right as it’s been going strong for the better part of a decade, and we’re happy to return again and again.
Open Mon-Tues 11:30am – 10pm, Wed-Fri 11:30am – 11pm, Sat 5:30pm – 11pm, Sun 11am – 10pm

Fat Cat – 331 Roncesvalles Ave W
www.fatcat.ca
After enjoying success as a bistro on Eglinton West, the second location opened up as a wine bar on the Roncey strip about 6 years ago — and has been going strong ever since.
With just about the entire list available by the glass or half-litre (when was the last time you saw that?) this has made it into The Wine Sisters’ regular rotation.
Six nights a week, aging hippies and intellectual hipsters pack the place, to sip bold reds while discussing their latest yoga class and the state of the 99 per cent.  It’s comfortable here — almost like coming home, and it’s refreshing to step away from the blur of downtown, and just relax over a glass of wine in your jeans and t-shirt.
In the summer months the shabby-chic back patio makes for languid, casual eating and drinking, and inside during the winter the long, narrow dining room features local artists work for sale.
The tapas style menu changes regularly and specializes in yummy, belly filling nibbles like chorizo, spicy shrimp, pork belly and warmed olives.  A variety of cheese fondues are plentiful and not to be missed.
Open Mon- Thurs 5pm – 10pm & Fri – Sat 5pm – 11pm

Park Hyatt Roof Lounge – 4 Avenue Rd.
www.parktoronto.hyatt.com
OK, so this technically isn’t a wine bar.  But the setting alone has made us regulars.
The intimate South-facing balcony offers breath-taking views of the city: it’s positively luxurious in the summer, but absolutely decadent in the winter, as outdoor heaters warm the cold night, and staff hand out cozy Bay blankets, if you’re still feeling chilly.
Inside, the forest green walls, dark wood tables, fire place and famous people cartoon caricatures lining the walls make us wanna party like it’s 1989.
The wine list is OK, but it would be nice if they dedicated the same amount of attention to it as they do their carefully considered cocktails menu.
Food is good (oregano and feta poutine, anyone?), and surprisingly inexpensive for a high-end Yorkville hotel.  Service is always warm, prompt, courteous and friendly.
The only downside is that if you arrive late (7pm or later) hotel guests and stuffed suits have already filled the place, so you’re likely facing a long wait for a table — especially during patio season.
Open Mon-Sun 12pm – 1am

Trevor – 38 Wellington St. E
www.trevorkitchenandbar.com
Cozy, quaint and intimate, you could miss Trevor if you didn’t know where to look.  On a strip that includes extravagant Lucien and elaborate Pravda, Trevor’s sign is a simple black awning with its name in white lowercase letters.  There’s no street level windows, as the restaurant is in the basement – a negative for many restaurants, but for Trevor the subterranean room feels inviting, warm and chicly comfortable.
It looks like we’re not the only ones who think so as Trevor is packed most nights in both the bar and dining areas, there’s been a time or two when we’ve been in the bar and politely asked to move by hostesses trying to accommodate larger groups and reservations.   Each time, we had a drink bought for us for the inconvenience, though it wasn’t really necessary.
But that seems to be the name of the game at Trevor.  Hospitality is paramount and everyone seems to be really happy you’re there, whether it’s offering to take your coat, answer a question about the menu or top up your wine, it’s all done with charm and sincere friendliness.
The wine list is small, but well done, as noted by Wine Spectator for the last 4 years.  Prices for bottles range from $40 – $300.  There’s a comfortable dozen or so wines by the glass, including sparkling and sweet, and it would be nice to see a bit more selection, but what’s there is good, and seems to cover a gamut of tastes.
Food is outstanding! Tempura shrimp and truffled goat cheese poutine are personal bar favourties, and in the dining room, the seared scallop started is rich but still delicate.
The only thing that seems to trip up otherwise professional staff is larger groups — our last visit was with a group of eight and it seemed to challenge the small resto.  Plates came out at different times, and mains — while tasty — were cold.
Open Tues – Sat 4pm – close

Honourable mention:
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar – 1710 Queen St. W
www.localkitchen.ca
We had a great time at this out of the way space on Queen West in Parkdale.
It is a bit hipster, but not intimidatingly so, as foodies from 19 – 79 seem to fill the joint.
Service was friendly and warm, as soon as we walked in the door on a rainy night someone was right there offering to take our coats and they found us a table right away.
Wine list was well priced, with lots of interesting bottles and — huge bonus — nightly wine promotions, which are not normally on the list.   Our server was very helpful, knew the menu perfectly and had several suggestions for wine pairngs to help us out.
There’s a lot of small plates for easy sharing: charcuterie and cheese scored a home run with us, as did an interesting southern Italian red.  Steak tar tar was a let down, however, as it had a consistency more like ground beef than diced tenderloin.
The reason why we can’t put it in our “top” list:
Space.  We get times are tough and restos want to maximize space, but we were so close to our neighbours that every time they got up, we literally had to move our plates, because their bums brushed the top of our table.  So that bummer keeps an otherwise fabulous restaurant with great food, service and wines from scoring a home run.