Track & Field Bar

Well, that was a lot of fun.
We arrived around 9pm on a Friday. The place wasn’t what I would define as busy but still had a good number of people in it for such an early hour, and both the bocce ball and shuffleboard lanes were in full swing. In the background, the speakers played a 5 star worthy playlist of golden era hip hop. I’m talking all the 90’s anthems and bangers from the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, De La Soul, Notorious BIG, M.O.P, KRS-​One, etc etc etc. They even have a drink called «Can I Kick It (Yes You Can)» so this place was instantly in my good books.
We settled in and ordered a couple of drinks (around $ 8 a piece) and signed up with «the Gamesmaster» for a shuffleboard court, which was about an hour and 40 minute worth of a waiting list, and even longer for Bocce access. In the interim, we discovered a couple Crokinole boards at the back of the bar and began our gaming there. A dj started a bit after 10pm, continuing on the classic hip hop tip but also working in various classic rock songs and a few more modern hits, but still staying clear of anything too mainstream like Drake or Bieber or going into the hardcore trap shit thats everywhere now (thank you random DJ, you da real MVP).
When it was our turn to play, it turns out Shuffleboard is surprisingly fun. You get a 20 minute turn and The Gamesmaster (aka the guy manning the list for turns when you first walk in) will help explain the rules so that you can get the most of it.
We left shortly after midnight and there was actually a line up to get in, so I would definitely recommend going early. Especially early if you want to get in on the games. But that all said, this place is pretty darn cool… I’ll definitely be coming back soon for more.

I went T&F two Fridays ago. It was a rainy night. We got there around midnight and there was a short line. It didn’t take too long to get in. I would suggest arriving earlier.
This is one of the better bars I’ve been to in Toronto. I’ve only lived here for six months but am from Chicago. They have bocce ball and shuffle board: two courts for each game. There’s also a dj and room for people to dance and then some couches near the front for lounging. It does not feel pretentious or contrived. The DJ was playing mostly newer rap music — stuff you’d hear on the Diplo channel on Spotify. Sorry I can’t give a more thorough explanation — it was the rap that’s sort of nearing into EDM. I find you either enjoy this music or can dance mockingly to it. People are dancing. People are mingling. You can bump into people here. There are girls that are so hammered you can’t take them home.
They could use more TVs. They should get some cornhole too.
I guess there were a lot of hipsters in here… I see that in the reviews. Um… the hipsters have won, just FYI, or at least their fashion has. Hot young girls, lots of them dress like hipsters. They have won. I’m not sure any of these people are true hipsters as I think this neighborhood is well past the first wave of gentrification. They’re probably at least equally yuppies.
Anyways, fun place that is well thought out.

Where do I start, the fact that this place has free admission is a big bonus. The drinks are reasonably priced, and fun. Friendly staff, fun times, Oh and not to mention they let you bring in your own food. And you can also order a pizza to the bar (they actually encourage it).

I really love this place. First of all the bartenders are fantastic. Friendly and crazy helpful. One stopped our group from ordering food and instead suggesting order in pizzas to the bar.
Secondly, where else can you play bocce ball and full sized shuffle board while you drink. They have other games in the back but in the times I have been there, I’ve never gotten to them. Both have one free lane and one you can reserve in advance although I’ve never had a problem getting into one of the free lanes.
The space is large, very open and simple. Its in a basement and never super crowded. The drinks are very reasonable and the vibe is fun.

To me, this is less of a bar and more of a destination. The bar aspect of their little basement setup is nice, but it’s the fusion of these typically-​outdoor games and the atmosphere of an indoor bar that knocks it out of the park.
After seeing the (outdoor) bocce pit at Local Public Eatery over the summer, I couldn’t get the idea of mixing a bar & lawn bowling out of my brain. But when I heard about T&F I couldn’t wrap my head around how it could be done well. Well, they figured it out, and they made it happen. The bocce and shuffleboard courts are setup reminiscient of a bowling alley, with some raised seating around them, an open area around the bar (dancing?) and some crokinole (!!) boards at the opposite end. The place was almost completely empty (a weekday evening) when I was there, and it still had a fantastic vibe. Imagining a Friday or Saturday, with people dancing, drinking, bocce-​ing, and shooting crokinole? That’s the stuff dreams are made of.
For information’s sake: there’s always a walk-​in bocce and shuffleboard lane available for free, but I’m assuming the wait list for those gets pretty heavy on busy nights. You can also reserve a lane for $ 40/​hr if that’s your thing.

*Not for serious bocce players. Good space, good drinks and decent service. Gets busy before 10pm so arrive early. I’d give it 4 stars if their crappy DJ wasn’t so intent on playing Justin Bieber over and over along with a comprehensive retrospective of Drake’s music. If you want to see how a DJ can clear a dance floor, come here.

I agree with a previous poster that this is an über-​hipster bar. While I definitely do not fall into the category, it shouldn’t stop you from going.
We dropped in for a few drinks and games of shuffleboard and bocce ball. While I was terrible at the former, my performance at the latter was actually decent (most likely due to the amount of drinks consumed at that point). The menu is tiny, so don’t bother ordering any bar bites here. Perhaps in the future they will expand the food offerings, as we need something to soak up all that booze!
Overall, it was a fun night and I wouldn’t mind returning in the future.
PS. I was the only person wearing heels in the whole bar — my advice would be to dress down!

If you are not a fan of Hipsters avoid this place.
It might be a cool bar without the hipster infestation.
I went for a friends birthday and although the concept was cool The manager made my friends take down a happy birthday sign on the wall because he thought it would bother other douche bag Hipsters that frequent this place.
Since when is it cool to dress like papa Smurf.
Or grow a big dirty beard.
On the positive side the bartenders are friendly they just need to get a better clientele.

Great place to hang out if you’ve got a group of people, like Meena mentioned. I wasn’t drinking so it was nice to have something else to focus on other than gettin’ crunk…
We started off playing some game where you have to flick a piece of wood into a hole (forget the name). When our fingers got sore, we moved on to bocce ball and shuffleboard, which was a hoot. We were lucky to be there when it wasn’t too busy, so we were able to score both a bocce ball and shuffleboard lane without a reservation. One thing I noticed about the bocce ball lanes though, were that the sides at both ends were a little warped, which meant that all the balls would essentially land in the same place. I wouldn’t suggest coming here if you’re an avid bocce ball player. Hit up Fred Hamilton Park 5 minutes away if you’re serious about the game. Nonetheless, it was really fun!
They have a small menu but allow you to bring your own food in, which I thought was pretty cool. Our group ended up at Bitondo’s at the end of the night, but it’s good to know there’s the option. Bartenders were friendly (and cute!) and didn’t charge me for my pop. I’ll be back again for sure!

Love the concept of this place! The beer selection was ok, but nothing to write home about. The games were fun and the music was cool. The clientele was extremely hipster and young on the night we were there (like 19 – 21 young) but we had fun. I’d recommend going here earlier in the night and playing games and then going to a better rock or dance club later in the night. The area is packed full of variety. It’s worth a stop in for sure though!

Such a cool concept! The staff were super friendly and the music was on point. Try and arrive early as this place has gotten really popular and after 11pm there is a line up to get in. Great spot to go year round — will definitely be coming back :)

my super nerdy bestfriend is dating a super cool guy who suggested we head here and damn was he right. this is probably the coolest and most hipster bar my friends and i have hit-​up as of late.
it was perfect for our group as a number of us were meeting for the first time so the funky music, yummy drinks (amazing cocktails and decent beer selection), and lawn games were a perfect way to break the ice.
bartenders are friendly and good-​looking. no cell reception in the basement so that’s a positive or negative depending on how addicted you are to Unilocal.
will fo sho be returning for some games and the legit cocktails.

I get to pick where my coworkers go for our monthly socials and I wanted to try T&F after a write up on a blog.
We got there pretty early (5:30pm) and had the space to ourselves for a while before another corp party showed up. I love bocce but am not lugging that shiz around. I had never played shuffle board before, and after a little tutelage, I pretty much won against everyone which is my fav. Except one coworker so maybe we’ll be back for a showdown. I thought their cocktails were delightful, I may have tried most of them (thank you, baby Jesus for corporate cards) They let us order food to the bar which was really appreciated since there’s some delightful pizzerias on College.
Oh! and while we were there whomever is in charge of the tunes really was doing a bang up job, I shimmied.
High fives.

Track & Field Bar Hack: How to Win At Lawn Games With A Beer In Hand
1) Game lovers, assemble your league of champions: For maximum fun, go with a group of 6 – 10. To win, make sure everyone on your team knows how to play shuffleboard or bocce (pronounced bah-​chee) — see #2 and House Rules at the end for details.
2) Know the rules of the game: Up your game by YouTubing it. For shuffleboard:
. For bocce:
. Crokinole, what’s that? Also, since their courts are not regulation size, reading over their House Rules will help you win — and save your reputation.
3) Book your lane: Booking a lane will cost you $ 40/​hour/​group between 5 pm ’till midnight. On Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights, best to book ahead or wait at least 1 – 3 hours before you play. Pro-​tip: All lanes are free after midnight and for walk-​ins.
4) Look for the hidden entrance: Head west of College and Ossington, look for the black T&F logo and stairs leading down to seemingly nowhere. The mine-​shaft, mega-​basement is just under 5,000 sq ft and can hold 158 hipsters so come before 10 pm to avoid the queue.
5) Drinks and snacks: Beers on tap include Eephus Brown Ale, Oast House Barn Raiser, Beau’s Lug Tread. Signature drinks include Versace Versace Versace, Quiet American, Negronis. Bar snacks include homemade jerky, wasabi peas, bits & bites, pretzels. Ordering Dominos pizza delivery is highly encouraged. No summer patio?, but why need one when you have the Astroturf?
6) Dance, dance: There’s a dance floor, a live DJ playing modern indie, an ultra-​modern bar, and a couch swing for all these mix of 20– and 30-​somethings. Open seven days a week from 5 pm to 2 am at 860 College St.
If I could, an overall ⁶⁄₅ stars for Toronto’s first ever lawn games bar. Brought to you by the owner of Montauk (Dustin Keating) and reminiscent of the hidden and much-​loved Cold Tea, this New York-​inspired bar is a game-​changer –literally, merging cocktails and craft beer with shuffleboard and bocce.
—
HOUSE RULES: @
and pasted here for convenience.
BOCCE BALL
Refill drink and hold in non-​throwing hand.
Form 2 teams of 2 or 4 players.
One team tosses the small white ball — ‘the pallino’ — down the court. The same player tosses the first bocce ball.
Teams alternate tossing bocce balls, trying to get closest to the pallino or knock the opponents’ balls away.
The closest team scores points for each ball closer than the opposing team’s balls.
The first team to 7 points wins!
SHUFFLEBOARD
Refill drink and form 2 teams of 2 or 4 players.
Players use the cues to slide discs alternately starting with yellow.
Players aim to push their own discs into the scoring area, or knock opponents’ discs out of play (or into the 10-​OFF area).
Any disc that lands before the scoring triangle (neutral zone) is immediately removed from play.
After all 8 discs have been played, discs in each scoring section of the triangle are added up to make a score. A scoring disc must NOT touch any lines within the scoring triangle.
Each disc in the 10-​OFF zone is –10 points (yes, you can get a negative score in shuffleboard!)
The first team to reach 30 points wins!
CROKINOLE
Refill drink and form 2 teams of 2 or 4 players.
Each team will have equal discs of different colours.
To shoot, place the disc on the board at the ‘starting line’. Each player will shoot discs only from within their particular quadrant of the board.
The first player will try to shoot their disc into the centre ‘20’ hole. If it successfully lands in the hole, the disc is removed and set aside to count as 20 points at the end of the round.
If it does not land in the ‘20’ hole, the next player must shoot at that opposing disc in an effort to knock it into the ditch. If a player does not hit the opposing player’s disc, their disc is immediately removed and placed in the ‘ditch’.
Players alternate shooting their discs until all discs have been played.
When all discs have been played, each disc in a scoring area is added up (any disc touching the lines separating each scoring area is counted at the lesser value).
The difference of the count between players or teams is the score for that round. The first team to reach 100 points wins!