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    Pura Vida

    4.1 (9 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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    House Salad, Tropical Shrimps Paradise on Crispy Plantains, Casados / Pura Vida Special with Grilled Fish, Arroz con Camarones
    Sel Z.

    Having newly opened, Pura Vida already garners word of mouth as being a cozy and casual spot for Costa Rican food in the city. The interior is bright, airy, and inviting, with lots of greens and a big screen depicting Costa Rica's rainforest. The ambience if very casual. They offer dine-in, take-out, and delivery. Service is fast and friendly. There are street parking and Green P parking nearby, as well as TTC stops (bus, streetcar, subway) only steps away - a very convenient location to get to! They serve Costa Rican classics such as gallo pinto, fried plantains, all-day breakfast, tacos, empanadas, and soups. All the dishes we tried were excellent, with colourful plates, lots of vegetables, and nice flavours. 1) House Salad (spinach, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, carrot, white onion, avocado) - Fresh, good portion, good mix of vegetables in a salad. 2) Tropical Shrimps Paradise on Crispy Plantains (shrimps, mango, red onions, garlic, avocado, and cilantro, served on fried green plantains) - I thought this dish was unique, modern, and inventive by mixing the ingredients that you'd typically find in a ceviche, and putting them onto crispy vessels of fried plantains (that stayed crispy despite the wetness of the content that they were holding). Each bite consisted of the crispy plantain and burst of flavour of the shrimps, chunks of mango, cilantro, and other ingredients. It tasted refreshing and had a bit of a kick (perhaps from the garlic). 3) Casados / Pura Vida Special (gallo pinto (Costa Rican-flavoured rice and beans) with coleslaw, mixed vegetables, fried plantains, and choice of protein) - We chose grilled cod fish fillet as the protein selection. This dish was hearty and had the best of Costa Rican staples. 4) Arroz con Camarones (Spanish yellow rice mixed with shrimps and vegetables, served with house salad) - This came out a bit different from the Arroz con Camarones that I was used to at other Central American establishments. The rice was more akin to fried rice with shrimps with peas and carrots, but it was still pretty good. 5) Stir-Fried Jackfruit with Red Bell Pepper and Corn - This was an add-on that we ordered (instead of getting a whole extra Pura Vida Special dish with the jackfruit). This was probaby one of my favourite dishes here. Glad that they offer vegan option as a protein choice in the casados, and you can also get it on its own as a side.

    Tres leches
    Daniel P.

    Pura Vida ( 750 St Clair west) Arroz con camarones (6/10). Personalmente tenin muy pocos camarones y el olor del ajonjolí era fuerte al inicio. Tenían un sazón bueno pero no extraordinario. La mejor parte del plato fueron las yucas fritas. Ceviche tropical (7/10). Estaba muy rico y refrescante. El mango era el sabor principal y ocultaba mucho al del pescado. Con un poco de limón hubiera quedado mejor. Tres leches (9/10). Muy buen postre tres leches. Las almendras tostadas le daban un buen toque. Servicio (10/10). Muy amables y atentos. Overall: 8/10. Volveria para probar más platos. El ambiente me gustó bastante.

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    4 days ago

    The food was delicious. The ambiance was great and the wait staff were very attentive and pleasant.

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    LIBRARY BAR - Close, But No Cigar

    LIBRARY BAR

    4.1(161 reviews)
    5.4 kmFinancial District, Downtown Core
    $$$

    I would go back again in a heartbeat. This was one of the best meals and experiences of the year…read more The shaved prime rib steak with the dipping au jus plus French onion soup as an appetizer... this was phenomenal. Every aspect from the sauce to the baguette to the meat was so tasty. I also recommend getting the garlic aoli for the fries. The drinks were very well done and unique in flavor as well, in particular I tried to the midnight show which was like a raspberry espresso martini. It was fantastic. The ambiance of the place is spectacular as well with a cool, library naturally, vibe. The servers were also great and helped accommodate my date who is gluten free, and her baguette replacement was the best that she'd ever had of a gluten free option. All in all top tier experience start to finish.

    This cocktail bar inside Fairmont Royal York Hotel has a nice classy ambiance. It feels like…read morestepping into a movie set, with the iconic clock tower. They decorate the lobby, bar area, and the whole main floor with Christmas decorations during the holiday season, including the giant Christmas tree in the lobby (complete with its own lighting ceremony and live music performance). Good selection of drinks and great customer service. Fun facts: The Royal York Hotel opened in 1929. It hosted royalty, heads of state, and golden-age Hollywood legends like Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock when they were in town filming or staying upstairs in the hotel. Stepping inside is like time-traveling back decades, with velvet seating, brass accents, and dark, moody lighting. As soon as you walk into the Library Bar, the real centerpiece that grabs your attention is the massive oil portrait above the fireplace. That dignified gentleman watching you sip your drink is George Locke, the very first chief librarian of the Toronto Public Library. I love that a librarian is the patron saint of this bar! The drinks here aren't just cocktails; they're chapters in a story. The current menu, titled "Ink & Alchemy," is actually inspired by Michael Ondaatje's famous novel In the Skin of a Lion. Created by their award-winning mixologist James Grant, the menu is a tribute to the people who built this city: the immigrants, bridge-builders, thieves, and dreamers. You aren't just sipping a martini; you're drinking a liquid homage to Toronto's history.

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    LIBRARY BAR - Library Bar

    Library Bar

    LIBRARY BAR - Burrata

    Burrata

    LIBRARY BAR

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    After Seven - The green house

    After Seven

    4.6(65 reviews)
    4.5 kmDowntown Core

    There is a particular pleasure in discovering a bar that requires you to earn your entrance. After…read moreSeven conceals itself behind an ice cream counter, its existence betrayed only by those who know to ask -- a conceit that could easily feel gimmicky but instead lands with genuine charm, setting the tone for what follows with quiet confidence. The room is small, intentional, and lovely: intimate seating, a sculptural emerald bar, and an atmosphere drawn from the Japanese cocktail tradition. The aesthetic is precise without being cold, and the candle-warm lighting encourages exactly the kind of unhurried conversation that a well-made cocktail deserves. But the bartenders are the true heart of the place. On the evening of my visit, the two behind the bar moved with a remarkable synchrony -- finishing each other's thoughts, trading warmth and wit in equal measure, drawing guests effortlessly into the orbit of their easy rapport. It is the kind of hospitality that cannot be trained into existence; it is either present or it isn't, and here it is very much present. The cocktail menu is East Asian in its inspiration and genuinely inventive in its execution.

    such a hidden gem and speakeasy in toronto!! we went on a late weekday so we did not have to fill a…read morereservation, and instead was able to get seated right away at the bar area as we walked in. this place seems to specialize in asian flavoring, so drinks may taste umami on top of the sweetness and alcoholic taste of the drinks. i appreciate the art and tedious mixture of the drinks we had! this place was dimly lit and served the perfect vibe for me and my partner to chat, enjoy our beverages, and take cute pictures.

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    After Seven - Bar seating view

    Bar seating view

    After Seven
    After Seven

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    Bar Poet - Beer, Cocktails & Pizza, in an enchanting atmosphere, located on Toronto's Queen West Neighbourhood

    Bar Poet

    4.0(175 reviews)
    4.2 kmBeaconsfield Village, West Queen West
    $$

    I came here for dinner with a few friends, and we ordered a few appetizers, pastas, and pizzas to…read moreshare. It's a really cute spot and the service was decent. I would not hesitate to come back, but there are some things I would definitely not order again. Not order again: - mozzarella sticks - these were not cheesy, fresh, or flavourful,huge disappointment - prosciutto and zeppole - prosciutto were not very fresh or thinly sliced, weirdly presented with the zeppole on the side Will definitely order again: - heroic dose pasta - the pasta was so fresh, great sauce and plenty of mushrooms (my favourite dish) - NYC spicy rigatoni - really good flavours and the pasta texture was perfect (also homemade) - Caesar salad - so creamy and I think they make the sauce in house bc I tasted a hint of the anchovy umami flavour The pesto pasta was pretty good too. And so were all the pizzas. I can't comment much on the pizzas because I was heavily focused on their homemade pasta. Everyone enjoyed the pizzas though. The only things that was bad were the two appetizers we got. They also offer an extensive list of drinks - beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails. I really like this spot and will definitely be back!

    The drink menu is fun, but cocktails didn't stand out. Food is excellent--pizza was irresistible…read more The vibe is lively yet relaxed, like sipping in a summer garden. Highlights: Arancini a bit sticky and spicy, Garlic Fingers are garlicky pizza strips, Casablanca Chicken Pizza thin and flavorful. Great spot for food and atmosphere.

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    Bar Poet - Ambience

    Ambience

    Bar Poet - The Hot Rod

    The Hot Rod

    Bar Poet - East Coast Garlic Fingers, with Donair Sauce & Truffle Hot Sauce

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    East Coast Garlic Fingers, with Donair Sauce & Truffle Hot Sauce

    Bovine Sex Club

    Bovine Sex Club

    4.0(62 reviews)
    4.3 kmAlexandra Park, Queen Street West
    $

    A classic Punk / Rock n Roll Bar in Toronto CA. Basically the CBGB's of that scene…read more It's been around since the early 1990's and is exactly what a spot like this should be. Very nondescript outside facade - no sign telling you what it is other than a small "BSC" (for Bovine Sex Club) painted near the door. Hard to miss though as the exterior is made up a punk rock style sculpture of rusted bikes & other assorted ephemera. The interior is similar, visually. Great sound system & chill vibes pervade throughout. Weirdly the stage is right in the entrance of the club, on your left, with a long bar along the right side, heading back. Great, crowd, great location in cool area with lots of restaurants & plenty of parking - both on the street up to 2 hours & extended parking for a flat-rate of CA$20 (~$14 USD) from 6:00pm until the next morning, just 2 blacks away.

    The Bovine is a fantastic place that is the same today as it was decades ago. not only that, but it…read moreis also one of the cheapest pints that you can find. Now, are the taps dry? Maybe. Are the beer cans running out? It's possible. But, it's a dive in the way of the old dives. And the acoustics for bands are... not great. But they are a sign of what once was. Without attempting to try to present a front of a time long gone, The Bovine simply exists today as it once did in that time long ago, before Smokes stickers, before iPhones, back when people would just go to a bar to talk with those they didn't know the morning prior. Bring cash though, unless you're looking to make some big orders, because credit card is a minimum fifty-dollar spend.

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    Bovine Sex Club
    Bovine Sex Club
    Bovine Sex Club

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    Pura Vida - latin - Updated May 2026

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