Paradise Grapevine

In the space recently vacated by Menalon, the 50ish-year-old Greek diner and dive bar, is Paradise Grapevine, Bloorcourt’s favourite new wine bar from two Bar Volo alumni. Gone are the jukebox, the carpet and the kitchen. Souvlaki and saganaki have been replaced by a menu of smaller snacks, including plates of cheese and cured sausage, bags of chips in flavours like jamón or truffle, and sourdough made especially for the bar by the bakers at Burdock. Bottles of Labatt 50 and Bud have been swapped out for crushable craft beers, funky ciders and a crap-ton of wine. As for the clientele? Well, it’s a lot younger and more stylish, but the moustaches remain. The back patio, housed in what was once a garage, is the bar’s sweet spot. While it was always there—already called Paradise Grapevine, in fact—boy, does it look different: all aquamarine and twinkle lights, surrounded by a ton of garden plants and the bar’s namesake vines all tangled overhead.

841 Bloor St. W., 416-536-7178, paradisegrapevine.com