The Griffin Pub

A resounding YES! Found this cozy little pub nestled in the heart of Bracebridge on Saturday. A true gem. There were two folks working and when we arrived around 6PM there were several tables already seated. The man introduced himself as Mark (Marc?) and was our server / bartender. He was extremely polite, personable and made excellent suggestions. My wife and I both ate the Cauliflower tacos, her with a side-salad, and mine with poutine. The food portions were excellent. The quality was on point, and the prices were very fair. They make a mean Spiced Rum and Coke. We are very likely to return. This place is a 9.7 / 10 A must try, if you are even close to Bracebridge.

We stopped by because of the reviews on the Nashville Chicken sandwich and was not disappointed!! One of THE BEST chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. The vibe of the place was awesome, only reason I knocked it down to 4 stars is because there is zero AC. Not to any fault of the staff, they were incredible! Visiting during a heatwave can be rough though. Not much parking, you’re better off on the Main Street and walking up to it. 100% will come by again!

An amazing find from google reviews. This place has a great pub atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food. We had our 2 boys with us (6 & 9), which loves their food (chicken wings & chicken tacos). I had their Nashville chicken sandwich which was even more tasty than the description. Was a great place to grab a bite after a full day at Santa’s Village enroute to the cottage.

I came here on a day trip with my dad and it was amazing! Delicious food, great service and a super cute patio! I will definitely be back!

I'm so happy that we found this hidden little spot in Bracebridge, Ontario. We walked up a magical little alleyway to find our way to this cute little gastropub. The chicken burger was one of the best that I have ever had with top quality meat. Unlike the typical rubber chicken sandwich. This was crispy on the outside and tender and juicy. The bruschetta was also top notch with fresh ingredients. We will be back!!! Oh...patio is pupper friendly as well!!

Cozy wee pub with a good selection of craft beers and some heart pub grub. Waitress was friendly and free street parking is available on streets towards the back entrance

Oh my god, What a great little find today! In town for work, we were looking for a spot to eat and kind of went off this little street down the back alley and found this amazing hidden gem. The food was absolutely delicious. Amy our waitress/bartender was phenomenal. We are definitely coming back here. 5 star hands down!!!

We discovered a tiny cozy pub in Bracebridge and decided to try it out. We ordered two mains: The Burger (added cheese) and The Nashville Chicken. I preferred the latter as it was super flavourful, a bit spicy and the chicken was super crispy and crunchy. It was however super messy to eat. The Nashville Chicken is one of their more popular items from their menu. Also, all their mains come with a choice of fries, soup or garden salad. These sides can be upgraded to Caesar Salad, Truffle Fries, Sweet Potato Fries or Poutine at a small cost. We opted for their regular fries and soup. The soup of the day was Hamburger Soup. I preferred the fries over their soup. They also have various local beers on tap and the staff onsite was super kind, friendly and knowledgeable. He gave us a bunch of beer samples to try as we were very indecisive and we ended up getting the Blood Brother Auto Pop Cherry Cola. It was quite unique tasting and also has a super dark cola tint compared to other beers.

I loved my experience in coming here! The space was lovely, really old school vibe. They had a small bar inside, with seating and a beautiful patio outside. Its in the back of a lane, so its not off the street. Yet, Bracebridge is on the small side so, its pretty easy to find. I believe they also play some local bands. I'd say more about the bathroom being small and them having an ecclectic collection of photos and the like. Yet I do not fully recall all about the ins and outs. Its kinda vague for me. I find its always nice to look at that kinda thing. Makes me have an appreciation for not being the only Collector of the odd. The person that was working the day we went, absolutely phenomenal. He was on the cute side, super friendly and accomodating. I ordered the plant based burger with their in season, warmed beet and chard salad, yet what appeared on my dish was not plant based. I'm not entirely fussy about the juices of the beef or anything. However when I asked him about it, he promptly was willing to have the whole dish redone. He seemed rather appaled that he had made a mistake like that, given he was plant based himself. Perhaps it was me not being assertive enough, or perhaps something was missed when the order was taken, either way immediate action was taken to quickly rectify the situation. And it was awesome! This to me, bespeaks of going above and beyond, which is something I resonate strongly with because I am that type of way myself. Would definitely return.

After coming across various egregious tourist traps around the Muskoka Lakes areas, finding this little pub was a breath of fresh air. It's a total hole-in-the-wall down a back alley with no parking lot of its own (and signs from the neighbours saying "no parking for Griffin customers!") but the food was excellent, the service was friendly, they had a great selection of local beers and ciders on draft, and their little back patio remained open for those who wanted to use it even on the chilly fall evening we showed up (all other patios in town apparently having closed down). They were also just wrapping up some live music when we arrived, by which I do not mean some terrible cover band or karaoke, but it seemed to be a string duo. And a place that invites a cellist to come play is probably a place worth checking out. Definitely a good option to try if you're visiting the area!

Previous reviews have always been 5 stars. Their Poutine was excellent with a delicious dark flavourful gravy. Tonights dinner was a disappointing surprise. Too bad they replaced their dark gravy with a bland vegan gravy. The Nashville Chicken, another favorite of ours, was over-spiced, overcooked and very dry. When we mentioned our disappointment we were told by the server that we were the only customer to mention this. An irrelevant, unhelpful response. All you have done is completely alienate a faithful customer. As an alternative we tried the Irish Pot Pie, sadly this new dish does not deliver. The sauce is too thick and pasty, only two small pieces of meat and the rest is a bowl of potatoes all for $21. A return to the old menu is in order. The server made sure we will go elsewhere in town from now on.

Tucked away up a little ally, this honest pub style restaurant is great! Service was good and so was the food. It was a really quiet Sunday evening but the food was fresh and so tasty. We ordered the hot Nashville chicken sandwich with poutine and the house burger (with all the add ins) with a soup of the day. The soup was DEEEEEEELISH - potato butternut squash. Totally with a visit.

A great little pub and a fantastic location! Live music and a great selection of beer.

Menu is abbreviated from anything posted . Nothing much I could choose .It's a one man show from bartender to cook . My 1/2 car garage is bigger . It's tired , food is very , very expensive and under rated. Have given it the collage try a few times and won't be back . Burgers were mediocre, but cauliflower wing were great . Sorry .

Hidden gem up a little lane in downtown Bracebridge - make sure to visit whether you are a local or visiting Muskoka. We have been enjoying The Griffin for several years now and we are always pleased. Lunch, dinner, or just for drinks, this pub is a family and friend favorite. There are several local beers on tap and usually a cider, too. The fries are yummy and burgers are delicious. Savor the macaroni and cheese balls with friends - they are yummy and filling. We have enjoyed live music there and outside seating is available. Call ahead for lunch - some days The Griffin is closed. Looking forward to visiting again during our next visit to Muskoka!

What a great, unique and cool place. May be hard to find if you're 'not in the know' but follow the sign off the main drag and head up the alley. Once there, Griffin's is small, quaint and friendly. Great selection of craft beer and no mainstream Coors or Budweiser . They also have Pommies cider. Interesting menu with lots of variety and daily food specials. Tried the Truffel fries with garlic aioli. Yummmm! A big bowl sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. They also say they have live music Thursday to Saturday. Would like to check this out as well. Considering the size of the place, it will be like sitting with friends in your living room. I'll definitely be back!

Really friendly service, and great food with generous portions. They have a list of their beer and cider on tap on the black boards, and it seems like they change from time to time. I wasn't too hungry so I only had the Pogos with mustard, which were decent considering they deep friend actual Pogos from the store. But everyone else in my party had tacos which were all flavourful and delicious. The locals tend to stare, which I tried to ignore. Hopefully it was only because we were new faces. In any case, it was a good place to stop for dinner on the way to Muskoka.

A small, intimate gastropub in the heart of Muskoka with good food, beer and music create some special moments!

No complaints about this excellent brewpub. Absolutely massive beer selection and rotating seasonal brews will keep you coming back. Had a few of the local favourites and was not disappointed. The menu, while relatively limited, is truly excellent and offers you more than enough potential food-beer pairings to suit any mood. We had the bison burger (recommend getting "the ritz" featuring maple bacon, seared apple, and smoked cheddar) and the lamb slider special. Both were top notch. The lamb wasn't too gamey and used great spices. The bison burger had homemade characteristics. Friendly service and inviting atmosphere.

We happened to stumble up an alley and found this excellent pub with gluten free options. Kimchi buffalo burger. Yes it was as delightfully messy as it was tasty. The service was great. Fun find and worth the drive. Gluten free beer and cider available.

I had to do a double take on this one because I wasn't sure if my memory served me right. Could this be the hidden gem of Bracebridge?? Perhaps. Tucked away atop a narrow but charming laneway, behind some back alley way is this intimate and cozy pub. It's a strange find to be able to visit a hip and happening hidden place several hours north of any major civilization. With the live band, young crowds, plenty of crafty beers, great food and a hippie vibe, this place is a sure winner. I have an affinity for pubs/institutions that support indie craft brewers and Griffin is a fine example of this. With easily over a dozen local craft beers on tap and some interesting stuff like beer done in wine barrels, you are sure to be pleased. I was fortunate enough to sample well over a dozen beers and I must say their selection is varied and quite delicious! The food is unexpected in a great way! Anything from the pizza, bison burger to the tomato seafood stew and the basic risotto tastes great. They keep the food true to their pub roots but also elevate it with interesting creations to go with it; hence, they are called "Gastropub". The highlight of the light was definitely the pork sandwich. Nicely brine, juicy and flavourful piece of pork with caramelized onions. If you are in the area, you owe it to yourself to stop by! This place should not be missed.

Decided to check this place out while in town for a later lunch. A hidden little gem, but well worth searching for. Great atmosphere and very friendly! The bar stools have nameplates of their regulars lol. Highly HIGHLY recommend this place!

Meh. Salad was ok. Bison burger ritz wasn't all that great. Fries were good. The cheese dip was ok. The best part of this pub is its selection and deliver of its 10 beers on tap.

This gem is hidden off the main street behind a building. Ask someone if you can't find it. Once you do, you won't be disappointed. The selection of beers are numerous, the food portions are huge and the service is unhurried. We had the burger, chicken wrap and shared a poutine. The poutine...wow! The best poutine I ever had (and I have had my share of poutine). The gravy was thick, the cheese curds were squeaky and the fries were fresh cut. The burger and chicken wrap were amazing and freshly prepared - no heat lamps here. The wrap was enormous that we took half of it home and had for lunch the next day. Don't miss this place if you are in the area.

I love this place so much. Best bar to go to in Muskoka for a warm friendly environment with good people and live music. Food is pretty good but a little pricey. Staff are awesome. Great patio in the summer. Beer list is great lots of local craft beer.

Hidden gem. Chill atmosphere. Great local beers and simple high quality menu. Had a salad and the bison burger. Great mayo on the burger and fresh fries. Who said small towns had no good eats? Might be hard to find because google maps has a different lane name - maybe the locals are doing it on purpose to keep it to themselves! Trust the red dot and you'll stumble on it.

Found this hidden place when coming up north (from Toronto) with my girlfriend for the weekend. It took us a few turns around the block to find this place. We ended up walking up this lane to find it after parking our car nearby. Loved the place - it was quiet late afternoon lunch. The beer menu was diverse and the food was great. We had the Lentil Burger (with salad) and the Bison Burger (with fries). The fries were hot and tasty - the patty on the Bison Burger could've been a bit bigger (looked dinky when compared to the larger bun). Condiments were served in Mill St. beer bottles which were cute - and the diverse beer menu was definitely a plus. Will definitely recommend this to anyone who is in the Bracebridge area.

Amazing little find! Tucked away behind the main drag. Tiny cozy place. Very impressed to find live entertainment. Menu is small but very well done and the craft beer selection was excellent. I definitely recommend the bison burger. Staff extremely friendly and accommodating. If I could give more than five stars I would. Service alone should be more than 5 stars. Atmosphere as well. Iam 4 hours away from here but would return in a heartbeat. I will recommend this to anyone I no planning a trip to bracebridge. Can't wait to return.

I would drive to Bracebridge just to eat here..... i LOVE LOVE this place. It is a little hidden off the main street, so you do have to look for it up a stone laneway. But once you find it it is so worth it! The patio is nice and have huge umbrellas if you are not a sun fan. Inside is cozy but a little to close for comfort. Staff is very friendly and helpful with choices. A nice assortment of beers on tap mostly ontario microbreweries. Had the sampler beer platter ( which is a must have) with the cheese meat board which was incredible. The curry nuts on the goat cheese were yummy. Liked that they had a coming soon for the beers that they will be tap next. Burgers were also ordered, the bison which was tasty and the lentil which was good but needed to be cooked a bit longer. Prices were very good for the quality....can't wait to be back again.

You may think that you don't need risotto balls in your life, but trust me... you do. I ordered 10 orders of them for my large group of imaginary friends :) . Imagine you're 7 again eating cotton candy feeling it melt in your mouth... now imagine it growing up now it's gooey and ooey and made out of cheese! (I know that cheese flavored cotton candy isn't very appetizing but the point is it melts in your mouth) I would have taken a photo of the food but I was too busy scarfing it down. All in all one of the best meals I've ever had! 10/10 swallowing experience

Great place to stop in for a pint and a bite to eat while walking through Bracebridge. Can't go wrong with the bison burger paired with the right beer. Good brew selection and the seasonal selection gives you an opportunity to try something new. Cozy little pub inside with a nice patio right in the sun and complimented by the greenery growing up and around the outside of the bar

Amazing food and beer. Great patio, super friendly staff. Love it here. Ask server for their recommendations if ordering something on tap.

It is a pocket-pub atop a charming little lane covered in green with only an modest pub sign visible. Perfect. Just as a pub should be. Unassuming and not obnoxious. Immediately you will feel at home. Not because it is the size of your living room but because it is warm and cozy and just the right spot to enjoy all the sophistication that craft beer exudes. I love enjoying new flavours here with old friends. It feels right. Thursday nights usually are a go night for live music.

Up in Bracebridge for a gymnastics competition and had to find somewhere to eat. Places like this make me love Yelp. Atmosphere ripped out of Medieval Times with a menu that serves high end pub fare. Great service and the food was excellent. Not sure how often it happens but here on a Friday night we got live music which added to the night. The guy singing that night was amazing and just made our evening even better.

Excellent pub with a nice choice of local beers and solid food. Service was excellent as was the location. Great when you're in Bracebridge and looking for a nice little reasonable spot.

Great place with a friendly atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Bracebridge. Very good selection of Ontario craft beers on tap as well! As a side note: the saganaki for desert is amazing. It is a traditional saganaki with berries and a couple other things! It was a fantastic twist on a traditional dish.

We attended Session in Toronto in 2013 and had a blast. On our summer vacation a couple weeks ago, we found ourselves in Bracebridge and came to the realization that Griffin is there! Had a great meal and of course their beer selection is right up my alley. Super laid back atmosphere, friendly staff, and it seemed like regulars hanging out at the bar. If I lived in Bracebridge, I would be a regular too.

A great gem in Bracebridge. Great staff and delicious risotto balls! The love entertainment is always enjoyble

Came back to Griffin Gastropub during my honeymoon. We shared the risotto balls and a salad. We had delicious new beers we hadn't tried before and the food was superb. We left with the same sentiment as the previous visit we had. Feeling kind of buzzed and so happy to be in such a unique venue in cottage country.

We just happened to come across this great place! It is small and has a limited menu but the food was amazing. No kids menu but they were accommodating with our requests, it was clean and service was great with friendly staff. Don't miss the fries/poutine.

We visited bracebridge from London Ontario. It was such a cozy pub, great service and food. The Caesers are amazing. We had the special which were fresh pickerel tacos and pulled pork on a bun. Both were incredible .. Highly recommend this pub. It's a must!!

This is a place that you just want to love when you enter. It's a small and intimate space with an equally small patio but the decor is great and they had 12 micro brewery beers on tap. The service was quick friendly and very informative. They did not have a kid's menu but offered to throw together some kid friendly stuff. Food was a mixed bag. The risotto balls were extremely good but the brisket sandwich was a complete disappointment as was the poutine. We also had the burrito which was reasonably good but could use a bit more punch for my taste. If I were passing through, I would definitely give it another shot for the variety of beer and would try some other parts of the menu.

I was kind of disappointed in this place. The atmosphere was great with the live music and the crowd getting into it so this seems like a great place to grab a drink. The problem is the food. I got the bison burger (ritz version). The patty itself was alright, but definitely not as good as what you get from a burger spot. I regret getting the ritz version though since I had to remove the bacon- it was really, really salty. You could quarter the amount of bacon on there and it would still be too salty. Combining that with aged cheddar made it worse. The fries were probably the best part of my meal. It reminded me of New York Fries, which I think are delicious. I also got to try my girlfriend's dish, the beef back ribs. I tried the included beans and purple cabbage coleslaw. Nauseating. I didn't try the ribs, but I'm told it was pretty bad. Although it was 2 lbs, there wasn't much edible meat on it.

The best place in town for beer, live music and food. It's where the locals don't want you to go as they want to keep it all for themselves. Stunning craft beers and seriously good food.

Not a fan of this place at all. It's so tiny there's barely any room to move and the one time I made the mistake of joining friends there, the bartender was more interested in getting a date with some random guys than serving.

Crowded tiny pub, at the top of an alleyway. Small food menu. Always crowded. Good selection of beer but not much else. Patio in the summer.

We were recommended this place by friends. If you didn't know it existed you wouldn't find it as it's nestled in an alleyway that you can only walk to. It was a beautiful summer weekend so we found street parking easily. This place is like something out of a history book. An adorable little house built into an Irish style pub and covered in vines. We arrived about 20 mins before they opened and the girl inside kindly asked us to come back which we did. People were already there early claiming the spots on the patio waiting to be served when they were officially open. The patio is small with only about 4 tables. When we came back we were lucky and grabbed the last one with an umbrella. Great craft beer selection which was delicious. The food was amazing. I ordered a few appies to make into a meal and it was a lot of food. The service was welcoming. I wish we lived here because I would be back everyday in the summer.

This place always has the best selection of local beers, and the food is delicious too. Great atmosphere, live music and vibe. Had the bison burger and artichoke asiago dip appetizer for 2 for a total of $30, so it is quite pricy but not that much diff from other restaurants in the area.

Excellent beer, excellent food, and excellent atmosphere! We try to stop by for a pint and a lentil burger everytime we pass this way. It is, in every way, a perfect little pub.