Boutique Bar is back in Toronto serving charming cocktails in an equally charming, pastel-hued venue.

Owners Julien Salomone and Sebastian Moya met in France, where Julien was attending hospitality school. When Julien moved to Toronto, intent on starting his own business, Sebastian was the first person he called.

Together with Julien's wife, Devon, the pair founded Boutique Bar, hoping to supply the community with a selection of unique drinks.

The original Boutique Bar opened in 2010 and was a Church Street staple for more than a decade. Unfortunately, when the building it occupied was bought by property developers, Boutique Bar was forced to shut down.

Determined to return to the Church Wellesley Village, Devon, Julien and Sebastian spent the next two years searching for a new spot to call their own.

The current location, which can be found across the street from Storm Crow Manor, held its grand opening on October 31, 2024, two years after the original location closed its doors.

Since Halloween is a huge event on Church Street, the owners report that the bar was packed on opening night.

Thankfully, the new building is well-equipped to handle large crowds. The bar has three floors, each with its own drink counter. The second floor opens up after 9:00 pm, while the third floor is generally reserved for parties and other private events.

All three floors share a similar aesthetic, with soft colours and floral patterns giving the space a laid back, tropical aesthetic. Julien and Devon explain that the decor was chosen with "vacation vibes" in mind.

Though Boutique Bar serves light snacks, such as salted nuts, cocktails are the bar's main focus.The Pina Caliente ($15.92) is a spicy, summery drink made from pineapple and chili infused vodka, pineapple juice and fresh mint. Tajin powder is shaken over the rim, giving each sip a slight kick.The Coffee Bean ($15.05) is Boutique's version of an espresso martini. Made from a combination of Kahlua, Baileys, vodka and coffee, this drink has a surprisingly mild flavour compared to other coffee flavoured cocktails.The Royal Hawaiian ($14.16) is a visually impressive drink that combines Empress 1908 gin with fresh pressed lemonade, pineapple juice and orgeat syrup.

Though its purple to yellow gradient is quite captivating, I'd recommend stirring this drink before taking a sip. Otherwise, the strong, citrusy gin will overwhelm the other ingredients.

Though the St-Germain ($15.05) isn't as colourful as many of the other drinks, its unassuming appearance belies a distinctive (and delicious) flavour.

Gin, elderflower liqueur, and sparkling wine are mixed with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, then poured into a martini glass and garnished with a lemon twist.

The Jelly Donut Old-Fashioned ($14.16) is a limited item whose name speaks for itself. Created by one of Boutique’s many talented bartenders, this drink combines rye and orange bitters with sweet "jelly donut syrup" and a sparkly sugar rim.

It's a reminder of why Boutique Bar was a Church St. staple for so many years. This new re-incarnation is a welcome return to the neighbourhood.Boutique Bar is located at 553 Church Street.