This flower-inspired bar salon is a fine addition to Little Italy's cocktail scene

There's no shortage of excellent bars on College Street, including recent standouts Suite 115 and Slice of Life. With the possible exception of Ossington, I'd award Little Italy the crown for best cocktail scene in the city, so new openings are almost always worth paying attention to.

Bitters and Bloom, a stylish, upscale, speakeasy-style drinking den by the owners of J's Steak Frites, is one of the latest to open its doors. It's taken over the space formerly home to the Toronto Temperance Society, which closed in 2017.

Bitters and Bloom: What's the vibe?

When I arrive at the unmarked door, I’m met with a keypad, so I quickly scan their Instagram stories and uncover the secret code. (It changes daily, so make sure you check before you arrive.) The door swings open, revealing a steep, carpeted staircase leading up to the speakeasy. Inside, a tall, dark and handsome bar greets me, glowing under soft mood lighting and accented with polished gold. Plush armchairs line the red walls, and everything is bathed in a low, mysterious light — a foolproof ambiance for sipping excellent tipples.

Jazzy music fills the air, but Bitters and Bloom doesn't feel stuffy or outdated. It's exactly what I'd expect from a new Little Italy cocktail bar — unpretentious, modern and bold. The ambition is most notably evident in bar manager and industry veteran Jason McNeely's (The Broadview Hotel, Port Light, Florette) cocktail menu.

Bitters and Bloom: What's on the drink menu?

McNeely wields his expertise to create a bouquet of 13 crowd-pleasing tipples that feature plenty of interesting floral ingredients and delicious flavour profiles. There are twists on classics here (like the old-fashioned riff, Moonstruck; or the caesar-adjacent Stampede Club) and original concoctions like the mezcal-aperol-beirao 24k.

The first drink to arrive at my table is the Love Potion No. 9, a tart, floral elixir that mixes elderflower honey, absinthe, sherry and 'love potion bitters' for just the right balance of sweet, anise and sour. Garnished with a skewered rose, it's very photogenic, too.

If you're into carbonated cocktails, the Don't Dream It's Over is a total home run. McNeely lays down tequila as the base before stacking it with sauvignon blanc cordial, aloe and eucalyptus for a final product that punches way above its weight. It's delightfully crushable, and I'd return just to order it again.

One of McNeely's most Instagrammable creations is the Kermit's Revenge, a cheeky little number garnished with a frog gummy floating on a 'lily pad.' It's a bright, peppery and playful take on a daiquiri that infuses light rum with myrtle, a fragrant herb native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Bitters and Bloom: What's on the food menu?

You'll have to head downstairs for steak and frites, but there's still a condensed menu of light, elevated bar bites to snack on while imbibing here. 

Chef Tara Tang's menu skews French, with highlights like the gruyère-stuffed, just-salty-enough roast beef pretzel sandwich; the madeleine, topped with a dollop of crème fraîche and caviar; and the smoked salmon éclaire.

Overall, Bitters and Bloom is a fine addition to Little Italy's thriving cocktail scene. Whether you're wandering down College, looking for a spot to quench your thirst, or seeking a nightcap after a succulent meal at J's Steak Frites, Bitters and Bloom has something for everyone.

Drinks and food for two; about $100 before tax and tip

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