Evelyn Chick's four favourite Toronto bars, from Dundas wine shops to College vinyl

Evelyn Chick knows bars. She founded Simpl Things in Parkdale, built ECP Hospitality into a consulting firm, serves as the resident drinks expert on a reporter Stuff and The Social, authored For the Love of Cocktails, and launched Feastie, an annual festival celebrating local BIPOC- and women-owned businesses. When she picks her favourite spots, they tend to hit the details right.

Grape Witches, at 1247 Dundas St. W., started as a bottle shop and evolved into what Chick calls "the most charming wine bar." She loves the funky, fun selection and the team's deep knowledge. "I usually ask them to choose for me, or I get one of their flights," Chick says. Right now she's drawn to their flights featuring Lieux Communs, a Quebec winery doing skin-contact wines and co-ferments. The new snacks and conservas are worth ordering; if you snag a patio seat, even better.

Cocktail Bar at 923 Dundas St. W. is "a quintessential Toronto staple for a classic cocktail" — intimate and cozy, yet spacious enough for a group of cocktail-loving friends. The Absinthe Whip is a standout classic, and Chick recommends the Hoof Manhattan for spirit-forward drinkers. Smoked olives and marcona almonds are her go-to snacks.

Library Bar at 100 Front St. W. is a hotel bar done right. "I love a hotel bar," Chick says. "Library Bar is an easy go-to with amazing food, an adventurous but non-pretentious menu, and hospitality that feels intentional." She orders either a classic martini or one of their new seasonal cocktails — "one of the few places in the city where I know I'll always get an exceptional martini." Their new beef tartare is exceptional.

The Little Jerry at 418 College St. is Chick's "sort-of-secret spot." It's a vinyl bar with a chill, casual vibe and an energy she describes simply as "such a vibe." Trust the blackboard, she advises: pick any of the wines they happen to have open. It's where to discover something new without overthinking it.