Bar known for its cocktails is shutting down after 8 years in Toronto

A Toronto bar that’s truly one-of-a-kind just announced that they’ll be closing their doors permanently at the beginning of 2025.

Officially opening in 2016, the theme at the centre of the Junction’s Famous Last Words bar was an unlikely — though genius — pairing: booze and books.

While the two may not seem wholly unlikely companions, especially when considering plenty of famous authors’ affinity for alcohol, the bar was, and continues to be, an entirely unique concept, providing the city’s bookworms a perfect place to dive into a new novel or gather among friends to discuss their reads.

From floor-to-ceiling bookshelves to a Scrabble tile bartop and cocktails named after novels (The Goldfinch, for example, was a pineapple and reposado number), the bar pays homage to a demographic that’s all too underrepresented on Toronto’s nightlife scene. 

If boardgame nerds get Snakes and Lattes and video game nerds get any of the city’s infinite arcade bars, book nerds deserve a haunt of their own, too.

After eight years, though, the bar’s owner is about to enter a new chapter, as she recently took to Instagram to announce Famous Last Words’ impending closure.

“Every good story needs an ending, so it’s with a heavy heart that we’re announcing the closure of famous last words in January 2025,” owner Marlene Thorne writes in the caption of the post.

“To every book club, first date, birthday celebration, anniversary, engagement and random get-together for pre- or post-dinner cocktails I want to say a huge thank you for turning this crazy dream into a reality.”

Marlene then goes on to offer pointed thanks to the bar’s regulars for doing their part to keep the business running, offering warmth and smiles and keeping the bar’s staff company, even on the slow nights.

She also thanks her staff, who’ve kept the story of Famous Last Words alive over the past near decade.

“It’s the people more than the space that really make the magic, so a massive thank you goes out to the amazing and dedicated team – past and present – who’ve worked so hard (behind the bar and behind the scenes) to make delicious drinks and create wonderful memories over the past 8 years,” Marlene writes.

At the time of publication, Famous Last Words has not responded to blogTO’s request for comment on the reasons behind the closure.

“I have no idea what the next chapter will look like, but I’m excited to start writing it (maybe literally, who knows),” Marlene writes.

Famous Last Words is located at 392 Pacific Avenue. Their last night in operation will be Jan. 4, 2025.