Wide Open

What is Wide Open? Tucked into a narrow converted alleyway at 139a Spadina Avenue in the Wellington Place stretch, Wide Open is one of downtown Toronto's definitive unpretentious dive bars. Flanked by original brick walls layered with decades of graffiti and sticker art, the slender room features dim ambient lighting, a long front-to-back wooden bar, and tight perimeter stool seating. It remains an enduring sanctuary for commuters, industry staff, and locals seeking an antidote to the surrounding neighbourhood's polished cocktail lounges.

Wide Open Menu & What to Order Operating strictly as a drinks establishment without an in-house kitchen, Wide Open thrives on unapologetically budget-friendly daily drink specials. The bar keeps things straightforward with deeply discounted bar rail pours, pints of draught lager, ice-cold Cool Beer, craft and domestic tall cans, and pitchers meant for sharing. While food is not served, the staff embraces a friendly bring-your-own-food policy, making it easy to grab takeout pizza or dumplings along Spadina and settle in with a round.

Know Before You Go Seating is strictly walk-in only, and the slender alley space fills up fast after 10:00 p.m., especially on Friday and Saturday nights. The 510 Spadina and 501 Queen streetcars drop riders just steps from the venue entrance. Doors open daily until 2:00 a.m., kicking off at 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:00 p.m. on weekends.