Hemingway's
Hemingway’s has been been a Toronto bar institution for decades. Despite its literary name, this is a party spot packed with multiple levels of patios that are known for being open year round, heated and covered in the winter and misted in the summer.
This place is more likely to pluck the heartstrings of Kiwis than book lovers (it actually has nothing to do with Ernest Hemingway) as it’s owned by a pair of them, Martin McSkimming and Daimin Bodnar.
It’s decorated with road signs from New Zealand, kiwi-bird-themed items and framed jerseys from an Australian football club they sponsor.
The patios have different names like McSheep, a nickname of Martin’s, and Shotover, a river in New Zealand.
The upper patio is, of course, fully equipped with its own tin-roofed bar.
All cocktails are $10, a great price point for the area.
A Beachcomber is breezy and easy-drinking, made with tequila, lime juice, and Chambord which gives it a tartness and pink colour, shaken and topped with slightly spicy ginger beer over ice, garnished with a lime wedge.
A punchy mojito muddles rum with brown sugar, lime, mint and simple syrup and tops it with thirst-quenching soda.
Among the offerings of import and craft beer there are rotating seasonal choices like 9% pinot noir Shiny cider that combines a gal’s two favourite things, cider and wine.
Nachos ($16) come in a shareable pile, topped with melted cheddar and mozzarella that’s more on the crispy side than gooey, and loaded with tomatoes, green onions, peppers, olives, jalapenos, served with the usual sour cream, guac and salsa.
A salmon salad is surprisingly tasty, though it does clock in at $18. But you do get nice big, cooked, flaky salmon filets on top of your bed of baby spinach with a pleasing combo of mango, cubed avocado, strawberry and tomato tossed in a wasabi, lemon, olive oil and rice vinegar dressing.
They’re known for their New Zealand lamb burger ($15), a grilled ground New Zealand spring lamb patty on a toasted egg bun with lettuce, onion, tomato, pickle, along with goat cheese and mint jelly for something slightly different.
The place brings together the vibes of Yorkville past and present.
It’s as much a meeting spot at the end of the day for workers dressed to the nines as it is for Yorkville locals who have been here forever, shoppers or students. Leave pretension at the door and get ready for outdoor bar fun.
Jesse Milns
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Hemingway's
Hemingway's
13 Upcoming Events
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October 6
Step into a world of magic and wonder for an epic Disney Animated Movie Trivia at Hemingway’s!
We are opening the Disney Vault wider than ever to test your knowledge on nearly a century of cinematic masterpieces.
This trivia night spans the entire legacy of Disney animation, covering everything from the 1937 groundbreaking classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs all the way to modern musical phen…
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October 6
Volunteer as tribute for The Hunger Games Movie Trivia! Cover all 5 films at Hemingway's on Tuesday, October 6th.
From Katniss volunteering for the 74th Hunger Games to the tactical rebellion of Mockingjay and the historical origins in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, we are covering all five blockbuster films.
Gather your truest allies, grab a drink, and prepare to face the Capitol.
May …
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October 7
Think you know a little bit about everything? Grab your smartest friends and compete in a night of fast paced pub trivia at Hemingway’s.
Join us on Wednesday, October 7th for a night of Pub Trivia hosted by Almost Jeopardy!
From pop culture, movies, and music to sports, history, internet chaos, and completely random facts you forgot your brain stored away, this game covers a little bit of everyth…
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October 14
Prepare for a night of pure terror at Hemingway’s for the ultimate Slasher Films Trivia!
We are slicing our way through decades of cinema to test your slasher knowledge on the genre's most iconic film franchises.
From the foundational golden era of Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street to modern blood-soaked favorites. Questions will challenge you on final girls, sinister…
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October 19
From cult classics to blockbuster hits, test your film knowledge in a night of movie trivia at Hemingway’s.
Join us on the third Monday of this month for Movie Trivia hosted by Almost Jeopardy!
From unforgettable quotes and iconic soundtracks to award winners, animated favourites, comedies, horror, action, and deep cut film knowledge, this trivia night covers every corner of the movie world. Whet…
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October 20
Paint the town black and embrace your inner outcast for the ultimate Wednesday Trivia night at Hemingway’s!
We are diving deep into the dark, quirky world of Nevermore Academy to test your knowledge on the hit Netflix television series.
This trivia night will focus entirely on Wednesday Addams’s macabre adventures, covering the eccentric student body, hidden school secrets, the normie town of Jer…
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October 21
Think you know a little bit about everything? Grab your smartest friends and compete in a night of fast paced pub trivia at Hemingway’s.
Join us on Wednesday, October 21st for a night of Pub Trivia hosted by Almost Jeopardy!
From pop culture, movies, and music to sports, history, internet chaos, and completely random facts you forgot your brain stored away, this game covers a little bit of everyt…
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October 24
Join us for our best-selling Music Trivia! Sing along to classics from across the decades and see how well you really know your fave songs!
Get pumped for MUSIC TRIVIA with Name That Tune! Quiz Master Paps is back with ALL NEW QUESTIONS!
Please only purchase tickets to ONE night as they are all the same question set. Any tickets bought for multiple nights will be refunded.
We'll have…
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October 26
Bills Mafia!
Think you're the ultimate Buffalo fan? Prove it at Hemingway's for an epic Bills Trivia on Monday, October 26th.
Huddle up your team, channel your inner Coach McDermott, and get ready to tackle questions about everything Buffalo football. Whether you're a die-hard stats geek or just live for the tailgate, this night is for you.
Don't drop the ball on this one... s…
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October 26
Bills Mafia!
Think you're the ultimate Buffalo fan? Prove it at Hemingway's for an epic Bills Trivia on Monday, October 26th.
Huddle up your team, channel your inner Coach McDermott, and get ready to tackle questions about everything Buffalo football. Whether you're a die-hard stats geek or just live for the tailgate, this night is for you.
Don't drop the ball on this one... s…
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October 27
Answer the Bat-Signal and head over to Hemingway’s for the ultimate The Dark Knight Trilogy Trivia night on Tuesday, October 27th!
This trivia night will cover all three Nolan films: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.
Questions will challenge you on complex plot lines, memorable quotes from Gotham's most infamous villains, tactical gadgets, and behind-the-scenes cinem…
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October 28
What's your favourite scary movie? Test your 'Scream' knowledge at Hemingway's. Wednesday, Oct 28. Don't hang up... the rules are simple.
It's time to brush up on the rules of survival.
Whether you're a hardcore fan of the 1996 Woodsboro original or you've followed Ghostface all the way to New York City, this trivia night will test your ultimate horror IQ.
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November 7
Join us for our best-selling Music Trivia! Sing along to classics from across the decades and see how well you really know your fave songs!
Get pumped for MUSIC TRIVIA with Name That Tune! Quiz Master Paps is back with ALL NEW QUESTIONS!
Please only purchase tickets to ONE night as they are all the same question set. Any tickets bought for multiple nights will be refunded.
We'll have…
