Birreria Volo

A delightful bar featuring beers on tap in a long thin room with a patio out back. They also have cocktails and wine but you come here for the beer.

All time favorite. One of the few spots where you can get truly original and rare beers. Think Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Very good vibe, large selection of beers and ciders. It was very refreshing to have a light ale in their patio on a sweltering day.

Volo is one of the best places in the city to get beer. They even have cantillion on tap here. I have been a number of times, and the service and drinks have been great here every time. I also came here a few times on zwanze day which was an experience totally worth having. Love drinking beer at volo

The beer selection is fantastic, with a diverse range of options sure to please any palate. As for food, while the focus leans towards bread-centric dishes, the recent increase in food prices may give pause to some. However, don't let that deter you - the quality and flavor are still worth exploring, especially when paired with a cold, refreshing brew. Make your way out to the charming patio, though narrow, it offers a delightful spot to enjoy the evening breeze and soak in the lively atmosphere under twinkling lights. Speaking of atmosphere, this place exudes a cool tavern vibe, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable night out. The ambiance is relaxed yet buzzing with energy, inviting you to kick back and enjoy good company. The staff is friendly and ready to give you helpful recommendations. While there may not be table service for drinks and food, the laid-back approach adds to the casual charm of the place. I still wholeheartedly recommend this spot for its fantastic beers, cozy ambiance, and great times.

Had a private party in the back and the food and service was amazing…nice atmosphere too!

Great brew pub in the heart of Toronto. Amazing beer selection, knowledgeable staff. Dark and cozy atmosphere inside but a bright and lively patio as well!

Romantic setting. Drinks are consistent and service were friendly. Cool seating and deco. Recommended.

They built a beer bar in an old alleyway and the vibe is just right. Seat yourself and order at the bar. There's always a well-curated beer selection that the knowledgeable bartenders are happy to discuss. I went last night and they had a bunch of Lambic style beers on tap (Belgian, funky, sour), which were quite enjoyable. Can't speak to their new pizza program (haven't had the pleasure yet) but the Italian small plates are not too shabby -- bruschetta, meatballs, etc. More than anything, the inviting, brick-walled, dimly lit ambiance keeps me coming back for more.

Birreria Volo is a cozy hole in the wall with a great beer and wine menu. They also have a nice selection of small plates. We tried the bruschetta and it was pretty good, herby and very cheesy. We tried a few different wines and the orange wine was our favourite. Volo is a great spot to start or end your night!

Awesome spot for drinks and chill! Their drink offerings are quite diverse, and they have a sizable food menu as well--including PG Clucks next door! It feels like a very cozy spot, despite the larger size of the bar--its interior depth is quite large! They have a QR code to scan for their menu, but the lighting is so dim and moody that you may have trouble scanning it on slightly older models of phones--ones that don't have great night modes lol To actually order food or drink, you have to go to the front counter. You can choose to pay for your drinks each time you order, or start a tab for your table. Admittedly it's a bit odd to have to run up for your order, but understandable given their staff size and the bar setup. I think they could benefit from in-store online ordering too, with like an area at the counter for order pickup. The staff are lovely and make great recommendations if you find a drink you like and want an adjacent! Ask if you're unsure what to try next! Overall, I think it's a wonderful spot to relax on evenings with friends. Given the lighting, no one will see if you're drunk ;)

On Sun. July 2 (during Canada Day long weekend) I met two friends at the venue for drinks; it was my first visit in close to a year and as the weather was less than ideal - intermittent rain - we chose to sit at our usual spot, one of the tables close to the front entrance. Also as usual, one of my friends and I shared our beers, resulting in us having four half-full glasses of beers (see pics below). As always we had an enjoyable time, however, due to the increase in prices I'm taking a star off as Volo and it's other location close to Yonge/Wellesley Sts have historically set high price points for their beers. This location's Tues. beers special is still present although it's now $6.50 for local (Ont.) beers on that day only. Their beer selection remains very unique and extensive which is always a plus.

It's nice! It's a good vibe and well-loved by locals, and the selection was pretty good, although it skews very heavily toward lambics.

Came here on a Wednesday night and was surprised at the buzz and crowd. Birreria Volo is a narrow space and features a 26-tap bar and a heated back patio. The main star here is the beer, but they do serve tinned seafood, octopus, anchovies, scallops etc., and charcuterie and cheese, but there's also the fried chicken from P.G. Clucks, which is next door. The bar service is exceptional, and the vibe is informal and current. There's lots to explore on the menu with several hard to find beers from craft breweries around Ontario. Unless you're famished and want a large meal, you'll enjoy the limited food options, taps and great conversation. You won't be disappointed!

I came here pre-covid and had a great time with great beer and PG Clucks. But during covid, they've had to pivot to a beer takeaway and provisions. They are very helpful, make suggestions on the provisions to take home. What is fresh and new, what goes, how to put together the meal etc and what else could be needed. And then the beer, I'm not sure they offered all the selection they have now pre-covid, but now they have a wide assortment of beer that is hard to get in Ontario, mostly from Ontario and Quebec. But then they also sell the items from their import business from abroad (read Belgium). Top notch place when I have a couple hundred dollars to spend, I love to get some Belgian beer for a celebratory day, some hard to find Ontario/Quebec beer to enjoy now, some canned goods such as Octopus, the anchovies, bread, dip/spread and cut meats to all enjoy for the night.

I had higher hopes for this craft beer bar. I truly did. I read about it on enough food blogs, and Toronto essentials lists, that it seemed like a necessary addition to the must-visit list. We went on a slow Wednesday evening. The things that you will read that are accurate are that it is an absolutely beautiful bar. With brick walls spanning the narrow space and barrels converted into table tops, it is an incredibly beautiful space to visit for the evening. The beer list is extensive. There are some really unique and hard to obtain beers that you won't be able to find elsewhere. However, the service and bartender knowledge leaves much to be desired. I asked what their most sour beer was on draft and the question seemed to catch the bartender off guard. He recommended the Umi Gose with Okinawan Shikuwasa and Sea Salt (Godspeed Brewery). I asked for a sample and he said they don't do samples...so I bit my tongue and I went with his recommendation. It was a mistake. The sour was not anything special...I wouldn't describe as particularly "sour" or earth-shattering. I've had many more tart and sour goses than that. Moral of the story: if you don't have a beer that matches the profile someone is looking for, and you're not willing to offer a sample, just be honest and say you don't have anything particularly sour on draft. I would have then moved onto a different beer style. As is, I left feeling disappointed and entirely underwhelmed by the experience. The hype about this place is undeserved.

Gord and I checked out Birreria Volo this afternoon ... they opened on College Street a couple months ago. There are lots of sour beers on their menu, which Gord loved. I like a more mild beer and had a couple Amsterdam 2017s. It's a cool bar and we'll be back!

I had gone to this place when it was located on Yonge St and heard they had to close cause a new condo was coming in place of it. (humpf!) We chose this place mostly because we wanted to see the new location and needed to seat 6 people. We got reservations for Saturday night and chose to come in by 7PM so it wouldn't be too busy. The location now looks great but is basically a looooong alleyway. Our seats were benches in the end and i was a bit cramped after a while, it's hard to move around due to the narrow width. You basically open a tab and then go get your drinks and order food at the bar. The drinks are great and so is the food! The service is amazing and not once did we feel rushed to give up our table (since there were so few). I'll definitely pick this place again to catch up with friends but I'm only going there if I have a reservation.

It seems that not many people have discovered that the once-loved Bar Volo that has been partially reincarnated here. It's in a smaller space yet probably can hold the same amount of people. The beer list is still as long, yet is focused on fewer specific styles. While the bigger outdoor patio is missing it's still a very neat space which was once an alley. While a few porters and pale ales creep onto the draft selection the majority of beers are in the Sour category. From a local Gose to Cantillon Gueuze there are plenty for the fan of wild ales. If you long for hop bombs then this is not the place for you.

BOTTOM LINE: Sour beer fans rejoice! From the same Morana family that brought you one of the best, if not the best beer bar in Toronto (RIP...for now), comes their off-shoot venture into the niche scene of, even for beer snobs, sours and saisons. Showing their dedication and mettle to the industry, the Morana brothers have found ways to bring beers into Birreria that you simply can't find elsewhere (e.g., American and European, particularly, Belgium imports). It can be easy to miss even though there is signage, but just look for the fried chicken joint next door (which will "deliver" over). This, of course, is a boon to beer lovers everywhere, at least to sour beer lovers. And herein lies the "problem", is that sours are an acquired taste at best and a turn-off at worst for a lot of people. I'm really cheering on these guys, but am somewhat skeptical that it can be sustained. Especially given the tilt towards the pricier end for 3, 6 and 9 oz pours. Sure, I get that there's a price to pay for these imports, but when some of the locally sourced beers are quite a bit more than expected, it's a bit puzzling. The space inside is vintage Volo with its rustic design and hidden cove of a patio out back. The seemingly endless line of taps is back lettered A to Z. Unlike Volo, this place is fully serviced, so no more lining up at the bar (though I did miss that low maintenance feel). Admittedly, I've tried very little of their menu, but they have a wonderful selection of pickled offerings, salumi and fried chicken from next door. Will definitely be back!

WIDE selection of sour beers. I love how the culture here for beer is so classy and upscale, makes you feel like you should wear red lipstick and a pearl necklace. But it's okay, plenty of people in beanies, plaid shirts, jeans and beards. All are welcome. If you come here, don't order things you would normally get at any other bar! Order stuff that is exclusive to Birreria Volo, like stuff from the Cantina (Loverbeer, Cantillon, Oud Beersel, Oxbow, Stillwater). You are wasting precious time, space, and resources if you order an Amsterdam, Nickelbrook, Great Lakes, or anything you can find at the LCBO. Beer here is a bit on the more expensive side if you're used to $5 for a 16 oz. pint. Their pours are like wine, like 6 oz. or 8 oz., and charge around $4 - $6. But their beers are very very good if you're into sours and it is an experience to sip slowly and really take the time to explore the flavours. Not a place to go to if you think the best place to get a beer is Jack Astors. The food here is classy bar snacks. You will not find poutine the size of your face at this establishment. Fair warning in you're looking to pair your beer with a bucket of poutine. Not a huge fan of how dark this place is, but I guess that's the ambient vibe they're going for. Service is awesome, though. My water glass was topped up all the time and the people here really know their sour beer. This place is TINY so if you're thinking of rolling up with more than 4 people, you might have to wait or get turned away if you're in a rush. Also, it's easy to walk right past this place; it's as if it was built in an alley between two buildings. If you get cold easily, bring a shawl or extra sweater. Because it was probably built in an alley between two buildings, there isn't much heat or insulation so be prepared for that.

They served my friend a drink with a FLY in it- scooped the fly out in front of our face and served it back to her saying it's okay for her to drink while walking away. Also -When you ask for a taste of their many beers, they'll scam you to purchase several sample sizes that are $5-$6 for 5oz WITHOUT letting you know first. Sample sizes are cool but also cool to let u know a taste vs sample are the same and you'll charge. That's all! Service was poor - pulled back hair with glasses guy at bar, also manager. Also reached out to owners to share this experience - no response. The atmosphere is cool but not cool to be rude. This is the type of place that brings Toronto's service industry down. ‍

Holy moly, this place is busy! Hard to get past the bar to get to the back. Many people seem to comment on the decor, but I didn't see much as this place was packed! Great beer selection on tap and bottled. Had the chance to try some beers I'd never heard of. This is the place to try something new! Interesting snacks there for $5. If you plan on being there awhile, you can start a tab. They had a feature on beers imported from a brewery in the US. Pretty good!

Was happy to find out that Bar Volo didn't decide to close down completely unlike many stores on the Yonge line that are forced to move out due to skyrocketing property tax and never-ending development of condos. Seems like Bar Volo is still looking for a location to settle, and decide to open this cute little bar on the side. I really enjoyed the fact that there are quite a lot of collection of beer I can try out of tap; though most of them are sour beer while I enjoy larger/crisp beer. I ended up trying this drink that's a mixture of wine and beer, which I found very enjoyable. My company and I ended up getting 2 to 3 different types of beer each throughout the night, sipping each other's to try, and most of them were interesting enough to make me want to come back to the bar soon. We also tried some of their snack dishes (pickles, bread, sausage, ect.) as well as the fried chicken sandwich dish that they get supplied from the next door, and all of them were good! The decoration of the place is very hip and pretty; it would be a nice place for both a date and night out with friends.

3.5 stars The good: Wide assortment of beers. Local brews, imported specials, mashups and more. Something for all pallets. The bad: I sat along the brick wall on a cold night and there was a chilly draft coming through the walls which forced me to wear my coat at the table. Also, lighting was very dim.

3,5 stars. The beer selection is huge, especially sours, but remaining styles are missing. Solid tap selection but again mostly focused on sours too. I liked better the old place. This one is L shaped, narrow and not bright at all. The patio has 3 long benches that can accommodate 6 people each and a long American bar like wooden thing facing the door. The service is ok though.

I miss the old Volo but love this new space! Much like before, an impressive list of beers. There were a lot of sour beers that week we visited. We grabbed some meat snackables, cheese, olives and took a seat by the window. A great vibe and a casual relaxed place to grab a pint or three.

I was a huge fan of the original Bar Volo. I was also a huge fan of the building Birreria Volo is housed in, as it was once a tiki bar with grogs of fun cocktails and even a sand filled patio. But 612 College Street has grown up and become a refined and polished beer hall now while serving up a variety of craft beers. You may even be surprised to learn they are actually being served to your table by a waitress (for those who don't know, you always had to order from the bar at the original Volo, and Sutra Tiki certainly never had anything more than bartenders working here). The main focus is sours, saisons, and other funky beers. Most of these are served in 12oz glasses. The good news is that there will still typically be a couple of standard pilsners, lagers, and IPAs, which are served in a standard 16oz glass. At the very least, it's easy to come here and find a beer you'll likely never have had or might not ever see again. So if you are a beer hunter that likes to try new things, it's worth a stop in. I won't tell you this is my favourite beer bar, but it's a nice option for the College Street area and an adequate holding post until the new Bar Volo opens on Church Street later this year.

Williamsburg, Midtown, Lower Manhattan - these NY place names ring to mind when I consider the deep, narrow and stylishly dim space of Birreria Volo on College West. And that's maybe what you would like - to be transported away to a world you can relax and enjoy. Pretentious? Just enough. Has a real epicurean vibe in the beer selection, so it fits. Beers and ciders that challenge me the most are generally the ones I most enjoy and remember. There are even bottle pours worth checking out! Birreria offers a pretty unusual service - one more focused on appreciation and highly accessible rare selection versus volume per serving. Not everyone you might know will dig it, So chat with the (often amiable) servers for more detailed information, and also verify what serving size you're paying for when you order. You may find small pours more agreeable, allowing you to try a few more selections.

Part of the lower rating may be my love for Bar Volo, which this really doesn't compare to. Big plus is the always extensive beer list, loved the sours, the unique bottles available, service is good as well. And it is nice to get table service which Bar Volo didn't have. Downsides, it was loud, dark (so was bar volo to be fair) but the dark and the shape meant no way to see the beer menu easily. The canned seafood options at those price points are only partially redeemed by the high quality bread. But it's hard to feel good about spending that much on a tin of octopus. I'll go back for the beer, but I'll eat first elsewhere which means I won't be back as often. Which is a shame.

If you have over 15 different rotating beers on tap (most of them priced over 8 dollars per tiny glass) I urge you to allow customers to test out one or two of them. It would probably be good for your business.

While I do have a soft spot in my heart for OG Volo, I still love Birreria. A lot of reviews mention that they have too many sours on tap, but Birreria was very clear prior to opening that they were going to focus on sours and funkier beers. They have been expanding their beer list to include a greater variety of styles (it's nice to take a break from the sours every now and then) so there is most likely a beer here that everyone can enjoy. They have a great bottle list, tasty snacks, and friendly, knowledgeable staff. I'm glad they've started table service as opposed to bar service because the space is quite narrow and it gets really packed really quickly if there are too many people jammed up at the bar waiting to order. The back patio is a super cute hidden gem in the summer as well. My only gripe is the prices, but a lot of the beers available are speciality beers and things you can't find a lot of other places so higher prices are to be expected. So while I do love Birreria, it's more of a special occasion place for me than a regular watering hole.

I used to be a big fan of Bar Volo on Yonge. When they closed I was sad, however I was excited to hear about this new place. This place is small. I am really into sour beers right now and they have a large list of sours on tap. The bar tenders were nice, i didn't really talk to any of them cuz it was a Saturday and they were busy. But they seemed pretty knowledgeable. I really liked it here. This is probably one of the best beer bars in Toronto, I definitely want to go back.

The venue itself was very narrow which meant that you canot see the menu unless you are in front of the bar. The venue is also very dimly lit to the point of causing discomfort. While I personally love sour beers I still felt that specializing in sours was excessive. What made the previous incarnation of this bar ,bar volo, great was that there was something for everyone. Now there are only sours. Furhermore this is not a place to try more than one drink as the volumes are pretty small and the prices pretty high.

Excellent selection of unique beers. Great atmosphere where you feel very welcome. Knowledgeable staff on the brews they carry. Food selection is minimal but brew selection is tremendous. One of the few places to get my husband's favourite Cantillon beer. Definitely recommend checking it out.

Stellar service - the server was very quick to get us a table! Also - not just sours! There was a wide variety of beers, and the server was very keen to help us navigate the menu. Give it a try!

Even more pretentious than the original Volo, if you can believe it. The bartenders were humorless, and had their noses so high in the air it was a wonder they could see you at all. The food was slightly better (though still way overpriced) and the beer selection was underwhelming - its clear they're depending solely on brand recognition, while denying that this place "has nothing to do with the original Volo." I completely agree - that one was actually fun to go to.

Such a great spot to hit up on a nice fall evening. A beautiful patio in the front and back with a deep menu of delicious wine and beer. You can order chicken from PG clucks next door which is a nice touch. We'll be back!

hands down the nicest interior for a beer bar in toronto. tons of exposed brick wall. stylish barrel and bench tables. a long white-top bar (without seats). the lighting is quite dim which may turn some people away, but to me it just adds to the overall classy feel. phenomenal belgian-focused tap list that can please a variety of palates. lager-drinkers, stay away! sour beers aplenty, but not everyone digs sour beers, so they'll have a few (and usually stellar) IPAs and stouts. some ciders as well for the non-beer drinkers. the volo staff never cease to amaze me. very friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to explain or describe any of the beers they are pouring. you can now order some of the neighbouring pg clucks' menu items while you're here too. i tried the "miele" chicken sandwich which has honey and jalapeno. crispy fried chicken, a few sauces, and tons of sliced jalapeno. it packed a vicious spice punch because the jalapeno seeds were kept in, but this was a damn delicious sandwich. however, if you're okay to eat on the sidewalk, i'd recommend going to volo just for drinks then going to pg cluck's separately since it's significantly cheaper. if you're looking for a classy and unique beer experience in toronto, this is the #1 place for that. GO NOW

It's Sunday aft in T.O. just before 3pm. It's blue sky, hot and time for a bevie while enjoying a cycle...I'm on College West, and have driven by this place many times, but never made a point to frequent. So I was on a mission, vist this place and another, Bandit on Dundas. I park my bicycle and look-in the opened garage style window and ask a bar attendent if they are open. A warm yes, and I can almost taste a cold brew. I walk up to the bar and wait for some attention. A few minutes go by and I decide to read the above head beer menu board. It's really impressive and overwhelming. So I decide to disrupt the person struggling with a block of white cheese. Man did it look awkward...lol. I asked her about a light lager and over her shoulder, she made a suggestion/ reco, a pilsner. OK, there was a lager on the board, but I said I'll have her reco. She replied that I would have to wait for someone to come as she was " busy with an order". Ok, no problemo as another person was walking up to the bar, so I waited, and then asked for the reco beer. I told her I would like to sit out in the Sun and order some food. She said ok, I'll bring the beer to you. Perfect, all seems good, cool interior, lots of selection and its Sunday aft on a beautiful day in T.O. Beer arrives and I'm asked if I want to run a tab. I advise I would like to order food, and she states tersely, that a credit card would be required. So I reach into my wallet and grab a twenty and reply, I do not give my credit cards out to anyone...The mood literally switched from being cool to now being, I really do not want to be here. Why, it turns out that they only have service at the bar, as informed by the server who asked me to come and get the change while I was just about to sip on the cold beer. So I looked up and said, Wow, there's alot of rules at this place, and we both walked in to the bar while I awaited the change and receipt. Was the beer worth it, Nope, not even close. Seeing as I work in the Film/TV Commercial biz, and frequent numerous resto/ places across T.O., I really wanted to have a unique experience so I could bring coworkers/clients. Instead, just another T.O. tourist who travelled somewhere in the world and wanted to create a business based on their experience. Which btw, is nothing like Spain, except for the attitude in some parts...lol P.S. I'll give it a try another time to see if it was my vibe that was not positive...Stay tuned.

Let's start with the positives. Great atmosphere and beautiful design inside and out. The patio is also very nice. On the other side of the coin, we were surprised to find out that this location specializing in sour beers (French/Belgian style). This is unlike the original Bar Volo which had a wide variety from the spectrum. We felt that this was too niche, and really missed out on the whole rest of the world of beers. If you love sours you'll probably love this place, if not you'd better go elsewhere.

Volo's outpost on College specializes in sours. Extremely niche and unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of sours. My disposition much like my taste is beer leans heavily on bitter. The location is very small with just a few table near the door, a long narrow bar and a sizeable patio in the back. Unlike the original Volo, this place is not exclusively bar service (which I prefer). I mean, I hate queuing up for drink just as much as anyone else, but I find waiter service for a craft beer joint unnecessary and cumbersome. I mean, if I spill my beer, it's my fault - if server spills beer on me (which happened to another patron as I was there)... grounds for execution. Definitely has more of a 'date' vibe than a 'beer bros' vibe. I would say that you should come check it out if you're a fan of sours, but the offerings are pricey. Most of the taps are around ~$8 for 12 oz pour and more if you want something more exotic. Was hoping this joint would be a good stopgap until original Bar Volo resettles on Church Street -- but I'm just going to have to be patient.

Not a bad little spot but they have a goofy policy of not giving samples of their beer for you to try. It's the first Craft Beer Bar I've ever been to in the city that does this. Instead of a small sample to try they make you buy a 5oz glass. Ridiculous ! I won't go back.

So excited when this place opened recently. Everything about this place is classy. The fitout, the lighting, the menu. Definitely a beer nerds paradise too! Focusing on sour and barrel aged beers, there's really nowhere like it in Toronto!

This is the bar beside PG Clucks. They offer fried chicken on their menu here, which they get right from next door - however, there is definitely a surcharge to eat the chicken here. It's $14 for 2 pieces, whereas if you order directly from PG Clucks it is $8. Oddly enough, when we placed our order, we were never asked whether we wanted the spicy chicken or the regular - they ended up giving us spicy (Nashville hot!) chicken, which made things a bit difficult for two people who do not eat spicy food. The bar is self-serve in the sense that you place your order and start a tab at the bar, and then just sit wherever you want. They have a cute little patio in the back. Beer prices are pretty standard, and they have a pretty large selection. The place gets quite busy in the early evening. I overall thought my experience here was just average, although I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and decor inside.

Dark with a cool atmosphere. A wide selection of unique beers. Unfortunately there's really amateur service to go with the above. Waiters and waitresses frequently leaving mid conversation in a panic or stressed about how to work the new customers that had arrived. Confusion about who is taking orders and serving tables, etc. A cool Atmosphere and good beer are becoming increasingly easy to find downtown. You need to offer something more if you're serving 21 dollar beers on tap.