Swan Dive — Restaurant in Toronto

Another case of me and the other half going looking for something different and interesting. At first, we were uncomfortable entering. Once we entered, we realized how silly we were. The place is not the Ritz-Carlton. It's dark and a bit dingy. But it is comfortable. There are games and old toys to Fiddle with (I may have had some good rounds of Connect4) and a free pool table. Throw in some arcade games for extra fun. They have a really good selection of beer, though not much for taps. The staff is wonderful. Super personable and treat you like they've known you forever. The clientèle is mixed, from the young punks, to the 50 year old businessman, to the 30 year old friends on a girls catch up. It just fits here. The music was great too - some golden oldies for your Friday night. The only down side is no debit, but I...

So happy this place exists. Feels welcoming every day of the week, and lots of different events and pop-ups happen on a regular rotation. People look out for each other even if they don't know you. You can sit at the bar without anyone bothering you, or you can strike up a convo and make new friends, whatever you're in the mood for. Small enough to feel like you're all at the same party. There are non-alcoholic options if you'd rather not partake. There's art all over the walls, and DJs who like to keep things fun and interesting. There's a pile of boardgames and free pool, an etchasketch so you can be occupied off your phone. There's always soap and paper towel in the bathrooms. What's not to love...

Small, clean place with a great atmosphere and killer drink prices. Pristine classic pinball and some billiards to boot. My best friend and I (both hailing from small communities 3+ hours away) were vacationing in the city and drove 30 minutes at 12:30 AM to grab some drinks and check out the 1993 Bally Twilight Zone machine before last call. We were largely impressed by the small-town feel and the affordability.

Friendly service rounded out the experience nicely. Will definitely return next time...