The Best Irish Pubs in Toronto, Compared: Live Music, Pub Food and Sports Screens

Toronto's Irish pubs range from decades-old downtown institutions to party-minded King West rooms and neighbourhood spots in Etobicoke. Drawing on blogTO's Irish pub guide and a 2026 St. Patrick's Day roundup, here is how the named options compare.

The long-running downtown classics

McVeigh's, at Church and Richmond, is known for Celtic tunes, pub grub, pints, live music and sports, and one writer describes it as serving Toronto for over 64 years. P.J. O'Brien, in the Financial District behind the King Edward Hotel, has a main bar and an upstairs lounge, a menu that runs from Irish stew to wings and quesadillas, and has operated since the 1960s.

King West and the Entertainment District

Belfast Love on King West is open daily 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and serves pork dumplings, funghi pizza and crispy tofu, with weekly live musicians. Dublin Calling on Adelaide Street West leans into a party atmosphere, with big-screen TVs, plenty of beer taps and dart boards, which makes it the pick for watching games.

Neighbourhood pubs

Stout Irish Pub in Cabbagetown has a pet-friendly patio and a menu with lamb curry poutine, cottage pie and Stout Caesars. Whelan's Gate in High Park is a two-storey pub with a long drink list, globally inspired comfort food and a back patio. Noonan's Pub on the Danforth offers Irish staples, fresh Guinness, fish and chips and live music several nights a week.

Etobicoke

Galway Arms combines sports, music and beer with Irish nachos, Guinness Irish stew and bangers and mash. St. James's Gate serves hearty mains and hand-held foods, with rotating food features and live music most days.

How to choose

For history and an upstairs lounge, pick P.J. O'Brien. For a live-music night out downtown, head to McVeigh's or Belfast Love. For big games and darts, Dublin Calling is the most sports-forward option. For a quieter pint with a patio, try Stout or Whelan's Gate. For the west end, Galway Arms and St. James's Gate are the named Etobicoke choices. Hours and music schedules change, so check each pub before you go.