Mother

What is Mother? Occupying a moody Queen West storefront at 874 Queen Street West across from Trinity Bellwoods, Mother is co-owner and bartender Massimo Zitti’s haven for fermentation science and boundary-pushing mixology. The interior trades clinical lab aesthetics for warm candlelight, exposed brick, and low-slung seating anchored by an intimate front bar counter where house fermentations and botanical distillates take centre stage. Ranked among North America’s 50 Best Bars, it operates as a serious, seated cocktail lounge built for deliberate sipping.

Mother Menu & What to Order The rotating cocktail list leans heavily on house-made kombuchas, lacto-fermented seasonal fruits, and house distillates instead of traditional syrups. Order the standout Toasted Chai Piña Colada or the barrel-aged Negroni Ristretto infused with Colombian coffee beans and lacto-ferments. From the kitchen, balance the acid-forward drinks with the nori-dusted Mother Fries with tarragon aïoli and the beef striploin Mother Tartare prepared with shio koji and miso egg yolk.

Know Before You Go With limited square footage, weekend table reservations via their website are essential, though duos and solo walk-ins can often snag bar stools right when doors open at 6:00 p.m.. Take the 501 Queen streetcar to avoid the headache of Trinity Bellwoods street parking. Mother is open seven nights a week, pouring until midnight Sunday through Monday, 1:00 a.m. Tuesday through Wednesday, and 2:00 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.