Top 5 Summer Cocktail Joints in Mississauga
Published June 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm
It’s summer! I think.
It’s honestly been hard to tell. But although the skies are grey and the wind is much too cold, I do know (for a fact!) that it’s June and June means summer and summer means drinks both on and off the patio. You owe it to yourself, after a long and harsh winter, to drink an entire pitcher of rose sangria or a super cool craft beer with an abrasive name like Bolshevik Bastard Stout (it’s local!).
So, here’s a list of places to hit up if you want to get drunk in style (please don’t drive!).
5) Border MX
We’ve talked about Border MX quite a bit around these parts and for good reason — the friendly service is outstanding and the food (especially the baja fish tacos) is divine. For the first few months of the cozy 5&10 resto’s life, the casual dining joint was without a liquor license and the owners could only talk about the tasty Mexican concoctions they would produce once the city finally came through with the appropriate permitting. Now that talk is action and Border offers a drink menu full of tasty margaritas — including lime, mango and jalapeno frozen beverages — as well as both conventional and high-end gold, silver, reposado and Añejo (aged) tequilas. Ask your server to recommend a tequila shot and enjoy the pleasantly surprising smoothness of aged liquor that offers traditional tequila kick with none of the burn.
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Rib Eye Jack’s boasts two locations (one in Sauga and another in Burlington), and its Mississauga resto sits on a quieter stretch of Mississauga Road in Streetsville. The restaurant is spacious with a gamier sports bar feel that’s off-set by its incredible craft beer selection. The drink menu is built for hipsters, foodies (drinkies? Is that a word? No, it’s definitely not, but you know what I’m getting at) and beer aficionados, even though the aesthetic is more bar and grill than chic booze lounge. Rib Eye Jack’s offers dozens upon dozens of beers, boasting local and international craft beverages — including Barking Squirrel (Ontario), Dead Guy Ale (Oregon), Muskoka Cream Ale (Ontario) and more. Prices range from $5 to $20, depending on type and size. If you’re not into beer, the resto offers ciders, wine, cocktails, martinis, drink-themed nights and live music. If you aren’t into beer but want to be, order a beer flight so you can sample some milder (ask your server for recommendations) mini brews and see if anything strikes your fancy.
3) West 50
Some of you might have forgotten poor old West 50, the Sussex Centre gem that was pulling nightlife seekers long before &Co and Bier Markt set up shop in City Centre. If you’ve been partying elsewhere, remember your old friend and its spacious patio and impressive selection of 50 on tap beers — including the crafty IPAs and gluten-free bevies you’ve come to love as your beer palate has become more refined and your diet more precious and boutique. If you’re not a beer fan, West 50 offers Somersby and Pommies ciders, wine and a plethora of cool cocktails. It also boasts some prime real estate and an impressive City Centre view from the floor to ceiling windows in the wrap-around dining room.
2) &Company
&Company Resto Bar, right next to the Sussex Centre in City Centre, has been providing a multi-night clubbing experience for some time now. In terms of drinks, it’s got a lot going for it — not to mention a spacious roof top patio. If you want to drink like a goddamn pro, you can order a Manhattan Perfect ($9.50), Negroni ($11) or gin Caesar ($9). You can also sample some mojitos, sangrias, shooters, wines, vodkas, gins, cognacs and more. Feel free to ask your server for recommendations and wine pairings, as the menu is constantly evolving and nothing makes a meal more perfect than a fitting glass of wine or complementary cocktail.
1) Ten Restaurant and Wine Bar
Ten Restaurant and Wine Bar, located on Lakeshore at Hurontario in Port Credit, offers locals and travelers a swanky, chic place to spend a wild or casual night. The spacious resto bar boasts a spacious patio and two-level set up. It also offers happy hour apps, Smooth Jazz Tuesdays and ½ Price Wine List Mondays (HALF PRICE WINE!). Although this centrally-located lounge offers all the requisite beers and cocktails you might be looking for, its wine list is what keeps the ladies coming in for bachelorette parties. If you’re unsure of what wine to get (or if you want to sample a few), order a three 3 oz. glass wine flight for $17. You can sample crisp pinots, fruity merlots and smooth, tongue-coating Malbecs all at once. The wines also come from every region you can think of, with vinos from Argentina, Niagara, California, Italy, Spain, France, Australia and New Zealand dotting the impressive menu. Please ask your server for appropriate pairing suggestions.
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