Cold Tea, ever the menu-less improvisational mavericks of the city, make their Manhattan using Rittenhouse Rye or Bourbon, up or on the rocks depending on what your preference is. The kicker here is in the blend of vermouths -- the powerfully-flavoured Punt e Mes is tempered with the comparatively subtle Dolin Rouge. However you order it, it's served with a cherry soaked in good booze.

Christie Pits' favourite cocktail bar always has a number of tasty drinks on their menu, but keep a Manhattan ($14) available pretty much all the time. Made with Rittenhouse rye and the much-prized Carpano Antica vermouth, it's a well balanced classic.

Wanna drop some bucks and get a real show out of it? If there's one cocktail experience in Toronto that you really can't miss, it has to be the Smoked Manhattan ($45). Served in a bell jar, with the drink smothered in hickory-vanilla smoke, it's a spectacular looking thing, though it's a bit hard to really classify it as a Manhattan given the use of brandy.

The Hoof Manhattan ($16) has been something of an institutional cocktail at Jen Agg's tiny little speakeasy. Sticking with Canadian rye and vermouth, the potent house bitters add some life and spice to the drink, as do the house infused cherries.

The County General's Manhattan ($18) has been a mainstay on their menu for years now. Knob Creek bourbon is stirred with Dolin Rouge and cherry masala chai bitters. In lieu of the cherry, County goes the route of the flamed orange peel served up as standard.

Mike Young's been slowly overhauling the cocktails at this fun little Dundas and Bathurst hangout, so gone are the draught Manhattans, and in are the delicious made-to-order variety. Forty Creek Canadian rye is stirred up with the Spanish Casa Mariol Vermut and Angostura for a light and zesty Manhattan ($11). Unless otherwise specified, it's on the rocks with a twist.

If you're in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood, you should make a stop at this cute little diner-cum-cocktail bar. The drinks list is surprisingly comprehensive, and they're open for lunch and dinner every day. The Ace's Manhattan ($14) uses Crown Royal Black with Dolin Rouge and a spiced apricot sugar alongside the requisite bitters.

There's two tiers of this classic drink at this Bloor and Ossington bar, with guests able to choose between a Manhattan with George Dickel Rye ($12) or Rittenhouse Rye ($14). Whichever way you go, you'll be treated to a custom blend of vermouths, containing Dolin Rouge, Carpano Antica, Punt e Mes, Iris Rojo, and De Muller.

Weslodge goes all out with its Manhattan using top shelf Basil Hayden's Bourbon, Carpano Antica, and a house tobacco tincture for added spice alongside the Angostura bitters. You can get them made-to-order ($18), or by the bottle ($160).