The name hints at this rooftop lounge’s long-standing history as a hub for Toronto’s literary elite. The Writers’ Union of Canada was formed here, and Margaret Atwood set a scene in Cat’s Eye on the patio. Everyone from Farley Mowat to Duke Ellington has stopped by for a drink. Thanks to a 2021 overhaul, the mid-century room’s shimmering opulence is ready for its close-up. Think oxblood banquettes, velvet walls and the massive fireplace that’s the centre of the room’s action. Cocktails like the Bitter Relief (an eyes-wide-open Negroni made with espresso-infused Campari) are precise and elegant. Come at sunset for gilded views of the city’s skyline.