Virginia Cocktail Bar

What is Virginia Cocktail Bar? Taking over a former Queen West storefront at 1374 Queen Street West in Parkdale, The Virginia is a stripped-back, sultry watering hole created by veteran barman Joel Savoie alongside industry peers from Civil Liberties and Bar Pompette. Framed by a prominent arched window, the hand-built room features warm exposed brick, candlelit two-tops, and a long hardwood bar designed for unhurried conversation.

Virginia Cocktail Bar Menu & What to Order Built on scratch-made bitters, house-pressed cordials, and hand-cut ice, the tight drink list caps prices well below typical downtown standards. The opening rotation shines with a bright, layered Jack Rose shaken with apple brandy, pomegranate, strawberry, and lemon, alongside a snappy Dark and Stormy riff built on Havana Club rum and fresh ginger. Purists should seek out vintage cocktail revivals like The Dot—a dry, gin-forward serve pulled from the 1937 Café Royal cocktail book.

Know Before You Go This is a walk-ins-only neighbourhood haunt, meaning the room fills fast on weekends after 10:00 p.m. Doors open nightly from Tuesday to Sunday starting at 8:00 p.m. and run until 2:00 a.m. (closed Mondays). Arrive via the 501 Queen streetcar, as street parking along this stretch of Queen West between Brock and Lansdowne is scarce.