Dive Bar Mike's

Get pissed
where gentrification missed.

Dive Bar Mike's

Toronto Dive Bar Guide

Are you sick of paying $17 a pint to watch Alex from Ajax order another bottle of Grey Douche Vodka on King West?

Or maybe sitting beside hipsters on a flight of IPAs just lands you in Dullsville.

If so, here’s the alternative.  Toronto dive bars.

Dive Bar Mike’s guide celebrates the dingy delight of downmarket drinking in the Toronto that tour buses ignore. 

Packed with photos, reviews, and stories of boozers, cruisers, users, narcos, nutbars, and dad jeans on dance floors!

Join me on my journey.

Check Out The Dives

P.S. 24 dives so far. New dives added all the time. Come back for another round.

Click the button below to see all 24 

See All

Dive Bar Definition

A dive bar makes you nervous on your first visit.

It has no pretension, no high prices and, sometimes, no teeth.

PRO TIPS

  • If the word “dive” is in a bar’s name, it is NOT a dive bar.
  • If you get asked if you’re a cop, it is a dive bar.
  • If you see a Jacksoul poster, it is a dive bar.

About Dive Bar Mike

I’m a sixth-generation Torontonian who was missing the widespread grit this city once had, so I embarked on a journey to document what remains of Toronto’s down-market drinking establishments. 

My passions are Canadian and Toronto history, copywriting, music, football, cheap beer, and the human condition.  In dives, all these things congregate.   

Today’s Drink Specials in Toronto

Monday

  • $4 bar rail @ The Lab – 298 Brunswick Ave.
  • $3.50 bar rail  @ Scotland Yard – 56 The Esplanade
  • $12 pitchers & $3.75 bar rail @ Bar with No Name –1651 Bloor St. W
  • $5 Mimosas @ Earl’s – 150 King St W
  • $4 all drinks @Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave

Tuesday

  • $2 off all tall cans @ Scotland Yard – 56 The Esplanade
  • $3.50 bottles @ Bar with No Name – 1651 Bloor St. W
  • $3.50 bottles of Blonde & Big Wheel @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave

Wednesday

  • $5.50 select pints @ Scotland Yard – 56 The Esplanade
  • $4.50 mixed drinks @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave
  • Half-price bottles of wine @ The Pour House – 182 Dupont St.

Thursday

  • $2 off all doubles &
  • $1.25 off all 9oz wine glasses @ Scotland Yard – 56 The Esplanade
  • $2.75 drinks 5 – 8pm @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave.

Friday

  • $5 mixed drinks, $8 doubles, $15 pitchers @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave.

Saturday

  • $5 mixed drinks, $8 doubles, $15 pitchers @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave.

Sunday

  • $5.30 select pints & wine, and
  • $3.50 bar rail @ Scotland Yard – 56 The Esplanade
  • $3.50 bar rail & domestic bottles @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave.

Everyday

  • $5 Jim Beam shots @ Wide Open – 139A Spadina Ave
  • $10 60oz pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon @ W Burger Bar – 10 College St.
  • $13 60oz pitcher of Sangria &
  • $13 320z pitcher of any cocktail@ Bistro 422 – 422 College St.
  • $4.50 Real Peach Bellini 3 to 6pm & 9pm to close @ Joey’s – 1 Dundas St. W Eaton Centre; 75 O’Neil Rd, Shops of Don Mills; 25 The West Mall, Sherway Gardens

© 2020 Dive Bar Mike’s • Developed By Kewl New Media Solutions

© 2020 Dive Bar Mike’s • Developed By Kewl New Media Solutions