Bar Raval

I feel like the name of this spot should be Bar Revel, not Bar Raval. There always seems to be a party here, regardless of the time of day or weather. The first time I visited, it was a Wednesday evening, and too busy to sit and catch up with a friend. The next time, I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the beautiful wooden bar for a coffee. The Café Raval was a tasty, only slightly overpriced mocha.
I was kind of surprised that the space was nearly standing room at 3pm on a Sunday. Then I remembered this bar has been featured in lifestyle/​design magazines enough times in the last 6 months to make Toronto seem desperate for cool spots. Which definitely wasn’t why I was there… Service was attentive and prompt for such a busy place. They open at 8, so I’d go there for a coffee again on a morning I was feeling indulgent.
When I went last week it was with a group for drinks, so we opted to stand around a barrel on the enclosed patio. It’s hard for the patio not to look temporary and a little shoddy compared to the intricately detailed interior, but for an outdoor winter drink, it’s cheaper and less smelly than the distillery district and closer than a German Christmas market. I’m guessing Partisans didn’t come back to winterize the patio with poly and 2x4s though. It’s consistent with the neighborhood, but someone should at least put a spring on the door.
The beer list is perhaps a bit short, but they were happy to make us custom cocktails. My hot toddy was nicely spiced and warm, and my friends were happy with their drinks. Service was great again, and we got coffee to go with our bill no problem.
Bar Raval is a great spot to go if you fly solo and like interiors that look like wooden spaceships. Less so if you hate people and love seating.

An amazing night transported away from everything.
We visited Bar Raval last Monday, a highly anticipated visit but we had no idea what the Bar Raval team had in store for us.
We we’re treated like royalty. The food was delicious, spot on and a great representations of authentic Spanish tapas with a twist. Next time I’ll order the entire menu. Oh and those peppers!!!
Service was professional, efficient, attentive to details, caring and knowledgeable.
The décor is exactly what it should be, there is definitely lot of work behind it. The music and lighting was just right.
Cocktail and wine list was precise and researched; you should order blindfolded… and not just 1.
By far the most pleasant restaurant/​bar experience I have had in a very long time.
Special thanks to Lexi, Olivia, Keanan, Robin and Ian for taking good care if us.
(Couldn’t remember everyone’s names but I know the list goes on)

Who would’ve thought you’d get food served from a can when it costs $ 18-​$ 36 dollars on a menu? But I gotta say those clams, scalaps and makarel were pretty damn tasty. Kinda wanted to take some home myself but I don’t think it would feel the same lol. Time to fly to Spain and bring some home myself instead…
My fave was still the hot octopus dish though… I can never get enough of octopus especially when it is done well!
Drinks were alright… not a big fan of the cocktails but maybe i just didn’t pick the right ones for myself.
The wait time for me was about 1 hr to get to the heated patio on a Saturday night from 1030pm. Then we got to move into the main restaurant about another hour later.
Service was good. Waiter and waitress were nice and patient. They seemed nicer as the night progressed though lol… hmm
All in all, great vibe at this place… sucks to have to wait but I think it was worth it.

Absolutely STUNNING interior — I’ve never seen anything like it. I love Spanish cuisine and food culture, so it wasn’t just the cool wooden ceiling that drew me to this place. My boyfriend and I stopped by Bar Raval in the morning, so it was too early for tapas — thankfully they offer coffee and doughnuts! We ordered the Cortado and the Café Solo, which were both delicious and strong; you’d be hard-​pressed to find coffees like this outside of Europe. We also got the Dulce de Leche y Jamon and Crema Catalana doughnuts. I LOVED the jamon on the Dulce de Leche doughnut and how well it paired with the glaze. It was a tiny bit stale, but that was probably because it had been sitting on the counter for a couple hours. No worries though, because it was awesome. The Crema Catalana pastry was also very good, with a cream filled centre that tasted homemade.
I can’t wait to come back and try some of their drinks and tapas!

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! But why did I just give it 4 out of 5 stars? I was not too happy with the customer service that I received.
The food was amazing…
We had to wait for an hour to get a seat… the doorman or security (not sure which one he was) was really nice and managed to get us a spot as fast as he could… there were alot of people and it was really dark inside too. I would suggest the restaurant to lower down their music volume so you can talk to the person/​people that are with you. I literally was yelling to speak to my friend which was pretty annoying. The seats are uncomfortable and the there should be more space, so if you need alot of space to eat, then this place might not be great for you. Atmosphere was nice though.
I had different food items (forgot the names) but I do remember trying the duck liver which was amazing (It was my first time) It was very fatty and had a lot of flavour. Literally melted in your mouth!
Bar Raval would have deserved the last star but the waitress was not friendly… So not too happy with that. I feel that customer service is very important in a restaurant so they definitely need to improve on that.

The room is great. So is the product: drinks and food. The service though, save for one bartender on one night and one barista who I know and so I am biased because I know them, is embarrassingly bad. The host didn’t know anything about the menu, I only asked a few basic questions. Every time I go in there, no one is ever smiling. They don’t offer water, you have to ask. And as Tom Waits said, you couldn’t find a server with a Geiger counter.
I had 3 slow, inattentive, and altogether absent service experiences in a row. I wrote in twice. Got no response. They’re raking in the dough so who cares, right?
This beginning to be endemic in Toronto. I’d rather go next door to Woodlot and be treated like a person who is paying money for great food, drinks, AND great service.

I don’t have a bad thing to say about Bar Raval. The food, the atmosphere, the drinks, the interior design, the service. All on point and the whole experience makes me think of late nights in Spain.
We had gone for a late dinner on a Saturday night. Left our number, grabbed a drink next door, and were seated within 45 mins. For a party for 4, we got cozy and shared one table in the patio. We had 7 tapa dishes. The few that really stood out were the cuttlefish fideo, the canned razor clams imported from Spain, and the Serrano jamon. I only wish we had the stomach to also try to squid in ink and the pig’s head. The food were listed on the menu and served in the order from simpler to more complex so your taste buds won’t be overwhelmed. Everything was delicious.
I think what topped off the night were the gaudi-​inspired interior designer which completed the whole experience! Will definitely be back again.

Cool spanish bar to check out if you want good food along with nicely made drinks! I ordered the octopus, straciatella, tomato bread to accompany my drinks and I can say that each one tasted really different and great.
Be prepared to wait because this place can get packed!

I usually write long-​ass reviews because Unilocal keeps prompting me, and like Homer Simpson, I’m the highly suggestible type. Not now, though. I’m gonna keep it brief and to the point. I love you Bar Raval.
If our new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would amend marriage laws to allow for a man-​restaurant union, I’d pop the question.
If I could live there, I’d move my ass in today and claim squatter’s rights.
You had me when I first laid eyes on the sinuous curves of your well-​lit interior. My first taste of that shishito-​filet combo and I knew I was a goner.
I am, your humble and obedient servant.
Besos!

Went here for the first time after hearing rave reviews and was thoroughly impressed.
When we got here (around 9:20) there were only a few guests. By the time we left, the place was packed to the brim. They don’t take reservations so I felt as though we got lucky.
We ordered the cold octopus, Jamon and manchego pintxo, croquettes, beef tenderloin, skate, and the cheese cake. The beef tenderloin was cooked to PERFECTION (it was tinkering on the border of being too salty AND I’m not a big fan of the shoshito peppers that accompanied it). The croquettes were so rich and succulent. The skate came with mushrooms, corn and a brown butter sauce and was heavenly. Everything was exceptional but the cold octopus definitely stole the show. I could have eaten 10 plates.
The food came out in a timely manner. The staff was so attentive but NOT to a point where it was annoying. They demonstrated their expert knowledge of the menu. Overall it was a pleasant experience.

Loved Bar Raval on so many levels! Think vibrant Spanish bar with rich distinctive features and the best tapas in the city!
We were surprised by how lively the place was on a Wednesday night but apparently that’s the norm here. The space around the bar is small with several standing tables and high chairs so be prepared to stand and keep a lookout tables if you want to be seated as everything is on a first come first serve basis.
Came for drinks but actually ended up devouring half the menu. We could not stop eating the tapas here. *Tip: go with the servers recommendations! They are so helpful and knowledgeable about the whole menu. We loved everything that they suggested including:
— Stracciatella & boquerones: cheese and Spanish anchovies pintos — sounds simple but SOO delicious. Light and fluffy cheese with just the right amount of saltiness and fish oils from the anchovies on top of perfectly crispy crostini.
— Hot octopus: must try recommendation! Sizzling hot, the octopus was so tender and flavourful with potatoes that were equally as amazing.
— Skate wing and mushrooms: seared flakey white skate meat with buttery corn and mushrooms, I’m usually not a fan of skate but this one was kind of irresistible.
Their drink list was extensive with a really great cocktail selection. My biggest regret was coming with a semi-​full stomach and wasn’t able gorge on more items on the menu. I can’t wait to be back!

Went there for lunch. I like the tapa-​style menu, and we were there on a day in which they were going with the raw seafood theme.
We went with it — and it was pretty damn good. The sardines on french bread was amazing, and the shrimp was nice.
The highlight was definitely the donut — one of the best I’ve ever had. Made in-​house, absolutely fluffy, light, and delicious. Not too sweet, not too fried. What more do you want?

The tapas are awesome– had the tuna salad, the tuna skewer things, the raw scallop, and croquettes. Unfortunately, the price per item is actually per item as in 1 croquette = $ 8 and that’s absurd. I respect food, but it seems that these things are overpriced just because people are willing to pay for them and not because the quality is any better.
The drinks we had were good, my favorite was the tequila based one at the bottom of the menu with ginger and jalapeño.
Glad I came to check out the hype, but I think the food was a one-​time deal for me that I won’t be doing again.

Bar Raval came highly recommended to me from a foodie friend and so I came here with high expectations. So that might have affected my star rating of it. But having said that, I like this place! I definitely have to return and try more stuff here. I ordered a bunch if things today, and if have to say everything was good but only a few things really stuff out. Tomato bread with an order of the anchovies was really good. I swear the tomatoes had some spicy kick to them or something. The mushroom tower was delicious, the mushrooms were tender and sweet. The chicken gizzards were awesome great as well. It wasn’t until I got home that I read other people’s reviews and that made me want to come back to try some more dishes. That’s always a good sign to me… And I suspect I’ll raise my rating of this place after I visit it a few more times.
I can see other reviewer’s points that the meals here can be a little pricy. At the same time, we left there very full. And whereas a few other reviewers felt negatively about the service, I had a very positive experience. Madison was great and gave us awesome recommendations of things to try. I’d come back again just because of her service.

Trendy. Packed. Delicious. Beautiful. The hype is true, we attempted this on a Thursday night hoping that the crowds would not be as mad as the weekend. Walking in around 6:30 we were able to find a place standing at the bar without a problem for 4 people. However we did not realize that it was a no wait list policy for tables. Meaning — no matter when you get there, if you want a table you need to be the first one hovering over it to jump in and get a spot.
We decided to stick to drinks and a few appetizers and head to another restaurant for an actual sit down meal.
The cocktails were amazing. Every single one… And appetizers — we had the octopus and the croquettes both incredible. Little touches go a long way — the croquettes generally served as three I think, they asked if we would like to have four. Amazing! More places should consider this.
We’ll definitely come back to try the larger menu but perhaps coming earlier or much later and being prepared ahead not to sit.

I am a fan of Bar Isabel, so when I heard about Bar Raval, I had to try it out and it did not disappoint!
I went on a Thursday night and we had to wait about 30 minutes, which isn’t too bad at all. The place has amazing woodwork that curves and its just great to look at. The vibe at the place is great.
The staff are very knowledge and they take the time to explain the items on the menu. As for the food, we ordered a number of things on the menu.
SQUID IN PORK FAT: The best of both worlds! The pork fat crisped the squid and I felt that I could eat this dish for days on end!
SCALLOPS IN UNI SAUCE: The uni sauce was delicious, I used up the bread to soak up all the sauce. The scallops were cooked nicely as well.
LEEKS AND ROMESCO: So darn good! I was a bit hesitate about ordering this, but I really enjoyed it.
BARNACLES: I never had them before. The server taught us how to eat them and they were great!
The other dishes that we ordered were delicious as well, the pig head and romesco and mushroom tower.
Plates that I thought were Mediocre:
–Tomato Bread
–Octopus in Raval Sauce
I loved the experience from beginning to finish and would be here again!

Far away from the conception of Spain like an standardized homogeneous country mother of the Spanish tongue, you should know that it is composed by 17 Autonomous Communities; each one with different tongues, climates, ethnicities, gastronomy and traditions. Spanish is just the official language and what gives some identity abroad.
Bar Raval really makes you feel that you are hanging out in some bar of Spain. Lots of wood and charcuterie. I liked the chic casual vibe and decoration of the place.
They don’t take reservations, and they are open from breakfast until dinner.
When we asked for a table, the hostess asked us if we would mind to be standing up around a barrel/​table on the terrace: we didn’t care, so we started our Toronto’s tapas experience perfectly: with a glass of chilled Terras Gaudas, one of the most popular Alvarinhos (a must try if you are into wines).
The service was fast, friendly, and different people explained us the dishes. The menu had a lot of interesting items, and I liked the proposal. Something interesting is that they change the menu everyday!!!
We were told that the chef spends time in San Sebastian (Basques Country), so the menu has a lot of inspiration on their famous pintxos.
We ordered anchovies, pulpo a la gallega, croquetas, grilled calamari and scallops in pork fat.
The anchovies came in an order of 2 accompanied with 2 olives. They were meaty, rich in flavour, and a perfect match with the wine.
The «pulpo a la gallega» didn’t look like it at all, and I’m sure a gallego would’ve had a hearth attack seen those tapas using that name (traditionally, it is served in a wooden plate, with potato in the middle, and the slices of octopus are dressed up just with sea salt, olive oil, and red pepper). However, the octopus was tasty and the bread was crunchy.
My husby loved the croquetas but I felted they were salty. The scallops came in a creamy tick sauce perfect for dipping.
The grilled calamari was winning the award for my favourite tapa, until my husby saw a guy sucking and enjoying some shrimps; he couldn’t resist to ask about them and he was told they were prawns, and that they were a hit: they weren’t exaggerating!!! They were so juicy, flavourful and tasty, that we even chew some of their legs…
This is not a place in where big eaters would end up satisfied. This a place to sample, drink, and share elaborated «snacks».

C’est l’un des nouveaux endroits tendance de Toronto. SI vous n’avez essayé les bar à tapas, assez peu courant en Amérique du Nord, alors allez faire un tour au bar Raval. Comptez quand même 45 min à 1h d’attente avant de pouvoir avoir un spot et j’entends par là un tonneau ou vous êtes debout en cercle afin d’y déguster vos tapas.
Exemple de prix: à 3 personnes, on a commandé 9 tapas et 3 bières et on s’en est sortis pour 150 $. Excessif me diront certains mais on paie pour la qualité.
Le cadre et le décor du bar méritent d’êtres soulignés.

I’m not gonna lie I felt a little awkward when I first walked in into the bar. I tried to find a spot where to stand so that I wouldn’t look too uncool.
The fact that it was a Monday (industry night) and a bunch of super hip chefs were crowding the bar didn’t help.
Soon enough a couple of spots opened up and I was able to finally get to the good part The food!
Basically everything with quail eggs on it is a winner in my books. The Octopus on crostini was great and so were the Salchichas.
The cocktails could improve in presentation and level of boozines.
I would like to go back when all the hype has died down a bit.

Food: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Atmosphere: ⁹⁄₁₀
Service: 8.5÷10
Overall experience: 9.5÷10
Just blocks down from Bar Isabel, and steps away from La Carnita and DaiLo, Bar Raval manages to stand out amongst these other gems in Little Italy.
For breakfast, they have multiple dishes on display at the bar. All of them are available for order, and it makes it easier if you’re not sure how to navigate the menu.
We had:
— pintxos (Morcilla and Quail egg) — a slice of baguette with meat, a pepper (I believe) topped with a fried quail’s egg
— pintxos (Galician Octopus)
— Lomo Bellota — a cured meat
There were other dishes that I couldn’t find on the online menu — a cheese that had been soaked in red wine, croquettes that were filled with this clam chowder like substance, and the mushroom tower (three mushrooms, a shrimp on top all on this buttery baguette).
All the dishes were extremely punchy. It was as if they were making up for their small size. Fine by me as the flavours were bright and bold!
You will see by the photos and every other review, that the interior is very cool and unique. Woodwork is present throughout the whole restaurant. Barrels stand in the middle of the floor for your to gather round and put your drinks on.
The service was good/​normal. I think our waitress may have been still feeling the effects of her drinking the other night (we went on Sunday morning) but she had a great attitude and made some helpful recommendations.
THE BOTTOM LINE: truly fantastic food that stands out in an area with already great restaurants.

Not your average spanish tapas. The atmosphere encourages standing (only a few stools) and hence, mingling. Small spot nestled between woodlot and la carnita are sure to give them both some good competition. Wood bar is beautiful and half lined with various off-​the-​menu pintxos and pastries.
Menu ranges from cured spanish meats, canned seafood, to freshly made pintxos. Highlights for me were the blood sausage+baguette and the pig cheek, but everything was impressive. A fair amount of options and you’ll be asking a lot of questions as the menu items are mostly in Spanish. Cocktails were light but delicious.
There is no doubt in my mind that this place will be a hit. You can walk in there and have a spanish coffee and sandwich for $ 10, or spend $ 100+ on various tapas and cocktails. The ambiance is a no-​pressure, «find your own spot» type of vibe, where you may be rubbing elbows with your neighbour. I personally think this is even better than Bar Isabel.