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11 Bars in Kingston to Include in Your Bar Crawl Bucket List
Deciding on which city has the best nightlife in Canada is debatable, and there may not even be a wrong answer! However, we still feel some cities do it better than others, and while there are obvious ones like Toronto and Montreal, we’re here to highlight Kingston.
The city of Kingston is mainly known for its rich history and beautiful architecture, but I was surprised to discover that it also boasts a vibrant bar scene. From English-style pubs to speakeasy bars and live gig venues, the selection here is unmatched!
Our team has spent a couple of nights in Kingston, and we must say that some spots didn’t live up to our expectations, while some were spectacular—hence this list. To find your next bar crawl destination, continue reading our top picks below for Kingston’s best bars!
The Toucan
Media credit: toucankingston
Address: 76 Princess St.
Contact details: +1 613-544-1966
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 2:00 AM
- Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
If you’re looking for a lively Irish pub-style bar with good drinks and live music, then The Toucan should be on your bucket list! It features one of the most vibrant atmospheres in the city, making for an even more memorable night with your friends.
In true Irish fashion, they serve a wide variety of draught beer, with their speciality being Guinness! You can also expect them to make perfect pours every time, so you won’t have to worry about getting a flat or an overly foamy glass.
The food here is impeccable as well, offering staple bar chows like buffalo wings, fish and chips, nachos, and burgers. These dishes, paired with one of their cold ones and a live sports broadcast, are what make this place a legit English pub!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on chowing down on their buffalo wings during your visit (which you should), we recommend visiting on Sundays or Mondays from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM to enjoy 50% off! However, you must purchase at least one beverage.
The Merchant Tap House
Media credit: merchanttaphouse
Address: 6 Princess St.
Contact details: +1 613-547-1313
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
The Merchant Tap House is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a varied selection of draught beer. You can expect the classics to be on tap, but if you want our advice, we recommend getting their peach crisp for that extra sweetness and refreshment!
They also serve a fantastic selection of food to pair with your drinks, ranging from nachos to wings, fries, poutine, and calamari. On the other hand, you can also treat yourself to fulfilling meals by ordering one of their main courses—hint: go for the steak and fries.
The place itself looks cool, too, resembling a London street scene with its charming English pub interior and exterior. This ambience is made much better by the variety of live acts they have on stage every day!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on commuting, you can take the bus and get off at Princess Street, which is located right in front of The Merchant Tap House.
The Mansion Restaurant & Bar
Media credit: themansionkingston
Address: 506 Princess St.
Contact details: +1 613-531-0003
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM
The Mansion Restaurant & Bar should be on your radar if low-key is your type of vibe. Staying true to its name, it looks more like a house rather than a bar, making drinking here feel like you’re at one of those house parties back in college.
It does get extra rowdy during live sports broadcasts and live gigs, but that’s a vital part of its charm! Alternatively, you can choose a table on their patio for a slightly less chaotic drinking experience, which is perfect for more intimate conversations.
Their selection of drinks has everything you need and caters to nearly every taste, offering a variety of draught beers and cocktails. If you’re going for the former, we recommend their Guinness, while watermelon smash is one of the best options from the latter.
Pro tip:
Check out their Events page on their official website to check out their upcoming gigs so that you can schedule your visit to your favourite acts. Alternatively, you can visit during karaoke nights to make yourself the favourite act of other patrons!
Red House
Media credit: redhousekingston
Address: 369 King St E.
Contact details: +1 613-767-2558
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 2:00 AM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
Located in the heart of Downtown Kingston, Red House is one of the most famous bars in the city. It offers patrons a cosy little shack to take shelter in, get draught beers, eat comfort food, and enjoy underrated musical acts.
Red House also shows some love to cocktail guys and gals by offering a great selection of classic drinks like Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and Old Fashioned. However, it would be a shame not to try their Red House signature while you’re here because of its delicious cherry note.
Their selection of food is not something to ignore either, as they offer everything from sandwiches to salads, bar chow, desserts, etc. We also recommend this place because of the platters that are great for sharing, like the shrimp tacos and hummus plate.
Pro tip:
Before or after your visit to Red House, we recommend stopping by Martello Alley, which is located just across the street from the bar. It’s one of the coolest art galleries where you can find vintage-style art and take Instaworthy photos.
Musiikki Café & Whiskey Bar
Media credit: kingstonlivemusic
Address: 73 Brock St.
Contact details: +1 613-542-2233
Operating hours: Daily from 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM
Cost: $
Website
Musiikki Café & Whiskey Bar is one of the cosiest cafes/bars in Kingston, offering warm lighting, an overall wooden interior, and a patio where local gigs are sometimes held. The patio is arguably its best spot, as it features a great place to chill—plus, it has cool fairy lights!
However, the main highlight here is their batches of whiskey, which are all worthy of being added to your mini-bars at home! One variant we’ve tried and loved ever since was the Foxes Bow, which featured a classic Irish whiskey taste with vanilla and floral notes.
Since this is a cafe as well, we also recommend getting their espresso martini, which features the perfect balance between rich and boozy. The espresso beans they use are fresh, and their coffee liqueur is top-shelf!
Pro tip:
Follow their official FB and IG pages to stay updated on their latest batches of whiskey! Also, you can find their weekly lineup of local acts on these pages.
The Kingston Brewing Company
Media credit: kingston_brew_pub
Address: 34 Clarence St.
Contact details: +1 613-542-4978
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
There’s a certain level of expectation when you attach the whole city’s name to your business, and fortunately, The Kingston Brewing Company delivers! For starters, they brew all sorts of beer, from IPAs to ciders and everything in between.
What’s more impressive is the different flavours they come up with regularly, alongside their mainstays, of course. One of our favourite wacky flavours they offer is the Jelly King Sour, which consists of mango, raspberry, and lime.
Another reason why they’re THE Kingston brewery is their selection of food, including a section aptly named Pub Faves. This section features our favourite dish to order, the chicken pot pie, which tastes homemade—plus, the pulled chicken is satisfyingly tender and marinated.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking to end your meal or drinking session with something sweet, we recommend ordering their layered chocolate cake. It’s oozing with chocolate sauce, and the cake itself is satisfyingly moist—just the way it should be!
The Iron Duke on Wellington
Media credit: irondukeon
Address: 207 Wellington St.
Contact details: +1 613-542-4244
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
It’s rare when a bar’s selection of food outshines its drinks, and The Iron Duke on Wellington is the perfect example. Their dishes consist of delicious homemade English classics like fish and chips, chicken pot pie and curry butter chicken, all of which are worth trying out.
If you’re like me, and you love a good hearty sandwich, then you should order their Duke Burger! They use fresh ground beef to make their thick patties, and the burger itself is decked out with mustard, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles!
However, don’t think that their selection of drinks is something to ignore! They offer a wide selection of premium draught beers, ranging from blonde lagers to cream ales, pilsners, and more.
Pro tip:
If your night out hits on Wednesday, consider coming here! They offer their delicious Amsterdam pints for only CAD5.
The Buckle
Media credit: thebucklekingston
Address: 226 Princess St.
Contact details: +1 613-766-6406
Operating hours:
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM
The Buckle does a great job of keeping country music alive and well in this part of Kingston by providing a platform for local acts. Drinking with your friends here will make you feel like you’re relaxing by the great open plains, with its laid-back atmosphere and live country music.
Speaking of drinking, it’s made much more special here, thanks to the wide selection of carefully crafted cocktails and beer on tap. We’re suckers for their Molson Canadian because of its lightness, but we’ve been enticed by their cocktails plenty of times!
Their kitchen also serves a wide variety of Western dishes, including kids’ meals! One of the stars of their menu is the Nashville Hot Chicken Burger, which is sure to make you break a sweat with its sour and spicy flavour.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with friends, we highly recommend ordering a plate of their Southern Poutine for sharing! Instead of the usual thick-cut and shoestring fries, these come in waffle cuts, which do a better job of holding the gravy and shredded mozzarella.
One Eyed Jack Restaurant + Bar
Media credit: oneeyedjackoshawa
Address: 417 Weller Ave.
Contact details: +1 613-766-8000
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
If you’re looking for a cool spot to escape Downtown’s crowdedness, then One Eyed Jack Restaurant + Bar should be right up your alley! It’s similar to places like Chilli’s and TGI Fridays but with better dishes and a wider selection of drinks.
For starters, their drink menu features beer on tap, wine, cocktails, sangria, and daiquiris. If you can’t decide on what to get, we recommend getting their summer white sangria because of its delicious mixed berries and ginger ale combination.
Regardless of which drink you choose, you can make them 10 times better by pairing them with one of their delicious food! A perfect example of this is their famous wings, which feature sauces like honey garlic and buffalo, as well as dips such as blue cheese and ranch.
Pro tip:
If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth while you’re here, we recommend getting their fried Mars bar!
Bar Mayla
Media credit: barmayla
Address: 343 King St E
Contact details: +1 613-766-6068
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
Bar Mayla offers a more laid-back ambience as opposed to the famous rowdy English pub-style bars in Kingston, and it’s a much-welcome breath of fresh air! Inside is a cosy space for people to gather, while outside is a beautiful patio for a more quiet drinking and dining experience.
One of our favourite things about this place is it doesn’t shy away from exploring different flavours from other countries. For instance, aside from Western classics like cheeseburgers and steaks, they also offer Mexican and Turkish dishes like fish tacos and shish kebab, respectively.
Drinks-wise, our favourite section to choose from is their brunch cocktails. They offer passionfruit mimosas that offer a perfectly sparkling consistency and specialty coffee that adds Baileys, Jameson, or Frangelicos.
Pro tip:
Reserve your tables on their website if you’re planning on visiting on either Friday or Saturday night. These are their busiest days, and you may not get the table you want at your preferred time if you walk in.
The Loyal Oarsman
Media credit: weaklyroll
Address: 1724 Bath Rd.
Contact details: +1 613-384-5236
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday and Monday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The Loyal Oarsman is one of the OG pubs in Kingston, and they’re still standing strong today while offering an amazing selection of beer and food! Starting with their beer, they offer them on tap, so if you fancy Guinness, you’ll experience it the best way here.
The great thing about this bar and restaurant is that they don’t cut back on serving sizes. For instance, a single order of their nachos can feed more than two people—plus it’s overloaded with various toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and more!
If you’re looking for something heavier, however, we couldn’t recommend their steak sandwich enough! It features 6oz of perfectly grilled New York sirloin laid on delicious garlic bread alongside onions and mushrooms—yum!
Pro tip:
If you fancy a bit of Surf and Turf action, we recommend ordering their bacon-wrapped scallops!
