Asked for $10 cover at 6 pm on a Saturday with empty tables. It used to be cool... Prepare to get frisked too. Not worth it.

Friday night, downtown Toronto, what can go wrong? Apparently, Cold Tea. With such high expectations, a girlfriend and I took the time to head to Kensington and check out the place all of our friends have been raving about. Through the doors of the Kensington Square, pass a second hand shop, you'll find a black door at the end of the hallway. That's when you've hit Cold Tea! Follow the music, that usually helps. Greeted by the host and seat in a table amongst others. It is a smaller space so everyone ends up being squished together, but that's the experience you go for. Accompanied by loud r&b/hip-hop music, to get you in the zone! MENU: I feel as though Cold Tea's menu tried too hard to be creative or unique. The random combinations of food and flavours, drove me away rather than intrigued me. But that could be just a personal preference. FOOD: Tofu guacamole was probably the only thing that seemed appetizing to me and my best friend, because who doesn't love avocados? DRINKS: Wide range of beers and selective cocktails! BAD NEWS: My best friend was seated near the coloured wall on the bench area. 20mins into being at Cold Tea, I noticed a cockroach crawling behind her (as seen in the photo). I didn't want to make a scene and concern other customers, so I pulled my friend away from the wall. I lost my appetite and felt the urge to get up and leave. I've never been to a place where I've seen a cockroach mid meal. That was an instant NO. SERVICE: Whether our waiter had a bad day or not, he came off a bit too strong. He was quite aggressive with taking our orders, and only smiled when it came to the bill. Maybe it was due to the loud music, rough day or who knows what? I understand it happens, but it was just unfortunate that this happened all at once and during our first time here. Not too sure if I'll ever come back, but I hope management is able to improve the place! Better luck next time? read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Super hidden and hip bar! Check it out if you want to impress friends with your local insider knowledge of the Kensington market bar scene :p DIRECTIONS: on the opposite side of the street from 7 lives taco, walk along Augusta until you reach a clothing store with lots of African prints. Enter the doors that lead to this shop front but keep walking straight. You'll see an empty hall with a red light close to the end. There's a door under that light which totally conceals the entrance into Cold Tea! //THE ATMOSPHERE// Modern & hip with blue and pink lighting all over. The servers there look like part-time rappers (lol) and are extremely chill and treat almost everyone like they're buddies. However, their food service is SO SLOW. So be prepared to chat a while...at least they made sure our water pitcher was never empty though! //THE FOOD// Overall the food portion were snack size, but the prices weren't too ridiculous ($7-$15). Shime Samba (3/5) - torched mackerel seasoned with just the right amount of soy sauce. I liked the pickled vegetables since it broke up the fishiness. Steak tartare (3.5/5) - once it arrived, the server mixed up the quail yolk into the beef tartare and the wasabi octopus. I found that it holds the 'surf & turf' elements of the dish nicely. Under all that is a crispy tostada that adds a nice crunch. read more

Cold Tea - Shime samba (3/5) - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Visited Cold Tea on a sunny Sunday last month for a private party. The bartenders were lovely and they also set up a BBQ in the back space (not sure if this is an every weekend thing)? Vibe was super cool, very laid back. As the sun went down, the lights in the back patio area added to the ambiance. The DJ was also fire - kept playing all of the hits to keep the crowd moving. For sure I would return again, maybe later this summer ;) read more

Here's another place I went to for drinks then see all the great review and I wish I tried the food! You have to walk through the Kensington Market then there's a door on the left leading to this place. It's a smaller bar with cool bartenders and a nice feel. I like the little hidden underground vibe. Iridescent wallpaper and a cool light up sign with an anime/manga character on the wall. We just had some beers here. I was stoked to find a local sour since it's usually hard to find sour beers to begin with. I just really like the feel here and will be back next time I'm in town. read more

Hidden away in an alley of shops in Kensington market is Cold Tea. The entrance is a black door with red goal light above after you pass through a number of shops. Inside there is a bar plus a few tables to seat about 20. We waited at the larger table in hopes for a spot in their patio that seats roughly the same number as inside. I only had drinks so I could not comment on the food. They have a few beers on tap and bottle / cans, mixed drinks and wine. The patio is nice but there is a wait. Staff are super friendly but not sure if I will return anytime soon. read more

Where is Cold Tea? Even with some detailed instruction from Martin S, we still almost miss this place. After walking down this deserted lane way to the end and there were not sight of anything until I started to put my ear closed to a door and heard some fainted whispers and music... This is much easier than a lot of other Speakeasy I been to that required calling a special number at a certain time to make a reservation or you need a special code to get in or it is behind an unmarked door in a busy restaurant. There is no menu at Cold Tea. You can just request your favourite cocktail here and trust the skill of the bartenders or you can tell them what you feel like drinking: sweet, sour, strong, fruity, rum, vodka or they will make something for you. We just tried one of their cocktails and it was well crafted and deliciously balance! If you are not a cocktail drinker, not to worry as there are beers to choose from! Cold Tea has collaborated with other area restaurants hosting backyard BBQs on various weekends during summer! Beer, Patio and BBQ always a wining combination! read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cold Tea's ambiance is bling, as in Hotline Bling... felt as if we walked into a music video for Drake in the main room. White spaces well lit, like many of the patrons. The hands on multitudes of lucky-cat figures rock back and forth in gold and white against a dark wall, as if welcoming patrons to the hip place. The kitchen is gangster af and japanese inspired. The quail eggs on the cart where once only steam buns could be purchased symbolize the leap toward a more exciting extra experience. Lets get real for a minute... I miss the old Cold Tea with the bright red wall, quirky collage, dance floor with hiphop remix tracks pumping. Oddly enough i also miss the holes in the seat of the trendily dilaputated space. But grunge is gone, gentrification is now. Maybe it's not all that bad... It sure tastes delicious. For food, the steak octopus wasabi taco was killer. Fried fish bigMac-esque steamBun-ish snack was a treat. Someone we didn't know at the giant shared table got the taro chip fish dish. It looked amazing... Regarding drinks, the sochu elderberry spicybasil cocktail was a hit. Great balance. Highly recommend. As expected, overpriced pbr was a good basic crisp complement to the food. Their craft beer draft list was impressive and local: kompaii to that. I hope CT has a patio in the summertime. I hope the food of hanmoto makes more food around the six, aka Toronto. I hope the Hotline Bling tune will stop playing in the back of my mind over the next few days as I bask in the glow of my Cold Tea experience. read more

See all

Through the Kensington Mall, down an empty corridor you'll find Cold Tea--it's only marker the red light above the door serving as a beacon to hipsters and low-key drinkers. It's a dive, no question, save for a nice patio out back. They have a robust selection of liquors, but no menu, so know what you want. In menu-less places it can be hard to discern the prowess of the bartender. Are they a pour-and-mixer bartender? In some (probably most) dives, yes. You will be relegated to jack and cokes or vodka sodas. Not here, though. The bartender here knows what she's doing and you will be there beneficiary of that glorious knowledge. Take note: cash only. read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

A bar with a cool vibe. Situated in the kensington mall at the end of the hallway. Security let us in and when we got inside we had to wait about 10-15 mins. It's a small place with about 3-4 communal tables seating about 10-15 people each. Prices were average compared to other bars and clubs but still pricey (~$8 for beer and ~$12-15 for cocktails). It's a cool place to grab a drink and hangout with a few friends so would definitely come back for a chill laid back vibe. read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If I could give zero stars I would. The most disrespectful staff I have ever experienced at a club in Toronto. Once on the patio we were unable to use the bathroom and return to the spot we had only just vacated. Instead were made to wait in a line in order to return to the patio even though it was not busy. Security were extremely rude and up in my friends face when she tried to return to us on the patio. When we informed club staff of our experience we were asked "do you want me to solve the problem or do you just want to complain?" Have some good memories at the Kensington location and the new location is absolutely nothing like it, do not come here. There are more than enough clubs on Queen Street. read more

Pretty cool place to hang out on a Friday night. It's one of those places with an inconspicuous looking door. The place is pretty small so they wait can be long if you have a good amount of people there. Once we got in, we were seated in a long table. The area has neon lights and some cool music playing. They have food and some good drinks. Servers will either take your order at your table. It's a chill spot to hang out. read more

What an interesting place this hidden gem is! My friend and I had a fun time trying to find it in Kensington Market. It ended up being down a hallway. Once we got in, it was a real VIBE. Dark with pretty light accents. We also sat at a table with other people but that's cool because you can make friends that way! My friend ordered a Sapparo and I got a tasty cocktail that had pineapple juice in it. We also got a few appetizers: some oysters that had tasty toppings on top, chicken wings with a very delicious sauce on top, and ceviche. Unfortunately I don't remember the exact names of the dishes that I got but trust me they were dope and the service was great too! I definitely recommend this place for drinks and to catch up with an old friend read more

See all

Far from an actual speakeasy it's merely hidden or rather tucked away. With that being said most actual speakeasy establishments do pre/prohibition era cocktails. Sometimes they do them because it's easier to stick to an era with limited ingredients and ideas. That is not the case here. With no menu they cater to each guest in a sort of process of elimination method I'm very used to to dial in drinks if you aren't sure. No code, no phone to call, no password. The security are pretty hands off. I'm used to more of a door person setting the mood and expectations. I came here for drinks and company, but not the sort of stuffy overclassy kind. This was great because the beer bottle selection allowed my less cocktail nerdy friends to not try and keep up with me. It's a lot more disco/clubby than I'm used to with a DJ playing. It's a lot louder than I'd like to have a conversation, but I think they are just motivated off some collective energy what with no real menu. We didn't stay long here because it just wasn't my cup of tea. I had a couple classics. Progressing towards the confidence to try something unique. I got there, but should have maybe given them less freedom. My boulevardier was not balanced, my daiquiri didn't have proper temp/dilution and wasn't double strained. I asked for something with gin, aperol, shaken and I don't recall anything besides my requests and citrus and it was gross, it lacked any sweet balance and they straw tested it too. I ordered a beer and we left as the club kids were coming in. It's a novel place, but more of a hangout than a speakeasy, more of a cocktail bar than full craft. A lot of industry people frequent here, but that may be because it's secluded, small and grungy. Not quite the experience I had or wanted. I guess I was hoping for BarChef of DW Alexander. Staff were great aside from security who were specifically only security. I think that the no menu is great for some, but not great for all guests as it takes some time to feel them out and they aren't always right, but why letting them order from a menu with ingredients it's not about being right necessarily. Prices are decent. It's a nice stepping stone into a wholistic concept, vision, idea for a bar, just too ragamuffin to crank and wow. read more

Fun place and just underwent a large renovation. They've got really chill bartenders who know what they're doing and now they also have an amazing menu to boost. The lighting is really funky blue purply pink and the music is loud enough for you to have to yell across the table. It's my kind of vibe! I personally avoid nights on fridays and saturdays where there are line ups and whatnot to deal with but aside from that, it's not too crowded. read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Such a sick spot. I visited for the first time post-reno, so there's no point of reference towards what it used to be like. Like others said, the hidden location down an eclectic indoor strip of rundown stores definitely makes Cold Tea an impressive destination to introduce peeps to. Always love a good story behind a name, and Cold Tea is no exception. Derived from prohibition-era speakeasy subtlety, it's code for alc disguised and served in a teapot. The tap handles here are also mini kettles, super charming. Very much into sour beers lately, they have a small but well thought out selection of craft on tap. Yay local! Bartenders are funny and nice. I do wish I got to experience the place before it changed to seated service only. The doorman said they prefer this by far as it was a zoo before, but sometimes, there's an appeal to the animal kingdom. read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've been meaning to check this place out for the longest time, and was luckily in the area on a random Friday afternoon. Happily, Cold Tea was open and the late afternoon crowd was small. Finding the entrance was easy with all the descriptions floating around on Yelp and online. There were some open seats in the communal tables in the back and the bartender was happy to whip up whatever we wanted. She accommodated our request for something summery quickly and efficiently, the two drinks came out to be $28. It's a lovely space to grab a drink and to enjoy the last days of summer. Haven't been here during the more popular busy hours, so that maybe a separate experience altogether. read more

When they say hidden they mean hidden! Walk through the Kensington mall til you get to the door with the weird Law and Order red light above the door and walk in... A small hippie/grungy bar that grew out of a non-space is your reward! There is even a small dim sum station in the front in case you get hungry! (It wasn't open Saturday early evening so not sure when it's open - maybe later at night) There are a few tables but it can easily get packed in here. Order at the bar - the drinks are small here (can't tell you the prices bc I didn't pay but I don't think too $$). read more

I gotta admit, when our group of would-be groomsmen decided to have a gentlemens night out we could only think to and seek out the once thought elusive Cold Tea. So why venture deep into Kensington? Simple, to try what has been described by some of the best cocktails in Toronto (specifically their Old Fashioneds - deemed best in class). For a speakeasy style location, it's definitely not that hard to find, mostly because it's become so popular. There was a King West-esque line up outside the "hidden" door that gave away it's location for a mile away but I could still appreciate the coolness of stumbling upon it on a less busy night. Pro-tip, search for a red light above a door way, down a hallway next to the TD Bank ATM. Entering you pass the fabled Dim Sum cart and I made a mental note to return in a few minutes, but the place was packed. The place is raw, that's the best way to describe it, dim lights, rough design, bare bones... nothing special. But if you're here for the aesthetics then GTFO, because you're wasting your time. Only a true cocktail aficionado should venture here based on taste and cocktail exploration alone. There is NO drink menu, none. but don't let that dissuade you, no no, the bar chefs here are well versed, probably better versed than you. If there is something obscure you're craving, just ask - they'll make it. I had the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan. The aromatic bitters and the use of the orange peel in the old fashioned was excellent, however it was a tad more alcoholic than I typically prefer (almost too strong to sip) and they used far too much crushed ice which ended up watering the drink down by the end. So in terms of my rating I'd give it a 3/5, Spirit house still has them bear IMO. On the other hand the Manhattan was tops in my books. Similar in construction to the Old Fashioned I found it to be slightly easier drinking (maybe it was the cherries... or maybe I was drunk at this point). Either way I award them 4/5 for this, almost a best in class for me. So now we sit at about 3.5/5 overall for this place, so what earns them the extra 0.5 star? Gotta be that Dim Sum cart at the front. By the time I got back to it, I was sufficiently sauced and their selection was dwindling. So what did I do? YUP, cleared out the rest of their BBQ pork bun inventory. Shared those with my buddies so our night could last just a little longer. I'd definitely be back... come along with me won't you! read more

Cold Tea - Old Fashioned done right - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

Excellent feel, great drinks, pork dumplings. Get over your fear of hipsters. Cold Tea is tucked away down a hallway, behind an unmarked door in Kensington. No secret passwords or cover charges, you just need to know that it's there. Be bold, young adventurer. Once you find it, pick up some dumplings from the dim sum cart out front, then make your way inside. The music's great and not too loud, the staff are all fabulous, and the patio's perfect when the weather permits. Want to shoot the moon on hipsterdom? They've got cans of 50, PBR, and Old Milwaukee. The bartender figures she goes through about 20 cases of PBR a week, so you'll hardly be alone. For me, though, their cocktails are where it's at. The house special "green dragon" is a tequila and pineapple-based treat worth a try, but they do a stand up job on classics, as well. Once again, the staff are invested in making you something excellent - each drink we ordered was done right and done well. The haters are gonna hate, and this place does feel like something carved out of the mission in SF but remember kids, hipster-baiting is the new hipster. Get over it, and have a great time in a great joint run by great people. Pro-tip: soy sauce and mustard for the dumplings. read more

Cold Tea - Getting warmer... - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Their guacamole nachos are to die for, and I'm not saying that lightly. The guacamole itself is packed with flavour and the taro chips are honestly god-tier compared to what you normally get at any other nacho place. Onto drinks: We all ordered the Grace Park, which combines soju, St. Germaine, and Thai basil. It's good and tastes like gummy candy in drink form, but if you're someone who drinks to get drunk (or likes the taste of alcohol), I'd go for something else. One pet peeve of mine when I go out is loud music which stifles conversation. Cold Tea blasts their music (-1 star) so I would recommend sitting on their patio rather than indoors. Verdict: great food, great service, great drinks, but sit outside (on the patio) next time. read more

Cold Tea is a hisptery oasis hiding in the back of a ghetto strip mall in Kensington...and on a gorgeous Sunday it felt like probably the best party vibe in the area..IF you could score a seat outside, which sadly we could not. True, the interior is somewhat divey (I enjoyed the collage of Chinese erotica behind the bar) but the backyard patio, complete with two long communal tables, a 'gourmet' BBQ setup, a beer bar and turntables, was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough seats outside to accommodate the constant throng of in-the-know afternoon drinkers. If you go here with a group, go early. But beyond its "you need to know it's there, otherwise you'd never know it's there" pseudo-coolness factor, what also elevates this spot above most bars in the neighbourhood? SUPERB COCKTAILS. Just watch the bartender mixologize the shit out of your bevvy and you'll appreciate its deliciousness even more. Recommended: pimm's cup or the vodka-strawberry number served in a short champagne glass (forget the name). Alcoholic artistry, bitches. read more

Been here only one other time and the place was trashed. People were just sitting on the patio tables and there was garbage and cans all ground. I only ordered a beer though so couldn't really give it a legitimate review. I've only been in the city for a few years but heard from friends that it used to be one of the best cocktails bar in the city but has slowly declined. Decided to give it another shot and they were 100% correct. Got a custom made cocktail for $18?! Ok I'm expecting a half decent cocktail. Wrong. I asked for something gin and citrusy. I got a crazy bitter drink. All I could taste was gin and bitters. Not to mention it was in a tiny ass glass. For real I'd rather drink a $3 gin and tonic from bar 244. This place is by no means a hipster speakeasy anymore. It's an overly trendy bar for people with more money than taste. read more

Cold Tea - Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It's hidden. The Kensington Mall isn't really a mall but it's one shop selling garage sale, oh I meant VINTAGE, items. Walk along a bit further and the elusive red light above a door is the only indication of something beyond. The dimsum counter wasn't open on a Sunday afternoon. Instead, there was a bbq in the back with fragrant betel leaves and various proteins being grilled on the open flames. Vietnamese rice noodles and papaya salad were on the menu. It wasn't packed, but there were no seats outside. I've been on days when you can't even walk into the back patio because people were just crowded everywhere. We wanted to sit so we had no choice but to stay indoors. I liked the music. The dj had his stuff on two rickety tables. He's a brave man. read more

Holy hipster haven batman. Walk through a non-descript building, past some stores (I only noticed the stores the second time I was here, the first was last night and everything was closed) and find yourself at an unmarked door with just a red light above it. You're at cold tea. Their drink selection is just so-so, and I find their menu to be quite pricey. I do strongly suggest their miso ice cream sandwich. It was delicious! Miso scented icecream, sandwiched between the world's smallest shortbread cookies, and rolled in rice crisps. Two pieces for 7 bucks, but dare I say it was actually worth it. Really well balanced flavours. This place definitely isn't my scene, but my hipster friends are always here. Maybe I'll try it out on a weekend night to see how much fun they have. read more

One of the more laid back speakeasy places in Toronto. I was walking with some friends in Kensington and all of a sudden, I find myself in a market and walk through a door which I thought was for the backrooms and dumpster locations. I open my eyes and find myself in a cool looking bar that has no menus, but the bartender can probably whip up one of whatever you please. Warning, it is a little pricey. I paid $7-$8 for a can of cider. However, they are SUPER relaxed. This is one of the best places to go in the summer when you just want to sit back and sit in their back patios where you meet new people and chat with the people you see. There's no time limit as to when you want to leave. The washrooms are fairly spacious and actually fairly clean! The sink is also a part of this place that I thought was fairly interesting! I'll come back the next time I'm feeling adventurous! read more

Located at the end of an indoor mall corridor, Cold Tea is a hip modern "speakeasy" with good drinks, a super nice bartender, and provided a decent end to an evening, but the shady front door man and overcrowded space filled with teens left me feeling disappointed. Was recommended here by more than one friend so I figured okay, this must be THE place. Sadly, for me, it was not. Maybe it was an off night, but we did not have the best time. Upon arrival, there was a line of about five waiting to get in. The front door man kept entering, coming back out, asking everyone in line if we knew anyone inside, are we VIP, and if this was our first time here. Everyone in line kinda kept looking at each other, because his behavior was bizarre. After a short wait, my partner and I were welcomed in. However right when we got inside, the bouncer asked again if we had been before, we said no, and then he demanded 10$ cover from each of us. We had no idea if this was customary, so of course we obeyed and gave him 20$ and then we entered. The space was small and very crowded. We squeezed our way to bar where we were greeted by the nicest bartender! Despite being overwhelmed, he was so nice and gave us a run down of the drinks and beer available. We knew upon entering we didn't want to stay long so we both just grabbed a beer. The crowd here made me feel like I was old (which is something I've never experienced before) so that was weird. Everyone appeared to be barely over the legal drinking age and seemed to know each other. Feeling a bit out of place and over being shoulder to shoulder with everyone else in the room, we finished our beers and left. Come to find out, when I described my experience to my friends who recommended Cold Tea, they have never paid cover at Cold Tea! Therefore we most likely just got taken advantage of by the sketchy bouncer who knew we were from out of town. I should have read the warning signs when he kept asking if I had been before/did I know anyone inside. I hate that the bouncer really ruined our entire experience, because the bartender inside was so nice! Next time I'm in Toronto, I'd probably give Cold Tea another chance, apparently they have nice outdoor space. read more

True secret bar; I'd never be able to find it if I didn't know where it was:) I stopped by for a drink so I can't comment on the quality of their food but the drinks were good. The place is not very big inside but they have a nice patio that's quite roomy. Not a good place for a quiet dinner or date as it's more on the loud side but perfect for drinks with friends. I might come back (if I ever find it again lol) read more

Coolest place and just about the best Mexican/korean fusion tapas food ever! You guys sure know how to make good vibes. The only thing I would suggest is more seating . I went in November, so I didn't get the patio, but I will be back in the summer. My friend and I shared 4 dishes, which was waaay more than enough. So tasty! - sashimi cocktail - beef tartare - the chicken sandwich - taro chips The price point is slightly higher, but honestly, it's pretty worth it and if you have more ppl, you can share more dishes and split the bill together. The staff is very nice, informative and professional. I've only tried one other of their restaurants (Seoul Shakers) and hands down, i prefer Juanmoto/Cold Tea. read more

This used to be the cool place, they did a great job renovating and rebranding. Not that it isn't cool anymore, but it's a lot more accessible. Patio fills up in the summer, but they do an excellent job seating you indoor and maintaining the queue. Pretty amazing cocktails and the Cold Tea x Juanmoto food menu is great. GET THE MISO ICE CREAM SANDWICH. Amazing service, and great servers. Thank you Benny! read more

BOTTOM LINE: PBRs, check. Cheapest (yet still well made cocktails), check. Ill beats, check. Patio, check. Shittiest dim sum ever, double check. Cold Tea has taken over my beloved Ronnie's as my fave bar in Kensington. There, I said it! On its counter top is the PDT cocktail manual (from NYC), but thankfully, this place is way less pretentious though similarly hidden. For those who are indecisive or are cocktail n00bs, they make it easy for you: pick your favourite liquor and the bartenders will whip up something rad! If that's not your thing they have a bunch of tall boys and microbrewery draft beers available. Space is ample and the patio is something of a secret, urban garden. Word of advice though: stay away from the dim sum - it's really quite terrible. You'd be way better served by walking, um, 5 minutes to Chinatown. ;) read more

Cold Tea is hidden in a run down looking place in Kensington across from the Seven Lives Tacos. There is no cover charge. This is just a fun, funky and cool place to hang out with friends on a hot summer night. All the guys here apparently have tattoos. I like that they have an outside camping style seating arrangement. You also get a good view of the raccoon family (trust me, just go and you'll know what I'm talking about). Their margaritas are the signature style you would find anyplace. I had their chicken burger. Yum, yum, yum....this is the tastiest chicken burger I've ever had. I don't know if it's the sauce or the marinate used. You just have to order it and try it for yourself (you can thank me later)! I highly recommend this place as the staff here are so courteous and genuinely friendly. One waitress gave me her manual hand fan because it was so humid out. The bartender went out of his way for me to help me get my desired food order. Overall, I just loved this place and would definitely visit again. read more

Without coming off as contrived, Cold Tea delivers the cool, yet friendly bar experience that Toronto is internationally known for. This is a place that gets raved about by Montrealers and Berliners alike as having the right combination of great management, creative use of space, delicious cocktails, interesting location, and zero attitude. It's obvious that the people behind this bar are just plain nice people. And personalities like that will always attract other like-minded creative folks including some famous ones.These include eclectic DJ's, wizards behind the bar creating new flavours of cocktails, and chefs who enjoy cooking for others as much as the people who make their way here to enjoy this rarified combination. Check it out for yourself whenever you are in or near Kensington. read more

See all

Mike and I came here after dinner. It's a strange place to get into. You basically go down this hallway and it's this secret restaurant/bar. The music is pumping so loud you can't even hear what the person in front of you is saying. We only went for drinks but I don't think I'd be back. read more

See all

I really like the Sloppy Jose and the McFly! The McFly reminds me of the McChicken but with better chicken... there is a lot of mayo in it tho! Sloppy Jose has a kickass sauce to it. Staff is really friendly! Washrooms are fairly clean! Large selection of beers from local places. Go find the red light!!!!! Space is fairly small, seats 40 inside. It starts to gets really busy on the weekends at around 7:30/8. Usually by midnight, it'll be hard to get a spot. read more

I really wanted to give a 4 but I can't and here is why: 1) This place makes you feel like it is awesome not solely because of the place/drinks/service itself, it is more because of how it is located in a hidden ghetto corner and that leads to you feel like OH I AM COOL I FOUND A GEM 2) I did not enjoy the service I got, it was my first time coming here and I did not assume if it is cash only or what just based on the location, nor there is any sign put up about that. I showed my credit card and that bar-tender looked at me like, "Do you know where you are? Cash only Miss" 3) I ordered a second round of drinks off of the same bar-tender, I said oh I already have had those two glasses of drinks, I want something different. I just meant to say that I do not want any repeats and he said: "We do not have a hundred different glasses here, I am just using the same glasses" OK DUDE, you could have put it a little nicer, you knew what I meant by that statement. For example how about, "Oh no worries miss, we got you covered" Basic gesture of customer service? Nope, this place does not have it. Enough of the complaints. This place does mix you some cool cocktails. Tell them what you feel like and they will whip something good for you to the pricier end, which is fine if their service can keep up to it. I mean, I get that you guys are good at doing what you do (drinks-wise) but maybe work on a little bit of the attitude. I bet the owners did not set up a good tone of the top if I have to guess. If you are okay with taking up a little bit of attitude of these guys and down for good drinks, come here. read more

This is my first Yelp review as I feel strongly about the new Cold Tea even though it has come a little late. Late night pre-reno Cold Tea was invariably different than any other bar in Toronto and in my opinion that was the most admirable aspect about it. The bar was non-pretentious, relaxed, casual, intimate, fun and LIVE. The djs were always killing it and the tables inside were set aside late-night to create an intimate dance space. There was the option of gathering outside informally for conversation and vibing. Cold Tea has completely lost it's originality. NOW. The place has conformed itself into your typical Toronto formal cocktail bar with overpriced tapas style food. Toronto is flooded with cocktail bars and there is nothing special about it that would set it apart from the hundreds of others. Sure the renovations are "nicer" but the rugged style bar had character and was fitting. They are still blasting the music as if a dance floor remains, yet people can only eat and drink on huge long tables that you share with other groups. I cannot comment as to the outdoors as I visited when the bar newly reopened before it was warm. I hope it is as informal as it was where you could sit, stand and mingle in the summer, and not a typical restaurant patio style seating. As a last note, the cocktails are always on point but am sad to see such a drastic change of atmosphere. read more

This is my go-to place to take out of town folks for a drink. It's a pretty surreal experience to be led through grungy ol' Kensington Market, suddenly through these unmarked doors to the "Kensington Mall", down a narrow hallway, to an unmarked heavy metal door. If you don't know where it is, you won't find it. I love that they have dim sum - although it seems like sometimes the dim sum lady isn't there? It can get super loud in there. I prefer coming in on off-peak days & hours. There's a patio out back that's kinda nice for hanging outside. read more

A nearly secret, unmarked bar?! Tell me more ... This was seriously one of the coolest aspects of this past weekend: walking into a seemingly ordinary store of random merchandise, passing by an ATM machine near the back, opening a random door to the left ... and bam! You've entered into a bar that's completely hidden from the outside craziness of downtown Toronto. I was amazed that it was basically packed as it's a place I would only know how to truly find if I was wandering around with a local. (Which was our situation exactly.) Full service bar? Yep. Indoor and outdoor seating? You bet. The thrill of enjoying a secret gem in Toronto? Yesss. Definitely give this place a try. Or do one better - don't mention this to your friends as you're walking around and totally impress them by casually strolling into the store/bar. Yeah, just do that. read more

Hipster trash will be hipster trash. Went on a Sunday night because the reviews said this place is chill. The big bearded bartender acted like he could barely look at me, busy adjusting the stereo speakers while I tried to order. "What's that? Sorry dude, I'm like doing 10 things at once." "No worries," I replied, trying to be generous, though kind of wondering why this moron couldn't bother to just take my order before fiddling with the bar top speakers. I ordered a cocktail and a beer. He had to confirm two separate times what each drink was. I try and open a tab and he looks at me like I'm a pile of rags. "$50 or more, or it's cash," the big dude intones as he tosses my credit card back at me. Thanks for nothing. The only nice people anywhere in the vicinity of the place were the bouncers. PS. Playing Drake all night long is lame as hell. read more