The speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar is opening a new location in Toronto at 42 The Esplanade, with a full-service restaurant to follow in August.
Bar Cart, led by hospitality veterans Graham and Dan Hnatiw, officially opened its doors on July 30, according to BlogTO. The 60-seat lounge features classic cocktail foundations reinterpreted using modern techniques, such as clarified juices, fat-washing, and low-temperature infusions. It marks the Hnatiw brothers’ latest project under their company, Esplanade Restaurants, which also operates The Old Spaghetti Factory, Scotland Yard, and Bar Cathedral. Beverage consultant Andrew Whibley, known for his work at Montreal’s Cloakroom Bar and Bar Dominion, helped design the drink menu, focusing on technique-driven updates to timeless cocktails.
The restaurant, named Eloise, is set to open the week of August 18, just beyond Bar Cart. The 85-seat dining room will serve an elevated menu rooted in nostalgic comfort food, designed with bold patterns, curved compartments, and warm textures. The space is built to offer a timeless yet contemporary feel, combining art, design, and layered materials to create a distinct dining atmosphere. While separate, the two venues are intended to work together, giving guests the option to move from dinner to drinks in a single visit.
Esplanade Restaurants has been active in Toronto since 1972, with a focus on long-standing dining institutions. This new venture reflects a shift toward original concepts, offering the team creative freedom to explore modern dining and cocktail experiences. Located in the city’s historic St. Lawrence neighbourhood, both Bar Cart and Eloise are within walking distance of Union Station and surrounded by steady foot traffic, making them easily accessible to both locals and visitors.
