It Spot
Raising the Bar
Someone call the posh police: bottle service has hit the ’hood By Courtney Shea
Image credit: Ryan Szulc
Concept: The latest addition to the ever-swelling Queen West West strip is sandwiched somewhere between the Drake and the Cadillac Lounge, both literally and figuratively. Not quite as hip as the former nor as honky-tonk as the latter, the loungy space is still the ritziest stop west of Dufferin. This isn’t exactly good news for the diehard anti-gentrification crowd, but owner Catherine Thai, whose mother, Rose, runs the nearby Saigon Flower, spent close to two years renovating this former pool hall on the hunch that Parkdalers were ready for a little swank with their sauce.
Crowd: The typical west-end mix of high fashion and unkempt facial hair—i.e., the “I’m with the band” aesthetic. Friends linger over nightcaps by the bar, while couples cozy up in leather armchairs near the front; local DJs spin rock, house, R&B and Top 40 on Friday and Saturday nights.
Cocktails: Everything from premium vodka to trendy Patrón tequila to fruity Alizé can be bought in bulk. For those seeking a single libation, the eponymous signature concoction combines Jack Daniel’s, vodka, pomegranate liqueur and Sprite. A bold choice, perhaps—but so is a martini lounge in Parkdale.
The Parkdale Drink, 1292 Queen St. W., 416-778-8822. Monday 5 p.m.–midnight, Wednesday 5 p.m.–1 a.m., Thursday and Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–1 a.m.
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