What an incredible day at Cabana Pool Bar to kick off the summer.

Cabana-Pool-Bar-Nick-BestofToronto-010
The new Toronto lakeside hot spot opened last year, being built in an incredibly short time span of 6 only weeks. Since then they’ve added a ton of great improvements including a new VIP mezzanine with a great view of Lake Ontario, a big 12’x12′ LED outdoor screen, a new 100 foot poolside bar, phone chargers at every booth. The pool is also now upgraded to a salt water pool.

By the way, check out our party photos from last year’s grand opening.

So on the morning of June 14, 2014, we arrived at Harbour Square to catch our boat ride and set sail by a sailboat. You could drive to Sound Academy but clearly the best way to arrive to Cabana Pool Bar is by boat. And you don’t even need to own a boat – you can call up a service like Gone Sailing Adventures to personally ferry you over.

So we got on the boat – lucky to be sitting with the staff from Toronto Life and Metro News (and joined later by CTV, Rudy Blair from 680 News and the darling Patricia Jaggernauth from CP24).

Arriving on the dock, we were greeted by the friendly and photogenic Cabana staff all with washboard abs.

Welcome to Cabana Pool Bar

Welcome to Cabana Pool Bar

Then we got settled in to our extra-large deluxe booth by the salt water pool, complete with a pair of lifeguards.

The salt water pool

The salt water pool

My friend Tanya noticed each booth had phone chargers – a really great idea! We sampled the gourmet Oliver & Bonacini lunch, and dinner and weekend brunch menu items and quenched our thirst with organic, cold-pressed watermelon juice from The Good Press as well as the feature “TOjitos”, a twist on the classic mojito with maple syrup – really great.

Cold-pressed watermelon juice by The Good Press and a "TOjito" (a mojito with maple syrup)

Cold-pressed watermelon juice by The Good Press and a “TOjito” (a mojito with maple syrup)

At our booth everyone’s one of the favourite dishes was the chopped kale and goat cheese salad. The apple cider dressing was pleasantly light.

Chopped Kale & Goat Cheese Salad with radish, candied pecans, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a light apple cider dressing

Chopped Kale & Goat Cheese Salad with radish, candied pecans, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a light apple cider dressing

You must also check out the new upper deck complete with a hot tub. The view up there is great overlooking the main floor and the new big LED screen. Can you think of a better way to watch the World Cup in Toronto?

Overlooking Cabana from the new upper deck with a view of the new LED screen,  great for watching the World Cup

Overlooking Cabana from the new upper deck with a view of the new LED screen, great for watching the World Cup

 

New features of Cabana Pool Bar in 2014 include:

  • Complimentary Wifi (a new “working from home” destination)
  • Phone charging stations
  • Premium pool upgrade including salt water sanitation and cleansing equipment
  • Completely renovated male and female washrooms
  • Tuck shop partnership with Bikini Village
  • Raised 133FT wide private VIP mezzanine with 2 mini pools overlooking Cabana and Toronto Skyline
  • State of the art 12FT x 21FT LED Digital Outdoor Screen (Great for watching the World Cup)
  • Brand new 100FT pool side bar
  • Coffee, Espresso & Freshly squeezed juice station

Cabana Pool Bar is open everyday from noon to late and closed on Mondays located at Polson Pier (the entrance is right next to Sound Academy) off of Cherry Rd.

Just like when we went to last year’s opening, being at Cabana Pool Bar when the sun is out is just an amazing Miami/Vegas retreat right here in downtown Toronto. I had such a great time I really didn’t want to leave.

With amazing lakeside views, a giant screen, top DJs and Toronto’s hospitality experts – Oliver & Bonacini (Canoe, O&B, Auberge du Pommier, etc) and INK (Byblos, Weslodge, Patria, etc), there’s no place better to be in Toronto this summer!

A huge thank you to INK, Oliver & Bonacini, and Cabana Pool Bar staff. I’m already looking forward to my next visit. Hope to see you there!

As of today, Cabana Pool Bar season is officially open! Visit the website at www.cabanapoolbar.com

Poolside

Poolside

 

Cabana-Pool-Bar-Opening-BestofToronto-2014-035

All photos by Nick Lee

Photos from Cabana Pool Bar 2013 grand opening.

A Patio Party at Hudson Kitchen
Let them eat cacao at MoRoCo Chocolat

Nick Lee

Editor and Photos at BestOfToronto.net