We already knew that things were shaking in Toronto's cocktail scene — but, hey, a bit of external validation never hurt anyone, right? Last week at Vancouver's Convention Conference, North America’s 50 Best Bars was announced to a room full of cocktail lovers, with four of Toronto's premier bars snagging a spot on the list.
The 50–100 long list was released in March, but at the exclusive ceremony, the top 50 drinking dens were announced. Vancouver's very own The Keefer Bar was the highest ranking bar in Canada, claiming the seventh spot, but Bar Pompette came hot on its heels, taking the top Toronto spot on the list at number eight.
New York and Mexico City had a strong showing in the 2026 edition, splitting the top five spots between them. NYC's Sip & Guzzle, helmed by master mixologist and bar veteran Shingo Gokan, took top billing, while Bar Mauro in the vibrant Roma Norte neighbourhood of Mexico City took the country's top spot at number two.
The ranking is decided by a team of industry experts, including bar owners, drinks writers and mixology connoisseurs across Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. You can check out the full list here, but we've chosen to hone in on the four Toronto tipple stations that made it into the cocktail canon.
4 Toronto bars that made it into North America’s 50 Best Bars
Bar Pompette #8
This Little Italy staple has once again secured its spot as Toronto's best cocktail bar. Whether you keep it classic with the Cornichon Martini or opt for one of their seasonal specials, the charm of the European-style cocktail bar is sure to win you over.
Bar Pompette is a neighbourhood spot slinging farm-fresh cocktails
At Bar Pompette, a French-inspired drinking den in Little Italy, the cocktail menu is about way more than just booze. Fresh herbs and produce shine in their drams.
Read moreLibrary Bar #19
James Grant's creations at this iconic cocktail bar, steeped in history inside the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, have earned the 19th place on North America’s 50 Best Bars. Order a classic birdbath martini or order from the current menu, inspired by the classic Toronto novel In the Skin of the Lion by Michael Ondaatje.
This renowned cocktail bar's new menu is based on a Canadian masterpiece
Library Bar’s story dates back over 50 years. Today, it gets its libation inspiration from the pages of a Canadian literary legend.
Read moreMother #22
Massimo Zitti's inventive cocktail bar on the corner of Trinity-Bellwoods is centred around raising the profile of humble ingredients through fermentation. Sip Mother cocktail originals invented right here in the lab, or try a barrel-aged spin on the classics.
Civil Works #29
The sister spot to Civil Liberties (which ranked 54 on the list), perched on the mezzanine level of the Waterworks Food Hall, has made waves since opening in 2024. Sit beneath the colourful globes on blue velvet armchairs and sample their new On Cutting Rug lineup, a bold cocktail menu inspired by Toronto’s historic Garment District.
Civil Liberties' stunning new art-deco cocktail bar is a world of whimsy
From the team behind Civil Liberties, Toronto's famed bar, the new Civil Works is like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for cocktail enthusiasts, led by the fearlessness and creativity of bar manager Élise Hanson.
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