Bar Banane in Toronto

Visited for the first time today, and had an incredible experience. Having been to all of the top bars in toronto, Bar Banane genuinely stood out. Their service, product, and ambiance really stood out in the over-saturated bar scene in Toronto. Dhruv is an incredibly skilled and hospitable bartender that truthfully made our visit amazing. If you re looking for a spot to visit downtown this is the one!

Wouldn t come back for the food, drinks were just okay - nothing special. Vibes and service were great though! Shoutout Tabitha!

Neil was an absolute beauty gave the kid a gnarly size up on the ladys

Got a couple of drinks and they were delicious. Hope they add some vegan bites to the menu

Drinks were great, and bar had a cozy, vibey atmosphere. However, our server took forever to get back to our table and we waited over half an hour once we finished our drinks for the bill because she was busy cleaning off the tables beside us. Service was not great.

I had the most incredible cocktail here tonight. Basically it was pb &j flavored and wow - mind blown. All the cocktails were interesting and thoughtful and the server was so sweet. Will definitely be back!

Incredible cocktails and great atmosphere

Excellent mixologists. Didn t love the cocktail menu (too much tequila, mezcal and gin based for my tastes), but pleased that everything I ordered was well balanced and not too sweet. Food was fantastic. Service was friendly and knowledgeable, but not that attentive on a Fri night. I shouldn t have to go out of my way to catch someone s attention to order another drink, my glass was empty for a while. Overall a fun place

Best service with Ellen and Chris! great drinks and vibe!!

Nice ambience and friendly service

On the pricier side but totally worth it. The food was fresh, delicious and good quality. The cocktails are the highlight, and theres surely something for everyone, including chocolate cocktails Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible unfortunately. Theres a flight of stairs and the bathroom doesnt have enough room for a wheelchair.

The BEST cocktails in Toronto, hands down no exceptions. Try sonic the hedgehog.

Went to Bar Banane for after dinner drinks and had their yummy chai in Mumbai cocktail and lobster croustade snack. Beautiful ambiance and great service. Went back a second time for their lime and pepper souffle and it was absolutely delicious! Drinks were also solid with new cocktail choices as well. For the third visit, we also tried their foie gras brulee, duck tartlet, pork jowl and coffee souffle and espresso martini and everything was excellent! Went for a 4th visit in 2024 for their banana toffee souffle and mango lassi cocktail. Both were quite enjoyable.

great service

Food

One of the best bars in Toronto. The food is fantastic and the souffle is a must order.

Raising the bar here in Toronto! Best friendly Ukrainian bartender fellow served us top notch drinks. Awesome ambiance and great service. Love the drinks and music. Highly recommend! Will be back

Cocktails were great (except for one that was off) but the service left much to be desired. We watched our server and the bartenders openly drink more than the guests and leave the bar several times throughout the night. If youre looking to have a fun time at Bar Banane, it seems like it would be better to just get a job there.

Service was slow, music was too loud, crowd was more of a party scene than date night vibes

Fabulous cocktails. Fabulous atmosphere. Absolutely fabulous

Service was amazing, food was delicious. Would definitely return.

Worth it. Amazing cocktails and food and decor. Service was also amazing. See u again soon.

Great food and drinks, loved the place!

Amazing restaurant and amazing service, everyone is so kind and friendly. Definitely recommend thankyou

Best cocktail bar in the city hands down. If you want to treat yourself or a loved one, I highly recommend this place. You will not be disappointed!

I loved it here, Sis! I felt like I was living! Sofia is a fire human she is lovely and will make your night feel extra special! She recommended some great options to us. We had nova scotia lobster croustade, smoked sturgeon rillettes, hokaido scallops, confit salad (without the duck), and the savory churros. And Negronis the forbidden Negroni is good the fig vermouth and toasted coconut, wow! We asked the bartender, Misha, to make funky Negronis and we were so happy with the Roku and Citadelle outcomes. If for nothing else, come for the Negronis and the savory churros. The churros are moment making and they are quite girthy!

Located in Ossington, the bar is upstairs and the restaurant downstairs??? A nice hangout place, with super chill vibes!! Service : 5/5

Absolutely amazing. The service and food is beyond perfect everytime. I love this place. Food : 5/5

Service started off fabulous but faded as the place got busier. Great drinks and knowledgeable staff. Food was on point - great bites. Food : 5/5

The cocktails are all top notch. Forbidden Negroni and Grand Banane stand out. Definitely get the soufflé though. It s well worth the wait.

Souffle, cocktails and decor were all amazing. Super cool vibe all around. Definitely want to go back.

Great spot we got the Canapes tasting and it didn t disappoint. The drink were perfectly made and Sofia was great with recommendations.

This place , situated above the exceptional La Banane , also has an extensive food menu. Unfortunately it doesnt quite reach the same bar of quality as they dont share the same kitchen. However they do have an interesting tasting menu concept consisting just of these small bites. It was a worth trying at least once but not worth a detour. Presentation was top notch though! Drinks were again great but the reputation led me to have higher expectations than I should have had.

Such a fun spot for drinks! We went for a few after dinner drinks and had so much fun! The bartenders are very knowledgeable and talented, and will make a drink for you on the spot given your preferences. The low lighting and music makes for a really fun, swanky vibe.

I really enjoyed Bar Banane. The cocktails were amazing and unique. The bar also had a really cool design and good vibe.

Great meal. Tasting menu is the move.

Terrible service and food, La Banane is my favorite restaurant, but Bar Banane just isn t that good

Thank you Bar Banana, Amazing experience. Service 100% Food

Enjoyed their uniquely fancy cocktails! Their fois gras appetizer was amazing Would recommend going early because they turned the music up waaay loud at 8:30 (or maybe Im just too old...) Food

Came here for the second time tonight. Both times we ve been served by Dhruv. He s knowledgeable and has great recommendations. The cocktails and service have all been amazing, but Dhruv has consistently elevated our experience and exceeded our expectations. Favourite place in the city for cocktails.

Fantastic drinks and tasty small bites! They offer some excellent vegetarian choices, and my personal favorite is the Beetroot Blini. The soufflé is incredible, but be prepared its a generous portion meant for at least four people. Just keep in mind that it can get pretty loud in there, making it a bit challenging for conversations Vegetarian options: there are 3 veg options in their canapés.

Rude service. Hostess was patronizing.

Just left Bar Banane and had an exceptional experience. Drinks were A+ and service was A+++. Highly recommended.

Walked in on a Saturday night without reservation. Was told that a lot of people were ahead of us but got a call back in 20 mins. Great place, very comfortable seat, service was excellent. Got 3 banana tarts, it was insanely good. Drinks were okay, hit or miss. Things are on the pricey side. But I definitely recommend this place and will come back again.

I don t know why it took me so long to go here. The forbidden negroni might be my new favourite drink! I am obsessed. Great vibe, great service, delicious cocktails.

Great place for cocktails and the bar tenders are amazing with providing off menu creations. The food was also absolutely delicious!

Enjoy my time a lot! Great Service and drinks!

So good

Highly recommend the Tartar Wine list is also relatively reasonably priced Food

Great cocktails and mocktails, great food, but above all EXCELLENT service!! We really felt taken care of by all staff

Excellent cocktails and mocktails. Service was on point and engaging throughout. Bartenders are super knowledgeable and absolutely know their craft. Cant wait to go back!

The tasting menu was exceptional and all of the signature cocktails were incredible; I especially loved the Why so Serious? cocktail. Huge shout out to Sasha the bartender and the service staff working on the evening of December 22. I can t wait to come back.

This place was great! From the decor, to the food, to the service, to the drinks, everything stood out. Very cool vibe with a chic interior. We sat at the bar for a few drinks. Tried the house Dirty Martini and the left on red. Both were great. Left on red was the bartenders version of a lighter negroni, which was pretty accurate. Dirty Martini was and tasty (especially if your into olives). Service was fantastic as the bartenders had great recommendations on drinks and food. Both were very easy to talk to. For food we whet our appetite with the pork jowl and pommes paillasson. Both good, but pork jowl was a standout. This is a new favourite T.O. bar. Will be back for sure. FYI, Le Labo soap and moisturizer in the bathrooms shows how much effort they are putting into pleasing their restaurant go-ers.

Cute bar food and deserts available, service is a little slow. But overall a great experience.

Enjoyed our anniversary seated at the bar with mixologist-extraordinaire Sasha S. working his magic. The ambience and vibe is elegant yet very chill and relaxed. Comfortable bar stools, beautiful banquettes and perhaps the nicest bathrooms of any bar in Toronto. Props also to Hannah, who usually works next to Sasha here, but tonight served us dinner from the bar downstairs at La Banane. All the team members at both bars are exceptional. Go here!!

Sip and Savor at Bar Banane Cocktail Bar - Crafty Cocktails and Tasty Bites Await Visit date: December 30, 2022 Our visit to Bar Banane in Toronto was nothing short of a revelation. When we climbed the stairs and stepped into the room we got an old school speakeasy vibe mixed with a modernist twist. We were transported into a world of accessible sophistication and intrigue. The atmosphere was upbeat and the female server we had was the cherry on top, with her gracious, knowledgeable, and attentive service. The real stars of the show at Bar Banane were the expertly crafted, and deliciously addictive cocktails and appetizers. Each cocktail was a expertly crafted, and the appetizers had us ordering and eating more and more. If youre in the Toronto area and in need of a top-notch drinking experience, look no further than Bar Banane. Make reservations on their website first for the front lounge or the bar. Trust me, you wont be disappointed.

Very chic and cosy spot for drinks with furiends. Pros: their signature dogtails were on point. We got the In Bloom, At the Louvre, and Dear O ren Ishii - all were pawsome, but At the Louvre was the winner of the 3 for being uniquely served with a crispy cocoa meringue (tasted like Oreos!). Cons: Snacks were tasty, but quite pricy (prices are per piece). Each piece was very small (only 1-2 bites), so it can add up quickly. Overall, 4 woofs out of 5.

Tasting menu was delicious and worth it. Cocktails are strong Service was wonderful will definitely be back. Highly recommend!

The staff here are very kind, welcoming and talented. Came here for cocktails and some snacks after dinner. Just like the restaurant the food and drinks hit and exceeded expectations. The pricing is very fair, and the food and cocktail is worth the trip to try. Definitely a good place for dates and with friends and colleagues.

Amazing service and staff, thank you for making us feel welcomed and adored. The vibe is a total 100% Cocktails were great and pork jowls were delightful. We will be back.

Nice place

Great cocktails and vibe. Beautiful decor.

Top marks. We got one of everything, which is definitely the way to go since all the plates are meant to be eaten in one (or two) bites. Everything was outstanding, I can t even pick a favorite. The attention to detail in every bite was next level- even the temperatures of different components of each bite were perfection. Service was excellent, Moon water cocktail was also sublime

Fantastic experience Experience of new tastes Don t miss out Parking: Parking at rear

Excellent bar service & drinks from Sasha . Atmosphere is very alluring . Totally a must see.

We decided to try this bar based on a recent article in blogto. This place has extremely bad customer service. We had to cancel a reservation as I was sick but we were still charged $50 even though the bar has a wait list and could easily have filled the table. We called and left a vm, no response. We emailed, no response. This was a blatant cash grab for the bar.

Amazing drinks and lovely ambiance. Beautiful space!! Drinks from left to right. Chai in Mumbai, At the Louvre, Dear O ren Ishii & Why so Serious.

Visiting this spot for date night - well made and tasty appetizers, service was prompt and attentive, drink menu has good variety with a range of price points. I enjoyed the ambience and overall it was a pleasant evening. I would go back!

Food: the portions are bite sized but they have tons of flavour and satisfy any craving you might have from sweet to tart. Duck tartlet, pomme paillasson and beetroot blini were some of my favourites. Presentation of the meal was excellent as well Drinks: Back to our roots is fantastic and reminds me of an upscale caesar. Chai in Mumbai was foamy and nice to finish the meal Service: Server was 10/10. Came to the table frequently enough and was attentive. Atmosphere: Good ambience and dining experience.

Rohit Excellent and very professional service nice guy

All the food and cocktails were incredible delicious! Definitely a little pricey as they were small bites, but the food and drinks were all thoughtfully made.

Loved the drinks and the atmosphere at the bar. Bartender was knowledgeable and helpful. Felt like a cool bar in Europe. Well designed space and I love the arch leading to the washroom. Next time will try food as well as this time came straight from dinner

I came here for a work party, the venue looked really pretty but out of all the finger food served only 2 were tasty.

Perfect ambience, cocktails, and canapés. Highly recommend the At The Louvre cocktail! We also tried most of the canapés and loved them all. The Hokkaido sea urchin is a must order (from someone who doesn t typically like uni).

Odious experience at Bar Banane. The staff have a poor attitude. I suspect this is due to the fact that the manager herself lacks basic communication skills/etiquette. Despite this being a high-end bar, you ll receive better treatment at a run down night club.

As I ve been to Restaurant La Banane several times, my expectations for this bar was rather high but my experience was disappointing. I found the bar to be uncomfortably over crowded as if they squeezed as many reservations as possible in the small confined place. The issue with this is that our server only spoke to us twice within the span of our visit(roughly an hour and a half) and we did not get the opportunity to even try other beverages due to the fact that the server was frantically racing back and forth to serve all the tables. When we did speak to the server it was rushed and service similarly to what you d expect at a fast food chain. I hope management takes this feedback into consideration and only accepts reservations at the capacity this establishment can handle. Over booking takes away from the experience of what is supposed to be an elevated dining experience. The whole visit was unpleasant and lacklustre. Will not return.

Good canapés and ambience. Our server Natasha was so fun and super knowledgeable, gave us incredible recommendations and matched our trios vibe. Shout out to Natasha <3

We tried the tasting menu on our first visit. Enjoyed the food, cocktails, and ambiance!

Great experience. Thank you to the bar team for the fantastic hospitality and drinks. A must visit if you are in the Toronto area

Overrated. My first thought? Really? Yet another so-called speakeasy in Toronto? And honestly. I was right to be skeptical. First, so-called speakeasies are so 2008. Other metropolis cities know this. Enough with the played-out fake speakeasy trash. Its not quirky and cool anymore. Its just a boring excuse for overpriced drinks and pageantry. Second: the staff was abrupt and flustered but perhaps because the entire place was so full and too few staff were working. I get staffing issues since COVID and bars trying to save a buck by using skeleton staff but when cocktails are $22+tax... its sus. Not a lot of attention to customers. Management seemed lacking. Third: Drinks were at best okay. I wouldnt say they blew my mind at all especially at those prices. Not sure the value is there. I know Ossington is a trendy area but this place seems more show than substance. There are so much better cocktail bars in the city that dont charge $19 for a negroni. Even the mocktails are overpriced. Like on paper maybe the cocktails sound complex (mostly its seems just fruit/veg/spice infused basic liquors to make it sound impressive) but when it comes down to flavour and what the ingredients really are in reality its very lacklustre. Which tbh wouldnt be an issue if the prices werent so inflated. Theres no point in going through all the effort and work of doing that to your ingredients if its all lost in the final product, unless I guess youre just doing it to trick customers into thinking that $18 for a fancy Sex On The Beach riff named after a car brand is justified. The snacks were instagrammable but underwhelming. Perhaps I would have given it 3 stars if the bill at the end of the visit wasnt so astronomical, plus expected standard 25% tip. The fact they charge so much and dont mention if they pay their staff a living wage (I would guess not by the shortage of staff) makes me cringe. I would pay more than average for a good drink if I knew it was helping pay a living wage. The quality of drinks + lack of value for money + uncomfortable atmosphere + unhappy seeming staff + nothingness of the snacks all equals a night I didnt enjoy. I didnt hate it, but I wont be back. Sorry, nothing on Ossington is worth $26 a drink. Unless those cocktails are mind-blowing and the staff is well-paid. Simply disappointed. Yet another unreasonably expensive yet ultimately forgettable cocktail bar in Toronto.

I m so confused how this place is given 4 stars when, after last night, everyone I spoke to said the same thing. The service was absolutely insanely poor. Not only is it overly priced for the smallest portions ever, but we had the food on our table for 30 mins (of course after waiting 1 hour for two apps) before we saw any side plates or utensils. We had 2 drinks in 3.5 hrs. Not by choice. Because no one came to take our order or when they did - a vodka water took an hour to make. Some of the food was good, some not. However all in all it was not worth ever going back. Go to a normal restaurant and your 700$ for 3 people you spend will go further, more food and booze and much better service for the money spent. Has potential but they clearly don t care to provide better service or empathy for being short staffed (if that even was the issue). Just rolled their eyes when you d ask over and over again for where the utensils were.

My experience comes from sitting at the bar. Jacob (I believe was his name) did a superb job taking care of us. Extremely knowledgable, very talented, and enjoyable to watch making drinks. The bar program was well executed and inventive. Pricing is relatively high, but it matches the lovely decor, quality service, and strong cocktail program. Regarding food: do not go here expecting to fill up on the snacks, theyre really just amuse-bouches meant to compliment your drinks. They are however, very very tasty. This bar is likely designed to entertain guests before a visit downstairs while you wait. If you are going to visit this bar without a reservation at La Banane (or another restaurant after), I recommend you eat your meal before arriving, or simply treat it as a nightcap never a bad option. Will be back.

Wow! Beautiful, elegant, elevated cocktail bar that also serves some exquisite amouse bouche bites to hold you over. Dont expect your evening to be cheap, but expect it to be top notch in every way!

Cocktail was really good and the wait staff were very knowledgeable on drinks.

Not enough people are talking about this spot! Some of the best food and cocktails I have had in Toronto. Definitely on the pricier side but absolutely worth it. Atmosphere is very cool and staff is amazing.

Great looking space. Delicious drinks. Horrible 80 s sounding music , totally killed the vibe. They should curate a proper play list.

pretty place, nice servers!

Started the night with cocktails and small bites at Bar Banane and it was perfect for this purpose. The vibe is nice, modern and simple. Really liked the nostalgia in their wall decoration with jars. White negroni was very refreshing, perfect for summer.

As a cocktail enthusiast I rarely come across places and people I genuinely enjoy. Bar banane and specifically Liam did not disappoint. every drink he made was well done. watching him make drinks u could tell he actually loved what he did and even when he was getting rocked he looked ok. Food bites were a ting bit small and I wish they were bigger but the drinks made up for it. This place would be great for bartenders enjoying a night out people trying to expand their creativity or even for a date. Its quiet early in the night but they were on a full waitlist by 11 when I left. Ill Def be back to hang wit Liam to talk cocktails !

Went here for a friend s birthday. The place is pretty overrated. The food was small bite sized, nothing outstanding. Between 5 of us the drinks we had were all similar, the only drink we had that was actually good was a blue coloured drink called Nitoswizzle that our server recommended. The vibe of the place of great and staff is very pleasant but there are too many other nice spots on that stretch so I would probably give this a miss for another time.

Beautiful bar, interesting and tasty cocktails, delicious sides, cozy atmosphere

Tucked away bar in top of their restaurant la banane. Had to reserve ahead of time. Cocktails were great but service was a little pushy.

Best drinks in town!

Wow. People are completely sleeping on this place. Not only are the canapes some of the most delicious and sophisticated bites youll have with your cocktails, they simply elevate them to another level. Easily one of my favourite finds in 2023. The staff, all led a world class barman (Jacob) are some of the friendliest and knowledgeable staff. And the cocktails... Just outstanding... The balance and the obsession with the clarity is just beautiful. Easily in my top 3 for drinking establishments in Toronto. I dream of this place constantly. Cant wait to go back.

vibe and deco are great and good for friends gathering. we had the coffee soufflé which was well balanced; soft smooth and not too sweet, highly recommended Liam our server was awesome and do know his beverages and the menu. he would ask the bartender for surprise on your preference; well deserve for 20% gratuity. the drinks i had were ground control and chai in mumbai. good value and well balanced drinks did not try the finger food seems a bit overprice however will try on my next visit. one star taken because only two hours seating limits, cheers

An absolute delight. The food, atmosphere and incredible service. Ask for Sylvain, he is a beautiful human and true gem of a host.

What a great speakeasy bar this is! Honestly been twice this past month and their cocktails are actually worthy the Toronto prices you pay for everywhere for a cocktail. The service is consistently super friendly, really appreciated. The Financiere dessert bite is to die for, truly special. Their spin on an espresso martini is delicious. And their cucumber melon cocktail is soooo refreshing for summer. The decor is on point. We did have to wait over an hour to go in this weekend but we enjoyed a drink at another bar and it wasn t a big deal as we weren t on a schedule. Highly recommend. Also really enjoyed the duck tart canapé. I know the lobster canapé is highly recommended - it was not my favorite (tasty but had better lobster elsewhere)

Excellent bar. I d come here more often. Clean and modern interior. Comfy couches and chairs. Adequate noise and music level. Professional and friendly staff. The drinks were great. Some unconventional cocktails. Pretty good. We accidentally knocked over a drink but they took care of it very well and offered us new drinks. Excellent service. This will be my go to bar.

Great spot for some fancy cocktails. All the cocktails were done exceptionally well and very balanced. Favourite was the 360 kick flip but it was Liam who made the entire experience beyond great. He s got great energy and truly makes the experience a memorable one

Wonderful, chic bar for cocktails & chatting with a friend, partner, or group! This place plays great music and serves a wide selection of spirits & fantastic cocktails. It may be hard to get a table, but it is definitely worth visiting if there s no wait.

Incredibly worth coming, from their canapes to their changing drinks menu to their service, absolutely stellar. Ive never had a bad experience coming and everyone Ive brought has loved this place. Please visit!

The drinks were amazing and unique. The small bites are also a must get.

The cocktails tasted amazing

Food was beautiful. We got the one I d eat tasting menu which I always enjoy doing when a restaurant offers it as an option. However, in my opinion they could have sequence the dishes better. The menu was organized from fresh to decadent when you read it from top to bottom and they also chose to serve the tasting menu that way. But towards the end of the meal, everything served at once were way too heavy to eat together. In one of the plate we have two canapés with foie gras and the other was a fatty pork. If they sequence the food with a mix of lighter and heavier options served together, I would have enjoyed it more. The soufflé was also very heavy, which was unexpected

Vibe is great, the team are fantastic, drinks superb and very well executed. Faultless!

Drinks were great. We got the tasting menu and it was a pretty poor experience. Really did not enjoy.