I am indeed a very British girl. I love British bacon, I dream of a good cup of British tea (it really is different), I miss Hovis bread and one of my favourite times of year is the moment I receive the obligatory Christmas box from home, full of my favourite chocolate made only in the British Isles!

I can also claim that parts of me are fully converted to the Canadian way of life. Brunch always starts with a Bloody Caesar, the first thing I crave when I’ve been away is a double-double from Timmy’s, I have learned to embrace the Canadian winter and no longer worry that being warm probably means that I will have to forego looking fashionable and I am slowly but surely becoming a hockey fan… if only to tag along with my man to games; gotta love beer and hotdogs 🙂

However, there is one glaring omission from the Toronto scene; something I miss from my time living and working in London, England. Nicki feels the same void as this act could almost be considered a religion in her native Montreal and also in New York where she studied and worked for years. We’re talking about the After Work Cocktail Hour, aka the ‘5-7’…

There was a time when I was a humble TV production assistant in the Borough of Islington, inner London. I was on a tight budget considering my low ranking within the industry paired with the high prices of this bustling metropolitan.

At this same time, before our paths crossed ways, Nicki was running an upscale sushi joint on the idyllic island of St. Maarten. We were worlds apart however we were both privy to the 5pm ritual of hot-footing it out of work to meet friends and colleagues at a nearby bar/lounge/pub and enjoy a cheap tipple whilst having a moan about our work day, and sharing our dreams of total world domination (along with plans to ruin our mean-spirited boss once we achieve it).

Bars and restaurants in Toronto are beginning to encourage this lost art with affordable martinis, beers and appetizers. So we are campaigning to bring back the 5pm gathering and have been researching to bring you the best deals for the 9-5er’s. Please note that although we are West End gals, we do enjoy venturing East to mix it up! However, I found it tough to find any snazzy East End deals that I could feature so please, if you have suggestions, holla back! In the meantime, here goes…

Pizza Rustica: 232 Wellington St. West

Monday-Friday, 3-6pm: Half price apps and $10 pizzas (dine-in only)

Thursday: $6 martinis

Pravda Vodka Bar: 44 Wellington St. East

Monday-Friday, 5-7pm: $5.90 Martinis and complimentary Chef Inspired apps

The Beaconsfield: 1154 Queen St. West

Monday-Friday, 5-7pm: $8 dollar app specials served with a pint of Labatt 50

Insomnia: 563 Bloor St. West

Monday: $3 Jager, $4 Creemore pint

Tuesday: $6 Mimosas, $3 Krombacher (25cl)

Wednesday: $16 Sangria pitchers, $4 Mill St Lemon tea beer

Thursday: $5.50 martinis ($6.50 premium), $4 Steamwhistle pint

Friday: $16 Mojito Pitchers, $3 Insomnia shooters

Crush Wine Bar: 455 King St. West

Monday-Friday, 5-7pm: half price bar apps

Beast: 96 Tecumseth St.

Wednesday-Friday, 5-7pm: snack menu $4-8, $5 glasses of Canadian wine, $4 Canadian ales

So, go nuts and enjoy friends. We’d love to hear about your experiences through Twitter or the comment box below! And who knows, we may just see you there…

Cheers!

Sam