Bar Volo

415 reviews

17 St Nicholas St, Toronto, ON M4Y 3G4, Canada

barvolo.com

+14169280018

About

Bar Volo is a Bar located at 17 St Nicholas St, Toronto, ON M4Y 3G4, Canada. It has received 415 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday11AM-1AM
Tuesday11AM-1AM
Wednesday11AM-1AM
Thursday11AM-2AM
Friday11AM-2AM
Saturday11AM-1AM
Sunday11AM-1AM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Bar Volo: 17 St Nicholas St, Toronto, ON M4Y 3G4, Canada

  • Bar Volo has 4.5 stars from 415 reviews

  • Bar

  • "My friends came to Bar Volo yesterday for one of their birthdays"

    "First thing: get the anchovies"

    "Wow, what a great find! This place has been on our "Want to go" list for a while and we finally got there"

    "Tucked away in a quiet street, I came here on a Saturday night and it was pretty packed! They have a great selection of craft beer so there are many beers to choose from along with wine"

    "Poor service and staff behaviour, good food quality and awesome environment! When you came here, make sure you just want to enjoy your food and drinks as they are good, however, our server wasn’t very hospital"

Reviews

  • Mike Nguyen

My friends came to Bar Volo yesterday for one of their birthdays. To paint the context, all of my six friends are Chinese and they spoke Mandarin for the night, with the exception of speaking English to the staff. They ordered a $100 bottle of wine to share, and each had their own beers. However, the staff deemed one of my friends to be “too intoxicated”, had their drinks forcefully taken away, and were then threatened to call the police on them if they didn’t leave Bar Volo within two minutes. My friend was FINE, he was only buzzed and not intoxicated enough to disturb other guests in the bar. Mind you, this bar is located by Yonge Street and by The Village, places where you will see legitimate drunk people. You’re going to know what a drunk person looks like if you’ve been in these areas. But yet, not only they kicked out a guy who is only buzzed off wine and beer, but also THREATEN to call the cops on them? I sincerely hope they address these issues because it is awful how they treated my friends. Speaking your own native language and being buzzed shouldn’t lead to a law enforcement threat. Absolutely unacceptable.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

  • Stephen Magill

First thing: get the anchovies. They are not salty, boney, fishy strips from a can, but rather marinated with lemon and just a touch of salt. Don't debate them, just get the anchovies. Pizza is also fantastic, with a thick, focaccia-like crust that isn't greasy, delicious sauce that tastes like tomato, quality pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella. Beer is why I was here, and it did not disappoint! Six (6!) cask conditioned options. I was able to try five of them, all great, the golden ale was my favorite with a flowery hop aroma and flavor. The best beer of the night was the Gusto—a collaboration beer with Tooth & Nail—a Biere de Garde. Golden, bready, spicy, and refreshing. I bought several cans to bring home. Nice to see lots of beers with moderate alcohol percentages, every beer I ordered was between 3.9% and 5.5%. Everyone working was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the beer. Yaz and Hannah—who must be best friends—were able to give spot-on beer suggestions. Matty pulled a perfect pint and recommended the anchovies. So glad we found this Toronto gem!

  • Denise C

Wow, what a great find! This place has been on our "Want to go" list for a while and we finally got there. We loved everything about this place: the location in a slightly dark alley, the dark interior, the wood furnishings, the style of tables and seating ... everything spoke to us. And the bartender, Yaz, super cool person, had that kind of energy that tells you this person is doing a job they love. We got there about 3 pm and it wasn't busy but it was hopping by the time we left around 5. In between we each had a couple drinks including the grape seltzer, a cask ale and something else dark. Also had a pizza, the star of the show, it was so good one bite and we thought about ordering another one! Truly great space, we will be back!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Es A

Tucked away in a quiet street, I came here on a Saturday night and it was pretty packed! They have a great selection of craft beer so there are many beers to choose from along with wine. Giving this place 3 stars because they were understaffed and we walked in with no one to greet us or guide us to a table. It’s basically a free for all…the empty spots that were available, the table was not yet cleared so we essentially had to clear out our own table before sitting down. Also, we had to order our drinks at the bar instead of having to place the order at our table. I’m not sure if this is due to them being understaffed but if they had more staff on hand to greet and serve guests, this place would meet expectations. Regardless, it is a lovely and hip spot to grab a drink with a nice vibe to it.

  • Ehsan Hamidi

Poor service and staff behaviour, good food quality and awesome environment! When you came here, make sure you just want to enjoy your food and drinks as they are good, however, our server wasn’t very hospital. It was my first time came here, I asked for beer recommendation from the barmaid, very poor response and it was like I asked a bad question, then I also asked about food, and some Italian food which didn’t know what is that, he just repeated the name and said “you don’t know it?” As I said, very good environment and good food and drinks, just don’t expect the same service and behavior quality with the amount of money you pay.
Price per person
$50–60
Food: 4
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 5

  • John Lyttle

I dropped in for food and a few beers on April 14, 2023. There were a few other customers but it wasn't terribly busy. An awesome ambiance! The bartender (named River, if I remember correctly) was very attentive, friendly and willing to share info. He also gave me some great recommendations. I tried a couple of the regular house beers and then moved on to the cask ales. Volo Lino may have been my top pick but how can you choose just one? They were all delicious and the food was awesome – especially the nduja & stracciatella. I feel like I had the ideal experience at Bar Volo … I happened to walk past it later that evening and it was packed and a bit too noisy for my taste. I'm glad I had my low-key afternoon visit.

  • Jeff Hayes

I ❤️ the new Bar Volo! It’s such a great bar & restaurant, tucked away in an alleyway area away from the busyness and noise of Yonge and Wellesley. The vibe and atmosphere/decor reminds me of an old school tavern or something similar in NYC, or possibly a long-standing bar/restaurant in Europe (e.g. Prague). The beer selection is really fantastic and has something for everyone, no matter what your taste might be, and the food was really good as well. Also, I found the staff there to be so great - very friendly, accommodating and attentive. It has become one of my favourite new places to hang out with friends in Toronto. Highly recommended!
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Tony Baloney

Truly magical spot in the city with fantastic beer and wine selection. If only management would focus on the customer experience by offering table service and improving the food. Taking time away from companions to line up at the bar to order beer, order food and pay the bill gets old fast. It's especially galling that the minimum tip preset is 18% and the custom override requires a dollar amount. Even though I did half the work there is no tip out for me. I can list other bars that manage great drinks, better food and full service but none are blessed with such a cool environment. Please consider taking BV to the next level!
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5

  • Kimi Mugford

My boyfriend and I are often in and out of the city and have been on the hunt for a cocktail bar with great atmosphere and service. After our experience at Bar Volo, I can confidently say there is no better place to spend your Friday date night than this spot. The cocktails are amazing and the service is just as great. We were lucky to have been served by Hannah at the bar who also gave us some great insight on the amazing beers they have on draft and in rotation. An overall amazing time, the crowd is also very fun and super kind. Can’t wait to come back to try the food!
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Edgar

We came earlier this year before the shutdown on an early Saturday night and, we were surprised by how busy the place already was. The ambiance and decor was cool, certainly with a “hipster” sort of vibe, perhaps a little too loud, the space is narrower than it seems on the pictures so, it felt tight and getting a table was tricky. They have a vast selection of beers from which we tried at least a dozen. Most were good, however, without being able to sample, ordering was a hit and miss. Nevertheless, the staff was very friendly and helpful; and the food was good. Overall, I think that it was worth trying.

  • Jordan Blake

Nothing special. Was recommended here to try it out but food was ok. Slightly overpriced for what it is. Wish I could say the experience was better. Service was beyond terrible. Wait staff was beyond slow (and the place wasn’t even busy) and just ruined the entire experience. Wait staff seems to ignore or forget you quite a bit, seemed very selective on who got service and loved to chat with other colleagues openly and blatantly ignoring diners. Rude, impatient and lots of sass - and then makes inappropriate comments when they don’t get tipped 20%.
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 3

  • Martin Leroux

Just a great Italian style bar that happens to serve fantastic beer. The friendly, knowledgeable staff is happy to help you out with either one of the 26 taps, 3 casks, extensive natural wine list and rare beer bottles. Service at the bar is quick and efficient. Nobody does cask ales better than Volo in North America. I really enjoyed the beers brewed in house, the styles are classic and elegant, with a penchant for British style ales. Didn't get a chance to try the food this time around, but it looked and smelled great. An absolute must stop for beer lovers in Toronto.

  • Elise Bishop

Bar Volo is a hidden gem in the Yonge and Wellesley community. Time and time again the bar service is fast and knowledgeable. Wine list is full of worldly biodynamic natural wine. Beer and cider are always top notch and many are local. Cocktails are a little more hit or miss depending on your taste. The pizza is my absolute favourite but their small plates are tasty as well. Food is quite good but not mind blowing. Overall a unique experience and cozy atmosphere. Will be returning.
Price per person
$60–70
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Anna Suki

Didn’t get to try the food because they stopped serving past 9pm that day. The cocktails were great but a bit pricey- $40+ for two cocktails I guess is the norm nowadays! Interior decor and dim lightning created a nice, calm ambiance and music was subtlety playing in the background which made it easy to have a conversation with my spouse. Would love to come back again and try the food!
Price per person
$20–30
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Vishnu Rajkumar

Brilliant var with a pleasant patio overlooking a quiet street. Plenty of beer choices to keep any craft beer enthusiast happy. The brewery is located in an adjacent building and both the pilsner and pale ale I tried were on point. They also have a bottle shop selling beers and wine. The bartenders were bery enthusiastic and especially Tyler came over to talk to us and made sure we had what we needed and also made some good recommendations

  • Laura Windrim

We didn't get to have a table as they were very busy but even standing at the bar here is a good time. Really great music, amazing drinks and great food! Didn't expect the pizza to be as spicy as it was but it made for an exciting evening. The atmosphere is really cool with the industrial look. The servers are funny and they played some nice oldies that were good to dance to. It's great for a pre-drink!

  • Alex O

Really dark, was hard to see what I was eating. Kind of crammed inside but I get it, you're downtown. This place is self serve, you walk up to the bar to get your yourself drinks, but then the minimum tip % on the machine is 18%... The pizza was pretty good, a little oily. Cocktails were amazing but very small for the price -> $15-20. Fantastic beer selection.
Price per person
$70–80

  • Kelly Sendall

Five stars due to their uniquely characteristic approach to craft beers. Rare to find a brewery dedicated to cask beers! Wonderfully raw and flavourful selection of their own beers with considerate additions from other partnered and invited beers from elsewhere. Even a Lambic Kriek from sour cherries all the way from Belgium! Num! Highly recommended stop for beer lovers.

  • harsh shah

The ambience is very nice and cozy, the beers are delicious. On the other hand, If you want an example of Tipflation, this is it! It’s a SELF SERVICE, and the tip tab starts at 18%, should it not start with something like 10-12%?
Price per person
$50–60
Food: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5

  • Lisa Csima

Nice place. But very expensive and be prepared to stand because there's no seating usually. The anchovy toast was burnt to a crisp and they had run out of the ceasar salad and octopus salad, my two favourite items. I'll still probably go back. Good vibe
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

  • Jackie Hamilton-Smith

We came here for drinks last weekend and absolutely loved it. The staff were super kind and friendly and we loved that the bar was hidden away so it was in a quieter area. The tables and setting was very cool and it was the closest thing I've seen to a European bar in Toronto. Would definitely recommend!

  • Ekrem Akdogan

First of all they have great atmosphere that I missed since I moved here from Europe. I ordered meat and cheese plate and a pizza additionally to 2 beers I tried. Food and drinks are amazing. I'll bring my friends to there next time. Nice staff too, they are kind and smiley, absolutely recommended

  • Tim Metzger

Would have never found this little out of the way place had it not been recommended by a friend who does service work for them. Very wide variety of beers on tap. Food is excellent. A bit in the pricey side but you get what you pay for right? Incredibly cool vibe and atmosphere

  • Nate

The SOPPRESSATA was the best pizza I’ve had in my entire life. Had it with the creamy garlic Caesar (?) sauce on the side. Unbelievably good.
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Nduja and Stracciatella

  • César Cuéllar

Lovely decoration, great place to have a craft beer and dinner. The beer is out of this world, I am in love with the double IPA and the Märzen. There are great food options as well. The bartenders are really nice and helpful, I hope I can return. The prices are really good.

  • Romina Dehghani

One of my favourite places to go! Its cozy and comfortable the food is simple and amazing. Overall you leave there happy. Would definitely recommend to give it a try! And the organic wines is a must! I usually get the orange wine and the taste is perfection!!

  • Grace L

fantastic but pricey beer. great panini. You sit anywhere you like. Go up to the bar, and order drinks and food. I like that there is nobody pressuring you to order food when you just want to have a beer.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Maria Gavrilova

This is a fantastic spot for a light dinner and great conversation! The patio is not only a great choice for a meal but is also pet-friendly, making it perfect for bringing your furry friend along. You start by placing your order, receiving

  • Jeffrey Adaya

A beer and wine house is a delightful place where you can experience the best of both worlds – from the rich and complex flavors of wine to the refreshing and diverse world of beers. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a beer enthusiast,

  • June Wang

Very nice atmosphere. Cocktails are creative. Lots of non-alcoholic versions too. There are barrel tables which are very cute. Very friendly and helpful bar tender. There are fridges selling beer and wine too. Really nice place for a date.

  • vivian liu

Super racist as they don’t even deserve one star. I will highly recommended you go somewhere else if you are Asian. Bartender will ask PER ID PER PERSON PER ROUND, although they will never ask id for nonasian customer even they were just

  • Palala

Very nice, blocking the whole lane just to have your patio extended? Other people are trying to do their businesses as well, we drive through this lane to st. Joseph as a shortcut everyday to do our delivery, somehow one day you guys

  • Emil Jayatileke

This place is a hidden gem off Yonge St. Best selection for beer in the area with 20+ on tap. Great patio vibe. Though I was surprised the burrata does not come with bread (bread is an extra $6).

  • Cacey L

Well decorated lively hidden gem with wide selection of craft beer. Only thing to complain is they don’t have anyone come to clean up the table even the last customers have been gone for 15min.

  • Nafis Parvin

It was a little odd that we needed to go at the bar to order our food and they gave us a number to serve our food. They serve drafted beer Menu is not in a good variety
Food: 3

  • Sarthak Rohatgi (Sarthuk Rjesh Rohatgi)

Amazing melo vibes and the ambience of the place will make you feel calm and comfortable. Food is good and cocktails are decent. People who love beer you will have plenty of options …

  • Farima Hooshmand

Good selection for beer lovers, wine options are really limited though. Nice snacks, liked the pesto flat bread. It’s a good place to hang out with friends specially giving their hours.

  • Alice

Love this spot for good European vibes - great selection of beers and apps. Their nduja is to die for!
Price per person
$30–40
Recommended dishes
Nduja and Stracciatella

  • Paul A

Love this place, such a great find. Great beers on top and some of the best arancini in the city!
Price per person
$50–60
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Mikael Hansson

Really like Bar Volo. This is a place for beer enthusiasts, but also very good for the rest of us. I’m not super adventurous with beer, but the people there have unfailingly been

  • Matthew Sinagoga

I can’t wait to come again! Great food, great cocktails, and a great vibe. Thank you Bar Volo!
Price per person
$40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Robert Williams

An exceptional brew house. So very cool. Alittle out of the way but a must visit.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Shawn Nicol

Great place to come for a beer. Excellent food with friendly, helpful service.
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Matt Price

Great bar with a nice atmosphere. Amazing selection of beers!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Joshua Emberlin

Great spot for atmosphere, great beer and awesome staff. Have never had a bad experience here. Tuesdays have cheap in-house pours to boot. More

  • Azin Majidi

I loved my drink, and the whole place is very cozy and cute.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • josh james

This is my happy place. Great drinks, atmosphere and staff. Oh yeah and they got amazing food.
Food:
More

  • Allan Gomes

Wide range of local beers. Food menu is not complete but their pizza is very crispy.
Food: 5…
More

  • Krystina Roman

The best sandwich in the city (okay tied with When the Pig Came Home) is their Mortadella Sandwich.

  • Brendan Kroll

Cash beer is a specialty that's hard to find. This place makes their own and they are so good!

Similar places

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Leslie Street

3476 reviews

1977 Leslie St, North York, ON M3B 2M3, Canada

Nomé Izakaya

2596 reviews

4848 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5N2, Canada

Horseshoe Tavern

2545 reviews

370 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A2, Canada

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - North York

2534 reviews

5015 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5P1, Canada

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Yonge + Eglinton

2519 reviews

2201 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2B2, Canada

Bar Poet

2006 reviews

1090 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1H7, Canada

KINKA SUSHI BAR IZAKAYA NORTH YORK

1884 reviews

4775 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N 5M5, Canada

The Pilot

1722 reviews

22 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON M4W 1J5, Canada

Coda

1350 reviews

794 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G1, Canada

Earls Kitchen + Bar

1275 reviews

199 N Queen St, Etobicoke, ON M9C 1A7, Canada