Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar Named Among North America’s 50 Best Bars
by Bruce Parkinson
Staff members at the Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar celebrate their achievement.
The Library Bar, a cozy cocktail den tucked away within the iconic Fairmont Royal York, has earned a coveted spot on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026, ranking #19.
The watering hole familiar to many in the Canadian travel industry was also named the recipient of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2026
The accolade was announced Wednesday evening in Vancouver during an annual ceremony, where the continent’s leading bars and bartenders gathered to celebrate the year’s top achievements in hospitality.
Library Bar is led by award-winning Director of Beverage James Grant and is known for its thoughtful, literary and film inspired cocktail program.
Among the highlights is Library Bar’s signature Birdbath Martini, a refined take on the classic built around QUILL, a bespoke vodka and gin crafted with botanicals and sustainable ingredients that let its flavours shine.
Above the mantel in the bar, a portrait of George Locke Toronto’s second Chief Librarian, anchors the space in history. In the early 20th century, he helped shape one of North America’s most respected library systems and curated the original collection at the Fairmont Royal York, remaining a lasting part of Library Bar’s story today.
James Grant has further elevated Library Bar’s reputation by pushing creative boundaries, transforming each cocktail into a layered, sensory experience that blends technique, imagination, and sophistication.
Over the past year, Library Bar introduced its current menu inspired by the novel In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje. More than a menu, the collection serves as a tribute to Toronto’s rich and diverse heritage translating the city’s stories, voices, and histories into artfully crafted cocktails.
