Pure Spirits

What is Pure Spirits? Housed inside a restored 1870s Victorian tank-house at 17 Tank House Lane, Pure Spirits is the Distillery District's veteran seafood tavern and raw bar. The interior balances rugged heritage brickwork and heavy timber with an energetic central shucking station and polished bar seating, flanked outdoors by a sprawling cobblestone patio. It operates seamlessly as both a casual neighbourhood pit stop for a pint and a dozen bivalves and a reliable pre-theatre dinner venue.

Pure Spirits Menu & What to Order The raw bar rotates cold-water East and West Coast oysters flown in daily, served with freshly grated horseradish, bright mignonettes, and house hot sauce. Follow a Shucker's Dozen with the butter-toasted chilled lobster roll or comforting hot mains like BC spaghettini tossed with Manila clams and Salt Spring Island mussels. Pour a crisp Ontario VQA white, a nearby Mill Street draft, or a signature gin cocktail to cut through the rich seafood.

Know Before You Go Reservations through OpenTable are wise for patio tables in the summer and throughout the crowded winter market season. Walk-in guests can usually find single spots or quick turnarounds at the oyster bar counter during weekday afternoons. Arrive by public transit via the 504 King streetcar or 121 Esplanade bus, as neighborhood parking fills quickly on weekends.