Ian CheesemanI’m the first to admit that I’m not a very good pool player; I tend to miss easy shots and get distracted easily. In fact, I’ve been known to accidentally sink 8-balls right after breaking—yep, I’m that guy.
But TBH, it’s never about being the best (at least, not for me). It’s more about cracking jokes with mates, sipping something cold and boozy, listening to amazing music, and chalking up with friends in a chill, banging spot.
That’s why I’ve bounced around Toronto, chasing the perfect hangout vibe. It doesn’t matter if you’re an 8-ball shark or a casual player (like me), here are the top bars with pool tables in Toronto you’d totally love.
Pegasus On Church
Media credit: vpltoronto
Website: https://pegasusonchurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pegasusonchurch/
Address: 489B Church St
Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 3 PM – 2 AM
- Sat – Sun: 12 PM – 2 AM
Contact: +1 416-927-8832
Pegasus On Church has been a staple in Toronto’s LGBTQ + nightlife scene for over 30 years. What started as a simple billiards lounge back in 1995 has turned into a fun and hip community hub.
The wait for a pool table usually isn’t bad—30 minutes tops in my experience—and there are TVs, free WiFi, and other games to keep you entertained in the meantime. Examples are pinball and slot machines, electronic darts, ping pong, and shuffleboard.
Drinks-wise, their cocktail menu offers classic and signature drinks, and their pitchers of beer are cheap. Don’t miss their killer promos like $6 tequila on “Thursty Thursdays,” and the infamous 4,5,6 deal after midnight: $4 Fireball, $5 bar rail, and $6 domestics.
One thing to note—they don’t have a kitchen. But they have bar snacks if you need something small, or you can bring your own food from nearby spots.
Pro Tip:
Check out Pegasus’ themed events. They host super fun events, such as Drag Queen Bingo, Dirty Bingo, and my absolute favorite, the hilarious, Are You Smarter Than the Scottish Guy? trivia.
Monarch Tavern
Media credit: monarchtavern
Website: https://www.themonarchtavern.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchtavern/
Address: 12 Clinton St
Hours: Mon – Sun: 1 PM – 2 AM
Contact: +1 416-531-5833
Tucked in Clinton Street in Little Italy, Monarch Tavern is one of those hole-in-the-walls that feels like a local secret—except it’s been around forever (decades, in fact).
Their setup is pretty sweet—a cocktail cafe on the main floor and a pub upstairs, where the pool table, pinball, and dartboard are located. While waiting your turn during a pool game, you can catch an indie act live or sing a song during Thursday night karaoke.
As for drinks, they offer 15 craft beers on tap, including a conditioned cask, and an epic lineup of over 35 bourbons.
I know their food menu may be limited, but I swear—*chef’s kiss*. I recommend their slider trio, which features beef, curry chicken, and pork belly for $20, but their fish sliders and fries are pretty awesome, too.
Pro Tip:
Monarch Tavern isn’t huge—even more so upstairs where the pool table action is—so it fills up fast. Get there early, especially on weekends or event nights, to snag a table.
Swan Dive
Media credit: swandiveto
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SwanDiveTO/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swandiveto/
Address: 1631 Dundas St W
Hours:
- Mon – Thurs: 7 PM – 2 AM
- Fri – Sun: 6 PM – 2 AM
Contact: +1 647-347-0099
Swan Dive is a cool dive bar at the far end of the Dundas West strip. It’s very laid back, unpretentious, and even a little kooky, which I love.
They offer free pool, vintage pinball and arcade machines, giant Connect Four, and random toys and bar games. They even stock novelty sunglasses and bubble soap to help hype up the weird but fun energy of the place.
Their drink selection is nothing to scoff at either—there’s a rotating tap, a fridge full of tallboys, and solid pints and cocktails. What I love about this place is that they serve espresso and cappuccino during the wee hours of the morning.
To pair with your drinks, order their grilled cheese sandwich—crispy, buttery, and overflowing with melted cheddar. You can follow it up with a warm bowl of chili or a sinful slice of strawberry pie.
Pro Tip:
I suggest swinging by on a Sunday night for Lazy Sunday Movies—a chill weekly screening of cult classics paired with cocktail specials. You can catch a flick before or after a round of pool.
The Dock Ellis
Media credit: fireandtonic
Website: https://thedockellis.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedockellis
Address: 1280 Dundas St W
Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 3 PM – 2 AM
- Sat – Sun: 12 PM – 2 AM
Contact: +1 416-792-8472
The Dock Ellis is a sports bar that shows every game with sound—the Jays, Leafs, Raptors, or TFC. Open until 2 AM every night, it’s a great place to support your favorite team while munching on delicious bar snacks.
Speaking of which, try the Dock Burger or the Fried Chicken Sammy. But if you’re with friends, go for the 2-pound Ontario chicken wings—they’re perfectly cooked and tossed in unique in-house sauces.
For booze, they’ve got Amsterdam on tap, plus other local crafts like Stonehammer Pilsner, Beau’s Lug Tread, and Wellington ESB. They also carry rotating bottled options and signature cocktails, too.
Upstairs, they have pool tables, foosball, shuffleboard, darts, pinball, and even Crokinole—a Canadian board game that’s a mix between shuffleboard and curling.
Pro Tip:
If you’re into early morning sports, they open early for Arsenal matches, F1 races, early Jays games, and other big events. Just check their Instagram so that you can schedule your pool game alongside fun happenings.
VIP Billiards & Lounge
Media credit: viponcollege
Website: https://www.vipbilliardsclub.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viponcollege/
Address: 485 Danforth Ave
Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 4 PM – 2 AM
- Sat – Sun: 12 PM – 2 AM
Contact: +1 416-466-9696
Perched above the Danforth Strip in North Riverdale, VIP Billiards & Lounge is a spacious pool hall and sports bar—a chill place you can spend hours in.
Catering to both pros and casual players, their pool tables are well-maintained, and even their house cues are straight and chip-free (unlike in other bars). Note that they’re a little bit pricier at $25 per hour.
While playing a game, you could enjoy one of their delicious stone oven pizzas (perfectly charred at the bottom) or their deliciously seasoned chicken wings.
And if you’re thirsty, Thursdays are where it’s at—they have all-day Happy Hour with $6 drinks, plus ongoing beer bucket and shot specials.
Pro Tip:
Planning a special event? VIP Billiards offers full-venue rentals with food packages, a sound system, and space for up to 250 people standing (or 156 seated).
Duke’s Refresher
Media credit: dukesrefresherslm
Website: https://dukesrefresher.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dukesrefresherslm/
Address: 73 Front St E
Hours:
- Mon – Wed: 4 PM – 12 AM
- Thursday: 4 PM – 1 AM
- Friday: 4 PM – 2 AM
- Saturday: 12 PM – 2 AM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Contact: +1 416-603-8826
Duke’s Refresher is a simple dive bar near St. Lawrence Market that welcomes everyone, from beer nerds to casual shooters.
They’ve got over 40 beers on tap, plus tallboys, ciders, wines, and cocktails. Happy Hour runs from Monday to Friday (4 PM to 6 PM), and they offer $5 shots all day, every day—your wallet won’t hate you here, promise!
As for the fun stuff, they have arcade games that rotate regularly, a mini basketball court, ping pong, PS4 setups, and of course, pool.
We love their walls that are lined with velvet portraits. And word on the street is that if you buy one, you’ll be inducted into the Velvet Painting Society for life.
Pro Tip:
When hunger hits, I suggest ordering their chicken fingers or one of their chicken sandwiches, served with fresh-cut fries (made from 100% Canadian Russet potatoes). Bonus: All the poultry is free-run, antibiotic-free, and tucked inside fresh-baked buns.
The Corner Bank
Media credit: cpasouth
Website: https://www.thecornerbank.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_cornerbank/
Address: 925 Warden Ave., Scarborough
Hours: Mon – Sun: 11 AM – 2 PM
Contact: +1 416-757-2265
The Corner Bank is a huge entertainment venue (close to 20,000 square feet!) packed with wall-to-wall pool tables. And it also has a 3,000-sq-ft full-service patio—perfect for summer hangouts.
Pool lovers will love the Pro-Am tables—7-footers with a lovely rosewood finish and 9-footers in charcoal grey. They’re spaced out generously, and each table comes with seating, so that your friends can poke fun at your dismal pool playing skills.
For snooker fans, they offer 8 Shender snooker tables—the same ones used in professional international tournaments like the IBSF World Championships.
And when you need a break, hit up their 50-foot bar that serves wine, cocktails, ciders, beer, mixed drinks, what-have-you. You can sip a pint while watching one of their 12-foot projection screens or 60-inch TVs scattered around.
Pro Tip:
We suggest booking a reservation at their VIP lounge. It has six large-screen TVs and a big projection monitor—perfect for intimate events or small groups who want to chill in between pool rounds.
