Library Bar at Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
Bold drinks. Big characters. True stories.
Some places just breathe with stories. Library Bar is a Front Street institution, the true cocktail capital of Canada and birthplace of the legendary Birdbath Martini. Built layer by layer, glass by glass, over 50 years by a cast of characters as storied as the drinks they pour. Ranked No. 19 on North America's 50 Best Bars and No. 5 on Canada's 100 Best, today Library Bar exudes a fresh eccentricity, full of colour, a magnet for the cocktail curious and connoisseurs’ alike. Martini lunch. After-work ritual. Late-night gathering place. Date night classic. Whatever brings you through the door, we’ve got stories for you.
Menus
Characters
Toronto's True Cocktail Story
Library Bar’s latest menu pays homage to the bar’s origins. Drawing on the history, people, and celebratory spirit of Library Bar, the team has transformed a charming tale into an illustrated storybook.
The menu, Opening Night, created by James Grant and the Library Bar team, is a love letter to the people who made Library Bar what it is today and an invitation to explore the story of how we came to be. Some drinks have never left the menu. Others arrive as new chapters in an ongoing story. All of them belong to this city.
Opening NightFrom Château to Table
Honouring the culinary vision established at the turn of the century in the châteauesque hotels that joined together Canada's burgeoning cities and resort properties set amongst the vast wilderness, Library Bar's Chef Brian Tang takes inspiration from the beloved classic dishes that guests have returned for time and again.
Rich indulgences like east coast oysters, classic Steak Frites served with Bordelaise, and the ever-famous Bay Street Prime Rib Sandwich round out a menu that draws inspiration from our country’s rich and natural culinary canon that is expertly paired with a refined wine list and intriguing cocktails, creating an indulgent and memorable dining experience.
A strong proponent for local and sustainable initiatives, Library Bar partners with Ontario-based farmers and east coast fisheries to forage ingredients that complete the hearty recipes that have defined the flavours of Library Bar for decades.
Where Legends Lounge
A place for the fashionable legends of the world to feel right at home.
Personifying the hotel's lineage founded in the roar of the 1920s, a broad stroke Art Deco motif sets the stage for the legacy of vivacious performers who entertained raucous crowds that poured in from the hotel's Imperial Ballroom to dine on lavish nightcaps that spilled into the early morning hours. A vibrant mosaic of fluid marbles, rich leathers of bold primary hues, whimsical velvets, and satin fringe adorn a nuanced canvas decorated with Canadian literature and sixteenth-century renaissance paintings.
Above the Mantel, Beneath the Story
A commissioned portrait of George Locke, the City of Toronto’s second Chief Librarian, hangs above the mantelpiece. At the turn of the 20th century, Locke was highly influential in advocating for literacy and transformed Toronto's library system into one of the most respected institutions in North America. Invited to hand-select the books for the original library of Fairmont Royal York, Locke remains an original author in the story of Library Bar.
Martini as a Masterpiece
Perfecting the bar's signature cocktail, Library Bar collaborated with Niagara-region master distillers to craft expressions tailored especially for the treasured Birdbath Martini. Library Bar proudly introduces QUILL, a one-of-a-kind vodka and gin composed of effervescent botanicals and sustainable ingredients that allow the true natural flavours of the classic martini to shine through. Well-balanced with a full-bodied velvety mouthfeel, citrus, spices and earthy roots craft a complex spirit that is served tableside from a bespoke mixing glass.
Press & Awards
The Pinnacle Guide
World's Best Cocktail Bars
Canada's 100 Best
Best Hotel Bar 2026
Canada's 100 Best
Best Bar 2026 No. 5
The World's 50 Best
North America's 50 Best Bars No. 19
The World's 50 Best
Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2026
The World's 50 Best
The world's 50 best discoveries
Canada's 100 Best
Best Bars 2025 No. 6
Toronto Life
Over-the-top cocktails are sweeping the city
Honest Cooking
Sip back in time
Canada's 100 Best
A sensorial immersion
Canada's 100 Best
A classic cocktail revival
The Luxury Lifestyle Magazine
A culinary haven
Toronto Star
Man of the evening
Hotelier
Legendary Library Bar returns
Contact Us
Send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. You can also reach us by phone at +1 416 368 2511. Looking forward to hearing from you.