Lisbon Hotel isn't Portuguese nor a hotel, but a chic and elevated new bar in Corktown offering creative cocktails, mocktails, and small bites.

It may be easy to miss from the outside as it's located on the first floor of an unassuming condo building — but once inside, you’ll be transported.

There is an instant sense of excitement and comfort upon entering. The bar takes centre stage in the space, with minimalist decor and effective lighting. Eclectic, differing plates serve up the food, offering a sense of coziness. 

It's a great spot for people-watching, as half of the bar is floor-to-ceiling windows, or you can take in the gorgeously lit wall behind the bar showcasing the spirits and ingredients used to make their drinks. 

They serve a selection of wines ranging from $13-$17 a glass, and beers ranging from $8-$9, but the real highlights here are their house cocktails.

Their drinks are expertly made and separated into three sections on their menu: citrusy and refreshing, stirred, spirit forward, and zero proof. 

Part of their "citrusy and refreshing" offerings is the perfectly crisp Lobby Spritz ($14). The drink is made with toasted coconut-infused limoncello, lemon, and sparkling wine and topped off with a generous sprig of mint.

It's delightful to sip on and not too sweet.

Their non-alcoholic version of this, the N/A Spritz ($10), is just as tasty. It's presented beautifully, mixing non-alcoholic aperitif with lemon grass, ginger, and carbonation.

Another offering from the "citrusy and refreshing" section is the Aunt Spike ($15), a pink and perky cocktail made from gin, white port, peach aperitif, lemon, Peychaud's, and egg whites.

It's light and airy, with a taste as stunning as its looks.

If you're looking for a more alcohol-forward choice, try the High Tides ($15) — a gorgeous blend of bourbon, amaro, black sesame, and palo santo.

The smokiness from the palo santo takes this drink to another level, offering a unique and balanced beverage. 

A great choice for a twist on a classic is the Not A Martini – and while it's not a martini per se, their take is as elegant as its non-namesake. A blend of gin, akvavit, house bitter bianco, and tarragon, this cocktail went down smooth and paired wonderfully with the food. 

Pro tip if you're looking to spice your night up: Lisbon Hotel offers a "Dealer's Choice" concept, for those bold enough to turn a blind eye to the cocktail menu.

Bartenders will inquire about your flavour preference and your spirits of choice, and then custom off-menu make a drink for you. 

The food menu at Lisbon Hotel is comprised of shareable snacks, packed with handheld goodies like toasts featuring local Blackbird Bakery breads.

Perfect for snacking on is their seasonal pickle plate featuring a variety of house-made pickled veggies.

A number of the ingredients used are made in-house; as the general manager Sally Gillespie shared with blogTO, "Anything we can make, we do."

The Anchovy Toast ($10) and Ricotta and Pear Toast ($13) are perfect for sharing but you may not want to — they're just that good.

The Anchovy Toast is a savoury yet delicate snack, with thinly sliced cucumbers on top of salty white anchovies and an herb and chili butter. A myriad of flavours, it's the perfect balance.

The Ricotta and Pear Toast is on the slight sweeter side, with port poached pears, crispy prosciutto, and tarragon on top of a bed of ricotta on sourdough. 

A toasty standout hit on the menu is the Marinated Mushrooms ($14). Served with sourdough, this combination of sharp garlicky aioli, balsamic marinated mushrooms, and fried sage was a hit with everyone at the table — not a scrap was left on the plate.

If you're looking for something a bit heartier, the Warm Chorizo & Green Sauce ($12) is a simple, but satisfying dish.

It features smoky fried chorizo and an herbaceous guandilla sauce with a bold kick, nicely balanced with a bit of honey on top. Though this dish doesn't feature bread, you'll likely ask for another piece to mop up that sauce.

If you have a sweet tooth, it would be in your best interest to save room for dessert.

Their Dark Chocolate Mousse ($8) is uniqely served with Maldon salt, chili, toffee crumble, and a drizzle of olive oil. With that medley of flavours it's easily sublime, and one of the best chocolate desserts I’ve ever tasted. 

Soon, Lisbon Hotel will be open in the morning hours as a cafe, additionally offering an Aperitivo Hour midday. It’s worth noting that the spot is incredibly family-friendly, catering to its familial neighbourhood.

So whether you'll be taking advantage of the sunshine through their windows, or rolling into the evening when they dim the lights and turn the music up, you'll see this space is a real gem to Corktown already. Lisbon Hotel is located at 19 Lawren Harris Square.