Isabelle's is a cocktail bar that makes you feel like you’ve entered your friend's loft party.

Imagine stepping into your friends mega-loft apartment mixed with a Brooklyn Heights art gallery - that is what this bar from the owner's of bar and restaurant conglomerate Freehouse Collective feels like.

Whoever designed this place clearly has an obsession with draping Moroccan-style carpets on their walls, and it works.

The bar's glowing pink cursive logo greets you before you enter, letting you know this isn't just going to be your average King West spot. 

Near King and Bathurst, this bar sits above one of Freehouse's other popular establishments, Belfast Love.

With paisley and shades of pink covering its interior, the bar reminds me of a pinkish pastel Pinterest board of what I'd want my Toronto apartment to look like if I was really committed to make it happen.

Every element of the stereotypical King St. bar seems to eventually come together at Isabelle's including the leather seating spaces and glass topped tables littered with bottle service.

Glowing red and pink signs and a towering DJ booth are at the centre of it all and while the owner's might suggest they're trying to be different from other places in the area, Isabelle's somehow encapsulates King West's iconic elements in the best way possible. 

Walking down the bar's red dimly lit hall other personalities of Isabelle's present themselves. In one area, a natural-esque rustic seating area hides itself like a secret location inside the bar. 

The best part is Isabelle's doesn't feel overwhelming and the rooms and design elements, along with the vibe and cocktails work incredibly well together.

I can't say the same thing about most places in this part of town.

Isabelle's is Freehouse Collective's first new project since lockdowns.

The bar was first introduced in Vancouver in March 2022 and has now made its way from Yaletown to Toronto. 

Their signature cocktail, La Boheme ($19), is a fusion of absinthe, botanist gin, acidified pineapple with a salted cucumber garnish. It isn't forgiving in the best way possible. It's sharp with the subtle taste of absinthe making a refreshing addition to the drink. 

The  Shanghai Wendy ($21) is almost the opposite. It's made with Patron Reposado and a passion fruit juice that balances the bitter and sweet notes perfectly. 

A Remy VSOP + Moet Champagne cocktail ($90) is what you might order if you want to splurge. The infusion of orange oil at its base adds a softer taste to the cognac champagne drink. 

Isabelle's also has extensive options for wine, champagne, sparkling wine and bottle packages that start at $2,000.