Bathurst Local — Restaurant in Toronto

I’ve given out a few 5 stars, but Glenn and Anna truly rewrote my expectations of 5 stars and gonna make me reassess everything I’ve ever known.

TLDR: this place is just extremely great. A quality bar, incredible bottle shop. genuinely curated and just the right type of comfortable. So easy to spend the night here just enjoying life.

Ok... let me get real.

My relationship with this place started off as a it being a sick quiet (in a volume way? ) spot with dope drinks and good service. Brought friends from out of town here, talked it up to everyone I knew and just went once or twice a month for a beer or two.

Turned into a regular, by face, not name. Started showing up with friends and splitting wine and spending winter nights in the cozy rooms learning about flavours and drinks or just getting messed up and cackling.

Covid hits, start treating BL like a private bottle shop with an immaculate list and the cheapest prices I’ve seen in Ontario. Become a regular by name, start loving this spot more than any business in town. Have learned so much about wine and sake just from casual no pretence conversations with Glenn and Anna.

Now that things are opening up, I can’t wait to spend more time on that exhilarating Bathurst Speedway patio and eventually crawl back into those various cozy spots inside. Going to cackle throughout that space soon, drink some wild beer and juicy wine.

Do not sleep on Bathurst...

My recent experience at this karaoke place was disappointing. We came to celebrate a friend's birthday and brought a cake. They informed us there was a $5 per person fee for outside food . We accepted the fee however they provided very minimal assistance. The lady at the front desk was unfriendly and unhelpful. We had to ask for basic things like shot glasses, plates, knife and forks multiple times. When going down asking for the cake and basic utensils for the cake and shot glasses for the soju. She told me I can go bring everything up by myself. When asking if I can use the waiter tray to help bring it up she said no iand saw me struggle holding everything. They overcharged us charging $45 for the outside food fee when it was only 5 people (should have been $25). Our karaoke mic didn't work properly, and they had a wifi outage for 10 mins which took 10 mins out of our karaoke time which led to our queued songs being deleted. We did not get a time extension or a mini discount for the wifi interruption and broke mic. The front desk lady being hostile and unfriendly was the worst part of my whole experience . I’ve been to many karaoke spots and this experience was by far the worst. The rooms and the place are cute and nice but the customer service we receive was beyond terrible. However the guy who set up the...

Update 2025: Been hitting up Bathurst Local for years, and I swear it gets cooler every time. This place is the perfect mix of old-school charm and modern swagger. It’s the kind of spot you just know has the best stories.

Let’s talk drinks—sure, they’ve got some of the most interesting wines you can’t get anywhere else. But here’s the kicker: an upstairs Sake Bar that feels like you’ve just discovered your new favorite secret hangout. Cozy, lowkey, and private. It’s like stepping into your own personal oasis.

The food? Yeah, it's damn good, but let’s get real—the burger here is the KING. Don’t even think about getting a burger anywhere else. This one rules the throne.

The owner? Straight up, one of the coolest, most knowledgeable guys around. Not the stiff, fake “owner” type—he’s got heart and knows his stuff. The staff? Friendly as hell, always ready to make you feel at home.

And let’s not forget the karaoke rooms. Yeah, you heard me. Grab a mic, lose your mind, and either sober up or take your party to a whole new level. It’s that easy. Don’t overthink it—just do it.

Bathurst Local’s not just a bar, it’s a vibe you’ll...