Melrose On Adelaide

The restaurant was nicely decorated, the food was absolutely delicious, and the service was incredible! Thank you Mariam for taking care of us! We went for their buck a shuck special on Sundays. Oysters were fresh and tasty. We also ordered their potatoes, octopus, shrimp and the warm charcuterie board. Everything was incredibly delicious 😋

I visited to celebrate my 24th birthday, and the experience exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and beautifully curated. The service was exceptional and truly made the evening feel special. Our server, Dani—who typically works downstairs in the wine area—went above and beyond to support his team and provided outstanding service throughout the night. The drinks were excellent, and every detail was thoughtfully handled. Thank you, Melrose, for a memorable evening. I will definitely be returning.

We stopped into Melrose on Adelaide for a quick bite and a drink on our way to meet friends at Storm Crow Manor, since travel had us starving. We ordered a glass of rosé, a strawberry margarita, the mussels to share, and finished with a Fresh Prince. The rosé was a classic French rosé—simple, crisp, and exactly what we needed. Austin thought the strawberry margarita was good but not his favorite, while I don’t even usually like margaritas and thought it was delicious. The Fresh Prince was also tasty—refreshing, though I’d rank the margarita just a little higher. Either way, both cocktails were well-made and easy to enjoy. The mussels, though, were the star of the show—absolutely phenomenal. The broth was so good that we shamelessly drank it from the bottom of the bowl after we scarfed down the mussels. For a quick stop, the food, drinks, and friendly service made this such a great experience. The ambiance sealed it—dimly lit, cozy, with lit candles on every table and chill music in the background. It’s a cute, intimate spot that would be perfect for date night.

I arrived to celebrate my anniversary, they gave us a complimentary glass of what seemed to be white wine, very tasty, we tasted 2 dishes to share, everything was delicious and great service, they also have a varied cocktail bar with good flavors, one of the best on Adelaide Street.

I did not have an enjoyable time here. I felt the service was disorganized and chaotic in terms of their communication. I came here Sunday at opening so there were very few occupied tables. It took 80 minutes for them to bring my order which merely consisted of their Bruschetta ($12). I felt like Gordon Ramsey in Hell’s Kitchen when that chef made a salad for her signature dish and he was dismayed that it took 30 minutes to make it despite not cooking anything (except toasting the nuts). Bruschetta is toasted bread topped with tomatoes - what took so long? We told the staff multiple times we were waiting for the Bruschetta and they seemed lost. They did not communicate what the hold up was about nor did they apologize. The service team also tried to bring us food and drinks which other tables ordered. This was definitely not a great first impression. That said, the food was tasty but with that level of service, I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

Stas is hands down my favourite bartender in the city. Every time I’m at Melrose on Adelaide, she makes the experience next-level. Super friendly, genuinely attentive, and clearly passionate about what she does. Her drink recommendations are always spot-on, cocktails are perfectly balanced, and she somehow manages to make everyone at the bar feel like a regular. Stas brings great energy without ever being overbearing, and that’s what keeps me coming back. Melrose is lucky to have her behind the bar.

Neat little place. Came before the theatre the day of a big snowstorm. Very speak easy, dark vibe. Place was cold! Was told it was because the building was so old. Never warmed up in the 2 hours we were there. Ordered 2 charcuterie boards and 2 warm olives from the happy hour menu and it was plenty for 3 people. 2 of us ordered the steak tartar. It was a good size but average flavour. 1 ordered the mussels which were good but barely any broth. Espresso martinis were good as well. Service was pleasant and prompt. The stairs to the bathroom and from the front door were barely lit and knowing which bathroom was men's or womens was confusing. Twice I heard people apologize for walking into the men's? women's? incorrectly? Also, having the 'pls wait to be seated' sign directly in the middle, at the top of the narrow stairs, makes it a bit awkward to navigate around. Overall, an enjoyable evening. I would consider coming again in warmer weather.

I’ve been here 3 times and always really loved the vibe here. It’s in a very convenient location and it’s always quite easy to grab a reservation here. Originally I visited this place solely bc of its location and how it was easy to get reservations but honestly I quite like the cocktails here. Into the rose garden was so good and goes down smoothly! And I also got an orange drink that tasted like an orange creamsicle. I personally didn’t love the charcuterie spread as much despite everything on the spread being really tasty. I wish there were more cheeses to munch on and fewer pieces of bread and pickled veggies

I love coming to Mel rose for light drinks during their happy hours! the price in downtown core can't be beat!! not to mention they have the best charcuterie board with homemade pickles! it's a great spot for a casual date night or girls night

We came here for happy hour. They have limited happy hour selection. The wine and beer at the happy hour rate is a good deal. We ordered bread and olive oil. It was supposed to be sourdough bread but it felt like cold white bread. It wasn't even toasted. The olive oil was rancid. We swapped it out for hummus and pita. The pita was too burnt for my husband but the hummus was very tasty. This place was on my list for the longest time but it ended up being disappointing.

Came here for a drink on my birthday - our wonderful server brought our table a free shot to celebrate. We each got a drink as well and sat and enjoyed the bar and our company. The ambiance is very dim and intimate. It was a great place to end off a day of birthday celebrations!!

Made my second trip to Melrose on Adelaide and decided to try some new dishes. I opted for the house charcuterie, which was honestly really good, and I enjoyed all the accompanying items they provided. However, the bread was a bit stale, and I was disappointed there were only two cheeses. I also tried the hummus, which isn't on the menu but turned out to be even better than the charcuterie board. The bread served with it was light, well-cooked, and the hummus itself had a nice kick. The service was decent, though not quite as impressive as my first visit, but still satisfactory. Overall, this visit wasn't as stellar as the first, but it was still worth coming to try new things.

Absolutely delicious drinks I honestly forgot what the drink was that I tried but it was so good and mixed while the flavors complimented each other I also got some champagne and that was also very smooth but slight bubbles to it The service was great my server was really nice and always coming back to make sure that we were comfortable and our table was in because it is a smaller table for more intimate vibes I tried various small bites and they have some unique dishes flavors definitely try the chickpea hummus has a slight spice to it but I like that paired with pickles onions! They also have charcuterie boards which is great if you are going for a full meal but you still want something to pick up while you have your drinks

I've been here a couple times over the years and they're consistently good. They have one of the best espresso martinis in the city imo. The only thing is that it gets really warm indoors in the summer, it's like the fans are for show and not for cool air or even a breeze.

Visited during their happy hour. Outside patio had a couple of picnic table that gave us more space to sit. $20 Charcuterie board came with 6-7 slices of cold meats, a couple of peaces of bread, crostini, pickled veg, whole grain mustard, two different kinds of cheese & generous amount of honey to drizzle. It was enough for two people to snack. $5 Merlose lager was Steam Whistle Brewery Pilsner. Ordered fried cookie dough($14) made with molten chocolate cookie dough & dolce de leche cause it sounded interesting, it literally tasted like cookie dough that was fried.

I'd definitely only come back here for drinks only in the future. Their food menu is small and lack lustre. The potatoes were overcooked and just full of oil. The chicken kebab was okay. It just tasted like a regular kebab from a chain store. For dessert, we had the cookie ball smores and it was not good... it was grainy, seemed undercooked and the chocolate wasn't melted. One spot was also cold. The margarita I had was pretty good and I'd definitely repurchase

Only popped in for a quick drink so didn't get to try the food. Sat by the bar and asked the bar tender what she recommended for a light weight like me. She made their classic cocktail which is pictured but I didn't get the name. It wasn't over powering but just enough flavour but that doesn't mean they diluted the alcohol because I was feeling it soon after. If my liver didn't know it my skin sure showed it hahaha. This place is a favorite of my partner and music, vibes are all really great. There was a leak under the bar somewhere and my partner started to help them with it and used his bright flash light on his phone - typical embarrassing moments with him and that is what happens when you are running around town with a man's man lol but staff really appreciated it and were very friendly. Would definitely return for drinks!

I had a great time back, the food here never disappoints. I had the pleasure in trying the Warm Board and the Sea Board, Espresso Martini and an Old Fashion, they were all amazing. The Sea board had smoked salmon, mussels, shrimp and oysters, most of these items can be ordered separately on their menu. The mussels and shrimp were so GOOD I couldn't stop dipping my bread in the butter the seafood was cooked in. (It was that flavourful) The Warm board consists of fried chicken, their in house stuffed sausages with cheese, brisket, peppers and pickles. My boyfriend really enjoyed this one the sausages were absolute amazing. The staff was super nice and attentive, thank you Brian for inviting us back and Ashley for the wonderful service. Definitely a cool spot to come with friends.

This spot is perfect for a date night or a girls night out! They have an amazing section of cocktails, would highly recommend their "Into the Rose Garden" for something fruity, fragrant and a bit sour or "Paper Garden" if you're a fan of strong alcohol. Saw reviews that the food was just okay but surprisingly the spicy octopus was very good! Wish it was larger though, considering it was $27. They gave us a lot of mussels ($17) too! Sourdough was a bit stale. As the night went on, it got pretty loud, even on a Monday so just a FYI that this place does get busy!

I was so excited to try this place as my friends came a few days ago and raved about the vegan charcuterie board and they were thrilled that they got it at a reduced price for happy hour. Since I'm vegan and gluten free, my friend brought me here to have the same board during happy hour before our tiff movie. They gave a bunch of mostly broken Mary's brand gluten free crackers instead of the bread/pita and charged $3 extra. They charged full price ($32)for the board and when I asked for happy hour pricing the server said it didn't apply to the vegan board. My friend said they were given happy hour pricing ($20) just 5 days prior but she did not care and said no. Then we asked for containers to pack it up and she said she only had boxes. We asked for small containers for the jam/hummus with lids but they did not have any so we had to leave some items behind. The vegan cheese with jam were tasty but the hummus was bland. The vegan sausage was not bad.

They have candles at every day, so it can get a hot! The server was nice enough to turn up the a/c upon the complaint. The highlight of the night was definitely their oysters, which are buck a shuck on Sundays! The rest of the food was mediocre but the service was amazing! The servers kept stopping by to pour our champagne for us!

The food is actually better than I thought and the drinks are good too. Staff is friendly but slow. The music is actually too loud where it is impossible to have a proper conversation. Not a bad spot to go with a group of friends. Not a spot if you are on a date.

First time here this past week. Went with a couple of friends. Would definitely say we enjoyed the vibe here. It's actually a very good date spot with actual candle lit tables and good rnb music playing. Happy hour is a bonus here. Would definitely recommend getting the board during happy hour for $20. The drinks were good too. Obviously with downtown bar drink prices, happy hour was great! Would definitely come back here in the future.

My friends and I were trying to find a cool bar and tapas place in the city to drink and talk and we fell into Melrose on Adelaide. Melrose is in the heart of entertainment area. Inside the restaurant, there is this gloomy and romantic ambience, and there are candles lit on every table. This environment was super cozy and had a good vibe to it. The food and drinks at this place were honestly the HIGHLIGHT to Melrose. I have never heard of a Seacuterie board before but honestly, Melrose has done it justice. It had oysters, shrimps, mussels, salmon and bread. Everything on this board was super flavourful and it paired so well with our drinks. We also got a side of beef tartare and I love the egg and cheese they added to the fresh beef. The food was an absolute 10/10. I got a red wine, but my girl friends all got a different type of cocktails. They were all mixed so deliciously, with a good balance of sweet, alcohol and acidity. I would highly recommend coming to Melrose if you are looking for a chill night out with friends and want to munch on some delicious tapas as you drink!

Beautiful bar, Tasty Cocktails and Delicious Apps . . Mussels with white wine shallot sauce 4.5/5 Great portion and very flavourful When the Smoke Clears Cocktail - 5/5 Flight Risk Cocktail - 4/5 . . Overall, we really enjoyed this bar. The setting is very romantic, with candles and dimmed lights everywhere. The cocktails and mussels were super delicious as well. The only thing I have to criticize is that the music was really loud. You need to almost scream at one another for you to hear rach other. Other than that, great bar! Oh and make sure you make a reservation!

I stopped by on a Saturday night with a group, and we were looking to dine inside. They have some fun patio / street seating as well in the summer. The atmosphere inside the venue can be considered romantic, but it truly is a nice lowkey spot to have a few drinks. Our group had really enjoyed the Girl Talk, Melrose Mule, and Into The Rose Garden cocktails. We didn't come for food, but decided to share the Parisian Burrata and the Bread and Oil appetizer. I'm so glad we did since it was the perfect snack food for an evening out. Melrose is a fantastic stop to any bar crawl.

Good cocktails, chill atmosphere on the patio (albeit regular Toronto street noise on Adelaide). The shareable plates tasted good but were snack-sized and not amazing for the price. Overall a good place to bring friends but nothing spectacular. Heard great things about the ambiance inside, so will definitely try to sit inside if I come back again!

Favourite item: Seacuterie - If you're a seafood lover, you'll enjoy the variety in this board. Everything tasted fresh and the shrimp is so juicy and flavourful. You'll be soaking all the bread in the shrimp and mussel broths! Other items ordered: Hummus and pita - delicious hummus with a bit of a kick and tasty roasted garlic served with soft fluffy pita! The fact that it's available during happy hour makes it a great value, so try and come early. House charcuterie board - everything on the board tasted good, but it's nothing special so I'll only order this again if it's happy hour! Overall, it was an enjoyable experience in what feels like a more intimate hidden away restaurant/cocktail bar. When I return, it will definitely be during happy hour.

Ambiance indoors is great with outdoor seating. Drinks were also pretty good! It's a nice polished cocktail bar if you want a chill evening! We grabbed a drink before dinner. The only thing was you can't really changes the alcohol in the cocktails they have on the menu, which I thought was weird bc some ppl don't do well with certain liquors. For e.g I'm can't stomach gin and I wanted to replace it with another liquor in a certain cocktail. The server got pressed and and went to explain to me how someone took their time to create this menu so I should just order as is from the menu. I get that but if I'm at a pricey cocktail bar I'm drinking a a liquor that my body favors. Presentation was good fine ended up drinking a watermelon habanero marg. It had a kick but they made it well there it doesn't burn like other spicy margs

We had the house charcuterie and the seacuterie boards and both were amazing! Drinks are great, atmosphere is so cool, staff was super friendly, definitely would come back!

This place is my go-to for bringing friends when they first land in Toronto or catching up with someone I haven't seen in awhile! It's sharing-style charcuterie with AMAZING seasonal and mainstay house cocktails. The best part for me? Vegan charcuterie board that does not "taste vegan" (my non-vegan friends enjoy it) and their foamy cocktails are made with aquafaba, not egg whites! Plus, it is a casual-yet-cozy and intimate decor with candles inside and cute patio lights on the sidewalk. Highly recommend!

Walked in after a long flight from the San Francisco/Bay Area. Was staying downtown and needed a great made cocktail with awesome atmosphere to decompress. Beautiful. The atmosphere, the drink, the service is exceptional and worth every penny. Gives San Francisco a run for its money. Cocktails are balanced, and not over powering. Food could use an extra kick but knowing it's a gastro"pub" with brownstone candle lights and a great vibe is all one needs to escape the stigma traps of downtown. Thank you Graham, Ashley, Colton for a great time!

I came to this restaurant in a large party on a friday night. We made sure to book well in advance. We ordered a variety of the charcuterie boards which were all very good. I especially enjoyed the seacuterie and octopus dish! I would recommend coming to start the night off for some drinks and apps. The ambiance was great. The deal that offers a free espresso martini through yelp no longer exists.

I had a really, really hard time enjoying this place. You walk in and are greeted to a beautiful bar/restaurant concept, but soon realize it's a pretentious facade. The service needs quite a bit of work, as some waitresses are rude and you'll find yourself needing to flag someone down to order or get the bill as they never come by. My friend and I also shared oysters to go with our drinks - they were disgusting. The oysters we're covered in some sort of grit...felt like I was chewing stone chips. And to top it off, when I was handed the machine to pay, the waitress, whether deliberately or accidentally, entered a total that was 5x my actual total - I noticed because the top options were abnormally high. When I raised this, she brushed it off like it was nothing, wouldn't be surprised if it was done on purpose. Make sure to double check your bill here!

Melrose was a beautiful, girly place for drinks and food. Great place for a girls hang out. Cocktails: Rose garden 10/10 floral but refreshing Espresso Martini 9/10 amazing and simple Spicy Margarita 7.5/10 I'm not the biggest fan but if you like a little kick - this is awesome! Food: Hummus and Pita was excellent 8/10!

Second trip to this beautiful bar! Cozy place with pretty lights and cocktails! Music is perfect and so is the service! Our server was so so nice, suggested the best food! I am surprised how this place was so packed yet had fewer reviews on Yelp! Had the rose garden cocktail but changed the alcohol to Vodka instead of Gin! New fav bar for sure!

Everything you could want for an intimate dinner experience is right here at Melrose! Located in the heart of Downtown Toronto is this unique dainty restaurant. Dimmed lighting with candle lit tables, make it feel really cozy and personal. The decor fits in with the aesthetic and name of the restaurant! I was told the mirrors in the bathroom are great for selfies haha Moving onto the food! As you can see in the photos, everything looks delicious and I can confirm that it was! It's a great place to have a little bit of everything and share it with whoever you're with, without sticking to just one entree. The shareables or charcuterie varied in selection from Warm, Seafood and even Vegan! But my all time favourite was the Stuffed Pork Ribs. A must-try when here! The service was exceptional because our waitress was kind and very accommodating! Would definitely come back here and try new dishes!

This place did not disappoint! We came in on a Saturday night with no reservation. The establishment was packed but we were seated within 10 minutes. Immediately we were greeted and given water. The ambiance is so cozy, the candlelight makes it great for a date night. Whoever curated the playlist deserves a raise! Great RnB and Top 40. The drinks were strong but really good! I recommend the State of Mind. We got the Oysters (very fresh), the spicy octopus, hummus, and the Santorini Salad. All were amazing. The only thing is that the space is a little tight but it's absolutely manageable. Our server was very sweet! We will definitely be back.

This place is a great drinks and snack vibe! It's a smaller venue and pretty busy but I did really like it. Service is also really good- servers are really attentive and nice. It's dark inside and lit by candles. The music isn't too loud and the playlist is mainly RnB. The drinks are really good and average priced for the City. The star was definitely the vegan charcuterie. The sausage and cheese texture was really good. To me, both tasted like the real thing. I would definitely come back here.

When did this place become a Hot Mess Express ? . Last night (6Feb2024) I showed up to my reservation at Melrose having requested a quiet corner table in my reservation notes. I stood there and watched the hostess Give away the table I requested to TWO Walk-in guests. LOL it gets worse . She then tried to sit me and my very TALL guest at a communal table between 5-6 people SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE. I'm sorry but as a hostess you have to be FIRM with how you're seating guests. Walk in's don't have priority over guests with reservations. After moving to the bar, which had more room BUT was DIRTY, WET and looked like it hadn't been wiped in hours . I ordered the strawberry margarita, which was average at best. I Then moved on to the bruschetta which was soggy and smelled quite funky ... (would not recommend I only had 2 bites for fear of food poisoning ). I had my heart set on the spicy octopus which I remember being savoury, Smokey & delicious (I had it brunch last summer and couldn't stop thinking about it . ) When I Bit into the octopus all I could taste was SALT . No seasonings , like I remember the last time I... JUST Salt and a bit of bitterness from the burnt char on it ... To top this disappointing meal off, the music was extremely LOUD, to the point where I couldn't hear anything my friend was saying. There was also a very drunk/insane "regular " guest at the bar shouting out strange phrases and scaring all the customers . When did this place turn into a nightmare nightclub?!? All in all, I won't be back .. and if Melrose was such a hot mess on a Tuesday night , what would the experience be like in the weekends?!

Food: 4/5. Service: 5/5. Cocktails: 5/5. Happy hour cheese board. Grilled octopus, mussels, kebab. Feels like your best friend's house.

Small portions | inattentive servers | little seating I really wanted to like this place. I went for happy hour with my bestie for a first time meet and greet with her then boyfriend, so the vibes were important. When we got there, we wanted to seated outside but could not find anyone to seat us. The bartender called us over and he was about to seat us. We were told we couldn't sit outside so we got an 8 person table for 3 people inside. It was dark and the ambiance was off for 4pm in the afternoon. We strongly suggested that we wanted to be outside so the begrudgingly seated us at a picnic table. Just know that this place has a very small menu... which is fine if the options were good. We both ordered the house wine and the bf ordered a speciality drink that was mostly ice. The server was really hassling us to order and really didn't offer any advice when we asked for her recommendations. She just said, "everything is good ". We ordered the deep fried cauliflower and the ceviche. The cauliflower was subpar, basic at best. I've had the same quality from a chain restaurants. However thr ceviche... I actually LAUGHED. We got 3 chips but i kid you not, it was a tablespoon of ceviche. I was livid that I don't have a picture of it but DO NOT ORDER THIS. I called the server back and asked her if this is the normal serving size. For almost $30 this is unacceptable so I sent it back. I was just embarrassed to do so but I would be even more embarrassed to have kept it. The serves tune then changed and she was a lot nicer because she knew her tip was on the line. When we paid the bill she apologied that she didn't point out the ceviche size because, "yeah it's actually quite small and I never order it". Needless to say this was a sad happy hour experience and I'll never be back.

Food was great. You can't be in a hurry if you go. It took quite some to get served but once you were, it was fine

Nathalie was an incredible server, what a great experience! She knew what needed without even being asked :)

I love this place. The food is flavourful and the potions never leave me disappointed. Their oysters are so yummy and are the reason I keep coming back. I love the care they take to dress them and how beautiful the presentation is. They do some killer cocktails as well. It's a perfect date night spot as it's romantic and there are candles everywhere. A gem.

ATMOSPHERE (4/5) I came here with my ladies. It was a lovely girls' night out. This place is very cozy and romantic. If you are looking for a place for a date night, you should come to check it out. For me, I enjoyed a night out with my ladies . I might come back again with my hubby or more nights out with girls! FOOD & DRINKS (4/5) Grilled Octopus (4.75/5) Mussels (4/5) Oysters (3.5/5) Charcuterie (3.5/5) Negroni Sbagliato (4/5) Into the Rose of Garden (4.5/5) The food was excellent, especially the Grilled Octopus and Mussels. I would come back again to have these two items. Their octopus was extraordinary. It was tender, not rubbery or chewy, and the sauce was only a little spicy and full of garlic just the way I like it. @kristinerella54 also said that she would come back again just for having the octopus. It was her most favourite dish tonight. Another dish that I would recommend is Mussels. They were a perfect size, tender and sweet. Love it! (you can ask @kerry.on.eating how she liked it ). We also had their House Charcuterie and Negroni Sbagliato. They were their specials for Happy Hours. The House Charcuterie was $20, cheaper than their regular price of $28. It came with three cured meat, three cheese and bread. The price was good! It's good for sharing with 2-3 people. Great with wine or even with their drink special, Negroni Sbagliato. Negroni Sbagliato was a light version of Negroni. I had Classic Negroni many times but this was my first time trying Sbagliato. The server mentioned that they used bubbling champagne instead of gin. It was awesome. I prefer it rather than the classic Negroni. However, if you like your cocktail to be sweet, I would recommend you to get Into the Rose of Garden Cocktail. For sure, it's pretty and Instagrammable! SERVICE (4.5/5) We got a rose from the manager! Yes, it's Melrose on Adelaide. Perfect name! PRICE (4/5) HAPPY HOUR: every day from 4-7 pm. OVERALL (4.25/5)

Great date spot, or to grab a drink and snacks with some friends. The cocktails are good and you can't beat 1/2 price wine on Wednesdays! The shrimp and mussels are amazing! Charcuterie is good, especially during happy hour. Great music and ambience!

Great cocktails and food (octopus dish was to die for!). Portions are fairly small for the prices. Service was a bit scattered. They have a street patio which can feel a bit hectic Adelaide.

A small but cute space with a cool vibe and great food. Get a charcuterie board!!! They're amazing and super filling. The Truffle Vegan Gnocchi is also really good.

Loved the rustic decor, and the fact that it was almost completely lit by candles. The big windows with stained glass element made the space feel open. Too bad it looked out on to Hooters. Have plenty of creative cocktails. The rose garden was my fave. Saw many other guests ordering wine too. After a good start to the night though service deteriorated and we waited 20 minutes for the server to reappear in our corner so we could ask for the bill. Seemed like they could have used an extra pair of hands. Anyway the quality of the drinks and an intriguing food menu were enough for me to come back.

The place was beautiful and a great spot for a quick drink and food. The time limit was a little different then what I am used too but the food and drinks were worth it

Cozy cocktail bar for date night. Drinks were delicious and the servers were friendly and attentive. The bruschetta was tasty, but the bread was not adequately toasted and fell apart. Go there for drinks.

This is the perfect bar for a nice date! The inside is dimly lit with string lights, music level is moderate so you can talk without shouting, location is central, and the bar has a kind of low key hidden vibe. They have happy hour from 5-7 with special discounts, including their cocktail on tap. I really like how they divide their cocktails in the menu based on taste preferences. Also, not sure why, but many of their drinks were gin based. I tried a gin and rose cocktail which tasted great! Would definitely recommend this place for a romantic date!

Favourite spot in Toronto for drinks, oysters, and catching up with friends! During the day time it's a bit dark as light is primarily from the windows (and candlelight?), and at night there's a bit of a romantic ambiance.

Staff is great, though it was a bit slow. the drinks and flavours not so great. Also the glass for the happy hour cocktail is slightly smaller than normal hours. Still good vibe and cute place!

Cute, intimate, dark (with nice string lights around the bar for decor), low key and perfect for a date... or a double date as it was in my case! Awesome bartenders, great cheese plate, and decent enough happy hour specials from 5-7. The house wine is... house-y, but good enough to get the buzz going for a night out in Toronto. Definitely worth checking out.

Melrose on Adelaide is a new cocktail bar, having taken over the spot at 270 Adelaide where the Corned Beef House used to reside. When I walked up the stone steps into the interior my immediate first impression of Melrose was twofold: dark and loud. Not loud with the booming music of so many bars, but with the lively conversation of people filling it (it was, after all Friday night). Much like Barchef, the space is very, very dark - and initially might feel almost comically so (I saw another table reading their menus by the light of their smartphones). However, once you get adjusted to both the volume level and lighting it's less noticeable and you feel you are in a space which is both lively and intimate. The interior is much unchanged from what it used to be when it was previously the restaurant, however is awash in white and there is quite a lot of decoration in a floral motif (which I found to be tasteful and not overstated). The bar isn't overly large is lined with wooden stools and strings of lights which add to the ambiance. We didn't try any of the food, but the cocktails were quite excellent and reasonably priced. 'Spirited Away' is a herbal concoction garnished with torched rosemary; its unique flavour takes a little getting used to at first but it is deliciously medicinal after that. 'Take Me Back' seems to be a variant of Penicillin which exists at most every cocktail bar these days; I didn't taste any of the mango the menu claimed was an ingredient, but the serrano chile is definitely noticeable by the end and kicks this cocktail quite a few notches in terms of spicy zip. The Old Fashioned was the genuine article, quite serviceable with nothing fancy or pretentious added. The service was excellent, both our server and anyone who brought a drink to our table was polite, helpful, and friendly (a welcome change from some hip places where the staff are more often than not a little stand-offish). All in all, Melrose is a beautiful, intimate space and a welcome addition to Adelaide and John Street area. I think it will last, and I highly recommend it as a new spot to check out for a date or some food, cocktails, and lively conversation between friends.