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Real Sports

What’s the vibe?听Serious Leafs fans in search of the biggest screen in town.

If you鈥檙e a hockey fan, you鈥檝e almost certainly heard of Real Sports. Just steps away from Scotiabank Arena, the bougie sports bar boasts a 39-foot HD television (鈥淭oronto鈥檚 largest screen,鈥� the website claims, a 100-foot bar, a state-of-the-art sound system and a DJ who doubles as a hype person between commercial breaks. As far as experiences go, it鈥檚 about as close to watching the game in person as you can get, but 鈥� given the price point and location of the bar 鈥� be prepared to share the space with some stiff suits and corporate types.听

15 York St,

Dock Ellis

What’s the vibe?听Rowdy hipsters guzzling pints.听

If you鈥檙e looking to get a little rowdy, jam your way into Dock Ellis, a hip and gloriously divey sports bar in the city鈥檚 west end. Dimly lit and slightly retro 鈥� the air deliciously pungent with the smell of deep frying oil 鈥� the bar offers pints for just $6.75 on game days and serves excellent wings, nachos and other messy delicacies. Between periods, be sure to join the smokers and fans in search of fresh air as they spill out onto the sidewalk, blending into the lively flow of Dundas Street West.听

1280 Dundas St. W.,

RendezViews听

What’s the vibe?听Die hard hockey fans who don’t want to brave the chaos of Maple Leaf Square.

If you鈥檙e a hockey fan听who bleeds white and blue, then RendezViews is the bar for you (excuse the unintentional couplet). During the playoffs, this sprawling rooftop patio transforms into a massive Leafs viewing party with an unbeatable view of the skyline and CN Tower. Seats at the venue鈥檚 colourful picnic tables are first come first served, so be sure to go nice and early (or you can book a table ahead of time, but it requires a minimum spend). Showing up here without a Leafs jersey is not advised.

229 Richmond St. W.,

Toby鈥檚 Pub and Eatery

What’s the vibe?听Cosy, local, anything goes.

Last fall, the Star (and by the Star, I mean me) named Toby鈥檚 Pub and Eatery the best sports bar in Toronto, and I stand by that. A cosy, chaotic space just north of Kensington Market, Toby鈥檚 hits all the right notes for an evening of watching hockey with friends: cheap beer, world class chicken wings, lots of space, screens everywhere, friendly staff and 鈥� perhaps most importantly 鈥� excellent vibes. It鈥檚 perfect for diehard fans, but also perfect for casual fans. There are pool tables, a jukebox and 鈥� if your team suffers a tough loss 鈥� there鈥檚 a good chance you can chase away your sorrows with a bit of late-night karaoke.听

411 College St.,

Caf茅 Diplomatico

What’s the vibe?听Wholesome family fun with excellent drink and food specials.

Located in the heart of Little Italy, the Dip is best known as a gathering for soccer hooligans, but during the NHL playoffs, it鈥檚 a great place to catch the game on its massive screen installed along the back wall of its sprawling outdoor patio. With its menu of great pizza and pasta, you can expect a nice mix of dining families and hockey fans, making the Dip a great spot for the casual fan who prefers to pair their hockey with a little Montepulciano d’Abruzzo e pasta alla pescatora, over chicken wings and a lager (though they serve these, too).听

594 College St.,

Shoxs Billiard Lounge听

What’s the vibe?听Prepare your escape route in advance.

A neighbourhood fixture, Shoxs is the go-to spot to catch a Leafs game in the Junction. With great deals on food and drinks, the large space has a patio, pool tables, pinball machines and a slew of other distractions to fill space between periods. However, locals warn that it has been known to get a little rowdy following a big win.

2827 Dundas St. W.,

Loose Moose

What’s the vibe?听Low-risk, low-commitment, you get what you expect.

Big screens and big burgers. Tall stools and tall pints. Walls adorned with miscellaneous Canadiana. You don鈥檛 need a particularly strong imagination to conjure an image of a sports bar called the 鈥淟oose Moose.鈥� A Front Street institution for more than three decades, the Moose is a super safe bet if you鈥檙e downtown and looking for a semi-rowdy but not overwhelmingly rowdy time.

146 Front St. W.,

The Cork West

What’s the vibe?听What if Dublin had a hockey team?

I don鈥檛 often frequent sports bars in the east end but have been assured by trusted sources that The Cork West is the ultimate place to catch a Leafs game on the far side of the Don Valley. Typically known for its stouts, whiskys and shepherd’s pie, this massive Irish pub is transformed by the quest for the Stanley Cup into a rowdy but welcoming spot for diehard and fairweather fans alike. Good craic guaranteed!听

701 Queen St. E.,

Cafe Pho Nho听

What’s the vibe?听Unique, off-the-beaten-path experience.听

On paper, this family-run eatery near Roncesvalles doesn鈥檛 really jump out as a place to watch playoff hockey, but Pho Nho is not your typical Vietnamese restaurant. Home to the very best chicken wings in the city (perfectly breaded and fried, the fish sauce wings are sublime), a big screen and its own house lager (the uber-affordable Pho Nho Lager), the unassuming space is quickly converted into a delightfully inclusive sports bar once critical mass is reached.听

2060 Dundas St. W.,

Trinity Common

What’s the vibe?听It’s impossible not to have fun in Kensington Market.

A surprisingly large watering hole camouflaged among the colourful mayhem of Kensington Market, Trinity Common is a cheap and cheerful option for large groups looking to hunker down for the big game or for more casual fans hoping to catch a period as they explore the city. It also has great daily drink specials and live music events (during non-game hours, of course).

303 Augusta Ave.,