Mother image

Mother

Bar Cocktail bar

Inventive cocktails & ever-changing snacks featuring foraged ingredients served in an intimate room. People often mention cocktails, cocktail, drinks, menu, good, time, great, recommend, Toronto, amazing,


Address

874 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G3, Canada

Website

www.motherdrinks.co

Contact

+1 416-537-1928

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (664 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 6 pm to 1 am
  • Wednesday: 6 pm to 1 am
  • Thursday: 6 pm to 2 am
  • Friday: 6 pm to 2 am
  • Saturday: 6 pm to 2 am
  • Sunday: 6 pm to 12 am
  • Monday: Closed

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: cocktails (40) cocktail (29) drinks (23) menu (22) good (17) time (17) great (16) recommend (13) Toronto (13) amazing (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Amulay C. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the best cocktail bars in the city, hands down! The servers were so kind and so knowledgeable, the service was splendid from start to finish. Cocktails: Everything was so unique with so many different notes to cater to many different flavours. My top 3 cocktails: Three Dynasties, Claire De Lune, Porcelain Food: The sourdough bread and the butter blew my mind away! The tres leches cake also was so so good. Definitely recommend! I will definitely be back to try more food and more cocktails.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Leslie L. 5 months ago on Google • 539 reviews
    Love the food, drinks, and VIBE. Everything is beautiful and delicious. The lamb was so juicy and tender. My fav spot in Toronto.

  • 5/5 Tawnya N. 2 years ago on Google
    Fantastic restaurant with amazing original cocktails and food to accompany them. Too bad there was a time limit, otherwise we could have tried so many more things. Not their fault, have to be fair during these COVID times. The owner and staff were top notch and very attentive. All the recommendations were delicious. Can't wait to go back!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Samantha D. 1 year ago on Google
    We had reservations for 4 on a Friday night and our table was ready for us outside when we got there. There is no obvious sign outside the bar, so just be aware of the address. The staff was great, very friendly, and extremely knowledgeable about their menu. We had 7 different cocktails between us and all of them were amazing. They are definitely worthy of being on the list of the world's top 50 cocktail bars. Would highly recommend and would go back again next time I'm in Toronto.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mony K. 2 years ago on Google
    Deserving of its mission statement. A must go to for cocktail aficionado. Was fortunate to go on a Tuesday and happen to run into a live jazz performance which made the night even better. The cocktails were on nyc level standing hand in hand with the best. Each drink was explained and presented beautifully. I’ll be sure to hit up this place anytime I’m In Toronto. Oh and they serve food too but we were already full from dinner.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sam A. 6 months ago on Google • 331 reviews
    Exceptional Saki cocktail, forget everything else and just try the Porcelain , you will thank your self. A bit of a tight space here if you are just here for cocktails which is what the spot is known for now being on Canada's top 10 bars , as a good cocktail is a sensory experience of different senses the kitchen cooking odour just gets in the way of that experience unfortunately, if you are booking make sure you ask for a table closer to front. Cheers and thank you P.S a gentleman was taking care of our table on Thursday I didn't get the name unfortunately, he was exceptional

  • 4/5 Vee 11 months ago on Google
    I had been very interested in trying this place out for a while and finally got the chance with some friends. Service is super friendly, and fairly attentive. They can walk you through the menu if you need it, but we felt pretty confident choosing ourselves. Guests and atmosphere were upscale but not overly pretentious. Food was decent and hit the spot. A lot of unique options of high end craft cocktails. I tried what seems like the most popular cocktail, and unfortunately, it was just like a regular piña colada. Not sure what the fuss is about as I couldn't taste any of the special ingredients. Just coconut and juice. Looked pretty enough, I guess. We went through a bunch more, including some non-alcoholic options and those were pretty tasty. Most cocktails were good. Nothing spectacular for the most part, but it is an experience. I perhaps would try different ones next time around. I adore a good Martinez and am obsessed with genever, but found the Martinez Journey underwhelming, and a bit too sweet. The Fizz was good. The negroni and Manhattan were okay. I wish I had tried the affogato. The standout was truly the Visions of Oaxaca. I have never had a cocktail with such an amazing feeling as you sip it. I hate the word "mouthfeel" but this drink truly requires it. It was incredibly unique in softness and viscosity. And the taste was beautiful. A truly awesome cocktail. This bar is definitely worth a stop if you're into the Toronto cocktail scene.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Farwa. K. 7 months ago on Google
    Love the vibe, food, service and very unique drink menu. Each concoction is a work of art - they even have an option to make your own. Nice mocktail options well which makes the experience inclusive.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 bamdad a. 1 year ago on Google
    What a great experience. If it's your first time definitely ask the staff to walk you through their unique menu. I also recommend sitting at the bar because the bartenders are so entertaining to watch. We ordered the affagato express and gnocchi. They were both delightful.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jigs D. 1 year ago on Google
    Mother Cocktail Bar in Toronto is a fantastic place to enjoy a night out. The drinks are delicious and the menu is incredible, offering a wide range of options to suit any taste. The staff is simply amazing and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The hostess was friendly and welcoming, the server was attentive, and the bartender was knowledgeable and skilled. In addition to the fantastic drinks, the small bar bites were a real highlight. The jerk chicken karaage was flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the olives were a great addition. Overall, we had an amazing experience at Mother Cocktail Bar and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great night out in Toronto.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anika S. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing cocktails - We enjoyed all the cocktails. They have a very creative menu. Ambiance is lovely. I recommend making reservations in advance. I wish we had a better table. We were seated in the end close to the kitchen, but hoping to get the bar seating next time we visit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Silvia A. 1 year ago on Google
    Best bar I’ve been to in a long time. Seriously. Between London and New York this was one of the most inventive places ever. Service is fantastic. The owner is incredible and so personable. The cocktails are interesting, lots of story telling and absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t choose a favourite. Wow! And I had the BEST garnish ever. EVER. EVER. EV-AH. I couldn’t recommend this more. The highlight of our Toronto trip. Also has great non alcohol options. :)
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sara K. 1 year ago on Google
    This bar is super cute and has amazing bites to eat! I mean even the simplest menu item — the bread and butter — was impressive and delicious. The cocktails were immaculate and perfectly crafted so the bartenders definitely know what they’re doing. We sat on the patio but next time I would request to sit inside since the vibes look immaculate. The patio is cute but there isn’t any music and personally I’m not a fan of sitting on a patio by the road. The service made up for this as the server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and attentive to our needs throughout the night. Overall, I would come back to try out more menu items and cocktails! Eating my way through Toronto! Check out my blog on Instagram — @sarmyplate.eats 🍔🍟🍰🍝🍩🍕
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 蔡昱宏(Anderson T. 6 months ago on Google • 29 reviews
    This is the first bar I visited in Toronto It's such a fantastic bar. Every cocktail has its unique taste. Bartenders are very good at using spices as condiments. It plays a tiny but crucial role in their cocktails. I really like their cocktails, whether it‘s the complex but balanced taste, or the aroma that lingers in the glass after drinking. Also, the bartender has excellent stirring skills, silent and smooth. That’s why they can structure complex cocktails and keep them balanced. Furthermore, the music created a happy atmosphere, and the other staff were all kind and warm. The only thing I worry about is the bartenders’ loading. They always move so quickly to do everything well. I think it's literally high-intensity work, and I hope these excellent bartenders can take care of themself. I really want to see them create more dazzling cocktails. I strongly recommend everyone go there and try their cocktails.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aby C. 1 month ago on Google • 8 reviews New
    An acquaintance had recommended this place to me and since we are very foodies and love trying new experiences we decided to book for Valentine's Day. James was our waiter, very attentive and friendly. the charming atmosphere, a place with soul. Good food and price-quality ratio in general, everything was good, I recommend it and I will return!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Caton L. 1 month ago on Google • 123 reviews New
    As others have mentioned, fermentation is the name game here. Unfortunately, unique does not always mean good and the cocktails here were "not quite my tempo", even after giving 4 attempts. I am not going to comment on what I ordered since I don't think I'm the target audience and it wouldn't be fair but I will say you should be in a mood for experimentation before you set foot in here. This is not a regular bar, but you can order regular drinks that are made well enough. I would love to come back one day and try their food. Decent decor. Amazing service.

  • 4/5 Chloe T. 1 year ago on Google
    One of my favorite bars. Lovely and cozy vibe, live music and great menu selection. FOOD: it takes pretty long time to be served as there's only one cook in the kitchen. • Beef tartar: the best tartar I've ever tried. Good portion and really tasty DRINK: I gotta remove 1 star for this, I paid extra to customize my drink to be something "complex and layers of flavors". What I got was a super basic cocktail with 3 alcohol mixed together and I can barely taste the third flavor in the drink. Super disappointed. Also the drink was very small, loaded with ice. I felt like I was ripped off. VIBE: beautiful decor, cozy couch and vibe. There's live music and the music was just about right, chill and not too loud. Perfect place to chill out with friends. SERVICE: friendly but a little slow.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Oleh Y. 1 year ago on Google
    Great and cozy bar, fantastic selection of unique cocktails - I loved the idea of drinks representing heritage/background of every employee at this place. Special props to our server - she was amazing, gave very good recommendations. The food could be improved, but then it wasn’t really what we came here for. Music and ambience were lovely, so overall we enjoyed every bit of this experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kris R. 1 year ago on Google
    Visiting from Winnipeg to check this place out but there wasn't any room. Thought I would miss out on a chance to try out their cocktails but luckily for us, Paul hooked us up! He let us sit at the table by the entrance for waiting, and we got to taste some of the best cocktails I've ever had. Thank you again for showing amazing hospitality and creating delicious cocktails. We'll be back again!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Breanne Marie P. 1 year ago on Google
    The drinks here are really phenomenal. They do their own in house fermentation and the kombucha in the drinks is so tasty. My favourite is the honey+. If you’re staying for a few drinks, I would recommend trying one of the make your own. The staff are incredible and will make you some great drinks if you give them an idea of what you like and let them decide the rest. The food is also pretty good. It’s a little pricey here, but it’s more than worth it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin X. 6 months ago on Google
    If this bar claim it’s no 2 in Toronto, no one will claim number 1. Have been here for years and it’s great to see it grow and continue to bring in more and more cocktail lovers. Always a good time with James at the bar helping out and always have good conversations!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kama K. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is just fantastic! Been here three times over the past year and it’s always just an awesome experience. Sustainability first in all food and drinks which is already a great start. But cocktails like this are hard to find anywhere else in this city. Mushroom tacos were certainly my fav food item (although sourdough with lemongrass butter is an easy choice too)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Luna Liu (. 10 months ago on Google
    Everything about Mothers is so unique and delicious. This is gonna be my fav bar spot in Toronto. Their drinks reminded me of my best vacation memories and some are tropical as well. Loved it!! Shoutout to Matt, Kana and James for your great service and drinks Will come back very soon!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James F. 1 month ago on Google • 80 reviews New
    Went last night overall I would have to admit I was impressed I wouldn't come here if your focus was food but with that being said they don't leave a lot to be desired they have a few items on their food menu that are excellent. The jerk karaage was one of the best I've ever tried and I've been to many excellent Japanese restaurants and had the opportunity to spend a month in Japan many years ago. The Crimson Skies is possibly one of the best cocktails I've ever had and trust me when I say this. This is a huge achievement I know some world class mixologist and this drink is impeccable. My burger was really good I just wanted something tried and true. The Shio steak was good and tender but felt a little overly complex with its pairings and honestly didn't bring it home for either of us. All in all if you want a chill laid back vibe with lots of options when it comes to picking your poison. Definitely visit mother. They also offer a menu that encourages you to design your own cocktail based on your personal taste. Which is not something you will find often but I've experienced with a few very talented cocktail artists who know how to balance flavours. James was our bartender nice guy who was quick and concise when it came to making notable mentions of our cocktails.

  • 5/5 Lisa M. 6 months ago on Google • 76 reviews
    They ferment local ingredients to then use within their menu. Some seasonal cocktail specials, the favourites they kept around, some barrel aged options and some classics. There's also the option to list your preferred flavours and have a custom creation. Our favourite was a milk punch that was really fun and garnished well. From the seasonal menu the cocktail was complex and the flavours changed over time making it very interesting. We also tried a custom creation, which was a little too overpowering in one flavour meaning the complex selection of other flavours included got lost. The barrel aged cocktail unfortunately didn't have much barrel influence besides harmonising the liquors, as if the barrel has been used a bit too often. It was nice, but just a little underwhelming. Overall the staff were really nice and the quality and creativity of cocktails is high.

  • 5/5 Evelyn T. 2 months ago on Google • 34 reviews New
    I visited this bar yesterday and it’s probably the best cocktail bar I’ve visited in Toronto in recent memory. I had the Summit Alexander and the Three Dynasties and both drinks were fantastic - unique flavour combinations I hadn’t had before and really well-balanced. I sat at the bar, so one of the bartenders was the one that served me - it was awesome watching her make drinks and she also did a great job of checking in periodically and making sure my water was filled. As for the food, I had the fries and the jerk chicken karaage and those were great as well! Bonus: the server who packed up my leftovers packed the dip even though I didn’t specifically ask for it, which was great. Overall, I was really happy with the food, drinks and service. I’ll definitely be back!

  • 5/5 Sara P. 1 month ago on Google • 9 reviews New
    The service was amazing, super friendly and knowledgeable. Drinks were delicious and it was enjoyable to watch the bartender make them (particularly the porcelain with the long pour), food was delicious and presentation beautiful. (But wholly the wasabi needs a warning label! Delicious but potent!) Had a fabulous time and will definitely be back.

  • 3/5 Alina P. 11 months ago on Google
    This place was in my want to go list for a good chunk of time and finally i decided to try it. There’s a lot of interesting cocktails but they are pricey and…unusual? The taste is definitely something as some cocktails reminded us of mouthwash and other of something rotten. The service is great and our server was very nice except they stopped paying attention to us after an hour. The food is amazing and I would definitely recommend their desserts and udon. It was an interesting onetime experience overall.

  • 5/5 Brittany C. 9 months ago on Google
    Definitely the best cocktail bar in the west end. Such unique and quality cocktails.. pricey but you get what you pay for. Really good vibes and sometimes live music. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Perfect for date night too just remember to book a reservation in advance as it’s always full. Tried the tres leches cake and wowwww it was delicious 😮‍💨

  • 4/5 Rohit B. 11 months ago on Google
    This is a nice environment friendly cocktail bar. They use agave straws and have groovy but simple cocktail menu including a symbiosis page which is a make your own cocktail. We tried the Electric fizz as well which did not disappoint. Great for an evening of drinks and food.

  • 5/5 Gustavo M. 10 months ago on Google
    Came for the cocktails, was very pleasantly surprised by the food. Tried out a couple of suggested cocktails from the waiter because I'm relatively new to the whole refined cocktail world but loved the honey + and electric fizz. We also decided to hold ourselves over with some food and the birria tacos were lovely with the tomatillo salsa but the tartar was really something special. If elevated cocktails are your thing, you'll want to give Mother a try!

  • 4/5 Christina 1 year ago on Google
    The first time I came was when they first opened. The bar changed and IMPROVED so much!! This time around, the drinks were elevated, so much more variety. Great service. Awesome food. Everything about it was just great. All servers and bartenders were very friendly and introduced the menu to us patiently. When it got busy, the attentiveness of the service did get a slow. I loved my drink - Honey+! If you like tequila this if the drink you’ll need to get!

  • 3/5 Vivian H. 1 year ago on Google
    This is very nice place. Nice vibes, excellent drinks. The place is a bit slow. We were waiting for half an hour to get the drinks. They only have 3 staff, so you might wait for a while. P/s: I called to book the table 1 day in advance. They didn’t tell me about the hour limit for the table. We were enjoying the night and we hadn’t finished our dinner. As we wanted to order more, the server came to tell us this table was being booked in another half an hour. I was so disappointed since they didn’t tell us this in advance. I left hungry because I didn’t have time to order dinner. Not to mention the slow speed, It took half an hour for anything to come. So when they told me it is only half hour left for me to seat on the table, I just left. For this reason, I took one star down.

  • 5/5 Jon Yip C. 2 years ago on Google
    Expertise and passion shines through the menu and staff at Mothers. The menu is curated with purpose and the cocktails are among the best, not just in the GTA but I'm sure anywhere in the world. We were lucky enough to chat with the owner and have our cocktails prepared by him. You can tell his passion is genuine; he really has a love for his craft and the other staff definitely seems to share his sentiment. Reservations on the weekend are a must as the intimate setting doesn't offer a ton of seating and demand to get in is high. While the menu may be a little pricey, its on par with other cocktail bars throughout the city and the level of refinement and care on a different level. The amount of thought, time, preparation, and high quality of ingredients lets the value speaks for itself. By far the best cocktail bar I've been to.

  • 5/5 Geoffrey L. 1 year ago on Google
    Easily one of the best cocktail bars in Toronto. My new favorite bar in Toronto's downtown core. The drinks are extremely well thought out, in fact, quite a few of them are a little over the top. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and impressive with the knowledge and presentation of each drink. The menu also changes every once in a while to keep things fresh. The food was also really good, I'd love to go for after work and just grab a bite but the kitchen is a little slower.

  • 5/5 Dai J. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice atmosphere, delicious food and fancy drinks. Staff are super friendly and professional

  • 5/5 Dinesh I. 2 years ago on Google
    Really cool bar ! The staff here are amazing with knowledge of their entire menu. Most items that we ordered from the cocktail menu had a little story to go along with it, which definitely heightened the experience. In terms of food i would recommend the Burger and tartare ! Will definitely be back :)

  • 5/5 Ernesto S. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellence perfected. From a daiquiri that was immaculately made through to house cocktails and equally perfect beer recommendations, Mother offers a lot. It asks for a fair bit back in terms of prices, however, if you are in search of perfection in cocktails you will not be disappointed. The food and service were equally top-notch.

  • 5/5 Susan H. 2 years ago on Google
    I have been here twice and both times we were serenaded by the musical talents of @kubla. (Tuesday evenings.) The drinks are complex and worth every penny. Drinks featured in pictures include the motherland old fashioned, Claire de Lune, affogato express, porcelain, three dynasties, and more. Cake is the tres leches cake - soaked with flavour, fresh whipped cream and incredibly light. Save yourself the time of reading other reviews and just go to experience for yourself.

  • 5/5 Carrie W. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a cocktail bar in the liberty village area. The cocktails are out of this world amazing. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Make sure you make a reservation though as it's a very small bar.

  • 5/5 EmilleeJoy 2 years ago on Google
    Every cocktail served here was crafted to tell a story, each made with such intent and purpose. Happy to have sat at the bar because just watching the bartenders make drinks was a show in and of itself!! Very much on the more expensive side with cocktails ranging from 15$ to 22$. Highly recommend for a more intimate date night.

  • 5/5 Reservaciones L. 6 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    Mother was one of the best bar experiences I’ve ever had. The ambiance, all the bartender team is pretty cool and friendly, service was great, I could see the passion they have for hospitality and of course cocktails were sooo amazing. Worth it 100%.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍


Call +1 416-537-1928 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Food at bar
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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