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9 Wine Bars in Canada That Never Fail to Make the Perfect Pour
One of my early memories with wine was when it was offered to me as a kid as a joke during New Year’s Eve, and I still remember wincing after a little sip. Little did I know, it was going to be a drink that’s hard to resist during my adulthood, especially when accompanied by good food!
With that said, I’ve probably dived into every wine bar I could while travelling around Canada, and I must say, I’ve never been more proud to be a Canuck! I’m not just talking about ice wine either, as these bars’ collections are as diverse as they come.
So, if you’re looking to add a new bottle to your collection or you’re just starting out, allow me to be your guide. Keep on reading to discover the best wine bars in Canada and why you’ll love them!
UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar – Vancouver
– Media credit: misseileensoo
Address: 900 Seymour St.
Contact details: +1 604-632-9560
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$$
UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar is always a treat to stop by whenever we’re in Vancouver because it never fails to provide good food, great wine, and fun times. Starting with the food, we absolutely love their authentic Italian meatballs because of their tenderness and slight tanginess.
If we’re visiting to sample wine, however, there’s no better dish to order than the striploin! These two go together like jelly and peanut butter—just be sure to order something that’s highly acidic, like their cabernet sauvignon.
However, the main star of their collection is their vino frizzante, which is a type of sparkling wine. It’s a great date night wine, as it’s light, fruity, and fresh—plus, it’s great to pair with various small plates from their menu!
| Pro tip: If you’re planning on making this place your date night destination, consider visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery first! It’s only a couple of blocks away from the wine bar, and it’s one of the most romantic spots in the city. |
Nightingale – Vancouver
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Address: 1017 W Hastings St.
Contact details: +1 604-695-9500
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM
Cost: $$$
Nightingale isn’t just your typical wine bar, as it’s a full-on gastronomic experience, complete with fine-dining food! It’s one of our favourite spots to visit whenever we’re craving interesting wine and food combinations because of its impressively varied menu.
For instance, if you’re tired of the classic red wine and steak combination, you can enjoy a nice bottle of their sparkling wine with their baked Japanese sweet potato to get a perfect balance between effervescent and freshness.
Of course, you can’t leave without trying their famous rose-tinted haze as well if you like your wine on the sweeter side. No matter which bottle you get, however, you can be guaranteed a fancy dining experience thanks to the restaurant’s classy ambience.
| Pro tip: You can sample more items from their menu at cheaper prices if you visit during their happy hour, which is every day from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. |
Bar Piquette – Toronto
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Address: 1084 Queen St W
Contact details: +1 416-533-7745
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Thursday and Friday: 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$
We discovered Bar Piquette when we were hunting for the best seafood restaurants in Toronto, and it just so happens that they offer amazing wines as well! Long story short, we ended up ordering a platter of their fresh oysters and a bottle of their Bernard Fouquet sparkling wine.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something that offers that classic finish, a bottle of their Austrian pinot noir should do the trick. If you can’t decide which dish to pair this with, we recommend getting their cheese plate!
You can’t beat the vibes here as well, as the interior offers a cosy rustic nook that will charm you with its wooden floor and decor. However, we prefer dining in their al fresco area, which we can best describe as a greenhouse turned dining room, with its glass ceilings and various plants.
| Pro tip: If you don’t drink alcohol but don’t want to feel left out, we recommend getting one of their soft drinks! They replicate the feel of a seltzer but offer refreshing flavours like cantaloupe, cucumber, and berries. |
Midfield Wine Bar – Toronto
– Media credit: midfieldwinebar
Address: 1434 Dundas St W
Contact details: +1 647-345-7005
Operating hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Cost: $$
Midfield Wine Bar offers one of the most laid-back atmospheres in Toronto, where you can sample a bunch of wines without anyone judging. This can be attributed to its cafe-like interior as opposed to the typical elegant fine-dining restaurant look, and we mean that in the best way!
They offer over 300 bottles of wine, which are rotated depending on the season, along with their dishes. For instance, during wintertime, one of their best dishes is the beef kofta, which pairs great with their Pierre & Catherine Breton.
Our favourite item from their menu, however, is the roasted white chocolate with sorbet—not too sweet and goes perfectly with white wine!
| Pro tip: You can easily commute here by taking the tram and getting off at the Dundas Street West at Gladstone Ave station. From there, you just have to cross the street to reach Midfield Wine Bar. |
Le Rouge Gorge – Montreal
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Address: 1234 Mont-Royal Ave E
Contact details: +1 514-303-3822
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday: 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Wednesday and Thursday: 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Cost: $$$
If you’re looking for the perfect balance between laid-back and sophisticated, then Le Rouge Gorge should be right up your alley! It offers a fancy interior decorated with warm lighting and elegant designs, and features a relaxing patio.
No matter which tables you get, however, you won’t be disappointed with the food and drinks served here. Starting with the wine selection, it features red, white, orange, rosé, and even sparkling variations!
Le Rouge Gorge is also one of the best places to indulge in fresh oysters when they’re in season. With their briny taste, you’ll find yourself enjoying a bottle of their Sauvignon Blanc a whole lot more because of its high acidity.
| Pro tip: Check out their official IG page before visiting to time your drinking session during one of their DJ nights! |
La Buvette Chez Simone – Montreal
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Address: 4869 Park Ave.
Contact details: +1 514-750-6577
Operating hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 4:00 PM to 12:30 AM
- Thursday to Saturday: 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Cost: $$
La Buvette Chez Simone is a must-visit for anyone stopping by Montreal to experience a laid-back wine-drinking session. It’s the perfect hangout spot with friends and family, thanks to its cheese and charcuterie boards.
We also recommend it to friends who are avid wine lovers because it features one of the most impressive wine collections in the country. Whether you’re looking for sparkling, orange, rose, white, or red wine, you can find it on their shelves.
To top it all off, they also offer a wide array of desserts, one of which is our favourite lemon cake. With its inclusion of whipped cream and white chocolate, it has the perfect balance of zestiness and sweetness—yum!
| Pro tip: If the menu seems overwhelming, go for the cod with aioli sauce. It’s a safe option because it goes well with both white and red wine. |
Vin Room Mission – Calgary
– Media credit: vinroomyyc
Address: 2310 4 St SW
Contact details: +1 403-457-5522
Operating hours: Daily from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Vin Room deserves a spot on our list just for being the largest wine bar in the country. Moreover, we love how their menu features a short description of each wine flavour, making this place a good entry point for newcomers.
Their collection features every flavour, from spicy to robust, fruity, fresh, and everything in between. They also offer classic bubbles, like our personal favourite, pinot noir, which pairs perfectly with their fresh East Coast oysters.
You can’t miss out on their reds as well, especially the bonarda. It’s a juicy and fruity variation that features a light body—perfect for beginners or first date couples who don’t want to get too rowdy after just two glasses.
| Pro tip: You can also check out their outlets at the YYC Airport and West if their Mission branch is full or too far from your location. |
Clementine – Edmonton
– Media credit: barclementine
Address: 11957 Jasper Ave.
Contact details: +1 780-756-4570
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Cost: $$$
Clementine caters to every taste because, aside from featuring a vast collection of wine, it doubles as a cocktail bar. Starting with their wine selection, it consists of orange, rosé, white, sparkling, and red, all of which are imported from different countries.
One of the head turners from their shelves is the “Ruben” cabernet, which hails straight from France. This drink features a light to medium body with notes of dark fruits like black cherry and blackberry.
They also offer a wide array of house cocktails, which feature creative flavours that you won’t typically find in regular bars. A prime example is the “Milk Punch”, which combines milk, Coca-Cola, chocolate bitters, tequila, and lime.
| Pro tip: If you’re one to enjoy sparkling wine like there’s no tomorrow, we recommend visiting this place during Happy Hour (daily from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM). During this time, you can get a 5oz glass of sparkling wine for only CAD12—plus, their pilsner is also discounted at CAD8 per 16 oz. |
Obladee – Halifax
– Media credit: obladeewinebar
Address: 1600 Barrington St.
Contact details: +1 902-405-4505
Operating hours:
- Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday: 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
Obladee in Halifax should be on your radar if you fancy casual wine drinking. It offers a laid-back patio, where you can chill and admire passing cars and skyscrapers.
However, this is one of those rare places where we prefer dining inside just because of its elegant and cosy interior. Plus, live bands sometimes perform on their stage, making your wine drinking experience extra fun and memorable.
We also have to tip our hats to their vibrant wine selection. Our personal favourite is the Pinot Meunier because it’s light, aromatic, fruity, and perfect for pairing with cheese and charcuterie boards.
| Pro tip: End your wine drinking session on a sweet note by ordering their decadent chocolate goat’s milk fudge! |
