5 Spots Hipsters Will Be Diving Into in Dundas West — Hoods Guru

Every neighbourhood definitely has a unique personality and Dundas West is home to the hipstery-grunge bars we all know and love. Those judgement free zones where every sort of casual and eccentric person can walk in and stumble out. These places are rare in other Toronto neighbourhoods, but for Dundas West it’s the norm. It’s regular to be a regular, and the laidback vibe will keep you going back because they make you feel at home, and bring everyone together for the sole purpose of drinking and having a good time.

So when it comes to things to do in Toronto, judgement free and welcoming aplenty, it’s all about Dundas West.

Here are some of Hoods Guru’s recommendations of Dundas West’s top bars.

Get Well
Are you feeling sick? Sick of all the expensive bars and clubs? I hope you Get Well. Literally, go and check out Get Well and you’ll feel better in no time. With their free old school video games and cheap craft and signature drinks, you’ll be feeling a lot better than just ‘well’ (welcome to corn-fest 2016…I know, I can’t help myself). Play some Tetris or Pinball, and I guarantee you’ll be breaking a sweat while you’re trying to prove to your friends that you really were that good in high school. They have a Brooklyn style pizzeria shop in the back that is ideally paired with a tasty PBR. It’ll likely come-a-callin’ late night too, when you’re not in the mood to wait in line for a burrito. It has vintage style décor, with old-fashioned art lining the walls with funky frames of all shapes and sizes and chairs and couches from the 1960s. This place gets crazy packed on Thursday’s through Sunday so I definitely recommend if you’re going with a larger group to head on over a decent time. It’s a bit dark inside, so enjoy a good night of beer goggles and super-social vibes at Get Well. You won’t be disappointed.

Wallflower
Open at 5pm daily with delicious food until midnight and drinks until 2am, this hipster bar has a personality of its own. The interior is scenic with an antique chandelier hanging over the tables, stained glass windows, flowered wallpaper, patterned flooring and vintage wooden tables that remind you of a grandma’s house (a cool grandma). With the dim light décor, and candle-lit atmosphere it is a casual yet intimate place to hangout or a legitimately cute date night idea — it’s never too noisy or crowded. They have a range of food, from burgers to fish, with fresh new plates available every day to keep things a little interesting for the palette. If you’re there early enough to catch some sun, head out for an adventure to their hidden back patio that’ll make you forget you’re in the 6ix. Ready, set, go — through the front room of the restaurant, down the stairs, past the bathroom, and finally back up the steps and out the rear door. When you’ve finished a few brews on the patio, make sure to check out the room with walls decked out with mustached portraits. Wallflower has a fun aura, playing throwback tunes that everyone loves, and knows the lyrics to. But get cozy, cause’ the dress code is super casual (aka there is no dress code) and the atmosphere is social and inviting.

Communist’s Daughter
Don’t get frustrated when you can’t seem to find these guys, as they still rock their outdated signage out front that reads, “Nazare Snack Bar”. Once you get close you’ll see their chalkboard sign hanging in the window, “The Communist’s Daughter” and you can let out a sigh of relief that you didn’t give your friends the wrong address. Feel your jeans get tighter as you enter this dive bar and join the hipster crowd sipping on cold beer and fine whiskey. They have live music on Saturday and Sunday night playing at the front of the bar, and you can relax, listen and hangout in their old style vinyl chairs and formica tables set up next to the old school jukebox. The crowd is filled with laid-back peeps, many of which are stapled regulars open to small chat and cheersing. Stay too long and everyone becomes your best friend at the end of the night. It’s definitely a quirky spot, known as a “tiny hole in the wall” but offers intimate and fun entertainment with great drinks — truly a hidden gem.

Swan Dive
This funky, dive bar offers a unique experience with cheap craft beer, fancy cocktails, mouth watering comfort food, and games to keep you entertained. It may look a little homely from the outside, but once you enter you quickly realise it’s one of those “holy s**t I wasn’t expecting this” kind of bars. A simply laid out space, Swan Dive has a bit of everything to satisfy the fun-loving crowd. Checkered flooring leads you past the bar and scattered chairs to the purple felt pool table at the back, where Swan Dive regulars drink Stiegl beer and laugh all night. Others play pinball or are drawn to the board game or books. Every Sunday Swan Dive will host lazy Sunday movies. It’s definitely a dark hipster hangout (*update* since hipsters have read this, it is no longer a hipster hangout…sorry), with vintage bar stools, walls decorated with comic books, and an awesome bartender named Abra serving tasty drinks with a smiling face. Have an espresso or cappuccino with a warm slice of pie. When you’ve drank too much, watch your step going down the stairs where the bathrooms are located. They have a rotating menu, but free popcorn every visit (who doesn’t like popcorn?). So dive into this bar, bust a move to some old school hip hop and classic rock tunes, play some boggle and drink some cheap beers. It’s a good time every time. Ps. they only take cash, but there’s an ATM inside.

Dundas Video
This cozy little spot offers over 500 games throughout the bar, from Genesis to N64, ready to be beaten over and over and over again. It’s the 1990s and 2000s at their best serving nostalgic moment after nostalgic moment. They have live shows and DJ sets (usually playing electronic music) playing on the stage, often teamed with a cult classic video like Ghostbusters playing in the background. When you’re not playing games, you’re dancing…and they make it easy by shifting the tables to the side along the bright blue walls. But don’t worry, if you’re not quite drunk enough to hit the d-floor, there are benches at the ready for the odd man out. They have a good selection of beer and cocktails, and the bartenders are fast and friendly. When you break the seal, the bathrooms are downstairs with a lobby full of games for all the girls that travel in packs. Like most places on Dundas West, the hipster crowd is often spotted here, along with the intense gamers that emerge from their holes before submerging once again into Dundas Video. Dundas Video is perfect for a chill night with friends to sip on some tall boys (they only offer tall cans), and play those games from the 90s we all love way too much. This place could be a go to for any occasion, and I highly recommended you pop in for a visit.

Also, some other great places you can check out if these places are a bit too familiar — Cocktail Bar, Lula Lounge, Montauk, and Northern Belle!

Now go put on your favourite skinny jeans and hair scrunchy, grab your brand new 2007 flip-phone and get your ass over to Dundas West.

Find the best things to do, with Hoods Guru.

Until next time,

Amanda F.