Pact Bar

Listed in Bars

Pact Bar opened at the end of November at the corner of Dundas and Markham. It's tucked away from the main street behind an Ali Baba's. It joins a neighbourhood that has seen a great deal of growth over the last 18 months, with Hudson Kitchen, Bent, and Montauk all recent arrivals in nearby buildings.

Owner Matt Amaral grew up nearby and snapped up the space when it hit the market, hoping to provide a hangout devoid of any gimmicks. To this end, Pact is a functional space with simple decor and furnishings. The bar area is centred around a number of flatscreens showing the game(s) and, given the price of the beer ($6 pints, $5 PBR tallboys), it's not a bad spot to gather for that end.

Though the food is still in the planning stage, Matt plans for a range of bar snacks and sandwiches like pulled pork, meatball and vegetable panini with sides of kettle-cooked chips and coleslaw. It all certainly fits in with the kind of grub you'd fancy ordering during a match.

The venue as a whole incorporates a makeshift dancefloor, and there's already been a regular rotation of DJs and live acoustic music filling the place with eager feet. You can get 50 people inside and the area in the front is a licensed patio holding another 30 when the weather improves.

The beer on offer is mostly the big name locals (Steam Whistle, Amsterdam), with some taps reserved for trying out craft beer and a fridge with a decent range of tallboys from the likes of Wellington Brewery. There are no cocktails on offer. Wine and mixed drinks are $6 a pop.