For anyone who’s cringed at a $22 cocktail menu, there’s finally good news coming out of Queen West. Cafe Gigi and The Dirty Laundry — a dual-concept destination at 1186 Queen Street West — opened this spring with a bold and refreshing promise: bringing affordability back to a night out in Toronto without sacrificing quality or atmosphere.
The project comes from an experienced team: partner Aldo Pescatore, who has built operations for Toronto staples like La Carnita and Sweet Jesus, has joined forces with Robin Goodfellow of Bar Raval fame. If those names mean anything to you, the pedigree here is immediately clear. These are people who understand how to build a room that people want to spend time in.
By day, the space operates as Cafe Gigi — a European-inspired café with the relaxed, welcoming energy of a neighbourhood institution. After dark, it transforms into The Dirty Laundry, a lively Tex Mex cocktail bar where $13 drinks and a commitment to a genuinely good time are the main attraction.
The timing is deliberate. Pescatore has been direct about the concept’s philosophy: spending habits are changing, cost of living is rising, and Torontonians deserve a place where going out multiple times a week doesn’t require a financial rethink. The goal is a venue that welcomes people whether they’re stopping in for a single drink after work or committing to a full evening.
The space fills a void left by the beloved Cold Tea bar’s closure on Queen West, and from the early buzz, it seems to be doing that job admirably.
Head to 1186 Queen Street West and experience one of Toronto’s most relevant new openings. Good times don’t have to be expensive — and Cafe Gigi and The Dirty Laundry are proving it, one $13 cocktail at a time.