Hoops Sports Bar And Grill
458 Yonge St.
416-929-3324
Ambience: While it isn’t quite the sports hub that it used to be when the Maple Leafs played just around the corner, Hoops still packs in droves of sports-loving regulars throughout the week. Any and every worthwhile sporting event is on offer here, big games are naturally featured on the dozens of screens that line the walls, booths, etc., while the beer and fried food flow freely. What more could you ask for? Oh, and the waitresses wear skimpy outfits — in other words, Hoops is a guy’s fantasy come to life, albeit in slightly tacky fashion. Don your favourite sports gear and enjoy!
Crowd: Mainly men with their wives, buddies from work or flying solo having a couple of beers and enjoying the game of the day. As you might expect, the clientele skews into their 30s and 40s with the odd pack of university students thrown into the mix.
Dress code: Perhaps it’s easier to explain what NOT to wear: any jersey, jacket, hat bearing the logo of any team that isn’t based in Toronto. At least until all of Toronto’s teams are eliminated from their respective playoff races. At that point, anything goes.
Should I dance on the bar?: I’d say only after the Leafs win their next Stanley Cup, but I probably won’t live long enough to enjoy that miraculous event. But why not get up there and dance anyway? Just ask for permission first.
Will I get lucky?: Only if you play Pro-Line.
Best reason to pay a visit: Sports, sports and more sports.
Cocktail du jour: Would you like a beer chaser with your beer? It’s all about the brew at Hoops. Mixed drinks and a few coolers are also big sellers, but this is predominantly a draft-drinking kind of place.
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
