Civil Works Serves Toronto History, Woven into a New Cocktail Menu

By Matthew Richardson

TORONTO, ON – February 05, 2026 – In a city constantly looking toward the future, one cocktail bar is inviting patrons to take a sip of the past. Civil Works, the acclaimed bar perched on the mezzanine of the bustling Waterworks Food Hall, has officially launched 'On Cutting Rug,' a revolutionary new cocktail menu that liquidly chronicles nearly two centuries of Toronto's Garment District history.

This isn't just a list of drinks; it's a narrative woven from flavours, textures, and historical milestones. For Civil Works—already decorated with a #55 ranking on the Best Bars in North America list and the prestigious Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award—this new chapter is a bold step forward in its mission to redefine immersive hospitality. The menu acts as both a history lesson and a sensory journey, transforming the simple act of ordering a cocktail into an engagement with the city's heritage.

A Menu Woven from History

The core concept of 'On Cutting Rug' is an ambitious one: to translate the evolution of a neighborhood into a sequence of cocktails. The menu itself is a tactile experience, designed in collaboration with Affordable Textiles, a 35-year-old local business. It resembles a fabric swatch book, immediately connecting the guest to the Garment District theme before a single drop is poured.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with a 35-year-old Toronto business like Affordable Textiles to bring this menu to life,” said Nick Kennedy, Senior Executive Barback at Team Civil, the group behind the bar. “Our initial award-winning cocktail menu was special, but these are truly some of the best and most unique drinks we’ve ever put on a menu.”

The historical timeline begins in 1787 with The Purchase of Toronto, an effervescent and foundational drink featuring Lot 40 Rye, Granny Smith Apple, Evergreen, and Maple CO₂, evoking the untamed landscape of early York. The journey concludes in 1948 with Rags to Riches, a luxurious and velvety concoction of Johnnie Walker Black, Havana Club 7, Cacao Butter, and Raspberry. This final drink honours the era when the nearby El Mocambo became a cultural touchstone, symbolizing the district's maturation from industrial heartland to a vibrant part of the city's cultural fabric.

Between these bookends are other historical snapshots. The Wedding Ward (1817), a delicate blend of Dry Sake, Aromatized Wines, and Concord Grape, is offered in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, reflecting a period of early settlement and community building. Fast forward to 1906, and the Spin and Weave captures the industrial hum of the era with a complex mix of Pisco, Mezcal, and Gentian. Each drink is a carefully researched chapter, with ingredients chosen to reflect the mood, resources, and spirit of its time.

The Art of Immersive Hospitality

'On Cutting Rug' is the latest expression of the philosophy championed by Team Civil, the veteran hospitality group led by Nick Kennedy and David Huynh. Their portfolio, which includes the legendary no-menu cocktail bar Civil Liberties, is known for pushing creative boundaries. While Civil Liberties built its fame on bespoke, conversational mixology, Civil Works takes a different but equally innovative approach, using a structured menu to tell a grand, cohesive story.

This dedication to narrative and quality has not gone unnoticed. The bar’s Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award specifically recognizes excellence in design, storytelling, and innovation—all hallmarks of the Civil Works experience. This new menu doubles down on that reputation.

The experience extends far beyond the glass. Located on the mezzanine of the meticulously restored Waterworks building, the bar itself is a fusion of industrial charm and Art Deco elegance. Guests can sip a Needle/Thread (a savoury gin drink with Smoked Sweet Onion and Pineapple from 1934) while looking down at the lively food hall below or admiring the locally made art installations suspended above. The authentic vintage furniture and rich materials create an atmosphere that is as thoughtfully curated as the drinks themselves.

“The historic, industrial character of the Waterworks building mixed with the buzz of the Food Hall makes it the perfect place for this menu, one that connects guests to the stories and people who shaped the neighbourhood they’re eating and drinking in today,” Kennedy added.

Revitalizing a Landmark

Civil Works and its historical menu are a key part of a much larger story: the successful revitalization of the Waterworks building. Opened in mid-2024 after a multi-year restoration by Woodcliffe Landmark Properties and MOD Developments, the former city machine shop has been transformed into a vibrant community hub. The Waterworks Food Hall is now home to an array of artisanal food vendors, bars, and event spaces, establishing itself as a premier culinary destination.

This project represents a growing trend in urban development where heritage preservation and modern commerce create a symbiotic relationship. Rather than erasing the past, the development celebrates the building's industrial roots, and Civil Works' new menu is a perfect microcosm of that ethos.

“Civil Works has always pushed the boundaries of what a cocktail experience can be, making it a natural fit within the Food Hall,” noted Stratton Townley, Vice President at Woodcliffe Landmark Properties. “With On Cutting Rug, guests can enjoy expertly crafted drinks while immersing themselves in the rich history of this iconic neighbourhood. This intentional and curated approach is exactly the kind of energy we aim to foster throughout the Food Hall.”

Crafting a Legacy, One Sip at a Time

Beyond the grand historical narrative, the menu showcases an exceptional level of technical craft. The team's use of unique ingredients like vetiver, balsam fir, and black pepper oil, alongside advanced techniques like carbonation, demonstrates a deep commitment to mixology as a culinary art form. The bar also continues to offer a special spirits-and-water pairing menu, where Toronto tap water is demineralized and then rebuilt to mimic water profiles from different regions of the world—a testament to their meticulous attention to detail.

With 'On Cutting Rug,' Civil Works is doing more than just serving drinks. It is acting as a curator, a storyteller, and a historian, offering a tangible connection to the city's past. In a space that so beautifully honours its own history, this new menu feels like the perfect tribute, cementing the bar's status not just as a place to drink, but as a destination to experience the living story of Toronto.