The Global Drinker — World Bar Guide
Short Turn
Toronto, Canada
Fun Toronto fact: the 'red rocket' streetcars that slowly glide through the city are notorious for short-turning – off-loading passengers and turning around with no warning. The name of this snack bar is a cheeky nod to this practice. Except here, rather than getting turfed out, you sip cocktails in a narrow 1920s-style train car. The drinks are stiff, the fries are shatteringly crisp, and the city feels more romantic from behind the window glass. Open for brunch, lunch and late into the night, it's an easy place to lose time people-watching the Queen West crowd. Its freezer door martini – an icy bottle of pre-batched gin or vodka kept precisely chilled at -20°C – has amassed a cult following. The menu is consistent throughout the day, meaning you can get a pocket caesar (a potent five-ounce serve with bacon-infused vodka) alongside fluffy pancakes with cultured butter anytime between 11.30am and 10pm.
576 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON · $
Awards & Rankings
- Roadbook 2026 — #9