he Session, the latest bar to hit Queen West (between Augusta and Bathurst), shimmers with a contemporary style that aims to shatter the stereotype that is often associated with the traditional pub. Owner Melissa Sexton (who also owns The Local on Roncesvalles) felt there was something lacking on this stretch of Queen and knew that a pub of this ilk would fit in perfectly.

What she brought to the area is a three-floor pub that is restaurant by day, full-on bar by night, pulling in a house of scenesters, students and Queen Street types. The narrow main floor has arrangements of tables and booths with an abundance of photos and paintings on the walls. ‘70s chandeliers, hanging lights, tea lights and two large size lava lamps are perched to give the room its a subdued vibe. The antiques on the log shelves of vases, cups and miscellaneous kitschy trinkets is a throwback to what you would find in most living rooms circa 1970.

The second floor has two smaller rooms. The first one is more intimate, with a bar that has more retro lighting with paintings of eerie, big-eyed women who look like extras from the original Stepford Wives film, and a piano in the corner for weeknight performances. The back room - with speakers playing music from the front at half the volume - has a mix of chairs, tables and a massage chair you’re not going to want to move from.

The music-centric menus for the restaurant are on 12” vinyl called, “The Gig”. Highlights are the veggie and beef burger selections named after a who’s who of rock’n’roll. Rockers represented are the “Spicy Morrissey” (spicy black bean), “Dee Dee Ramone” (blue cheese burger) and the Ziggy Stardust (chilli burger) to name a few. Nightly specials range from steak to wings to a traditional stew and stout night.