Ladybug Wine Bar is here to dismantle any stuffiness surrounding Toronto's wine bar scene — by taking inspiration from British pubs.

Co-owners of the space Charles Co (who owns the longstanding St. Lawrence Market pub The Corner Place) and Jessica Blewett moved to the U.K. during the pandemic.

Charles decided to attend culinary school while he was there, and trained in classical French culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu London.

During his studies Charles worked at a local wine bar, and it was in that serendipitous time that he grew to appreciate how effortless the marriage of food and wine in one space can be. 

Once back in Toronto, the two quickly realized how polarizing our bar scene is compared to the warmth and unpretentiousness they'd experienced in the U.K. — and strove to carve out the kind of space they were craving. 

What sets them apart from other wine bars in the city is that desire to become a "neighbourhood spot," the same way pubs and taverns do.

With Ladybug, Jessica and Charles' aim is to have an "afterwork-type" hangout, where regulars can grab a quick and easy drink and unwind — the classically charming kind, with an "everybody knows your name" shtick.

Here, they've merely swapped pints with a surprisingly sophisticated glass of Malbec.

From its crowded room on a Wednesday night, they certainly seem to be succeeding as the easy-going crowd-pleaser. Even on a chilled weekday, you'll find yourself in an incredibly lively space, bringing a much-needed pulse to the typically quiet Corktown strip.

The corner space on King St. East, previously a location of the now shuttered Nava Social coffee chain, is hardly recognizable these days — and the facelift was designed by Jessica herself.

Despite still maintaining many of the same unique design details, like curved wall alcoves and floating wood plank ceiling decals, the room has finally gotten the nightlife treatment this neighbourhood has been in need of. 

Contrasting the modern, brutalist architecture, customers sit amongst live-edge wood tables underneath leafy green plant tendrils. A vintage-feeling marble mirror now adorns the wall behind the bar, which is the must-sit spot for the night. Upbeat, trendy music like Dua Lipa and Harry Styles fill the cozy room up.

Ladybug's food menu (which includes a Saturday-Sunday brunch) is packed with both familiar classics and dishes uniquely uncommon to the wine bar scene. The inspiration for the menu is "sunny places around the world."

"There's no boundaries, cuisine-wise," he says.

From his own Asian influence to his time studying French cuisine abroad, that boundary-less approach emphasizes Ladybug's approachability.

For diners content with enjoying the familiar classics, there are cheese and charcuterie dishes aplenty; when they're ready to experiment, the dynamic menu can stimulate them.

A customer and staff favourite is the Pomegranate & Feta Tartine ($12). Looking like something straight out of Marie Antoinette's era, pillowy and herbaceous bread is covered with a high heap of salty and creamy whipped feta.

Topping the loaves are bright pomegranate seeds and a subtle amount of mint; you'll feel luxurious dining on this Mediterranean-inspired marvel.

Charles personally can't say no to the textbook Baked Camembert cheese ($18), which comes in an array of choices like rosemary garlic or a decadently sweet honey and toasted hazelnut blend, paired with crostinis.

As much as they're honouring the classics for wine pairings, Jessica and Charles are not allowing themselves — or their customers — to be pigeonholed by the expectations of a wine bar's food menu. 

That inspiration from sunny, global spots can be seen in dishes like the Hot Garlic Tostones ($7) and the Red Snapper Crudo ($14). 

Start your night with the sweet and nutty plantains, which pair perfectly with a zesty lime and cumin-forward mojo verde sauce. Follow this up with a glass of white and the crudo, whose delicate slices have a creaminess that melts in your mouth. 

While the food is phenomenal, wine really is the star of the show at Ladybug. Everywhere you look, the walls of the space are brimming with purchasable bottles glinting in the light, practically from floor to ceiling. 

"Why only have a wine list when you can have a walk around?" Charles quips.

Making wine culture approachable to anybody is again at the heart of this decision: patrons of Ladybug have the autonomy to browse and select their own wine to enjoy right on the spot, instead of relying on a professional to source a bottle themselves from a cellar. 

The wine list, which features over 20 different types of wines by the glass and around 70 bottles, is curated by Jessica and Ladybug's Assistant General Manager Morgan Rock. Working with importers, the two typically look to feature organic and/or sustainably farmed wines, family run businesses, and/or female-operated producers. 

Additionally, Morgan and Jessica aim to source wines that seem to "drink above their price point" — a.k.a. getting an expensive, quality taste at a respectable cost. Whilst doing so, they shine a spotlight on lesser-known regions like Austria, South Africa, and Argentina instead of just the more commonly known regions.

Rather than providing descriptive tasting notes on the menu — which often use terms that feels reserved for wine aficionados — at Ladybug, you'll find a fun fact about each wine on the menu.

The intention with this cheeky addition is to ensure customers don't feel like they're being told what they should experience when tasting the wine. Jessica and Morgan just want you to savour it.

Another friendly gem on the wine menu is their "Monthly Wine Flight" ($20) option, in which you can sample four 2oz glasses with an overarching theme alongside a self-guided tasting map detailing the wines.

The themes rotate seasonally; "Summer European Road Trip" and "Warm Fall Flavours" previously came and went. "We think about what customers haven't tried, or might be nervous to try — and now they get a chance to," Jessica says about how they make this selection. 

The petite and charming flight is a fun yet sensible way to ease yourself into experiencing a side of wine culture that you might feel both hesitant and eager to explore.

"We want people to feel like they can come in and open a bottle of wine any night of the week," says Jessica. "It doesn't have to be a special occasion when you feel it's only okay to splurge."

Ladybug Wine Bar is located at 514 King St. East.