Acornhouse, a new bar celebrating Canadian ingredients, opens in Dovercourt Village this fall

Acornhouse sits at the intersection of Davenport and Ossington—the coveted corner where Toronto's bar scene keeps shifting. This fall, three hospitality veterans are moving in with a concept unlike anything the city has seen: a cocktail bar built entirely around Canadian ingredients.

Founded by James Park, Jacob Homoki, and Kana Hayashi, who have all worked at Mother Cocktail Bar, Acornhouse takes its inspiration from an unexpected source: the relationship between squirrels and acorns. "Squirrels naturally seek out and gather acorns, acting as stewards of the ecosystem and contributing to future growth," Park tells us. "Just like squirrels, we seek out seasonal Canadian ingredients, bundling them together and alchemizing them into tasty little gems."

The idea came after years of foraging, visiting farms across the provinces, and experimenting with local ingredients. Park describes the philosophy simply: "We believe the best cocktails begin with a sense of place," and "Canada has an incredible diversity of ingredients, producers and landscapes."

On the menu, expect a full suite of cocktails alongside food created by Executive Chef Homoki—all telling the story of Canada's diverse landscapes through the things that grow on them. Ingredients are served fresh, preserved, or fermented, depending on the season and the spirit of each drink. The goal is to reconnect Toronto diners like ourselves with the bounty that grows right here on home soil.

"We're putting a great deal of care into every detail," Park says of the late-fall opening timeline. In a city that already boasts cocktail bars paying homage to cuisines and cultures from around the world, Acornhouse arrives to fill a gap many locals probably didn't know existed: a proper Canadian one.