Eight months out of the year, we roll our eyes at any cocktail menu that features a blended margarita or a slushie daiquiri (instead of the classic rum, lime and sugar drink that is perfection in its simplicity). But in the scorching heat of summer, an ice-cold slushy drink — alcoholic or not — is exactly what we’re craving, and some of the best bars in Toronto, along with one of the city’s best breweries, deliver.
Nostalgic of our youth, minus the brain freeze and the sugar crash, these grown-up slushie drinks add a little whimsy and fun to our summer sipping — and we could all use a little more happy right now. They’re even better when they’re served on some of the best patios in Toronto.
Forget about whether or not the Eglinton LRT is slipping into a sinkhole — bask, instead, in the dwindling days of sunshine and sip on a slushie. With everything from beer slushies to matcha slushies (why? Because Toronto is obsessed with matcha everything), Toronto has a slushy with your name on it.
7 best slushies and frozen treats in Toronto
1. Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington Ave.
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Toronto’s beloved Bellwoods Brewery kicked off this summer’s slushie craze with a slushie version of a beer that already has a cult-following across the city and beyond. Slushie Jelly Kings are the must-try frozen drink of the summer — even if you’re not usually a beer drinker.
bellwoodsbrewery.myshopify.com
2. Pennies
Multiple locations
We love Pennies for its cheerful yellow exterior and retro-diner decor, plus its simple menu of budget-bites like sliders, tacos and tater tots with options for vegetarians and vegans. But we also love that we can zebra-stripe all night on their patio, swapping back and forth between their slushy margarita and their non-alcoholic sweet and tangy lime slushy.
3. Gateau Ghost
974 College St.
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Of course, there had to be a matcha slushy this summer, because everything is matcha in Toronto right now. What started out as a beloved madeleine pop-up became a beloved bricks-and-mortar brunch spot, then Gateau Ghost added dinner to its offerings. But the café-restaurant didn’t stop there. It’s now going viral for matcha slushies. They’re vegan, unless you add the strawberry cold foam, which you absolutely should do.
4. Bar Mordecai
1272 Dundas St. W.
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Alongside the patios and the festivals, the Mordy Vice is something we look forward to every year when summer rolls around. The seductive slushy is “half pina colada, half strawberry elderflower margarita, all soft serve cocktail goodness.” The only downside is that you run the risk of some serious brain freeze after knocking back this ice-cold delight. Patience, young grasshoppers.
5. Rhum Corner
926 Dundas St. W.
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Tropical vibes, well-priced Haitian snacks and plenty of rum cocktails are all on the menu at this Dundas West institution. In the summer, we’re all about their slushy drinks, though. A classic rum punch made into a slushy? Yes please. A classic piña colada that could put any all-inclusive resort to shame? Oh, behave.
6. Futura Granita + Gelato
964 St Clair Ave. W.
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OK, a granita is not a slushy. So we won’t tell you about Futura Granita + Gelato’s seasonal frozen, dairy-free treat that’s made with real, fresh fruit and comes in flavours like Hopped Peach Kombucha, cantaloupe, lemon, chocolate and Sicilian almond. Happy?
7. Ricky + Olivia
996 Queen St. E.
Danielle Matar
With an all-Ontario wine list, uber-creative food menu, and truly one of the best burgers in all of Toronto, commending this east end gem for their boozy slushies feels sacrilegious. But hear us out: The delights coming out of Ricky + Olivia’s old-school slushy machine are fire (or, technically, quite the opposite) on a scorching hot day. It’s not always on the menu, so grab a boozy slushy on Ricky + Olivia’s dog-friendly back patio whenever you get the chance.
