Don’t expect a basic dining experience at CKTL & Co. You see, at Toronto’s first stock market–themed cocktail lounge and restaurant, you’ll find a menu that’s based on a stock market simulation that adjusts drink prices based on supply and demand.

“Screens and tickertape are stationed around the bar to allow guests to track the price of items in real time to see what’s “in the red” or “in the green” and choose whether they want to ‘buy in,’” says Kushal Shah, director of business development at CKTL & Co. “The price of our cocktails never goes above the listed price on our menu, so guests will always get a deal.”

Fittingly located in Toronto’s own stock exchange neighbourhood — the Financial District — everything, from the design of the menu (meant to mimic printed dollar bills) to the names of the cocktails, are inspired by money.

“Our Manhattan menu features classic and famous derivatives of the manhattan cocktail, including the Black Market (whisky, sweet vermouth, coffee liqueur, dark chocolate bitters, dried orange and smoke) and the Bay Street (rye, sweet vermouth, amaro and angostura bitters) a Toronto-centric take on the classic cocktail,” says Shah. “You’ll also see our classic, signature and non-alcoholic cocktails named to reflect monetary and financial themes including Old Money, Initial Product Offerings and Counterfeit,” he says. 

Under the helm of chef Keile Singer, the food menu consists of shareable bar snacks, appetizers, flatbreads, salads and bowls along with hand-helds and entrees.

Standout items include the grilled lamb chop, served with potato purée, pomegranate jus and roasted root vegetables, and the grilled flank steak, served with poached asparagus, rosemary roasted potatoes and tarragon browned butter.