The top after work bars in the Financial District will help you forget about all the fluorescent lights and files that permeate your day at the office. Instead of fighting traffic immediately after leaving work, opt to stop by one of the area's top watering holes for a beverage or two. Most of them also double as restaurants, so you may want to stick around for dinner.
Here are my picks for the top after work bars in the Financial District.
3 Brewers
3 Brewers has a few locations in Toronto, but the Financial District spot is one of its best. The French microbrewery/restaurant caters to those looking for an elevated pub experience, serving up classic eats and craft beers. Grab a house-brewed beverage and post up at the bar, or, if the weather's nice, take it outside to the patio and people watch on Adelaide.
Beerbistro
As the name suggests, this place caters to beer lovers. Its drink menu boasts options for every type of brew fanatic, flaunting everything from thirst-quenching wheat beers to bold ales. If you're with a crowd that enjoys pinot noir more than pints, the wine list here is more than satisfactory.
SpeakEasy 21
This sleek cocktail lounge on Adelaide will help you forget about mergers and budget balancing with its extensive list of libations. You'll find the menu stacked with dozens of classic signature cocktails plus a healthy selection of brews and wines. It also has an elevated sidewalk patio that makes for a great summer spot.
Cactus Club
After looking at a computer screen all day, you probably want to go somewhere with some visual appeal. Cactus Club boasts some of the best art in the city outside of the AGO - you'll see works by Mr. Brainwash and Andy Warhol on its walls - making it infinitely better than your average pub. The drink menu has all the tried-and-true options plus a smattering of more interesting cocktails.
The Merchant
The Merchant is the perfect middle-of-the-road spot to grab a drink after work. It's not as swanky as the Cactus Club but it's a far cry from a sports bar. You'll find a wide selection of imported beers and beers on tap plus all the standard cocktails. If you're looking for a bargain, they offer daily drink specials around the $5 mark.
Irish Embassy
Perched on the corner of Yonge and Wellington you'll find the Irish Embassy, a Financial District mainstay. The bar is rowdier than most watering holes in the area, making it a favourite of more than just suit-clad business people. If you're in the mood to shed your Fred Perry button-down and let loose, this is where to go.
The Calvin Bar
Located at the foot of the Trump Hotel, The Calvin Bar is a favourite of those who enjoy the finer things in life. The cocktail menu sports a bevy of updated classics like almond old fashioneds and guava and berry mimosas. If you really feel like treating yourself, the liquor and wine lists are both extensive and expensive.
Duke of Westminster
Prefer a more laid-back atmosphere post-work? The Duke of Westminster will be right up your alley. The British-inspired bar serves up standard pub grub (think shepherd's pie and fish 'n' chips) and has a solid selection of craft and imported beers on tap. If you're closer to York and Wellington, its sister bar, Duke of Devon, has a similar vibe.
Earls Toronto
Earls may not have the most exotic or lengthy drink menu in the city, but the bartenders here can craft all the staples to perfection. If you're in the mood for a Moscow mule, paloma or margarita, it's got you covered. It also has daily drink specials in the $5-$7 neighbourhood, if you're trying to be fiscally responsible.
Drake 150
The most easterly offshoot of the Drake Hotel is well-loved by the business crowds for its art, eats and drinks. The upscale lounge features works by established and emerging Canadian artists (like Douglas Coupland) and serves up expertly-crafted cocktails in the $15 range.
Thanks to CraveTV for sponsoring this post.
What did I miss? Add your favourite after work bar in the Financial District to the comments.
Photo of Drake 150 by Jesse Milns.
The best new cheap eats in Toronto are a cross-cultural collection of street foods and sandwiches. Whether you're craving tacos or doner, fried chicken or fried pizza, Vietnamese subs or Chicago-style heros, these eateries make it easy to eat great even on a budget.
There's nothing like gliding by the Toronto skyline to wake you up on an icy Monday afternoon. And to the delight of the hockey obsessed, that pick-me-up is now possible because 
At half the size of an NHL sheet, the small rink sits 32-storeys high and provides panoramic views of the city. Netting surrounds the entire ice surface, lest a stray puck fall from such great heights.
When I visit, it's about -10 C on the ground; it feels much chillier on the roof. After quickly lacing up my skates, I head out onto the ice and do a few laps while marvelling at the view. Soon, I'm dodging pucks as a small group of skaters start an impromptu game of shinny.
In October, Molson Canadian held a contest to give four winners a chance to skate on a sky-grazing rink. Meanwhile, a few perceptive Torontonians noticed a 
Now, the beer company is opening up a second sweepstake starting on January 20. And if you're desperate to play pickup in the air, you and 20 buddies can always 
The rink will stick around until February 7.
Photos by Jesse Milns.
Today in Toronto it's time to embrace your inner child at the 
This week on DineSafe there are no closures to report despite the high number of infractions racked up by certain establishments. Ali Baba's on Dundas Street West for instance got just a conditional pass, despite ten infractions, seven of which were crucial.
The glassy five-bedroom at 
Offered at $7,560,000, the newly-built home is unique to the area - a modern façade to swoon over, composed of blue- and green-copper cladding and dark wood. The neighbouring houses are more traditional, at least from the outside, and cookie-cutter in comparison.
It's a home you'll likely get lost in. The main atrium features an indoor garden and, naturally, there are multiple places to unwind like the living room, the second living room, the sitting area or the den. The deep lot (468 feet!) overlooks a ravine and the lower level features a hot tub and sauna with a walkout to the pool. 
SPECS
NOTABLE FEATURES
GOOD FOR
MOVE ON IF
Worth the asking? Have your say in the comments section. 
Robbie Burns Day in Toronto offers a chance to pay tribute to the famed poet and cultural icon in true Scottish style. Accordingly, the festivities centre around whisky, haggis and poetry recitals, while donning a kilt or embracing the bagpipes are par for the course.
Should saintly designated drivers have to shell out cash for rounds of Diet Coke while their friends go wild slinging back tequila shots? One Toronto bar says no.
This new Italian restaurant swims against the tide of meat-obsessed restaurants in Toronto. Instead the focus here is on vegetables and seafoods, resulting in a collection of dishes including crudo, pasta, and pesce.
What will Toronto look like a decade from now? Well, there will be a lot more metal and glass, considerably less small retail on main streets, and many neighbourhoods previously accustomed to low- and mid-rise buildings will witness their density increase. Some residential neighbourhoods are fairly well insulated from change, but others will be almost unrecognizable in a decade.
Themed dance parties never seem to go out of style in Toronto. We've had nights dedicated to pop stars like Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Drake; finally, it's Taylor's turn.
Shoppers take note. 
Today in Toronto celebrate hump day by hitting up the 
On Tuesday Toronto city staff unveiled three new options for the East Gardiner Expressway, and it's expected that they'll favour the one that's the most expensive - the Hybrid 3 option, which would push the elevated highway north and cost over $1 billion.
Compared to the two other options, the favoured version would move the highway farthest from the waterfront, which would open up the West Don Lands for development and land sales, something which could ultimately help recoup some of the costs associated with the project.
As represented by a graphic 
The best new brunch restaurants in Toronto are a mix of long-established eateries that have revamped their menus and newer establishments that serve up old-school fare. Cross-cultural morning foods 
The extension of the West Toronto Railpath hasn't exactly been on the radar over the last little while as city staff were in the midst of an extensive Environmental Assessment of the route of Phase 2. That process has recently come to a conclusion, with a 
These look great, but they won't be cheap. Further complicating matters is Metrolinx's plans to double the width of the rail tracks along portions of what would be the ideal path. It seems all but inevitable that the final route will feature on-road sections that by-pass problem sections beside the tracks. 
In light of this, staff have also tabled a few options for how to handle these on-road sections, which vary from raised cycle tracks to sharrows. The beauty of the existing Railpath is its complete separation from vehicular traffic. If the extension must deviate from the seclusion offered by Phase 1, I'd suggest nothing less than protected cycle tracks will cut it.
On the bright side, this is a project that's moving forward. It will take many years to realize the vision (or combination of visions) outlined in the EA, but with the construction of the 
The city doesn't yet know how to connect Phase 2 with Fort York, and so has decided to bridge this gap with a third phase. One suspects, however, that the key really is to get Phase 2 underway as soon as is feasible. Once a path exists to Abell St., there will be considerable pressure to link the connection with the showpiece infrastructure at Fort York. 
Grilled cheese is a lunchtime standard in Toronto and when the craving strikes there's most certainly a sandwich with your name on it nearby. Whether you're a purist that wants nothing more than a mass of melted cheddar between sliced bread, or you like to get fancy with the addition of pulled pork, mac 'n' cheese, or bacon jam, there's a diner, sandwich shop or pub ready to deliver.
What's happening with the Scarborough subway? Well, according to the 
Chicken soup in Toronto is often served with fluffy matzah balls. These piping hot bowls of savoury goodness are sure to cure whatever ails you (don't quote me on that). Whether you're feeling under the weather or just need a quick pick-me-up, comforting soup is always a good idea. 
