Canary Counter

What is Canary Counter? Occupying a bright yellow storefront at 322 Harbord Street right by Bickford Park, Canary Counter is an intimate bottle shop and 10-seat wine bar. Founded by Celia Méndez Díaz—who grew up in Tenerife surrounded by her family's historic Viñátigo Vineyards—the space pairs cheerful mid-century warmth with a focus on small-scale, independent producers. Seating is strictly counter-centric and communal, encouraging lively, unpretentious conversations over rare pours with in-house wine guide Nate Cross.

Canary Counter Menu & What to Order The drink program centers on a weekly rotating board of three- and five-ounce pours spanning volcanic whites, skin-contact orange wines, and chilled Old World reds. Guests are also invited to pull any bottle directly from the retail shelves to enjoy on-site for a flat $20 corkage fee. Food sticks to classic, no-fuss drinking snacks: grab the tinned mussels in escabeche poured over crisp potato chips, paired with bowls of salted Marcona almonds or bar pretzels.

Know Before You Go With a total indoor capacity capped at ten guests, regular daytime and evening visits operate entirely on a walk-in basis. The shop also hosts structured, ticketed guided tastings and masterclasses on select weeknights for those eager to explore specific terroirs and production styles. Cyclists can easily cruise up the Harbord bike lane, while transit riders are just a short walk south of Christie and Ossington subway stations.