Unlovable

This place literally saved our trip to Toronto. We were in town about 5 hours and kept having bad experience after bad experience. We just picked all the wrong places to go when we finally saw a little chalk sign outside a basement bar that read «Metal, Rap, Rock, Beer» and said fuck it, let’s go in.
The dj cranked out killer tunes. The beer was affordable. We made friends within minutes. The ambiance was exactly what we were looking for and the bartender/​owner spent about 20 minutes writing out suggestions for places to go, things to do, and areas to avoid. Though we only ended up going to a few places on his list, his attitude and overall coolness changed our outlook on our trip and we ended up having a blast during the rest of our stay.
Give it a try, even if for nothing else but karma points for these cool people.

There is absolutly nothing sepcial about this hole in the wall. The tables are small, the washrooms are rancid, and the pinball is sticky. I’m sure there are some decent staff that work here, but the woman bar tending during my visit was a horrid person with a bad attitue. I have been soured by this expirience and will never return.

Surprisingly cozy little spot on Dundas west. Love the prices and the fact that everyone is super laid back. Bartender hooks you up with snack food if you sit at the bar. The arcade games are a huge plus too. Will be back again if we’re in the area.

I came here last Friday under the lure of 80s alternative music. True. there were 2 djs spinning vinyls. But there is no way you can turn this quaint, elongated narrow bar into a dancefloor! My girlfriend and I were sitting in an old wooden bench in front of the bar enjoying our drinks and a LONG conversation. The table was one of those refurbished wooden ones with a new glass top encasing wooden planks. Nicely done.
So, the place didn’t turn into a bacchanalia of alternative music dancing, emulating the beautiful Siouxsie Sioux and tortured early New Order. But we enjoyed a great night catching up, laughing and the music was not loudly playing over your thoughts.
The crowd is young and trendy. Unless you score a seat on the bar best to come with others. I think this might be a bit uncomfortable to weather by yourself. The table next to us had 3 guys sans dates. They only side-​eyed us and ignored us. Now, wouldn’t you want to meet a beautiful woman and hold a conversation with? Or maybe I have it wrong. The place was cute, has character but it’s a bit out of my way to make it a regular hang out.

Unlovable.
Noun.
A cornucopia of drunk, grown-​up hipsters in a long narrow hallway thankful for the vintage arcade games they will never, ever play.
I don’t think they are a dance place, but the music is good, and Jess M and I shook our little booties all up and down that narrow, dark, stinky establishment.
I’ll be back.
PEPPER POINTS: For their reasonably priced whiskey shots.
³⁄₃₀

Unlovable is the only bar I get really tanked in and feel okay about it. Owner, Jamal is one of those always around types, and it’s nice to sit and have a few beers in the evening on a weekday and tell inappropriate jokes with him.
There’s a huge divide between regulars (i.e. week day crowd) and weekends when it’s packed. I’ve only been a few times on the weekend, but when it gets packed, it’s really tight due to it’s narrow small size, and there is a definite aging hipster uniform that needs to be observed: Relic toque, beard, jeans and a plaid button down for guys, and layers over skinny jeans and wedge heels with either a slouchy army jacket or leather crop number with top bun and red lipstick for girls. During the week it’s a scrappier mix of construction workers, nerds, and regulars passing by.
The music is all over the place, from rap to deep house, it’s a mixed bag and you never know who’s gonna be on decks, but it’s usually irreverent and fun.
It’s cave like, a literal hole in the wall, and it’s just far enough from Ossington and Parkdale that the riff raff (i.e. university kids and suburbanites from Liberty Village) keep out. And that suits me just fine.

a friend brought me here in attempts to «impress me» (her own words!) on a visit from new york, as i guess, yeah, i’m kind of a bar snob. really loved the ambiance in this place, & they even had a ty segall poster on the wall — instant brownie points. i can’t, in good faith, give more than 3 stars to a bar where the ‘tender is clueless enough to need a kamikaze & a gin gimlet explained to him, but other than that, he was SUPER nice & indulged my wife, my friends & i in witty banter all night. dude even bought us a few rounds BEFORE realizing i’m a great tipper. i’d stop by again if in the area.

Love this place! Service is great, music is fun and it feels like you’re hanging out in somebody’s rec-​room. Try it for yourself!

Someone once called this «the best bar in Toronto».
Yes, that grand statement got me in the door to this outpost of failed promise. I really don’t know why I stayed as long as I did.
You can count the cliches within the time it takes you to shotgun a can of PBR. Idiots think that they are Roger Daltry at the pinball machine.
The smell of laundered plaid whifts through the space like a veil of faux authenticity in a sea of condo dwellers and pleasant Canadiana.

Last night, I stumbled across Unlovable after the masquerade at Bar Vespa was hitting the wraps (a.k.a. wrapping up). Boy, was I ever delighted. This is literally, one of those tiny gems you discover on a whim.
Upon entry, do not be fooled by the small interior and/​or extremely low lighting. The walls are plastered with random art, such as the (what I will refer to as mountain man) mural across from the Pacman console… WHICH WAS AWESOME! It can also be used as a table which is pretty tRipPy in the dim light.
Anywho, I stopped by briefly with a friend, ordered a Strongbow on ice for $ 7.50, turned around and who do I see sitting behind me? Eric M! It was such a lovely, ironic coincidence to find a familiar Unilocaler at such a random place.
My stay at Unlovable was much too short-​lived, as my best friend called me and I had to leave abruptly to come to her rescue.
I will definitely be back to play more video games and take advantage of the quirky, odd atmosphere.
P. S. I mean that in the best way possible. This place is awesome.

My favourite bar on Dundas west, just off the beaten path, downstairs. I always have fun here. There’s good dj’s and a juke box as well for you to drunkenly pick jams. It’s a good place to get stuck in for the night. Locals only, no shirt tuckers or business type people or club looking chicks, locals only! Free pinball is a must!

This place can have really good vibes when you’re the first person here or the last. Lots of really lost ossington club hoppers come here thinking it’s a really cool thing when it’s not. Great bar during the week when it’s low key locals, bad when the weekend hits. I would consider this my local watering hole if it wasn’t for unnessary hype.

I remember talking to a friend one day about the pluses and minuses of being older and more mature in regards to choosing who I have intimate relationships with. «The good news is, I’m making wiser choices and so no longer getting myself into trouble.» I said. «The bad news is… I’m making wiser choices and no longer getting myself into trouble.»
The small Dundas St. W. bar called Unlovable (no doubt basking in reverse psychological glory) is the kinda place you want to drink yourself silly, chat up that cutie who keeps knocking into you because the bar is packed chest to back, slur your way through the lyrics of every 80’s track the DJ plays, end up making out with said cutie whilst lining up to use the bathroom, eventually stumbling out of the place looking for a cab asking your new found love «Your place or mine?» The aftermath is to eventually wake up the next morning in a strange bed that smells of potpourri as some unrecognizable furry house cat lies on your chest staring down at you quizzically and some barely recognizable person pops out of the washroom with a toothbrush in hand saying «You still in bed sleepy head?» As you wince and massage your hangover induced headache you can’t help but reflect upon the fun you had at Unlovable and that if you somehow manage to survive you’d happily go back to the establishment again.
For the facts Unlovable is a small downstairs bar with reasonably priced drinks, a 20 something unpretentious, rather attractive, friendly customer base (at least the night I went there), with a too cool for school pinball machine and Pac Man table top video game. It tends to be over capacity which is either a good thing or bad thing depending upon your mood. Seriously, so crowded one could loose their virginity trying to make their way to the bar. Music on the night I went hovered around 80’s and 90’s top 40. Expect sing-​a-​longs and a possible mosh pit to break out. The washrooms unfortunately seem more conducive to a small restaurant than a bar. Ladies, if you plan to go here for drinks I hope you have strong bladders.
All in all an enjoyable place to have a few beers. I plan to return soon.

Finally got a chance to head over to Unlovable last weekend. It was early, so there was hardly anyone there. But that was a good thing! There were some old video games to play, as well as a Star Wars pinball game that was free. So we had these all to ourselves for about an hour. So… good beer, great tunes playing, good entertainment and fun. What’s not to love?

Good name for this place.
The atmosphere is OK to be around, everyone seems to love the arcade games, and there’s two big portraits of Lenin and Gorbachev. Weird. Anyways, I went on a Friday night quite early and stayed for a few hours in a group of 8. We noticed they had board games behind the bar and asked to play Jenga. She [bar wench] said no, because it gets too busy and we’ll lose Jenga blocks. 3 hours later, the place was still empty. I’m a fucking Jenga pro — I don’t loose blocks, I stack them. Really put some salt in my beer.
Also, the Friday drink special exists no longer, it was $ 7 for a pint when it’s all said and done. Too much to pay in an empty bar that teases you with Jenga.
The Jukebox is broken.

Although I’ve only been once, I must admit that yes I too love Unlovable.
Why? I shall keep this short and simple.
1. Rad music.
2. Good drinks and good prices.
3. Amazing pinball. That is free. That is STAR WARS! That I am so good at.
Wish it was closer to me. Want to go back soon. You should go. And invite me.

So far I’m digging Unlovable. Narrow, small, cozy, pinball-​y, jukebox-​y, age appropriate for moi (not overrun by students), enhanced by fun décor. I guess you could say if Aunties & Uncles was a bar, it could be this.
I tried the Dark & Stormy (ginger beer & rum) and it rocked my whole world. Apparently they use real juices instead of lousy spray nozzles? Wellsir I do like the sounds of that. And did I see Jenga! Yes I did!!!
I was chilling there pretty early, so it wasn’t busy (top-​notch conversation volume). At its peak it would be either TOO crowded, or just the right amount of crowded. I’ll go back after midnight one day and report back.

Love the Unlovable.
First off they make drinks from actual juice not from a nozzle so it actually tastes like a drink and not a gross watered down fountain pop. How much do I love the fact that there is a pinball machine in here?!! And a Pacman table! And oh my what a fantastic jukebox!!!
I’d go here every night of the week if I didn’t care about becoming an alcoholic! Two blocks from my place… perfect local bar. Thanks Unlovable… you are loved!

Checked Unlovable out this weekend based on BlogTO’s review. Got there around 9 p.m., found it pleasantly uncrowded. It’s a great, narrow little basement bar that uses it’s limited space well.
The main attraction is the terrific jukebox selection — perused but couldn’t play due to a mix playing all night — not a problem, just have to go back. The free pinball and the 25 cent arcade games became more popular as the night wore on.
I found the bartender incredible — made us feel welcome from the start. And anywhere that just needs your name to run a tab is tops in my book.
The beer selection was solid, if only a little overpriced — $ 4 Molson Stock Ale is about $ 1 more than I’d like, but I lived.
The crowd was a good mix of older psuedo hipsters like myself, and the usual smattering of early 20’s hipsters. Not very pretentious, and definitely laid back.
A good choice in a strip that is looking more and more promising for an evening out.