A tiny, snow-covered cocktail bar from the mountains of northern Japan is getting a Toronto address this winter. Starting Nov. 26, the Ace Hotel is transforming its rooftop lounge, Evangeline, into the Niseko Chalet.
The pop-up is a collaboration with Bar Gyu, a beloved cocktail spot in Hokkaido known for its intimate cabin-like feel and entrance concealed behind a vintage red Coca-Cola vending machine door. Running seven days a week until Feb. 14, the takeover will see fireside cocktails, vinyl DJ sets and Japanese tavern snacks take over the Garment District space.
Bar Gyu is the oldest cocktail lounge in Niseko, the Japanese resort town famous for being the country’s premier international ski and snowboarding destination. Toronto-born co-founder Ioanna Morelli, who moved to Japan decades ago, worked with the Ace team to bring a little of that same intimate, tucked-away atmosphere across the Pacific.
The space is filled with vintage skis, traditional textiles and menus hand-painted by co-founder Hisashi Watanabe. Even the bar’s famous red soda machine door has been recreated in paint at the entrance to the rooftop patio. Keeping with the old-school feel, local DJs will spin records from Bar Gyu’s personal vinyl collection every Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The cocktail list was created by Ace bar manager Aaron Hatchell and the Bar Gyu team, with Japanese whisky, roasted teas and stone fruit featuring throughout. Bar Gyu favourites include the silky Hojicha Alexander, Paper Crane and a classic Japanese Whisky Sour. There are also guided tasting flights, including Japanese Whisky 101 and Lot 40 Cask Exploration, Japanese-style craft beers from Toronto’s Godspeed Brewery and a full lineup of zero-proof cocktails.
On the food side, executive chef Moto Nishimura has put a Japanese spin on classic chalet fare. The standout is a bubbling cheese fondue flavoured with white miso and whisky, served with chashu pork, shiitake mushrooms and crispy lotus root chips in place of the usual bread. There’s also a warm chocolate fondue with roasted Japanese sweet potato and fresh fruit for dipping. For something more casual, the menu includes pork katsu sandos, grilled chashu skewers and crunchy sushi pizza.
The Niseko Chalet runs daily during Evangeline’s standard hours from Nov. 26 through Feb. 14, remaining open straight through the holidays from Christmas Eve through Boxing Day. Reservations are available now on OpenTable.