Bar Dem is a cocktail bar hidden in the back of  Dzo Viet Eatery across the street from the AGO. Open only in the evenings, it's serving up amazing cocktails, as well as some crossover menu items from the restaurant out front.

Sitting in a room filled with red and yellow paper lanterns, it almost feels like you're outdoors in Vietnam thanks to the leafy decoration and high skylight. 

Tables line the space on quieter weekday evenings but expect to see them pushed back when it's a full house on the weekends. 

Owners Jackson Mou and David Tong decided to transform the back of the restaurant into a bar with the goal to spread awareness about Vietnamese gastronomy. 

"We both share the vision of wanting to share our food and culture with Toronto. This is not your typical mom and pop pho spot," they explain. "You can try all the different types of cuisines of Vietnam here while hanging out in a cool place with good vibes."

There are a wide variety of South East Asian ingredients in every drink, all with the goal of presenting a fusion of flavours. 

"The entire menu is our take on traditional items we wanted to highlight from our culture," Mou tells blogTO.

Good Morning Saigon ($17) is a sweet floral drink made from strawberry infused-Aperol, lime elderflower syrup, gin, and Angostura bitters that's shaken and poured over a large ice cube.  

Topped with an elaborate banana leaf garnish, this is a refreshing and easy drink.Ha Long Bae ($16) uses bitter kumquat, housemade sweet lemongrass syrup, gin, Cointreau, and egg whites to create a frothy, pale pink drink. It's sprinkled with matcha powder, giving it an overall pleasant balance of sweet and sour. The Nguyen Dynasty ($22) looks like white wine at first glance but it's actually rum oolong tea that's been clarified. The purification process for this drink takes an entire day!

Chamomile syrup, passion fruit, and lemon give this botanical drink a simple smoothness. 

The Cà Phê Martini ($18) is their spin on the espresso martinti and it uses vodka, Frangelico, and a fun whipped coconut foam that comes out of a pressure can. 

There are two mocktails on the menu: Hai An Sunrise ($12) features pineapple juice, almond syrup, lime, and Thai basil to create a tropical yet nutty concoction. 

Zen Garden ($12) uses apple juice, elderflower syrup, lime, and cucumber to make a light and fruity drink.

A fun accompaniment to one's drinking experience, food is meant to be nibbled on in this space, and while a lot of it crosses over from the restaurant outside, here's a look at things worth trying.The Banh Mi Charcuterie Board ($25) is originally from their brunch menu and is a very fun interpretation on the traditional snack board. 

A woven basket is filled with jambon ham, peppercorn Vietnamese sausage, nem nuong, paté, toasted baguette, and a deliciously sweet egg butter I cannot stop thinking about. 

The Lemongrass Chicken Tacos ($14) are a generous size and come in a set of two. Soft tortilla encases coriander, pickled vegetable, and tender chicken, all topped with Sriracha aioli and crispy shallots.Photine Dac Biet ($16) is the restaurant's signature item. A blanket of grilled lemongrass-marinated spiced beef sits atop fries and gravy made from pho broth to make every bite deep in flavour. 

Bò Lá Lốt ($21) comes with a generous serving of betel leaf-wrapped beef that's been skewered and grilled with five spice and scallion oil. Pull off a sausage-sized amount of meat, wrap it in lettuce, and dip it in sauce for a nice tang. 

There's also a outdoor back patio that's only accessible through the bar if you want to take the good vibes outside.

Bar Dem is located at 308 Dundas St W.