Bars around ACC
- Thread starter hockeytalk21
- Start date
bigred50
.
- Nov 6, 2007
- 3,009
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Yes, but it's always packed - especially during Leafs games. If you want to get in, get there EARLY.
Otherwise there are a bunch of other options within walking distance. Just walk around the area until you find something.
First time in Toronto?
I'm not a bar person myself, so I'll refrain on making any suggestions. Lots of bars in the area, though:
Real Sports is adjacent to the ACC and owned by MLSE:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Re...27,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x8749d8cea37186aa
It's very busy, might prove difficult to get in.
Hoop's is down the road:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ho...83,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x3f005e0dd153b4d8
St. Louis Bar and Grill is also down the road, near the Skydome:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/St...32,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xa6d09ed1414c4ee4
The Fox is on Bay St.:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Th...07,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x2051f2fbcd46c344
Jack Astor's on Front:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ja...73,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x1754392b07d7b744
Loose Moose on Front:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Th...2!3m1!1s0x882b34d3851d8359:0x776f5ff6462ac46c
The Jersey Giant on Front:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Je...2sThe+Loose+Moose!3m1!1s0x0:0xd2aac2d25870d44
Little further away than the rest, but been here recently so listed it anyways.
I'm not a bar person myself, so I'll refrain on making any suggestions. Lots of bars in the area, though:
Real Sports is adjacent to the ACC and owned by MLSE:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Re...27,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x8749d8cea37186aa
It's very busy, might prove difficult to get in.
Hoop's is down the road:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ho...83,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x3f005e0dd153b4d8
St. Louis Bar and Grill is also down the road, near the Skydome:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/St...32,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xa6d09ed1414c4ee4
The Fox is on Bay St.:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Th...07,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x2051f2fbcd46c344
Jack Astor's on Front:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ja...73,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x1754392b07d7b744
Loose Moose on Front:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Th...2!3m1!1s0x882b34d3851d8359:0x776f5ff6462ac46c
The Jersey Giant on Front:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Je...2sThe+Loose+Moose!3m1!1s0x0:0xd2aac2d25870d44
Little further away than the rest, but been here recently so listed it anyways.
Tak7
Registered User
If you can get down several hours early, Real Sports is a great place to watch a Leafs game.
It is always packed though, which means that you'll probably want to get there a good 3-4 hours before puck drop. The atmosphere alone makes it worth it. If it's too busy, you can always try and find a bar-top somewhere and spread yourselves out - that's what we normally do.
Loose Moose and Jack Astors are my 2 personal favourites - always a good crowd and atmosphere in both and are all within walking distance of the Air Canada Center.
Jack Astors is just far enough that you are close enough to the ACC for game time, but just close enough that you can meet up with your family after the game without trying to look around amongst hundreds of other Leafs fans
Also - E11even is right next to Real Sports, and if your family is planning on eating that would definitely be the place to go; probably some of the best food in the area plus good viewing for the game as well.
So yes - if you want recommendations, it would probably be:
1 - Real Sports
2 - Loose Moose
3 - Jack Astors
4 - E11even
This is based on dozens upon dozens of Leafs games watched downtown. I do it once or twice a month, and I rarely venture outside of those 4 places because they are perfect for every sort of occasion I'm downtown for - birthday, date, family gathering, etc.
It is always packed though, which means that you'll probably want to get there a good 3-4 hours before puck drop. The atmosphere alone makes it worth it. If it's too busy, you can always try and find a bar-top somewhere and spread yourselves out - that's what we normally do.
Loose Moose and Jack Astors are my 2 personal favourites - always a good crowd and atmosphere in both and are all within walking distance of the Air Canada Center.
Jack Astors is just far enough that you are close enough to the ACC for game time, but just close enough that you can meet up with your family after the game without trying to look around amongst hundreds of other Leafs fans
Also - E11even is right next to Real Sports, and if your family is planning on eating that would definitely be the place to go; probably some of the best food in the area plus good viewing for the game as well.
So yes - if you want recommendations, it would probably be:
1 - Real Sports
2 - Loose Moose
3 - Jack Astors
4 - E11even
This is based on dozens upon dozens of Leafs games watched downtown. I do it once or twice a month, and I rarely venture outside of those 4 places because they are perfect for every sort of occasion I'm downtown for - birthday, date, family gathering, etc.
Tak7
Registered User
Should have read before before I posted - this is a good list. Includes the ones I mentoined
Tak7
Registered User
Great point.
I met Bernier (and his girlfriend... wow... ), Gardiner, Rielly, Franson, and Gunnarsson there in January.
In October I met Raymond, Gardiner, and Franson there after the home opener.
The waitiing staff there were incredible. On both occasions I had my jersey with me, so they indirectly told me that the players had come in and told me what to do if I wanted go meet them and sign an autograph etc.
Was too chicken in October, but manned up in January haha. Got a nice pic with a few of them. Birthday autographs, signed my program, etc.
CerebralDevil
Registered User
- Jul 14, 2011
- 1,802
- 37
Lol I'm from Wpg and was at tonight's game but before the game we went to Real Sports bar and grill and it was great. The food was phenomenal and the atmosphere is crazy! If you are going Saturday go early be there around 330, that's what the waitress told me for Saturday games. Enjoy dude
if you're going to real sports, try making a reservation. if you can't get a reservation and still want to go, then go early and try and snag a bar seat.
it's not a whole lot more expensive than other places. if you're ordering beers, they have these big beers which are like two beers... they're not on the menu from what i can see, but if you order them, i think they're only about $12... which makes it about $6 a beer which isn't that bad. i've also had tall cans of sleemans there for $5 once... not sure if it was a promotion or something, but i was surprised they were that cheap when i got them there once.
edit: also, if you make a reservation, get them to put in a request to sit in the main area in front of the big TV. they can't guarenttee you that spot, but they can put a note on your reservation. then show up maybe 15 minutes early and mention to the people who find you a table that you had requested a spot in front of the big tv and see if they can accomodate that. i've always gotten a spot there except for one time (and that one time, they moved us there after the first period).
it's not a whole lot more expensive than other places. if you're ordering beers, they have these big beers which are like two beers... they're not on the menu from what i can see, but if you order them, i think they're only about $12... which makes it about $6 a beer which isn't that bad. i've also had tall cans of sleemans there for $5 once... not sure if it was a promotion or something, but i was surprised they were that cheap when i got them there once.
edit: also, if you make a reservation, get them to put in a request to sit in the main area in front of the big TV. they can't guarenttee you that spot, but they can put a note on your reservation. then show up maybe 15 minutes early and mention to the people who find you a table that you had requested a spot in front of the big tv and see if they can accomodate that. i've always gotten a spot there except for one time (and that one time, they moved us there after the first period).
Last edited:
Longshot
Registered User
Real Sports is always packed and all the tables are usually reserved.
Hoops just up the street is good.
Also, Gretzy's is on Blue Jays Way - up the street from the Skydome. It has good food and a large bar area.
Hoops just up the street is good.
Also, Gretzy's is on Blue Jays Way - up the street from the Skydome. It has good food and a large bar area.
Punch Drunk Loov
Thought Viktor Loov was going to be a guy
- Dec 6, 2011
- 5,611
- 3,987
I usually would go to Hoops when I lived in Toronto. Its the closest bar in sight when you undoubtedly can't get a seat at Real Sports
I find that bar seats free up due to people coming and going all evening, I've never gone and had to stand for the whole night.
Tak7
Registered User
Yeah Real Sports almost never do reservations - they are always fully booked, especially for Saturday nights.
But you can still go in and find a bar seat and drop your name for a table if one becomes available (many do become available, especially around puck drop when lots of people head from the bar across to the ACC because they have tickets - that's normally a good time for you to pounce).
They have quite a few bar seats and bar ledges all over the place, so it's not like you should have much trouble finding a few seats for you and the family.
Enjoy man - hope you have a great time.
EDIT -OH, and if you are a Jets fan wear your jersey into Real Sports; I might bump into you, and at the very least you will have some good humored banter with some of the locals. It's always fun going back and forth with rival fans in that place. Never gets out of hand, always a good laugh - had a few rounds with a couple from Ottawa in January. Plenty of rounds with some Boston fans in the playoffs too
But you can still go in and find a bar seat and drop your name for a table if one becomes available (many do become available, especially around puck drop when lots of people head from the bar across to the ACC because they have tickets - that's normally a good time for you to pounce).
They have quite a few bar seats and bar ledges all over the place, so it's not like you should have much trouble finding a few seats for you and the family.
Enjoy man - hope you have a great time.
EDIT -OH, and if you are a Jets fan wear your jersey into Real Sports; I might bump into you, and at the very least you will have some good humored banter with some of the locals. It's always fun going back and forth with rival fans in that place. Never gets out of hand, always a good laugh - had a few rounds with a couple from Ottawa in January. Plenty of rounds with some Boston fans in the playoffs too
The FOX is decent if you don't want to eat, lots of different beers, decent atmosphere and a very close to the ACC but the food is sub par IMO.
Appreciate all the responses, sounds like Hoops, Loose Moose and Jack Astors are the better options so far. I am quite excited to see the ACC and what it has to offer. Will definitely be wearing my Wheeler jersey, so please send some pleasantries my way lol. Almost hoping for a Leafs win to help the Jets tank.
Tak7
Registered User
TribalPhoenix
Former TribalPhoenix
If you're coming into Toronto, and you want a good place to watch a game with guaranteed attractive waitresses, and isn't far from the ACC, my recommendation is the Tilted Kilt on The Espalande.
Real Sports is literally right beside the ACC LOL you won't find a bar any closer unless you're inside. Other bars that are close by are the Loose Moose, Jack Astors both are Front Street near Union Station.
e11ven is another bar/restaurant MLSE invested in. That was one of Burke's favourite places to go. Players and staff are always there, probably because they either don't pay for anything or they get a heavy discount lol
Also the prices at Real Sports are similar to the prices in the ACC. You're going to paying a crap load for a pint of beer/a meal. So..if money isn't an issue go ahead but I'm just warning you, you're paying extra for the atmosphere.
