Grey Tiger

I've walked by this place many times but wasn't catching it while it was open. I saw the sign recently advertised it was "margarita week". A plot was devised. My friend and I were planning a leisurely cruise along Bloordale and this was top tier on our agenda. We couldn't wait for them to open! We were immediately greeted by the lovely Ryan who made us feel like regulars right away. My friend thought he knew me! We chose to check out the adorable back patio, cozy and bright with delightfully ambient music. We were lucky to have Anthony take care of us - he immediately brought the good vibes. He also playfully tolerated my well-meaning sass. The drinks were amazing and he created something magical with just the words: "coffee" and sexy". Wow. We loved when he'd pop in to chat with us just as much as our drinks. We are definitely coming back in September for the anniversary! You should too! Support this local place! I'm also adding this to the list of places to take any one who comes to visit me despite my usual brewery selections. Bonus points for cat themed decor. Be back soon!

We popped in here for a quick drink after dinner on a Friday night. It was reasonably full. We ended up sitting near the front, though the back seemed much more lively. I really liked the menu and how it was laid out. It was pretty thoughtful in terms of how it had charts to see how spirit forward or fruity drinks were. I ended up getting a burnt Cinnamon drink, which was pretty fun and quite aromatic. Overall we had a decent time. No major issues with service or beverages, though nothing was particularly standout either. We'd come back again.

Great vibe inside and in the back patio, excellent service from the skilled and friendly bartender who served us, best Manhattan I've ever had. The friend in the group who ordered a mocktail was pleased with what she got back.

Excellent spot especially for a first date. It’s a beautiful space, has that Bloor west hip vibe without being pretentious. The bartenders KNOW what they’re doing. I sometimes order a cocktail I’ve read about online and they just make it and make it well. Their original cocktails are always great too incorporating unique and original flavour combinations. Check it out!

A very hip fairly small bar which serves creative cocktails, has a few snacks, does bartending courses and has a unique bottle shop that sells wine, beer and spirits. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!!

The bartender Anthony was an absolute gem. He really turned around my day with his positivity, great conversation and excellent service. Thank you for making my last night in Toronto a good experience. Cocktails were in point. Anthony's knowledge and excellent service made my trip! Thank you again for going above and beyond! One love!

My girlfriend & I are we’re excited to come check out this cocktail bar but left utterly disappointed. The drinks were okay but the staff/bar tenders absolutely ruined our experience. The bartenders were very unwelcoming & appeared to be almost burdened by our mere presence. The staff were unhelpful when we asked for assistance picking out a cocktail & didn’t even bother explaining the drinks to us after being served. I could understand if it was a busy night and the staff didn’t have time to be more hospitable but it was literally half empty in there when we arrived/left. We are not the type of couple to make a scene so we paid our bill & left after one drink. We have no plans to return here in the future and will not recommend this place to any of our friends/family.

Great place to celebrate with friends! They offer a great selection of unique drinks, including non-alcoholic options. I love the creative names on their menu!!

This place is easily my favorite neighborhood cocktail bar in Toronto! We usually go for happy hour when drinks are $3 off. The menu is always changing and features unique spirits and creative flavor pairings, so anyone can find a cocktail that speaks to them. During patio season, they have a great outdoor seating area behind the bar. Don't pass this place up!!

Excellent cocktails that actually live up to the elaborate ingredients lists. Good snacks. Not a lot of selection for people in your party who might want wine instead, but it's not their focus.

Really fun drink menu and a laid back sofistopifcated vibe. I had a great cocktail (Walking home alone at night) which came with a little woodfire on the table. Lots of fun, and very social media savvy. They also do cheap whiskey or liquor drink tasters to go with your cocktail. The night we went it was a very nice American rum we could drink straight. (Pictures to come) Recommended.

Grey tiger has amazing cocktails and wonderful staff. It is one of my absolute favourite cocktail bars in Toronto!

Just took their School of Hard Drinks class. Had fun, learned a lot, made some new friends. Highly recommended!

Grey tiger is the best! I discovered it when I had torn my acl and wanted to get out of the house but keep it local. Ever since then, I've been coming here pretty often when I have to study or when I am busying writing for my blog. The overall vibe is relaxed, casual, motivating and they have strong WiFi which I need. The thing I love most about Grey Tiger is that by day its a cafe, and by the evening it turns in onto a bar. Once the liquor starts to pour, you'll be reminded to either disconnect and order a rewarding drink, or realize that you've been there since morning and it's time to pack up and get out of their hair! During the day, I typically order a flat white. There is no acidity at all and very smooth tasting. The latte art is beautifully simple and artistic. Once I ordered the Priscilla toast to snack on - peanut butter, banana and coconut bacon. Nut butter and bananas always made sense in my life as a student but had I known coconut bacon would be a good mix, my university life would've had better days. The fresh Hokkaido milk bread is my favourite part though. Everything else is just extra :) When the evening comes around and I'm still working away, I like to order something on tap. The tap choices change every so often and unfortunately, I don't recall the drafts I've tried... But if the bartender likes it enough to serve it on tap, it's good enough for me. I really recommend Grey Tiger for times when you need to get work done outside of the home, or if you're having a drink with a friend. If you're going somewhere for a first date, I highly recommend this cafe - it's intimate, romantic and oftentimes it's generally quiet.

Nice brightly lit cafe with white walls and light neon furniture for contrast. Couldn't help but notice the interesting Illuminati tabby kitten wallpaper that had David Bowie's distinct face paint. Had a Cortado priced at around $3.50, and found it quite disappointing. The roast was from Propeller Coffee Co. called "Ace," which had received some notable recognition as per advertised on their website. Despite such, was unable to appreciate it. At initial taste it was super sour, which hits the back of your tongue and you start to feel it hurting your parotid glands. By that time, I was feeling the pain in my stomach (high acidity activated an existing small peptic ulcer I've developed whilst on vacation 3 weeks ago) so I had to stop drinking and dispose the rest. Thinking the unpleasant astringency could be due to inconsistent grounding size which changes how the ground chemical properties are dissolved--too course of a ground will result to under-extraction and produce a sour taste. Adding sugar seemed to have worsened it, but adding milk seemed to have made it taste slightly better, only it completely diluted the flavour of the coffee. All that to say, I liked the cute ambience of the cafe, but probably wouldn't return again for their coffee.

Support local businesses! If you KNOW cocktails... You'll love this place. I find their prices are actually very reasonable... I was surprised at how inexpensive the drinks are honestly (for what it is). However, they do have a very lean food and beer menu as they focus all their effort on curating their cocktails and drinks. Whoa whoa whoa... What's with all the stupid two star reviews? "It's a great place to chill, very clean... great choice of cocktails and ambiance but too pretentious and pricey hence the two star"?? First of all, if you ever spoke with anyone who owns an independent restaurant or bar in Toronto... They almost make nothing after paying all the unreasonable rents and taxes in the city. So please, any bad reviews will hurt these businesses. Do you honestly want more ugly Moxies and Jack Astor's in Toronto? Please help sustaining a healthy restaurant/bar industry by supporting these hardworking local businesses. One good review won't waste a lot of your time if they are honestly doing the right thing in the city! Plus, having been to Death and Co., Employees Only as well as other great cocktail spots in North America... Grey Tiger is just as great as these guys if not better... They are honestly amazing and they do whatever they can to keep their customers happy. Most importantly, the owners are honest, humble and full of love... I had an amazing time and experience the last time I paid my visit! I would definitely recommend this place if you are into classic cocktails! P.S. I don't know these guys, and I don't make any money from posting this review.

This place is a great option for a more low-key alternative to local haunts like Bar Neon, Three Speed or Burdock. Maybe the only place you can carry a conversation without yelling on a Friday or Saturday night. Staff is lovely. Cocktails are what they seem focussed on but they also have nice wine. Only critique is that their snacks kind of suck and are overpriced. I think it's like $13-$16 for a small board that has a couple house pickled things on it, 5 x 1-inch (tiny!) pieces of bread and a small dollop of mustard. No butter, no cheese, no hummus. Call me old fashioned but I'm not a fan of any electronic candle alternatives, which they use here.

This cafe seems like a great place to chill, very clean and relaxed. I could spend a few hours here just people watching. It was well designed and quiet. So why the two stars? While they have good choices of cocktails and tea/coffee, the overall vibe seemed a bit pretentious. I ordered the Matcha cortado with almond milk and it costs $5+, which isn't too bad, but it was juist a small little cup. Probably 4 ounces or something. Would I come back? Maybe, but I found things quite pricey. Even the Americano was $3+.

Being at Grey Tiger improved me as a human being... After my first visit, I was able to speak French fluently and became both an Agnostic Minister and a Doula within five minutes... I delivered three child/wolf hybrids capable of speaking truth to power. This is what Grey Tiger feels like... In your bones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvrZJ5C_Nwg

My first time here but I already want to go back again. This is deliciously innovative vegan food and a very extensive drink list of craft beers, bourbons, and cocktails. Owners are super friendly and knowledgeable. Also they made their own amazing wallpaper of a cat shooting lightning out of its eyes, love everything about this place!

I have never been more disappointed with how I have been treated at an establishment. The service I received from the person who made my Americano (which was mediocre as well as overpriced) was very poor, and my requests for the wifi password were met with a very stand-offish reluctance. (As an aside- I'll also comment that the wifi was very slow and spotty). Everything about my interaction with the person who made my drink made me feel like I was a burden as a customer, even though I was not being overly complicated or unreasonable. The most disgusting part of my visit there was when I was working on my laptop, headphones in, and reached in my backpack to grab a piece of gum. As soon as I popped the piece in my mouth, another person who worked there (tall, masculine presenting) came up to me and violently shook my shoulder and motioned for me to remove my headphones. This person shook me so hard, and so suddenly, that I almost yelled out from the surprise and jolt of it all. Once I took off my headphones, they said "WE DON'T ALLOW OUTSIDE FOOD HERE," to which I replied, "uhh it's just gum?" Then they ran outside the cafe and onto Bloor St. I immediately packed my shit up and left. I am astounded as to the unwarranted violation of my personal space for something as fucking insignificant as me eating a piece of gum. What kind of scrutiny does this business have for its customers? What kind of place allows/encourages/enables its workers to violently disrupt its customers? I also cannot help but to think of my identity as a feminine presenting woman, which contributed to how this masculine presenting worker exerted a particular kind of force and violation of my personal space that fits within the violence that is normalized in the patriarchy. Yelling at women, interrupting women, and/or getting in women's faces are all forms of violence, and occur through systemic oppression and misogyny. I cannot stress enough how vile I think this place is. I urge all potential customers to take their business elsewhere. Go anywhere, but don't go to Grey Tiger.

If you're into well-mixed cocktails, this is the place for you! They've got an extensive cocktail list, with a really fun menu of signature drinks. You can actually taste the booze in the drinks that they serve, which is mucho appreciated, and each one has several flavours perfectly melded together. This is a small joint better geared to groups of 4 or less, and is very dark inside during the evening. Their food menu is small, consisting of a few finger foods, none of which we tried. Lovely owners.

I've only been once so far, but I quite like the vibe at this coffee shop. It's warm and homely (the way English and Irish people use the word). Friendly staff. Space to work on your table. Good Wi-Fi. I've only been here so far for the coffee, but I enjoyed my latte. Strong and rich espresso with nicely foamed milk. They have quite the selection of liquor and what looks like an interesting cocktail list. I haven't tried any of their cocktails yet, but it looks like it could be quite promising. Rather limited beer list, but they have $5 pints from 5-7 PM for happy hour.

::sigh:: I'm conflicted with the strong desire for Grey Tiger to succeed and my own selfish want for a secret watering hole. Alas, I can't hold back. GT is nauseatingly charming. The owners are beyond pleasant, and gracious and polite. I've never been so immediately welcomed and accommodated. Oh and did I mention their whiskey selection is sick??? Ryan knows his shit. And I could sit there and taste every exotic and new whiskey if alcohol poisoning wasn't a real threat. Not to mention the 'Priscilla' (a cheeky vegan play on the Elvis) is delicious. Congratulations GT your passion and knowledge is very evident. P.S the prices are so reasonable that I felt guilty paying $8 for a whiskey so good I giggled to myself

Ohhhh Priscilla. She's not the bartender. She's the toast with peanut butter, banana and coconut bacon (VEGAN!) Although the staff is equally as lovely ;). I've never felt more welcomed at a new spot, treated more like a friend than a patron. They've already got a head start with their cocktails - elegant flavours and creative combos. I was proud and enthralled to be a bit of a guinea pig, as the owner directed his staff on the concoctions. If you want some charm, go see the Tiger.

Wow. This place blew me away. I'm visiting from NYC and I stumbled upon this little place. It's a perfect place with an extensive menu and a super cool history. I've recommended this place to all my friends, it's the best.

Worst cafe in Toronto. Rudest staff. Dry baked stuff. Shit coffee. Will never return.

I'm updating my review because I've visited a few more times since my last visit and find the service has improved a lot. The cocktails are very tasty and the owners are great to chat with. The only small thing I would mention is that they tend to close unexpectedly. While this is no big deal for people like myself who live in the area and just drop-by, it makes it very difficult to make plans with friends who would be travelling to the area. I think it's great that the owners take some time for themselves or to work on a new menu, but closing up shop on random days without warnings, or for weeks at a time (like right now in August), will make it difficult in the long-run for them to build up clientele from anywhere outside of Bloordale. Just my opinion anyways. I really want to bring my friends to this great spot, but will have to wait until the hours become more consistent.

I love this place. My husband and I come here with a pack of cards and the ability to go out and have a nice non-alcoholic, yet complex drink. No tvs for distraction and nice ambiance. The bathrooms are great, private rooms..nice wallpapers, and clean :)

Came here for cocktails one night with some friends. Drinks were good but some of the 7+ ingredients got lost to one another at times. I didn't have any issues with the service like others but there wasn't anything memorable about it either. For what we paid I would have rather gone somewhere else tbh.. Cute Lufthansa map on the wall tho

Well, that was god awful. First, the good: the food was good. That's about all. The bad: Where did the service go? Very strange that you would open up an establishment that is encouraging something as positive as veganism and then proceed to treat your customers like crap. I agree with the review a couple of entries down that points out their 'confrontational attitude'. Bingo. To me, that's bizarre. What's the point of alienating your customers? The owners are incredibly, incredibly rude. So much so that I felt compelled to leave a review to warn others off. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. My only hope is that they read these reviews and attempt to improve their customer service. Otherwise, do us all a favor and close up shop. Thanks, but no thanks.

I've been meaning to check out Grey Tiger since they opened as I'm always interested in new vegan spots. This wasn't ideal timing because we just ate some snacks at Bunners, but I just wanted a coffee and to check the place out. Unfortunately this plan didn't jibe well with the person taking my order. Since I was with someone else we were informed that my partner should order something too. Well, she didn't want anything. The place was completely empty, we were literally the only patrons in the place so I'm not sure what the problem was. And we were at an engagement party earlier so we definitely didn't look like a couple of scumbags looking to take a nap at a table. I was so shocked by their behavior I actually asked if I should change my order to "to go" and they passive-aggressively let me know that we were allowed to stay and drink the coffee. It was the most awkward coffee I've had in Toronto. I basically pounded it, then we got out of there and I'm not planning on returning. The americano was ok, the mug was covered in fresh espresso splatters so they might want to check out the machine. tl;dr If you go with anyone else make sure you are all ordering something. Which shouldn't be a problem most of the time, but hey, maybe someone you're with isn't hungry?

Although they have a good selection of drinks and they make a good coffee, Grey Tiger has the worst customer service I have ever experienced. (I have been 3 times because I live in the neighbourhood and I wanted to give them a chance). I am not sure if they are a cafe that serves alcohol or a martini bar that serves coffee. The distinction only matters insofar as the customer has no idea whether there is table service or not. The owners do not greet customers that visit Grey Tiger. In fact, they make little to no effort to be friendly. As someone who has been a barista for over ten years, I expect some kind of acknowledgement from staff. Even when you are standing at the counter to order a coffee, the owners will not even say 'hi' or 'how's it going'. I don't want to be their friends -- just be courteous and acknowledge me. I think the owners must have worked in bars or restaurants where customer service mattered little because of the cache of the bar; this is the only way I can explain their complete lack of personality, confrontational attitude, and the vibe that you are putting them out when you want to buy something. Of course, I don't expect the owners to be bubbly. The Burdock and Three Speed across the street from Grey Tiger do not have bubbly, over-excited servers; however, the service is prompt, friendly, and they are consummate and total professionals. They are models for all bars and restos. Conversely, I get the feeling at Grey Tiger that they have no interest in even talking to their customers, so why did they open a cafe? Honestly, I feel bad for Grey Tiger because it is never busy -- the irregular hours do not help. So, some advice for the owners: you have one chance (in my case 3) to make an impression on a customer -- engage them, be professional and be friendly. You make really good coffee, and I am sure your cocktails are really good too -- drop or change your ATTITUDE and maybe you can still be a success!

The folks that operate Grey Tiger are sweet and caring. I really appreciated the fact that the expert bar tender came by to talk to us about the drinks that he personally crafted, and the other lady was extremely attentive and friendly to my party. The drinks are creative, skilfully crafted, and tasty. The drink descriptions are accurate. An awesome spot with a curious menu. I'll be back. Thanks for bringing something distinct and genuinely good to toronto--that's hard to find here!!

What an amazing place to get a cocktail! The cocktails clearly have an amazing amount of thought and effort put into them. We got cocktails from the menu, loved them; then got the dealers choice, where you answer questions about your preferences and get a surprise. It was perfectly tailored to my taste, interesting and delicious. Certainly one of the best cocktails I've had in the city, complete with great, friendly service.

This is a labor of love for Becky and Ryan, young artists with passion for beverages and snacks. Ryan handles the bar that is stocked with every manner of spirits. He concocts beautiful and tasty cocktails that are truly unique. Becky makes her favorite childhood foods updated for healthy vegan tastes. Becky's art is everywhere. And Ryan's aesthetic is reflected in the hand hewn bar and cabinetry. This is a must go destination to chill and have a wonderful tea, coffee or cocktail.

As a vegan, I honestly get SO excited when I find a new place that I can actually try everything on the menu. Stumbled across Grey Tiger on a walk down Bloor and was very pleasantly surprised by the delicious snacks- I had the Priscilla toast (yum!!) and the banana bread. Both were exceptionally tasty and would definitely come back for those alone. However it was the lovely service that will definitely keep me a repeat customer. I believe I was served by the owner, and she was so sweet and helpful. She made great recommendations, and I think that she makes all the baked goods in house which earns an extra thumbs up from me. The space itself is gorgeous and it looks like they have a great cocktail selection as well so I will be back to try those asap. Check this place out if you want an overall very lovely cafe experience!

This is one of the most incredible places for a fabulous cocktail, accompanied by an equally fabulous and accommodating staff. I'm a cocktail junky through and through and I'm incapable of going elsewhere for fear of certain disappointment. I frequently come here for coffees and to do work in a pleasant "community" feel cafe...that turns into a delicious bar at night. Strongly recommend any real cocktail aficionados or first timers (BTW: Ryan, the mixologist is great as far as walking you through every drink and tailoring them to your own tastes) people to check it out.

We went here and were taken care of extraordinarily well. The owners sat and chatted, fixed us cocktails off the menu when we wanted a surprise--they improvised some of the best cocktails we had all night! The Jesus Fizz and Hare Trigger are must tries. The Grey Tiger is a labour of love and it shows from the moment you walk in: the atmosphere is expertly achieved, their furniture is hand built by the owners. The menu is filled with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations that just shows a real commitment to their drinks. Really couldn't speak more highly of our time at The Grey Tiger.

Love the addition of Grey Tiger to the 'hood. It's a nice and quiet place to have an evening cocktail and a warm chill place to grab a coffee. The owners are very relaxed and their high maintenance coffee machine is the best sidekick a coffee shop could have :))) Their baked treats are also way yum! Overall, great place to get your chill vibe on to groovy tunes.!

I'm so glad a place like this exists in my neighbourhood. The best cafe to work in during the day and an amazing cocktail bar at night. The beer they have on tap is always interesting and you can tell they put a lot of thought into the selections. They also have great daytime specials. The owners are two of the nicest most interesting people you could hope to meet and the artwork that they've designed their place with is gorgeous. Major Tom cat meets mystical crystal cave meets chill cocktail cafe. It's somehow sleek and whimsical all at the same time. They play an eclectic soundtrack from funky soul to reggae to folk to classic oldschool hiphop that always seems to fit the mood and has me pulling out Shazam a few times every visit. The drinks look like magical spells if you watch them being put together. I'll keep coming to this place until they kick me out.