In Corktown, Lisbon Hotel throws the rulebook out the window when it comes to your typical coffee spot or cocktail bar. Opening its doors on January 26, this restaurant takes you on a journey from a charming cafรฉ by day to a fun cocktail bar with a globally inspired menu when the sun sets. Despite its name, Lisbon Hotel isn’t in the business of room keys or pastรฉis de nata โ it offers ย freshly roasted coffee, creative cocktails and delicious eats.
Lisbon Hotel draws inspiration from European art hotels, creating a cozy and bright space adorned with Persian rugs. It’s located in an award-winning building designed by the renowned Canadian architectural firm Saucier + Perrotte.
Hospitality veteran Adam Hijazi and River city developer ย David Wex, ย have joined forces to shape Lisbon Hotel into a space for both coffee enthusiasts and cocktail connoisseurs.
“Our goal is to establish an exceptional bar and cafรฉ with straightforward operations and widespread appeal. Lisbon Hotel will feature a globally-inspired menu, allowing the quality of ingredients to take centre stage,” says Hijazi.
As the sun rises, Lisbon Hotel welcomes guests with freshly roasted coffee, providing a caffeine fix that pairs perfectly with an array of baked goods from Barbershop Patisserie and Baker & Scone. The venue transitions seamlessly into an evening hot spot, offering a carefully curated menu of libations crafted by expert bartenders.
The rotating cocktail menu offers unique drinks like the Not a Martini with gin, akvavit, herbs and basil oil. There’s also the Lobby Spritz, a fizzy highball with limoncello and the “Daisy 0.0%,” a tasty non-alcoholic option with bitter aperitivo, lemongrass and ginger for a delicious balance.
General manager Sally Gillespie, a seasoned hospitality professional with experience at renowned bars like Bar Raval and PrettyUgly Bar, takes the lead at Lisbon Hotel. Beyond daily operations, Sally curates special programming, including a weekday aperitivo hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The menu at Lisbon Hotel boasts a tempting selection of flavour-forward dishes, including garlic shrimp & shishitos, ricotta and pear toast with port-poached pears and crispy prosciutto, warm chorizo with green sauce and a winter citrus salad with endive, radicchio and spiced pecans. The Cheese Boutiqueย supplies a variety of cured meats, cheeses and preserves, creating a perfect complement to the ice-cold cocktails.
Lisbon Hotelย located at 19 Lawren Harris Square will make its debut on January 26. Starting in spring, the 36-seat cafรฉ-bar will be open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight, serving flavourful meals all day.
