The Lobby Bar is a small Asian-inspired cocktail room on the bottom floor of the Dalby House flatiron building in downtown Elora, open since 2023. It is the rare room in the village that doesn't reach for the pub template — the food runs to seared tuna, wagyu and Thai curry, the drink list is built with the same care as the kitchen, and the whole thing is folded into a sharp wedge of a room that seats about thirty. The menu is the reason to come.
That menu is compact and deliberately Asian-leaning. Tuna Tataki is the cleanest first read — seared tuna with edamame, chive, black and white sesame and a yuzu soy dressing. The Garlic Soy Butter Saikoro brings seared cubes of beef tenderloin together with shiitake, garlic soy butter and crispy onion; the Thai Beef Curry runs wagyu tenderloin through coconut milk and red curry over rice. The Sushi Shrimp Bowl layers poached shrimp with mango, cucumber, pickled ginger, crispy nori and a teriyaki glaze, while the Lime Ginger Honey Beef Bowl and the Bang Bang Tiger Shrimp Skewer keep the bowls and skewers moving. Soy Ginger Baked Salmon and Spicy Thai Cashew Chicken round out the heavier plates, and vegetarians get a real path through the Tofu and Vegetable Udon Noodle, roasted edamame and vegetable gyoza. Dessert stays in the same lane: mochi ice cream and a Japanese cheesecake with lime berry sauce.
The setting is not generic. The Lobby Bar gives a historic Elora address a compact, hotel-lobby-inspired public room with design detail, late-week energy, and a clear sense of why the space exists.
Tuna Tataki, Sushi Shrimp Bowl, Saikoro, Thai Beef Curry, udon, salmon, gyoza, edamame, mochi, and Japanese cheesecake give the food program a coherent lane beside the drink list.
The venue works for more than one use case: cocktails and small plates, Thursday and Monday recurring offers, and private-event bookings for a small room that feels built for hosted nights.
Best for a full night out: cocktails, small plates, late weekend hours, and a room designed to feel different from the usual village pub circuit.
A visual-first room where Gucci wallpaper, ceramic details, chandeliers, cocktails, and compact plates make the setting as memorable as the order.
A compact date-night room with cocktails, shareable dishes, mood-heavy design, and enough menu range to build a proper evening without going formal.
The food lane moves beyond safe bar staples, with tuna, shrimp, udon, saikoro, Thai curry, wagyu tenderloin, mochi, and Japanese cheesecake in the mix.
Useful for birthdays, client drinks, date nights, or a hosted private-room plan when the room matters as much as the menu.
It’s tough to choose what stands out most at The Lobby Bar—the inventive cocktail menu, the stylish décor, or the creative Asian-fusion small plates. My wife and I have been several times and often bring guests to show off one of the gems of our local area. If you go, don’t miss the tuna tataki—it’s an absolute winner. A word of caution on the spicy drinks: they’re no joke. The bartenders use chili-infused oils in the bases, and the heat can sneak up on you. The Spicy Pineapple Espresso Martini was delicious but almost overwhelming thanks to the chili kick. I’d recommend starting with their classic Espresso Martini instead—it’s excellent and lets the rich coffee notes shine through.
