Zema Lounge & Bar

What is Zema Lounge & Bar? Situated along the Bloor West strip at 867 Bloor Street West in Dovercourt Village, Zema Lounge & Bar is an unpretentious Ethiopian restaurant that doubles as an energetic late-night community hangout. Inside, simple table arrangements and a casual bar counter sit under ambient mood lighting that shifts from low-key afternoon lunches to lively weekend evenings filled with Habesha music and DJ sets.

Zema Lounge & Bar Menu & What to Order The kitchen focuses on hearty, traditional Ethiopian dishes served over generous rounds of injera. The Meat Combination platter is the benchmark order, loading your injera with slow-simmered doro wat, mild lamb alicha, gomen, and ayib. Sizzling awaze tibs and the kitfo—finely minced beef tossed in fragrant spiced herbal butter and mitmita—are essential meat orders, while a colorful vegetarian platter packed with red and green lentils, split peas, and collard greens caters generously to plant-based diners.

Know Before You Go Seating is casual and runs on a walk-in system, though the room fills up quickly on weekend nights when live music and sports draw regular neighbourhood crowds. The lounge is located just steps west of Ossington subway station, making transit by far the most convenient transit option given limited parking along Bloor Street West.