Elephant and Castle
378 Yonge St.
416-598-4003
Ambience: The former Dominion Bank building provides an interesting setting for a pub, with its towering ceilings and a few remnants of the days when the sound of stamps stamping and bank books being balanced filled the room. As far as pubs go, the Elephant and Castle (this being the second location in the city, the other is on King Street) is a more interesting setting for a quick beer or a traditional meal. That’s probably why it’s popular with tourists, sports nuts — there’s always a game on one of the many TVs — and even those looking to chat with a potential new mate. It wouldn’t be the Pulse’s first choice of locales to meet for a date, but to each his/her own.
Crowd: The clientele ranges from their mid-twenties upward and is about as relaxed as they come, save when the Leafs are playing or when there’s a soccer game on TV. The location on Yonge Street, next to the largest hotel in the city, means the crowd is often mixed and a bit more exciting to watch than in other area bars and pubs.
Dress code: The preferred attire is definitely casual. Leave the haute couture at home and dress down.
Should I dance on the bar? Elephants never forget and they really don’t appreciate you nicking the hard wood.
Will I get lucky? Does your team winning count as getting lucky? If so, then better hope the Leafs’ injury woes let up soon because there aren’t many opportunities with the opposite sex.
Best accessory: Any sort of sports jersey.
Cocktail du jour: It’s a pub, which means one thing — beer by the pint is the prime seller. There are fruity cocktails on offer and a healthy supply of liquors behind the bar, but brew, especially the imported variety, is king.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
