Old Town Bodega

What is Old Town Bodega? Perched at 402 King Street East in Corktown, Old Town Bodega is a quirky, character-rich neighbourhood watering hole operated by husband-and-wife duo Matthew Tosoni and Maura Grierson, who live right upstairs. Housed in a historic 1890s storefront where Theodore Loblaw once worked, the interior radiates cozy living-room energy packed with flea-market armchairs, retro curios, and prop relics salvaged from Tosoni's time producing the Rick Mercer Report. Seating is intimate throughout, extending from casual bar-side stools to a retro backyard patio that thrives in warmer months.

Old Town Bodega Menu & What to Order Drinks take centre stage here, led by their signature riff on the Paper Plane cocktail alongside a rotating roster of cold Ontario craft beer. The food program centers on an ever-changing, daily handwritten menu of affordable small plates, including crème fraîche deviled eggs, smoked salmon carpaccio, and grilled halloumi paired with fresh watermelon. For snacking with pints, grab flaky baked empanadas from The Empanada House, and keep an eye out for weekend kitchen pop-ups.

Know Before You Go Tables and bar spots operate strictly on a walk-in basis with no reservations, so arrive closer to 5:00 p.m. on prime weekend evenings to snag seating on the back patio. The 504 King streetcar stops within steps at King and Sackville or Parliament, making transit far easier than finding scarce East King street parking. Doors open late afternoon Wednesday through Sunday, staying shuttered Mondays and Tuesdays.