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Swirl
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Canadian (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
946 1/2 Queen St EToronto, ON M4M 1J7
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
(647) 351-5453
- Hours:
Mon 5 pm - 11 pm
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
24 reviews for Swirl
Review Highlights
"There are lots of board games to play."
(in 5 reviews)
"...there are pencils and post-it notes in a secret little spot."
(in 3 reviews)
"chocolate cake with mascarpone ice cream."
(in 3 reviews)
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Eric W.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Swirl is this impossibly perfect wine bar. First, its a bit hard to find, and when you get there, you immediately kind of feel like you've walked into someones apartment and crashed the party.
But then you realize that may be the point. the list is ever changing, and the last time I was there, all the food came in jars. delightful. its impossibly small, so i would recommend it being a group night out, but if its just the two of you, and you feel like an amazing intimate experience, well shucks, you may just love it. -
Review from Elise S.
8/26/2011
A friend who lived in the area took me here one evening; not being from the area I never would have found this gem in a million years!
The space is, to say the least, charming. It's the converted upstairs of a storefront that's carved up into one back room and then a main room, looking out over the quiet street below. Decor is classic, yet modern with old desks and doors re-appropriated into tables. Oh, as an added bonus you can write wishes on post it notes and leave them in the table drawers.
A nicely thought-out menu offers a variety of wines by the glass (as well as a basic selection of beer and cocktails) and small plates. Since we had just popped in for a glass of wine and something small to eat, we got the seasoned olives. Let me say this: I dislike olives but these were darned tasty. I wish I'd been able to try more of their offerings! -
Review from Lee-Anne K.
Toronto, ON
1/30/2012
My bf and I were looking for a intimate place for a glass of wine and found Swirl. I didn't give it a fair chance since we only had wine there. The speciality pates and riettes are suppose to be nice. The place was cute place, especially for a girls night out. The benches and tables were a bit uncomfortable for me. I would return but with a ff instead. I recommend this place for chicks looking for a quiet place to catch up.
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Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2011 1 photo
Swirl is a nice nook on Queen St. The decor is interesting and the games are fun. This was another stop on a pub crawl with 4 others.
*** DRINKS ***
I had a beer, it was the only beer they carry. Yes, they only carry 1 beer, but it was straight from a bottle, so it was fresh. This place is better for people drinking wine and spirits.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
The main theme of Swirl is an old early 20th century house - small, dimly lit and lots of creaky wood. Then there's a juxtaposition of new and old, with a large Mac flat screen and a couple fans blowing hot air around. The colour scheme has a lot of pastel and there's some interesting abstract art on the wall. The main attraction was the table we sat at. It was an old sewing machine desk. The sewing machine was removed, but the pedals below were still there and you could step on it to make the wheel spin. I had fun playing with the pedal. The desk drawers have Post-It notes and pencils. The drawers on the left have Post-It notes with previous patrons' wishes written on it. There are lots of board games to play. This place is a girly bar.
*** SERVICE ***
Service was good. We sat ourselves and were quickly asked if we wanted a drink. Our server was the only one there - probably the business owner. She didn't interfere with us much, but she did her job and asked us if we wanted anything once we finished our drinks.
*** PRICE ***
Pricing is good. It's competitive with all the other bars in the area. This was the last spot on my pub crawl, so I can't really remember what I paid.
*** FE-MAELSTROM ***
Swirl is a great hangout for women. It's calm and doesn't serve much beer. The decor is interesting and uses soft pastel colours. There's a lot of fun to be had here, whether it's playing board games or just talking. I would suggest anyone give Swirl at try, but if you're a guy, have at least 1 girl with you.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
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Review from Lauren M.
7/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I never thought I'd be playing CLUE on top of a sewing machine table on a Saturday evening, but Swirl made it possible.
I suggest you give this place a pass if you are not a wine drinker. Other options were very limited but there is a handmade pink wine menu with lots of selection. They did not have anything non-alcoholic and I believe they only had two choices for beer.
It was HOT here...it's the upstairs area of a house and there is no air conditioning. I don't think a/c is very hipster, because I've noticed none of the hipster bars have it.
Anyway, the place was done up in a very unique artsy fashion, very fairytale-ish. The bathroom was SO cool as was the back room.
The bar tables are refurbished antique sewing machine tables.
There was a selection of board games to play (Clue, Trivial Pursuit 1980s edition, Operation and some others).
Seems like a good place for a quiet night out with the girls. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
The last thing I thought was playing CLUE with some other Yelpers on a Saturday night.
Swirl is a nice place to hang with a couple of friends, maybe a little to feminine for some but great to have different bars and loungers that have different vibes.
Good selections of wine but for beer drinkers it will be really disappointing to just have 1 and only 1 choice... but then for me, no need to make decision?
Daydreaming while my friends were asking me questions about who killed with what and where definitely not me call relaxing :)Listed in: Places I Would Go For A Drink…, A Day in Leslieville!
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Review from Matthew L.
Montréal, QC
11/20/2011
Amazing owners, relaxed no fuss atmosphere and always a highlight to my night when near by. Don't forget to write a note and drop it into the drawers at the tables.
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Review from Faye C.
10/17/2011
This is a cute little bar, with a nice atmosphere and a reasonable wine list. The server we had was great...I hate to say it again, but this is another neighbourhood gem - located above my pups fave dog store, this is a great place to visit!
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Review from Ashleigh G.
Toronto, ON
11/7/2010
There is something so much more satisfying about finding a place that's hard to find. Bad signage and hidden entries make you feel more "in-the-know". I walked right past Swirl without noticing the odd apartment entry amidst the storefronts on Queen street when I heard my boyfriend behind me say, "the stairs on this place look completely up your alley". He was right.
We walked right up the damask print stairs into the cutest little converted bar above a pet shop. The wine list is well curated and reasonably priced, with amazing appetizers served in mason jars (all made ahead, this place has no kitchen) and great cheese plates direct from the Leslieville Cheese Market. The friendly service and interesting liqueurs (chamomile grappa, pomegranate tequila) ensured that I'll come back again. Perfect date spot. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
3/22/2011
Swirl is adorable. Teeny, tiny, cupboard like, patrons sit on reclaimed benches with either old doors or antique sewing machine tables. Your wine comes care of the very quiet and friendly server in a little clay carafe. Very dark and quiet with candles.
There are about 6 tables in a space the size of an average dining room, so note you can hear every conversation word-for-word, and you will be very close to your neighbors. On last visit we had a late 40s couple (clearly first date or newly dating) on one side, a pair of hipsters playing Operation on the other, a solo woman reading a book by candlelight and three luluemon clad women catching up. Very eclectic crowd.
There is a larger room with one large table in the back, which would be perfect for a group, complete with board games.
You won't find any bargains here, for sure, but a carafe of wine (1/2 L)was around $20. We did not sample any food, but it is all brought in.
Swirl is very unique, which lends to its charm. Very charming, It feels like a tiny wine bar in Barcelona. More for a romantic date, quiet drinks with girlfriends. Definitely a place to go and relax quietly if you cannot do so at home, and "unplug"
Will definitely return, but a little too calm/quiet/tight to be my neighborhood go-to. -
Review from Denise S.
8/8/2011
How cute is this Leslieville wine bar? The sign is small and it's up a narrow flight of stairs. I wouldn't have noticed it, but had heard good things from Yelpers (thanks guys!) so the sign caught my eye. Came on a weekend after dinner and the main room was occupied for a birthday party (and I secretly thought "how did *I* not think to have my b-day here?"... what a sweet, intimate venue for a gathering of friends!). So we sat in the little back room through the French doors. Mismatched furniture, eclectic music choices ("Thriller" anyone?), board games, cookbooks... it's like being in someone's home. The room was hot, but the rotating fan helped. So did the perfectly sweet, fruity white sangria ($16/jar, which is about 3 glasses) with pear and mangoes. DC and I also shared the chocolate cake, our server's suggestion (he said they are "famous" for it). Like all the food items, it came in a little jar and was covered in a thick layer of creamy marscapone cheese. Our raspy-voiced, Beatles t-shirt-wearing server was convivial. Nice added touch -- the bill comes in a used book and instead of cheap mints, you get a little envelope with tea from nearby Majesteas (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). We got the "Wrath of Grapes" blend - an organic green rooibos with lemon, ginger, and peppermint. I'm actually drinking it at home *right now*! Like.
Look out for their weekly events:
Sundays - movie night
Mondays - book swap
Tuesdays - board games and 1/2 price beer
Wednesdays - Mad Men nightListed in: Not your average EtOH
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Review from Paola B.
Markham, ON
4/1/2011
Went to Swirl with 3 friends last week on a Thursday, and it was a great experience. Certainly a change from our usual wings night. Time flew by as we enjoyed drinks and most items on the menu while chatting away in this very relaxed atmosphere. The decor is eclectic, which adds to the charm. Everything about Swirl is unconventional yet it works so well. They have theme nights!!
It got busy around 9pm, and I couldn't help wonder how someone would find out about this place as it is almost impossible to notice from outside unless one is looking for it. I suppose it must be word of mouth. I will surely continue to Swirl! -
Review from J H.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2011
key points:
-hard to see from the outside ("hidden gem"?)
-yes, it gets very hot in there
-there are board games
-the cheese plate doesn't vary; we had the same selection both times we ordered
-pleasant service, left no impression (fine by me)
-lovely wine list
why the 3 star rating:
i would probably rate 5 stars if the prices here were lower. while the prices are not high, you definitely feel like you are in someone's apartment
that's the deal here; it pretty much is an apartment.
it doesn't have a food license, or has a limited food license, or doesn't have a proper kitchen... or something.... hence the preserves only.
you may find yourself thinking you're hitting the bathroom switch and accidentally hit a universal switch that turns the lights off or up insanely brightly in the whole place (happened 3 times). in other words, some of the kinks that would transform living space to commercial dining space have not been worked out... which isn't necessarily bad. however, when your bill is over $200 and you felt like you spent the whole time at a friend's place and not an establishment, it feels a bit odd.
so again, while prices were reasonable, for somewhat more bargain prices this place would be an absolute find. -
Review from Su B.
7/14/2011
This place is a well kept Toronto secret and I am about to spill the beans :) It's a beautiful wine bar on the second floor and the decor is wonderfully eclectic. My friends and I were celebrating a birthday and we were given a little room all to ourselves. We went through several delicious bottles of wine and they are quiet reasonably priced - my fave being the Cave Springs Reisling. It's a great place for a date night or a small group of friends to enjoy a delicious bottle of wine.
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Review from Kat T.
9/22/2010
Cute upstairs locale on Queen Street East. If you are looking for a cozy place to chat with a friend or a few, this is it. They have a tiny menu of pots- you'll see what I mean if you go. There are 'pots' of pate, cheese spread and meat. The wine list is great, but the mixed drinks are also fantastic. Put a wish in the drawer as you leave. Read all the other people's wishes when you walk in.
Quite music- so if it is dead, make nice with the owners since you feel like you are in their kitchen. -
Review from Greg C.
Toronto, ON
11/7/2009
Much has been made of Swirl and it's inspired decor done on the cheap as well as it's Being John Malkovich-esque "1/2" address. Don't get me wrong, it's cute and twee. With sewing machine stands for tables, drawers filled with customer's wishes, It's tweer than a unicorn's dick. But the menu and wine selection are all about sophistication.
The charcuterie board and pates are amazing. The bread is nice and rustic. And... how can you say no to creme caramel?
I have a new favourite wine thanks to the wonderful hostess/owner Janean! Montepulciano d'Abruzzo!
Perfect as an evening capper to Nuit Blanche or what have you. Also..takeaway jars! -
Review from ali m.
Toronto, ON
10/1/2009 ROTD 11/6/2009
This... is a pretty awesome little place. Neat concept, well executed.
Came here for my girlfriend's birthday, because she has been really into the idea of this place for a while but we haven't made it out to Leslieville to try it.
We tried:
- cretons (with horseradish mustard)
- stilton with caramelized apple
- pickled mushrooms
- pickled quail eggs
- creme caramel
- chocolate cake with mascarpone ice cream
All were excellent. And the bread was good. This place is wildly satisfying because you get to slather cheese and meat onto bread in a way you never would at home. The quail eggs and pickled mushrooms tasted very similar, but were both great, and both came with equally tasty pickled garlic. The mushrooms also came with onions ... fantastic with the cretons. And speaking of which, where else can you get cretons? Mmmm. I didn't think I would like it but really did. Think tourtière as a spread, topped by a layer of fat.
Creme caramel is a bit odd out of the jar, since instead of the usual sauce-on-custard configuration you dig through custard to get to a rather thick layer of sugar soup. But still delicious. Chocolate cake was your usual chocolate cake, but the scoop of mascarpone icing on the side was fantastic.
Just drank the house white, at $13 a jug it's what a table wine should be.
Try this place!
If you sit at one of the sewing tables, there are pencils and post-it notes in a secret little spot. You can write down your wishes and put them in one of the drawers. For the wish fairies. -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
Updated - 8/5/2009
Made a second trip back to Swirl, this time with my winger & fellow Yelper Deanna in tow. I still love this place and in my opinion its a really cool hidden gem. We slurped back a bottle of Italian table wine which was only $23 and all things considered it was very decent. The chicken pate is still ab fab. The gal who makes all the goodies in the jar is the head chef at Brasserie (like she isn't busy enough!). The quality is stellar.
My only gripe with Swirl is that there were a couple of things on the tiny menu that weren't available (duck rillettes & herbed goat cheese). Deanna and I noshed on a cheese & charcuterie board that had four different cheeses & four different meats, all really delicious. My only suggestion would be for Swirl to add a savory to this board, such as olives or a small splatter of some sort of tapenade. Loved the little bowl of nuts the waitress brought over as we were finishing up or board. Service was comfy/casual.
I'll be back. I'm feeling the love for Swirl. Oh yeah, great tunes....gotta love that early Etta James!Listed in: La Vida Es Buena!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/21/2009 First to Review
Don't blink, you'll miss this place. Swirl is one of the latest additions to the ever growing… Read more »
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Review from Deanna W.
8/6/2009
What a fantastic gem! Swirl is what I like to think of as Black Hoof lite with its meat, cheese and bread offerings and it's well thought out wine list.
Came here last night on the trusted word of my fellow Yelper Christine with whom I enjoyed a fantastic bottle of wine along with some excellent nibbles. We shared a cheese and charcuterie plate and a chicken liver pate which was served in a cute preserve jar. I very much enjoyed the charcuterie on offer though it was a little stingy compared to the small charcuterie board I'm used to at the Black Hoof. The chicken pate was a knockout, smooth and rich in flavour. Looking forward to future visits, the menu had cretons (yum!) and marinated goat cheese (intriguing).
Wine list is very reasonable, our bottle wine was the cheapest one on the list but it delivered the goods all the same. Our server was friendly and attentive and we had a wonderful time chatting with the awesome soundtrack of hip hop, pop and blues in the background.
Swirl is a small pleasant space that is well suited for relaxing to good food and drink. -
Review from Will L.
Toronto, ON
3/16/2010
Swirl Wine Bar is a relatively new entrant into the neighbourhood. Swirl has a quaint and charming feel partly due to being located at a top floor of a building, hidden away from the rest of the world - perfect for a romantic escape from the busy sidewalks down below for you and your date.
Dimly lit with the added ambiance of candlelight, their sommelier has carefully chosen a wine menu for those who have the most discerning palate. Their menu features various charcuterie and fresh breads to accompany your wine. Swirl Wine Bar is truly is a "hidden" gem in Leslieville. -
Review from Jay U.
Toronto, ON
12/20/2010
A charming, quirky, and unique place with friendly service, reasonable prices, and a pleasant ambiance make Swirl a place that I will definitely visit again. The atmosphere strikes the correct balance between visiting someone's home and actually going to a restaurant/bar.
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Review from Tee Jay R.
Toronto, ON
3/20/2011
The food and wine are OK, but nothing special. It is overpriced. You are paying for the décor (admittedly quirky and cute) and the novelty value of the +1/2 address. If that's OK with you, by all means check it out. Otherwise, there have to be places that offer better value.
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Review from ritchie c.
Toronto, ON
1/28/2010
The door was hard to find and the scribble as a sign was barely legible as text, but find it I did.
Felt kind've sheepish when I asked our hostess "what's the concept behind this restaurant?" and got a curt "well first of all, we're a wine bar and not a restaurant". =( Guess I should've known better.
Anyways, I really liked the place. It was a little awkward cuz there was no one else there, and the proprietor was 10 feet away from us reading her book fully within earshot of our entire conversation. With more people and with a conversation buzz, I can see this being a really relaxed place to hang out with friends and drink a couple jugs of wine. Only problem is that it's way the hell out on Queen E where I don't normally venture to.
Segue. I loved the decor, and although the tables were a little awkward to fit everything we ordered on, I can appreciate that they're trying to do something different. The notes in the desks were a cute little bonus.
Bread was nice, although I wish they warmed it up a little bit. Charcuterie board was fun and the pate was delicious. Pretty much everything we ordered was fun to eat, and mixing and matching flavours was enjoyable.
If this place was in a more common location, it'd be a massive hit for sure, but being so far away, I can't see it being any more than a diamond in the rough.
Maybe it's better that way? Go decide for yourself. -
Review from chris s.
Toronto, ON
9/27/2009
Swirl is an intimate, casual and eclectic wine bar. The setting is sort of like a funky apartment and the food is served in jars.
