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The Cobourg
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
6 reviews for The Cobourg
6 reviews in English
-
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
1/1/2012
VIBE
I'm giving this place five stars because it truly is one of the best local bars in this city. All kinds come here and it's one of those special places that isn't like the rest. Not only as a customer (once you come here a bit) do you know the bartender (John...great guy) but the other patrons. The key is to be at the bar and to talk to others. It's not the fanciest, but that's not the point. And that is the hallmark of an amazing local.
DRINK/EAT
I'm sure anything will be customized for you here. I usually stick to the basics at a bar and their gin and tonic does not disappoint. The cheese plate is fantastic (as is the service).
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
If you want your life to feel like a TV Show, this is the place to go. -
Review from Sharky L.
Toronto, ON
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a really good spot for jazz on a Sunday night. Very chilled and relaxed. There's a room at the back for you to chat with new friends and catch up with old ones.
-
Review from Elaine K.
11/10/2010 3 photos
Decor: Great
Service and atmosphere: Meh
This is a really nice looking bar, decent prices. Not sure if they serve food, but the bartender on staff was eating Thai takeout, so maybe not.
Met a couple of friends here while the place was empty. Slowly the bar fills up with guys in beat up $300 sneakers, toques and scraggly beards; and girls with Sally Jesse Raphael glasses and "vintage" concert t-shirts that still smell like the sweatshop they were made in in June. BAM! A decent drinking establishment turns into a hipster joint. Suddenly, the Annie Lennox and Paul Simon that are for some reason BLASTING* out of the speakers are no longer fun and nostalgic. They're ironic. And now, EVERYTHING seems ironic: the Victorian-style chairs, the leather bar stools, the faux chandeliers. Atmosphere, ruined.
The service was sort of inattentive, which isn't a huge deal because everyone's just there to relax and have a drink. Unfortunately, while trying to order a wine, we learn that they are revamping their entire wine list, so they have nothing good right now. The bartender tries to recommend a bunch of wines (wherein it becomes abundantly clear that she knows very little about wine), but we are angry from having to hear "You Can Call Me Al" dialed up to 11 twice so we all heave a big passive aggressive sigh and order another round of beer.
All in all, the place is comfy to sit in, pretty to look at and doesn't reek of dish machine, but it's not a place that I will think to return to.
*Seriously, blasting. There's a problem when the bar has 20 people in it, but you still have to yell to have a conversation with someone 2 feet in front of you. Every once in a while, the music got turned down only to be turned up again a couple minutes later. -
Review from Angela L.
1/22/2010
It's quite easy to walk right pass the storefront and still miss the Cobourg. After all, it's not even open half the day. However, if you're a fellow night owl, you'll appreciate that it's business 'til 2am every night.
The first thing you are greeted with upon entering the windowed door is the short bar where friends and regulars seem to like to park themselves. Other than the one round table at the front, seating is curiously limited only to clusters and lines of plush chaises. It's an interesting departure from the usual segregating arrangement and feels much more inviting. The mood lighting by chandelier accentuating the oil paintings on the walls rounds out the classy, but minimalist decor.
The loose leaf drinks list features pages of wines by the glass ($7.50+) and bottle ($30+) as well as whiskeys and other libations. If you're feeling for a nibble, cheeses and pates du jour are also available.
For the utmost intimate atmosphere, the small back room is furnished with cushy couches and ornate day beds. This is where my ami and I were served our bottle of vino complete with individual chiller by the warm, suited monsieur who introduced himself via handshake as Jon.
For a lovely evening, bring your own good company and come during the quieter weekdays. For a more adventurous time, pay a visit on the much busier weekends and mingle like it's a house party. -
Review from Chris A.
Toronto, ON
1/11/2011
There are good things, and bad things about this place. This place would be exception if they cared more.
I have been to this place 4 times in total, so I I've experienced a variety of things.
Mostly though, I never feel welcome at this place. I feel like it's a bar where a bunch of bartenders wanted to open a bar, and they got to gether and did. Unfortunately, the mood because of that makes me feel like I happened into a private party where I wasn't invited, but that they have to tolerate me there.
Many of the patrons and the mood of the bar is snotty hipsters. I felt guilty cause my glasses were black rim, and I didn't wear plaid. Some patron was trying to be a DJ with his ipod. No Thanks. Oh yeah... they also serve "50" as a beer. Please.
As well, if I order a beer that is $5.65, and give you $7, that's not an invitation to keep the entire amount of change as a tip without even briging it back to me.
If you do need a bit of a nibble though whilst drinking, you can order the cheese plate. I believe itwas about $12 and it was incredibly good.
This place could be great. Unfortunately, when the highlight of my review is a cheeseplate, it's concerning. -
Review from Liz K.
9/16/2008
Although the bartender was uninventive in his drink recommendations, he was a pro at the classics and if you can at least do that with a smile and competency, that makes me a fan.
Hipsters sat in rows of four on the chaise lounges. Note the liberal use of plush antique chairs, chandeliers, and portrait oil paintings to understated but cozy effect probably not too much unlike your own living room.
I did find a tiny fly in the bottom of my cocktail at the end of the evening, buuut who wants that last sip anyway?
