Everything about this little bar indicates an era when people gathered for rounds of stiff stuff on the rocks, while ranting about Ike, the Russkies and Art Linkletter. The room is a living, technicolour snapshot of the ‘40s; owners Tom Patterson and Ken Horne dispensed with the Paddock’s previous lack-of-funds-inspired bar theme and reconnected their Queen and Bathurst venue with walnut accenting, wooden flooring, and paneling that looks like Hershey chocolate bars - all to attract a new crowd, good energy, and therefore, street cred.

The room (and there is only one room; 3/4 of the original Paddock is sectioned off), with its velvety window-area banquettes and dark wooden chairs, is open, airy and boasts a full and surprisingly current - considering it’s the original - bar counter.

The stylized feel of the Paddock is a gratifying change from the typical Queen West bar scene which tends to range from fratty to rave-ish. And while they have beer on tap, don't overlook the creative cocktail menu. The well-made cocktails range from a Nepaul Pepper, which combines vodka, tequila and cayenne pepper to a French Connection which features cognac and amaretto on the rocks, and the Gibson, a classic but a hard-sell.

The Paddock, regardless of what night you visit it, or what crowd inhabits it, gives off a fairly consistent vibe. It seems like there's always a member of the previous Paddock generation somewhere on the scene, spinning tales of how things used to be. The fare is as good as any in town, but The Paddock really distinguishes itself with a quality cocktail lineup (rotating monthly), an energized crowd and an ambiance that's chic and airy enough to support fancy dates, business meetings, and martini-soaked birthday parties.