Wasted Youth Bar — Restaurant in Toronto

The Wyck Recommendation: Wasted Youth (Dundas West) Rating: 4.0/5 Smiles, Shots, and Sinkhole Charm

Intro Scene We walked in somewhere between “let’s just have one” and “we might never leave.” Within minutes we were knocking back Jameson and beer combos, chatting up a bartender who radiated actually wants to be here energy, and being complimented by a random couple on my “I Love Older Women” T-shirt. Maybe I’m the older woman now. Maybe Wasted Youth is a mirror. A filthy, graffitied, $4-shot mirror.

What Was Ordered

Several Jameson & beer combos, obviously—$11–12, repeatable

$4 Jameson shots, which is basically a public utility

Wasted Youth Blonde Ale—solid, easy, non-threatening

Stared at the Fuck Juice on the menu. Didn’t have it. Didn’t need to. Just knowing it exists is enough.

Service Commentary The bartender? MVP. Big grin, no judgment, and managed the entire bar like he’d taken a course in Zen and mixology. Didn’t blink when we kept ordering more, didn’t flinch when we asked about the dollhouse replica. Probably knew our secrets before we even sat down.

Vibe Check Imagine your favorite house party from 2009 if no one had cleaned up since—but like, in a sexy, intentional way. It’s dark, loud, graffitied, and full of people who look like they could lend you a lighter and ruin your weekend in a good way. No pretension. All mess.

The Space Itself The space is unhinged in the best way:

There’s a dollhouse of the actual bar, because why not

The hallway to the bathroom is lined with graffiti, busted theatre seats, and deep emotional risk

The bathroom itself is a literature major on acid—you could spend 45 minutes reading the walls if you’re high, and honestly? 10/10 recommend

Warning: If you have ADHD, this bathroom is an immersive theme park. Enter at your own risk. You may never leave. You may also feel deeply understood.

About the Neighborhood Right near Ossington, Toronto’s unofficial runway of curated cool. You can throw a rock and hit a microbrewery, a concept art gallery, and someone in a $300 beanie. This place? It’s not trying to be cool—it just is. Wasted Youth feels like the dive bar Ossington wishes it had the guts to be. I’m coming back. Obviously.

Hits & Misses ✓ $4 Jameson—Toronto’s last great deal ✓ Bartender deserves a memoir ✓ Bathroom = cryptic treasure map for the very stoned ✓ Unexpected T-shirt compliments from strangers ✓ Vibe for the misfits, the wasted, and the weird ✗ You will question your life choices mid-pee ✗ Patio is more like a metaphor

Final Verdict Wasted Youth isn’t just a bar—it’s a fever dream with good lighting and no judgment. The drinks are cheap, the people are wild, and the bathroom might double as an escape room. If you’re wearing a questionable T-shirt, they’ll probably love you for it. If not, just order the shot and shut up. This is my new go-to in the west end. Tell Ossington I’m cheating.

Perfect For

Getting weird without apology

Wearing clothes that start conversations and...

absolutely disgusting atmosphere at this location! old dirty men, hitting on 20 year old girls asking for hugs and instagram usernames… we came from out of city, this dude “Josh” who runs the bar, tall, black hair tattoos acts like he’s welcoming them as soon as you order a alcoholic beverage he starts to talk and ask you very personal questions. went up to my 20 year old lesbian girlfriend and hugged her ??! proceeded to ask for her instagram under name? to talk to her further after hours ? (he’s 40 years old, married with a wife) . he was uncontrollable rude and unprofessional due to this situation. Josh shouldn’t be allowed to be talking to these young women who are just there to have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. he made us so uncomfortable, upset & disgusted we left, will not returning due to “josh’s” unprofessional and disrespectful conduct towards paying and regular customers at this bar. boycott wasted youth !!! don’t allow creeps to interfere and intimidate young women trying to have a good night. stay safe girls! don’t go here if you want to be comfortable and safe about your surroundings. gross place trying to delete my review...

A little biased as I'm friends with the owner Mike, but here it goes. Very happy this place made a successful transition to its new location on Dundas just West of Ossington. I'll miss the subway line access the free Buck Hunter at the previous location, but not a bad trade for a patio space off the back. Quintessential dive bar. Cheapest drink specials I've come across in the city (usuals include a Jameson special, and/or a beer plus shot combo), plus Mike's a very solid mixologist (would recommend an Old Fashioned). Good mix of local crafts and domestics. Doesn't operate with a kitchen but in some ways fills a gap by being friendly to outside food, which can help on the affordability of a night out. Classic Toronto long skinny bar layout with little tables (2-4 person) at the front, and seating for bigger groups towards the back. Spring-Fall rear patio space for some sun. Great vibe, encourages conversation and friend-making. No TV distractions, indie/eclectic taste for tunes....