The team at Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie recently unveiled its new fall cocktails and a brand-new bar menu, featuring seasonal flavours and creative twists on the dishes we love. With warmth and comfort at the heart of the experience, it’s the perfect time to visit. But you don’t necessarily need to make a big occasion of it or plan a full dinner in the dining room. Cluny’s lounge is ideal for those moments when you’re craving something deeply satisfying, even on a whim.

Cluny’s Fall Cocktail Menu Highlights

Cluny’s new fall cocktail lineup feels especially fitting for the season, with creative concoctions that offer a little something unexpected.

The Revolution Cocktail combines whiskey and Calvados, topped with a red wine float. Inspired by French history, the cocktail plays on the juxtaposition of France’s traditional class system, making it as much a conversation starter as a drink.

The Bel Poirier is a slightly sweet, French-style cocktail that has already won us over. “It’s what I think of as a nice, very classic French, but we still have our twist in there,” says David Trujillo, Assistant General Manager of Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie.

If you’re craving something a little more savoury, the Olive Sour takes a less conventional approach, combining olives with traditional sour cocktail elements. “I like things that are a little bit different, which you wouldn’t think would combine well together. I love olives, so that’s what inspired this cocktail,” Trujillo explains.

Alongside the cocktails, Cluny Bar also offers red and white wine blends from Domaine Julian in France’s Bergerac region.

The New Cluny Bar Menu Is Easier on the Wallet

When it comes to the food, Executive Chef Taylor McMeekin has created the Cluny bar menu to bring the restaurant’s signature quality and French-inspired cooking to the lounge, with more approachable price points.

“We’ve been playing with the idea of a bar menu that really speaks to Cluny and offers a bit more vibrance in our lounge, which is beautiful and comfortable,” says McMeekin. “I like sitting out here having a coffee in the morning. I’ve always loved this room. We wanted to have people in to have a snack but also make sure that it’s not going to hurt the pocketbook too much. We also wanted to give you what we are known for, but also give you the best possible product.”

The focus remains on French culinary techniques, seasonal local ingredients, and sustainable sourcing. The goal is to bring more life to the lounge while giving guests another way to experience Cluny’s food in a relaxed setting, without committing to a full dining room experience.

There are plenty of tempting options on the menu, and I highly recommend ordering a few to share. After all, isn’t sampling a little bit of everything half the fun?

The Asparagus Frites are a longstanding favourite that somehow make the word fries sound a little more virtuous. Served with a saffron-lemon aioli for dipping, they’re a delicious way to start.

Salted Cod Donuts offer a surprisingly delicious twist, finished with spruce sugar, pickled spruce tips, and black garlic aioli. It’s an intriguing combination of flavours that makes these little bites worth trying.

Cluny’s famous Beef Tartare gets a more casual treatment on the bar menu. It’s a simplified version of the dining room classic, served without the tableside preparation but with the flavours that have made it a favourite.

The Charcuterie is a classic selection featuring salami, chicken liver pâté, and duck rillettes. It’s an easy choice for nibbling along with a glass of wine or a cocktail.

For something a little different, the Mushroom Pâté makes a delicious and lasting impression, served with Sauternes pearls, marigold, and quince.

And then there’s the Parisienne Poutine. Topped with homemade chicken gravy, crispy fried chicken skin, and Quebec cheese curds, this is comfort food with a distinctly Cluny twist. It may sound a little indulgent, but that’s the point, right?

Of course, no visit would feel complete without the French Onion Soup, one of Cluny’s most cherished recipes. Just thinking about that bubbling, broiled Gruyère cheese topping and the rich, deeply satisfying beef broth is enough to make my mouth water. On a chilly fall day, it’s the kind of comfort food that makes you want to linger over every last spoonful.

Cluny Bistro and Boulangerie is located at The Distillery, 35 Tank House Lane.

Planning a bigger night out in the city? See our picks for Toronto’s best patio escapes, or meet another French favourite in our Season to Taste chat with Chef Nadège Nourian of Chez Nad.