SKIN + BONES

1434 Dundas W, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1Y7 647-345-7005 Of all the transformed Portuguese sports bars on Dundas (and these days, the domestic-beer-pouring venues of pre-gentrification DuWest are fewer and farther between), Midfield is an effortless original. A relaxed spot to explore intriguing wines without a single drop of pretension – everything on the frequently updated list is offered

Real Sports Where: 15 York St., beside the ACC Hours: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday to Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday Vibe: Sports-like (i.e. TVs galore) Room for dancing: No Can you order food: Yes Of Note: If you’re looking for a place to watch the game, it doesn’t get

Situated at the corner of St. Laurent and Avenue du Mont Royal, Le Belmont is part music venue and part bar. At the heart of Montreal’s active nightlife for over 20 years, Le Belmont offers a range of original programming every week that includes concerts and club nights—covering everything from electronic music, to hip hop,

136 Ossington, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1R5 416-532-6474 Since Toronto shed its adolescence and plunged into young adulthood (arguably, the transition is ongoing), tequila and its unfairly inglorious cousin, mezcal, have graduated from regrettable party shots and unloved outsiders to elegant drams and cocktail stars – spurred by Reposado, opened seven years ago. Sandy and Catherine

563 Queen W, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2B6 416-551-7540 With a wall of vinyl, a tropical fish tank and sleek leather couches, Rush Lane is like a reimagined, modernized old boys’ club – of course minus the bullshit and gender discrimination of yore. The bar focuses on cocktails, including house concoctions, four classic drinks on draught

1602 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario 416.823.0661 Also known as the bar whose name changes nightly according to the whims of the presiding barkeep, 1602 has all the creature comforts of a local: mellow lighting, well-loved couches, a chalkboard wall that invites inebriated scrawls and, best of all, a long bar backed by shelves so

Bar Batavia Where: 2031 Yonge St., south of Eglinton Hours: Wednesday 6:30 p.m. to midnight-ish; Thursday to Saturday 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.; closed Sunday to Tuesday Vibe: Speakeasy, music loving Room for dancing: Yes Can you order food: Yes Of Note: They’re serious about cocktails, and make them into a show.

909 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1V9 647-748-0909 Like Midfield to the far west, Archive is decidedly a wine bar dishing tasty bites, not a restaurant. It’s a favourite of oenophiles and industry folk, and brothers Josh and Joel Corea pour all of Archive’s wines by the glass. Both 3- and 5-ounce portions are

The Fifth Social Club 225 Richmond Street W Toronto, Ontario M5V 1W2 Tel 416 979 3000 The Fifth Social Club, now in its nineteenth year, has become a Toronto landmark. It continues to attract a mixed group of visiting celebs and locals alike. The airy loft feeling of the room, which was once part of