Monarch Tavern

I came here for a jazz event on NYE. I liked that it was casual and the crowd seemed cool. Disco ball was a plus :) But the place was a bit rundown and did not smell the best :( Otherwise - kind bartenders + strong reasonably priced drinks.

A gem! Great bar, excellent craft beer selection, unique atmosphere. Also, great food available from the little kitchen within the establishment — it’s a separate business within the space. While I was there with a group of old friends for the evening, it got quite lively. This place is historic, unexpected and memorable!

We hosted a private event on the second floor and had a great time. Such a great place to host an event. Laid back with lots of entertainment options. The staff are so friendly. Bindi's Burgers catered and it was delicious. Great beer selection on tap.

Surprisingly good food! The chips had a dense crisp shell and tender middle, and we're excellently seasoned, while the fish was moist and flakey and perfectly battered. I'm a little disappointed I didn't order one of the pies, as someone else's pie order smelled so good I wanted to try that too. After dinner we went downstairs for a show, and the sound was great. It's a nice little intimate venue for small shows.

It was a great experience at the local bar. We came to see and listen Canadian bands, one of them was Bitter and Broke band. The place was clean with a good ventilation system. Bartenders were attentive and prices for the drinks were provided. I think it's important to support the musicians, community and people who run local business.

Came here to see a show and was not disappointed. Intimate space for mostly local artists to play, had a blast the whole time. Staff was nice, bartenders were great. Although the venue is kinda small there is a second bar upstairs and a patio too.

Reserved a space for my birthday party. Bartenders were incredible and so accommodating. The DJ ate down. It was so much fun thank you to everyone who made the night special. Will be back, I love the monarch.

The vibe is cool and the crowd is really interesting at this place. I spent the night at the upstairs bar. The bartenders were good and the staff were friendly, prices are fair. Playing the Crow on one TV and Japanese city walking youtube videos on other? A+. However, my issue is that the DJ, was WAY, WAY too loud. I'm okay with loud bars, but everyone in our group was basically screaming to speak to each other and my throat is completely raw from talking through the night. On top of it, my ears are ringing like crazy since leaving. I don't go to bars for hearing damage! Please reduce the volume on your speakers, it's ok for it to be loud but ringing ears like I was just at a concert? No thanks.

Very cool side street tavern Good late night slices and panzos across the street Monarch is on the second floor and I like the vibe a lot, low key and real tavern feel and vibe (I said vibe twice, sorry watching tv, GREAT DEPRESH (great stand up doc), anyway.... monarch is a definite return visit, did I mention it's a good vibe........?

Quite by accident we went to this pub with friends and were surprisingly very satisfied! The menu is varied and everyone can find something to their taste. The service is good, food is delicious! What else do you need to have a good evening? I recommend it to everyone!

Guy on phone was very kind. 10/10. Thanks Evan. Owe you one. Consider us in debt. If you ever need us you know where to find us.

Vibe and service is average but the 'asian street food' menu items was exceptional! The chef in the open kitchen at the back was friendly & definitely knew his way with Filipino street food. Our group got THE SHARED PLATTER ($30) that easily fed 4-5 people. It includes our choice of 4 'asian street food items' and fries. Although it took ~40min for it to be prepped..everything came out on a magnificently displayed wooden tray and in the middle was a mountain of KIMCHI fries! This was a pleasant surprise ! -Filipino sausage Bao (5/5) : super fluffy white bun with a sweet and savoury pork grilled sausage-patty -Filipino pork spring rolls (4/5) : crispy fried spring rolls with ground pork -Pulled Jackfruit Taco (4.5/5) : awesome vegan option with great flavour & texture -Jerk Chicken Taco (4/5) : pretty generous filling, overall good but the shredded chicken could use some more sauces -Kimchi fries: loved that they weren't just plain fries! The mayo and kimchi topping was delish with the crispy fries This $30 Shared Platter is TOTALLY worth it. AND YELP TIP! Check-in to get an extra 15% off as well!

This place rocks! I have been a bunch of times and the drink, food and atmosphere have never been less than a five star!! Homemade fish and chips are fantastic and the burger is one of the best around. Keep up the great work Monarch.

Love the Monarch. We come here a lot, one of the best places for an after work pint.

2nd stop on the Indie Passport though it helped a UYE was being held close by. The place is actually a sports bar/pub Setup is nice for Sport Bar as there is a big screen projector and plenty of comfy space. Here is the verdict Espresso: Mild Crema': Medium Milk: Frothed well with a nice sweet finish Latte Art: Average Now for the drink its more like a latte. Very mellow taste 2.5 stars if put against other cafes, for a pub surprisingly good.

Nice old school tavern with a big selection of canadian beers, mostly from nearby Toronto and the pinball machine (indiana jones) seems to give a free game every couple minutes so you can save your loons (did I say that right?)

Though I don't exactly live in the neighbourhood, The Monarch will always be my favourite local. Great beer selection and they are serious about having a great soundtrack playing at all times. Karaoke night on Thursdays is always fun, as is any random night you want to show up. If you're ever looking for a venue to have a party downstairs is a great space with a stage if needed. Monarch Tavern 4eva!

Cute little place for some drink with friends. Reasonable price and great attentive servers. Highly recommended!

For a "divey" bar on the second floor, there was a mixer crowd, and was really fun. So happened to catch karaoke. The host was a little off with me at first, but then made me feel welcomed as the evening progressed. Staff was extremely friendly, offering to start a tab, although I hadn't been there before. 5/5 would return again for another karaoke night.

This place would have been a decent time but the DJ they hired for the night was TERRIBLE and completely ruined the night for ~20 of us. He was very irate from the beginning of the night and would not allow anyone to dance near where the music was playing. He ended up screaming in mine & my friend's faces. When we confronted the bouncer & bartenders, they all claimed the DJ was their friend and we must have been assholes if he were to react the way he did. This is NO way to treat your customers. If you cared to keep the place busy, the bartender should have apologized for the way the DJ acted, and offered something to make it up to us. Instead, because of the way we were treated by all the staff, a group of ~20 of us left the bar immediately, pretty much clearing out the whole place.

This place isn't fancy, but the service is prompt, friendly and a 5/5! I like to come here for some pinball and they have a wide range of beers without the crafty hipster atmosphere.

Things not go FatCats way recently.. FatCat not able to get appointment with Dr. Phil to discuss his personal issues so FatCat have to find some other way to deal with problem FatCat having. Chicken wings not enough to help FatCat get over this one, so FatCat come to Clinton House to drown his sorrows in buttermilk fried chicken, 3 pitchers of beer, and Karaoke muzik. (see review for crown & dragon for FatCat's chicken wing episode) Things FatCat like - Buttermilk chicken taste like it have gravy under skin - delicious!! - Many brave souls getting up to sing karaoke - FatCat see much singing talent in this bar. FatCat also belt out a few tunes and planning to come back here after he step up his Karaoke game. Things FatCat not like - Potion sizes a little small, but not too expensive so not big deal. FatCat just order more food. - FatCat wishing he living in hood so FatCat can make this local watering hole. No luck for FatCat there. Dr Phil missing opportunity to collect gigantic service fees from FatCat.. Mission accomplished for FatCat.

An awesome place to BHA in Toronto. What's BHA you ask? Beer, Hockey, and Apologize...It's the Canadian GTL. Why is it a great place to BHA you ask? They've got a great suds selection of both bottles and drafts. There's plenty of TV's and great music as entertainment, and the crowd is completely local so you're going to get nothing but sweetheart Canadians chatting you up as you sit at the bar. Highly recommended for a chill Sunday drink. Ask for Alesia if she's around. She'll her sassy charm will make your visit.

Great atmosphere, relic of "old" Toronto, good draught beers. I've been coming here for years with my dad/uncle/cousins/brother/grandfather when looking for a dark upstairs cavern to enjoy some early afternoon brews (while also scarfing down the delicious hot veal sandwiches from San Francesco's next door, which you're allowed to do). Apparently, based on stories from my dad and uncle who used to frequent the Monarch back in the 70s and 80s, it used to be a "no-ladies gentlemen's club" where all sorts of pranks and shenanigans between beers went down. In it's present manifestation, the environment is much more tame (though smug patriarchy still oozes through the walls), while the furniture, mostly well-worn leather, dinged hardwoods, and scuffed felt, give the aura of times past. It's a decent sports bar with a few tvs, a pool table, and tons of hockey memorabilia hanging from the wall (things like autographed Bobby Orr photos, etc). Beers are no longer 25 cents a mug, as legend had it, but you can still get an ice cold Boddington's or Keith's for an average price.

This space is amazing for both private events and a casual evening hanging out! We threw an art grant fundraiser here and it was a huge success thanks to the fantastic bar staff and management!! Many many thanks to the fantastic humans at the Monarch, we will be back to host another event in the future!

What an interesting, odd place. Ngl, when I looked up vegetarian and gluten-free in Toronto, I didn't expect a pub to be one of the first places to pop up. But it did, and we checked it out! I almost drove right past it getting there. It is in the middle of a residential neighborhood around Little Italy. Such a throw back to the neighborhood corner pub. That definitely added to its charm and our experience. As we went early, it was a little quiet but that was fine since we were just looking for a bite to eat. They lived up to expectations- gluten-free bread was available for every sandwich option and the Poutine came with vegetarian gravy. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to try this oh so beloved national dish. Which might have been a good thing actually...greasy fries drowning in rich gravy topped with melting cheese curds??!? Whoever said being vegetarian is healthier was wrong! But that's neither here nor there. It was tasty and I was really happy to have been able to sample some local flavour. Got a couple of hard ciders as well which were delicioussss. Music was a little loud for the middle of the day but it's a bar so yeah. The dark wood interior was pretty swanky and from what I saw they had a pool table and some darts and the like. Huge plus is the neighborhood. Come here and have a drink and take a stroll around. So much to see and do, and an opportunity to walk off that Poutine I know you just had to try ;)

Was there to watch a play. The room is quite nice. It is a bit far from any good location. Guinness for 8$. Wide variety of drinks available. Bartenders were nice enough.

I come here for Wednesday Choir!Choir!Choir! If you don't know what that is, google it. If you want to come, join the FB page and learn the damn songs : ) Cheap 5$ pints and some good service behind the bar. Great space that I've never been to on a regular day- but an intrigueing enough hidden location that I would TRY to find myself back here on a regular weekend.

A old Toronto landmark The Monarch is still a friendly, comfortable authentic old neighborhood watering hole. Bring your sandwich upstairs!

Walking through a residential neighbourhood, I was a bit confused with the location of Monarch Espresso Bar. This cafe was surrounded by homes, while most cafes I was used to were at least at the corner of the street. What got me even more confused was when I arrived to a pub called The Monarch Tavern, not Monarch Espresso Bar. Upon entry, I was glad to find myself in the right place. I spoke to Sarah, who told me that the "cafe" opened only recently in the past year within the pub. The Monarch Tavern itself is one of the oldest pubs in Toronto, opened since 1928. It is a community centre where there are ongoing events everyday for people to come in and enjoy themselves. With two floors, they have enough space to accompany the people that are attending events and those who want to drop by for a good grub and some beer (over 30 types of bourbon anyone?). They have many reoccurring events such as Choir! Choir! Choir! (on Wednesdays), Karoke Thursdays, and Vinyl Nights. For Vinyl Nights (which happens every Tuesday at 8 PM), anyone can bring in a vinyl for the pub to play and you get a free shot and drink! Yes, free alcohol, seriously. They also have a new event, which is a dance party that happens every Wednesday night along side with Choir! Choir! Choir! I wouldn't really recommend for people to come here if they would want to study or do work. I say yes for study appropriate because it is possible, but I suggest for you to do it earlier in the day. I came around 11 AM and it was pretty dead at the time, so I had some work done for sure. However, I'm pretty sure if I came late noon, I could imagine it getting pretty busy and loud. For Indie Coffee Passport holders, you aren't restricted to the 6 drink menu. If you come in, you are free to order whatever you wish on Monarch Espresso Bar's menu! As well, if you pick up their stamp card, the first drink is free!

I used to LOVE this place! Gluten free deliciousness, coupled with a good bar kind of vibe, I was in love. This past weekend I took a friend to the Monarch, raving the entire cab ride. What we got was something I never expected. The service was HORRIBLE. (The food is still amazing, especially being gluten free) It was almost impossible to get a drink since the bartender was too busy eating and flirting to be bothered dealing with the tables in the restaurant. When I finally did sneer her into coming to our table she was nothing but blatantly rude and horrible. We were finally greeted with another waiter who was at least not blatantly abusive, but close too it, who informed us the kitchen wasn't going to be opening until 7, but didn't even think to offer us refills on our beer or stick around long enough for me to ask. All in all, I love the gluten free food and it really is good food but this is one of those instances where it's absolutely not worth it in my eyes to go back. The rudeness topped the charts of anywhere I think I've ever been. I wish it had been better - this used to be one of my absolute favorites.

Went here last weekend to meet some friends I had not seen in ages. They had a lot of good beers as well as a special double rum and coke for cheap. Good staff and good deals

I lost my phone here on a Sunday and the following Thursday I picked it up here!! They kept it aside on charge for me in case I called!!! Amazing!

O.k, I will be honest here. This place is a 'dive'. Its tucked away on a residential street in Little Italy away from the hustle and bustle of Dundas and College Streets. Its housed in a century old building that could use a facelift. The interior looks like it has not been changed in 20 years and the bathrooms are older than Kathleen Wynne. But this place has character and a personality and that is why I am giving it 4 stars. A great place to go with a group of friends and celebrate a birthday, or even a work promotion. The service is great here, they have some wicked local beers on tap and actually have kebobs and dumplings on their bar menu. There are 2 levels (the upstairs level is a little more quiet but has karaoke on Thursdays) along with some great food and drink specials. The main level is a lot more busy and is a great place to watch some live local acts. The great thing about this place? You don't have to dress to impress. It's fun, cheap, casual and the locals here may be a little drunk, but they are fun and harmless. Yes this is a Toronto landmark, and yes you really need to come here at least once in your life :)

Friendly staff and well priced drinks are always a winning combination. The house's sound system is unfortunately underpowered for the room though.

Really nice, large, laid back pub with old, local atmosphere and some new, fancy flat screens all over the place (not a big fan of TV in bars). There is nothing wrong with this place, except the bathroom that needs to be reworked. And payments though cards aren't available yet so you would need to use the $2 fee ATM if you don't have cash in hand. I can't really judge the place on all days, I don't know the first floor as it's always closed or reserved for private event. But the large room upstairs is definitely a place to bookmark. Some small tables for couples, some large tables for groups, a basic kitchen that provides basic food and a large drink menu of beers, cocktails at good prices. A pool table, a flipper game, nice variety of music playing in the background. You have all the set required for a good atmosphere with no pressure of service, crowds or noise. Tavern is a well chosen name. I usually go there with a group of people, we like the ability to chat without loud music (music can be loud sometimes though). I see some couples and some lonely workers bringing their laptop to refresh their last work. It is for me definitely a landmark to go in the area of Little Italy, as long as the service remains at the same level.

I'm really quite surprised by all these good reviews. Just off the beaten path of the bustling College Street nightlife, you'd hardly notice that this place exists. From the outside, it appears closed - no lights, no one outside, and a barred doorway. Things don't get much better when you finally do find the open door that leads to the upstairs. There were a few tables full of what appeared to be college kids and some unmemorable music playing in a dingy open room. Our server couldn't have been less interested in serving us and rarely came by the table even while our glasses sat empty. When we finally decided to leave, we couldn't even find the server as he was sitting down having a pint at the bar. Shitty service, shitty atmosphere. I wouldn't go back.

Brand new kitchen after the departure of Baju. Bunz is Asian street food plus a healthy smattering of pub favourites. Had the Bao. Damn good.

The beer is good, the staff is friendly but the place is old and horrible. Based on the other reviews, I was expecting more of this place. I arrived at 10pm, the kitchen was closed and the freezers were broken so they only had few options of beer available and nothing to snack/eat.

Great place to go out with a big group. Drink prices are fair - karaoke Thursdays are the best! Perfect location to bar hop in - definitely deserves a try!

Dope little upstairs tavern in a residential zone. Truly a neighbourhood bar. Pool table, Buck Hunter pinball and karaoke night - what more can you ask for? They have one of flavours of the month on tap: Spearhead IPA. When I went back to the bar to grab a second round, the bartender told me he accidentally overcharged me on my first round and discounted my second round. Stand-up bartender in a unpretentious neighbourhood bar. I like it.

as a gluten free foodie, sometimes life can be rough! but monarch tavern is THE GREATEST PLACE EVERRR!!!! im kind of obsessed with it. visiting from texas with my family, this meal was my favorite the whole time we spent in toronto. its a really sweet old historic dive bar. great vibes. the owner was so friendly and knowledgeable about gluten free. they have a great gf beer (locally brewed nickelbrook) and they have gluten free poutine, grilled cheese, fried pickles, burgers, GRILLED CHEESE BURGERS.... omg. i dream of this place. can't wait to go back. can't say enough good things. if i lived in toronto i would come here to eat or just drink and hang out all the time.

Popped by to watch a friends band play over the weekend and had the privilege of trying out some of their dishes. I must say that their burgers are quite amazing! Don't know how Chef Jubert does it but it's rare that I find such a juicy and savoury burger. Can't wait to try out the other food on the menu. Especially the Filipino street food (which is apparently Juberts specialty).

Amazing staff and Karaoke night is so fun! Drinks were on the cheap side, and the interior is beautiful, very old (like restored victorian house old, not gross outdated old) , theres also DELICIOUS pizza place across the street.

Rented the bar upstairs for a private party, awesome venue, staff and food! Thanks guys!

I've only been to "Upstairs at the Monarch" but loved it. It's a great place to go if you're a fan of sports and they have huge t.vs on every wall. The best sports bar I've been to, it doesn't have any of the cheesy gimics. Everytime I've been the chef comes around with samples of meat based food (I'm vegetarian), my boyfriend assured me the sample food was amazing - he's definitely wants to go back just for the food now! The price of the beer is just average - $7 - with no daily offers other than a beer and food for x amount, but they have a good selection and the bartenders are really friendly.

One of Toronto's best hidden gems. One of my neighbourhood favourites with a guarantee of good beer, great service, and fun atmosphere. If you're looking for a large place to bring a group of friends, here's the spot. I had a party with ~40 people and everyone (with room to spare) fit comfortably on the second floor. There's a pool table, some other games and a ton of sit down & standing room so best of both worlds for a large amount of people. Mike (the owner) is a great guy and staff is awesome! Plus, the pizza place across the street is another hidden gem and has the best mom n' pop pizza in town!

Cheap and nice local. Good bartenders, cozy vibe, can't go wrong.

Great neighbourhood pub. Friendly bar staff, reasonably priced drinks and BEST OF ALL, amazing pizza and meatball subs at the pizzeria opposite and sandwich shop next door that you can eat in the comfort of the lovely Monarch?! Truly winning combo!!

Guys! Monarch Tavern has a super selection of draft beers (including special monthly cask choices), a chill vibe, friendly staff and... wait for it.... METALLICA PINBALL!!! Also, if you check in using the handy dandy Yelp app there's a special Yelp discount in it for you.

Good Beer. Friendly staff. Apparently a Karaoke night, which gets them one extra star! There's also a pool table, a pinball machine, and great tunes as well. Local hangout.

I give it a 3 1/2, really. We arrived at 10:30 am, taking the advice that the Monarch would be quieter early in the day. The young lady behind the counter greeted us as soon as we walked in, making us feel comfortable in what was definitely a bar setting. She was very generous in suggesting that, even with our Indie Coffee Passports, we could order whatever we liked from their espresso menu. I'm a big fan of soy lattes but was gently steered toward the 'regular' milk version [I was offered 1% or 2% - a nice touch]. My latte was presented in a large cup, the foam poured to create a swirled heart. It proved to be smooth and mild, foamy and thick, easy to drink. My Passport companion found a comfy looking upholstered sofa, perhaps a bit too comfy, almost touching the ground when sat upon; so we settled in at a table and pulled up a few chairs for our coats and such. Since there was only one other patron at the time, we didn't think anyone would mind. The crystal chandeliers hanging over the counter were a nice counterpoint to the dark wood benches, tables and chairs, with a big screen centred at the back of the room and eclectic art on the walls. We stayed long enough for the lunch crowd to start filling up the space, groups of two and more at tables, a few people at the bar. Since we'd spent an hour and a half sipping our lattes and basically having the place to ourselves, we bundled up our gear and headed out. All in all it was an unexpectedly mellow experience and I enjoyed it.

The Monarch Tavern is a great Toronto institution. There is usually a lot of room for big groups, the beer is pretty cheap, and the entire bar is a good environment for hanging out with you friends. They also have really good food. In particular, COME HERE FOR THE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES AND NOT THE OVER-HYPED "GRILLED CHEESE" AT KENSINGTON! (Ahem, got a bit too enthusiastic there). My favourite of them all is one that has caramelized onions and mango chutney, though the one served with wasabi mayo is also quite yummy. All grilled cheese sandwiches are served fries and a small salad, filling you up nicely after.

Don't like the College crowd and find yourself in the area.....ding ding ding. Dark, old school décor, these guys don't even try to be modern. Food is pretty good and if its not to your liking go to either Bitondos or San Fran sandwiches next door and bring that in and enjoy. Good selection of beer, some pool tables....not bad at all. Good place when you want to go out but not really out.

Only saw the upstairs where there is a pin-ball machine and a pool table. The music was great and you must get your groove on. The place was pretty empty on a Sat night when I showed up at 12:30 am but the DJ was great. Played lots of current stuff with a spin and just really made me wanna dance. Staff is super friendly and so is the big bouncer dude who is just threatening to look at. A big bear really. Just say hello, he won't bite.

a rare toronto old school spot. good hamburger, very nice bartender. jean chretien hangs out here when he's in town. you should too.

I recently threw a party at The Monarch and it was a huge success. Before showing up with my group (approx. 25 people), I spoke to the friendly and accomodating Manager, Mike. On the night, he reserved us a table, which was great. The staff were friendly, the drinks cheap (can't understand why people are claiming it's expensive here) and the food awesome (try any of the grill cheese sandwiches). We had a great night at The Monarch. This is a really laid back, no attitude bar, where you can cut loose and have a good time.