Lisbon Hotel — Restaurant in Toronto

So, a first trip on a cool day in August and sat ourselves on the patio. A short drink menu that welcomes off menu choices. With many cocktail places around, you have to offer something different.

This is a take on a hotel lobby that feels a little like other liminal spaces such airport lounges, waiting rooms, or a bar. Because it is a bar. Looks aren't everything though. Over the years I have become more mistrustful of appearance.

Their menu is tapas and bar food with delicate and refined cocktails. The first time I passed when they were open, I felt underdressed in ratty shorts and a wacky t-shirt. So, I can back with pants and clean t-shirt and my paisley shirt sleeve. I was a fashion plate. Appearances you know.

Had one of the house cocktails to see the cut of their jib. Not a martini. That's the name. It seemed clever giving the ranging definitions and history of the martini. It was closer to older recipes like the Martinez and quite good.

So, I took a chance and got two pre prohibition cocktails at the discretion of the bartender with a little guidance.

Got a riff on a Dunhill (which I hadn't heard about) and it was a good sherry based drink. Nutty and reminded me of frangelico. It was probably the nuttiness of the sherry.

The last one with patatas brava accompaniment was the Adonis. This one I had heard of but I had avoided it. I was wrong to have ignored it. It was an old timely tasting sherry and vermouth drink. Turns out sherry and vermouth are the 'tenders favourite and I would say strength.

So, if you are okay with hanging with the cool kids of the area, it is a place that at least knows its lane in terms of pre prohibition cocktails. I didn't feel out of place for an old cocktail enthusiast -- okay drunk. The pricing is in the middle 14-18$ or so.

Next time, I'm sitting at the bar and picking the brain of the 'tender. She had me at sherry...

I know it's in an isolated spot in the city, but please make your way over there as the cocktails are crafted with care and prior thought to how the liquor mix will result into a well balanced drink.

The food is great, tapas style and heavily bread based but varied enough in their small menu that they actually make each item well. If you are looking to have your own generous plate of food, this might not be the place for you.

Service is good, but it's slow at capacity. And I understand the size limitations of the kitchen as it's literally smaller than a condo kitchen, but doing something to improve the timing food comes out would be greatly noticeable.

This brings me to the last point, there is only one bathroom. And while there are limitations to the size of the place, if they plan to open the patio and operate at capacity, this needs to be addressed. The current bathroom is big enough to be broken down into two while maybe sacrificing one bench seat on one of the corner tables.

Prices are good, nothing super expensive but not cheap either, expect average $15 per drink and or...

I’ve visited Lisbon Hotel a few times, both for cocktails and small bites in the evening, and for Saturday brunch. The outdoor patio is quite nice, with sofas, music and a relaxed vibe.

The cocktails are consistently excellent, and while the food portions are small (as expected for a cocktail bar), every dish I’ve tried has been delicious. In the evening, the shrimp toast and cod cakes are both great picks. For brunch, I’ve enjoyed the breakfast sandwich and the hash. The sandwich was especially flavourful and the standout. The coffee is also surprisingly good. Service is friendly and quick, which makes the whole experience even better.

They have special events sometimes (like trivia night), that I look forward to...