Three Dollar Bill is a Toronto queer bar for the community, by the community. 

Immediately upon entering the space, you're greeted by good vibes and moody lighting. There are a handful of tables near the front, a good amount of seating at the bar, and more spots to hang out in the back near a DJ booth.

Their washrooms are located in the basement – it's here where you can see the gorgeous mural they commissioned legendary cartoonist Eric Kostiuk Williams to create.

The mural commemorates the city's queer history, featuring significant queer venues, local icons, and community members that have passed away.

While you can pop in whenever they are open (6 p.m. - 12 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 p.m.- 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday) to grab a delicious cocktail, they also host a ton of great events. 

Their offerings so far have included queer karaoke (usually hosted every Sunday), trivia nights, comedy shows, Canada's Drag Race viewing parties, The L Word screenings, as well as some stellar dance nights. There is little they aren't doing - the venue will even be hosting a queer wedding in the summer.

The drink selection is varied, creative, and tasty. They offer everything from wine (starting at $12) to beer ($7.50 - $9), and non-alcoholic options ($6). They also have a seasonal rotating cocktail list, with some staples on the menu that consistently remain.

One of these drinks is The Departed ($17), a blend of rum, Campari, Averna, mezcal, and Peychaud’s Bitters. This negroni-like cocktail was the creation of Sandy De Almeida, a beloved member of the Toronto queer community who passed away in 2022.

Three Dollar Bill wanted to honour their legacy, so $1 from every drink sold is donated to CAMH.

The Relic Refresher ($17) is an example of how the bar employs more sustainable practices – the cordial they use in it is crafted by taking the ends of citrus that are used for garnish, macerating it, and combining it with sugar.

The cocktail itself is strong but goes down smoothly. The bright citrus is refreshing and comes through beautifully. 

Another offer – one of their top sellers – is the Winter Jalisco ($16). It's their take on a wintery margarita. A blend of tequila, cranberry hibiscus tea syrup, and lime, it's a gorgeous mix of flavours, balancing sweet and sour perfectly.

After tasting it, I wasn't surprised to find out it's one of the most popular on their menu.

While they don't prepare any food in-house, the bar has partnered with their neighbour, Cici's Pizza to serve five different exclusive pizzas they collaborated on.

You can order by scanning a QR code on the menu when you're at your table and have the pizza delivered right to you. Some examples of what you can order are the You Feta Work, Sausage Party, and the BBQueer.

While they are thriving now and have experienced incredible excitement and support from the community, starting this venture didn't come without struggle. Early on they faced several issues with the space, including electrical, plumbing and crumbling walls.

There were many unexpected costs, but the community came together to support them, raising over $9,000 on GoFundMe. They exceeded their initial fundraiser goal, so they chose to make a $500 donation to the Parkdale Food Bank.

The enthusiastic reception to Three Dollar Bill has made it clear that Toronto has needed a queer space like this one. The founders of the bar, Castle, Maro, and Meaghan, shared with blogTO that their focus "will always be fostering queer joy in any shape or form that it will take in our space."
Three Dollar Bill is located at 1592 Queen St W.