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Looks like the proximity to the hot Ossington strip has turned this into a pseudo-dive bar - even attracting a number of US reviews? Can we change the classification? Is it still a dive bar if you spend $150 at Foxley and walk up the street for a night cap?
I give it high ratings for what it was 4 years ago or so when I first went to this dingy, edgy snack bar and enjoyed a bottle of, at the time obscure, Innis and Gunn. If they are now putting Mill Street on tap then I guess they are catering to the new clientele - and perhaps it is Mill Street Organic. Please change the classification to mainstream pub for all those that feel it is "hip".
I like this bar a lot. A lot, a lot.
They have Innis and Gunn and Duggan's 9, and both these beers are awesome. The staff is great, and really patient, given that everytime I'm there I put Ann Peebles' "Can't Stand the Rain" on the jukebox. The jukebox is pretty rad, though (and this says more about me than the Commie) sometimes confusing causing me to play the same song twice (again, the bartenders are very patient).
The pickled eggs are amazing, but don't be overzealous! I've been cut off, which is, believe me, more embarrassing than being cut off of drinks.
Well, it's really small. There's a picture of a young girl on the wall, assuming that's the communist's daughter. She was OK.
Take a gamble with the crowd, I guess. If they're gross, there's no hiding from them. 4 bucks for a 50. Tolerable.
Is this place so highly rated because "its just sooo scene"? Whatever.
OH BOY! I LOVE DIVE BARS WITH JUKE BOXES.
I do, no kidding around. I had been meaning to try this joint and finally got around to it in July 2010. This mini-bar is staffed by one man and the establishment seats maybe 22 peeps. So naturally, you feel pretty special by simply finding a seat.
Nothing fancy here folks- just good booze at decent prices, but the place just makes you feel at ease. Honestly it reminded me of the hash-bars in Amsterdam, minus the cannabis. Just relaxed, very friendly people like you and me and Burt & Ernie.
Not mush in the way of food, but if you're thirsty and in the neighbourhood, pop in for a drink. I can't wait to come back on BYOV Mondays- Bring Your Own Vinyl Mondays...
Communist's Daughter is a teeny bar with not enough seats, that still draws you in because of its dim-lit coziness.
The beer selection is decent and the service is friendly and the place is generally rammed, which is not difficult when you're talking about a space that's possibly smaller than your kitchen.
Come early-ish if you want a seat and to maybe be able to chat with a friend over a drink without having to shout over the music, which gets progressively louder throughout the night. Jukebox has some great tunes, but a long wait to hear your songs. This is not a bad thing, as it gives you an excuse to stay a bit longer and have another drink, or three...
I missed my flight to dallas.
Checked out of my hotel late.
Woke up at 12:45pm with my pants half off, jacket, sweater, shirt still on, looneys strewn across the floor, camera cracked, documenting the previous night with 3 pictures of the Communist Daughter's bathroom & stairs...
...and I had blood on my finger.
Things got weird.
My "tour de toronto" quest to experience all things Canadian culminated at 1:47am at The Commies Daughter, who not only allowed me to taste hip Toronto, but live, embody it and actually feel like I was it till 5:00am...
Pickled Eggs. Politics. Good Friends. Great Jukebox. And Labatt 50's. It's all about the 50's.
This could stand as one of the best last calls of my life.
You dirty commies.
Thank you.
Listed in: ToronTO!
This was exactly the kind of place that I was trying to find while visitng Toronto. A dive amongst dives. The best way that I could describe this place would be similar to hanging out in the kitchen of a very old, unrehabbed, early 1900s home, with poor lighting, a lack of seating, and one tap. One domestic tap.
When I visit a place such as Toronto, I'm on a quest to make me some new Canadian friends, the kind that claim to be cosmopolitan enough to lack a Canadian accent until they say the words "house" and "about."
So, I'm standing there, with my lady, talking about how I've decided that Toronto would be a far better place to live than Chicago, when one of the many kind natives offered to shuffle their seating so that we could have a table. Then we sit and discuss about how much more colourful this city is than ours as well as how the people are so much more approachable. We talk about how wonderfully divided the neighbourhoods are and how that makes our exploration so simple.
I turn to one of the gents that offered us our spot and ask, "Odd question, but I'm just curious, how near do you live to this bar?" He responds, "You can actually see my place from here."
That was when I knew that I loved Toronto.
The Communist's Daughter is a quaint and cozy little joint, so a beautiful secret it was never going to stay. Weeknights are the best time to walk in and still be able to grab one of the limited seats at the few small tables - if you come early.
Mondays are for sharing your favourite vinyl. Every record gets a spin before the whole bar gets to vote whether side B gets a chance. Democracy rules, so it doesn't matter how loud you cast your vote, but in my experience, there's no harm and even some fun in trying.
As per usual, there was a lone bartender on staff when we walked in from the chilly night. It was the shift of the delightful mister who resembles Larry David playing the part of Geppetto. Considering that the boite was filled, he kept a close eye on all the tables and did a good job on refueling us all the while with incredibly friendly service.
Easily one of the best bars in the world.
I was in Toronto for a night and yelp led me just a few more blocks from the CN Tower than the average tourist.
As I headed down Queen St. West I'll admit the city looked a little quiet, but it was Sunday night after all.
Then you walk in, it's packed, little place to stand, but I was lucky to score a stool and lean against the jukebox.
Not that I needed the jukebox because there was a band playing, an awesome bluegrass band! Then I got a seat at the bar, and the local beers! Good stuff!
Then the bartender figures out I'm not a local, and offers a shot to welcome me to the Communist's Daughter, she shares one too, cause shooting alone must be capitalistic! And when she's done, she gets up and joins the band. Can you believe that? No bartender for 20 min, but no one seems to care.
Gotta love socialism! I certainly love the bar!
Real, non-pretentious place to grab a drink, I was visiting from out of town and read the review of this place and traveled out there from my hotel in downtown Toronto. Fantastic bar, great, simple drinks, great atmosphere and great music. Come early. This place fills out and don't be rude.
Picture a small bar, lit by a mixture of candles and christmas lights with old pictures painted on the walls. Behind the bar, there's a dishwasher (just like the one at your grandma's house) a random smattering of glasses and only one bartender. It takes at least ten minutes to get a drink - not because its super busy or they are rude, just because they are taking their time.
Pretty solid draft beers (I think four on tap) and the pickled eggs are killer.
It's a pretty good dive bar, but don't go too far our of your way to stop here. If I were a local, I'd be in quite often.
This reminds me of my East LA dives, except not scary. It almost has that incognito speakeasy feel, but is more along the cozy side.
The real reason I love it is authenticity-- when we were there the first time, a group of uppity girls were complaining about not getting their drinks fast enough. They picked a verbal fight with the bartender, and he actually threw them out (as in pointed the way to the door). It was awesome! In an age when money rules, it goes to show that being polite never goes out of style no matter whether you're a hipster or an up-towner.
Once I heard that someone was in Korea, and they were reading a local paper, and there was a story about how great Toronto is, especially this bar called the Communist's Daughter. That same day I heard that story, I was at the Commi, and the bar tender (and Toronto icon), was playing the trumpet, singing with the live band, and tending the bar all at once!
The Commie is an original gem on the Ossington strip.
Nestled close to hipster bars in the area, the Commie continues to offer salvation to those of us who want to a quaint place to hang out on weekend nights. I always feel relaxed when I come here, either alone with a book or with friends for last call. The beer selection is quite good, especially with a bottled variety from Quebec breweries. Whenever possible I sample one of their infamous pickled eggs. Yes, they stink up the joint but after a night of drinking, they taste oh-so good. I don't bother adding coins into the jukebox as there's a long list of requests yet to be played. As long as I never hear Lady Gaga play in the Commie, I'm content with whatever is playing.
We know that this boite gets busy on weekend nights but try it during off peaks hours. At 5 o'clock on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the Commie plays host to local musicians, a sampling of great musical acts this city has to offer.
I caught the Sunday show called Sunday Revival, a country night. Already packed, I was lucky enough to grab a seat near the stage, which is the window nook where the musicians play. On guitar is John Borra singing a nice collection of country favourites from Johnny Cash and Neutral Milk Hotel, while Sam Ferrera accompanies him on slinkies, musical saw and a cheese grinder. Expect to witness something very special. Actually, life is pretty special whenever you're at the Commie.
Listed in: Beer & Whiskey Joints, One ain't the loneliest number
Okay service with an uninviting and pungent atmosphere. I really can't agree with the plethora of favourable reviews preceding me.
If I am doing a whirlwind tour of Toronto for someone out of town, this is normally my bar of choice.
It's petite, packed with ambiance, chatter, and dim lighting, and the friendliest bartenders that I can recall in Toronto.
My only issue is that it is a tad pricey. Maybe it's a built-in cover charge for the word-of-mouth reputation, or a tax for sitting in one of their ten chairs, or the fact that it is was on Ossington before it was Bourgeossington, but whatever! No one is annoying and I always get a kick out of walking past it when I take a friend there.
They do NOT take credit cards.
One of the best bars in the city, if not the best! It's small, quaint, cozy, sometimes too crowded, but always has such a local, authentic field with great staff.
It's worth checking Michael J play from 4-7 on Saturday nights. He does double duty as bartender and bandleader/singer/trumpeter.
A story worth relating about this place, which describes how local and quaint the place is. On Christmas eve, Michael J was bartending. Instead of a normal night, he brought along christmas songbooks and by 11pm the whole place was singing along to carols - not just normal ones, but he and the crowd were teaching other czech and other global christmas songs.
Can't beat a place like this!
Huge fan. The Saturday afternoon "gypsy jazz" show with Michael J is a must see and I try to drop in whenever I can, if I can squeeze through the crowd!
Great draft beer selection including Mill Street. They also serve sandwiches and simple grub (cheese plates, pickled eggs) all listed on the blackboard.
This is just a bar with a good vibe. Went there one year for New Year's and everyone was just celebrating together. It's like a little oasis in Toronto - one of the few places where strangers will talk to each other in a generally unfriendly city.
If you are there when there is no live music, you must check out the juke box. The selections change fairly often and are always eclectic and fun. I guarantee you'll find something you haven't heard in a while but love.
Listed in: Ossington Village (Dundas and…
I concur with the other positive reviews here, this is a great place, with great beers, the best jukebox in the city, an awesome beer cheese sandwich, and a cosy, comfortable feel.
I merely want to add that this is an especially perfect place to go for an early drink. While I rarely cram myself into its small place on a weekend evening, I love going there at 4:30 on a day off, coming in with some new books from Monkey's Paw, and sitting down to read for a few hours before it gets busy, finishing a few beers while I'm at it. For a few bucks I can customize my soundtrack, or, if the bartender is feeling generous, just request one of their cd's. It's a great, casual way to spend an afternoon. Not that I don't love attending on the occasional drunken friday night with friends, but for me the Daughter is best when it is peaceful, a welcome surrogate livingroom in which to chill and have a cheap stock ale.
Listed in: Favourite TO Bars
Best jukebox in the city. Come early, grab a seat and enjoy. There really is nothing bad to be said about this bar, except for the fact that I dislike going and being saddened with the fact that there is nowhere to sit.
It gives me a warm feeling everytime I enter through the doors. Cutest place in the city. By far. Put on some Decemberists or Dolly Parton for me!
Oh, the Communist's Daughter. I was a little skeptical at first because I had no idea where I was going, but this place is great. It's small, a little dimly lit, but a really positive vibe. A lot of the time it's standing room only, but there are only a few seats to begin with...
The strawberry beer from Belgium is tasty and a cute size. Come early to avoid the food running out :)
Another hole in the wall of a place, The Communist's Daughter is very popular, but easily missed: the sign outside says Nazaré Snack Bar. This creates a word of mouth clientele that keeps this place busy on most nights.
The jukebox wars (war being used in the friendliest way possible here) are fun as you're often left waiting for your batch of songs to show up. Of course, the opposite happens sometimes, and the bar owner will select albums to play, often which leave you equally satisfied.
I'd try and continue describing how good this place, but I find nothing will do it justice the way Jimi S' review in here does. If you took the time to read this, make sure you read his review.
This was the last stop on a bar hopping route and all I remember about this place is slamming down a couple of shots and naming a horse figurine behind the bar Pierre before running off to find food.
Though feisty jukebox wars exist between the hipsters who play Neutral Milk Hotel on loop and the older 'hoodies who favour the classic country selections, the fight's fun to watch and contributes to Communist's Daughter being one of my fave spots to down a cozy pint.
I love the set-up, too. The ramshackle second-hand seats and tables are so close that you're guaranteed a chat with a random other, unless you want to be all cool and aloof and stuff, which is quite easy to do here, given the area.
But gasp! What's this about their pickled eggs jar, and why have I not noticed it before? Aye, the adventures never end, laddie.
As everyone else has said, this place is cozy and homey and wonderful, the bar is super cheap, they play great music, staff makes you feel like home...
But if you don't go on a good night, you will NOT find a seat. Many a time I have craved the warmth of Communist's Daughter, and have been greeted with the humidity of a thousand bodies crushed into a bar that is smaller than some washrooms. Despite the fact that the sign outside says "Nazaré Snack Bar" (I thought it was a Portuguese Sports Bar for the longest time -- they do this on purpose to keep people away), people are not swayed and they still show up in swarms on busy nights.
Go on a weeknight to get the full experience of a great neighbourhood bar.
Exactly as advertised - a real 'hip' dive bar with great craic (chat/banter) and no edge.
Taxi drivers don't know it and it does take a bit of courage to a) find it, and b) cross the threshold but once you're there, you're family.
Finding The Troggs and Badly Drawn Boy on the same jukebox is a highlight. Limited liquors so don't expect any fancy schmancy cocktails but what you get comes with a 'heavy elbow' kick.
Cheers.
Probably the best and friendliest Bar in Toronto. Only complaint is Cash Only though there are two banks with machines nearby. Extremely friendly Bar Staff and fun snack menu. It is more "informal" than actually a Dive. Fantastic Juke Box - seven songs for two Bucks. Many people don't know that you should pick at least one Ramones Song (at least I think so)
After reading so many wonderful reviews here on Yelp, this bar was first on my list of dive bars to visit in Toronto. My husband and i ended up walking (a long way) to find it, but we were on a mission! We finally found it and rolled in on a Sunday night at about 12:00am, luckily to an empty bar and bellied up to the bar.
The bartender that night was Tim- he was awesome! If you go there, please tell him Jessica & Andrew from Chicago say hi! He knew so much about all the beers and let me sample the one's i had never tried and when i ordered it, and ended up not liking it- he did not charge me for a new one. Awesome. It started getting a little more packed as last call was getting closer- and you are sitting so close to people you end up meeting so many cool folk.
They have a huge jar of Pickled eggs, that i ended up trying (for the first time) and it was awesome. We had plans that night- to try a few different bars- but ended up here all night long. Tim really took care of us! If you like- hole in the wall bars... this one is the best one i have ever been to! hands down.
This was my first time at the CD. i thought it was ok. i dont get what all the hype is about. seems to be one of those places that much too small so its hard to find a table and that makes it more in demand. but it was good. i'd go again but like i said i dont get what all the hype is about.
One of the few spots in the city that is simply perfect.
Worth catching a seat at the bar and talking with strangers.
Friendly bartenders, fascinating crowd.
When a gentleman such as myself wants to have a drink in the afternoon, the quaint communists daughter reminds me of a time in Burma, during the war, when I enjoyed a whisky and a long cigarette in a spot where like minded gentlemen can enjoy a story about better times together. The communists daughter's name is not to be a turn off, there are no line ups for rations! Enjoy the drinks, youngsters!
One of my favorite places to have drinks with friends, well ok, most likely is my favorite!! The jukebox is well stocked, the staff is great and for me the locations couldn't be better. There is nothing bad to say about this place.
Loved this little dive. Creaky wooden tables and chairs, a bar that looks more like a long kitchen cabinet and old lace curtains. It's so low ambient that if they tried any less you'd think it was an abandoned storefront. And prices were just right too. However, my advice, don't order a Margarita.
Probably the most amazing bar ever. Saturday afternoons 4pm-7pm. Prepare to be thrilled by the band!!!
A great little hole in the wall. The Sunday Revival with John Borra and Sam Ferrara (Sunday 5-8) is magic. Where else in the city can you hear a musical saw and Slinky and John Borra's tunesmithy in such an intimate atmosphere. Good Beer, great Pickled eggs and the jukebox are also pluses. You might want to arrive a tiny bit early as the place fills up quickly and it isn't that big.
Situated on the back wall of this cryptic watering hole is a very solemn portrait of "the daughter" herself staring you down as you try to snag one of the few seats that parallel the bar. Perhaps she's making sure that you'll fit in with the family. At the back sits a jukebox filled with songs easily amenable to fits of dancing or crooning. And when that's not playing, there is usually some sort of eclectic band at the front titillating their instruments, and if you're lucky, the bartender is double timing as the sax player. As a patron, you simply become part of a community of patrons - whether it's because of your close proximity to your neighbour, or the sultry, sweaty music flowing, or because everyone is enjoying tasty goodies like the commie salami sandwich, or the olive,almond and lupini bean plate or if you are a bona fide foodie, the beer cheese sandwich. There is quite a collection of bottled beer and a few great ones on tap, like Cobblestone's Pale Ale or MacLean's. The only hiccups might be (depending on your point of view) is that there is no air conditioning in the summer (pretty romantic though, listening to a great band, sweat dripping off your face and a caressing hand on your pint) and there is no sign on the front (perhaps just a testament to its popularity and mystique.). Simply put, you will feel at home, taken care of, and part of the family.
Listed in: Favorite Bars in the City
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
Neighborhood: Niagara
Toronto, ON
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