The Toucan & Kirkpatrick’s
We get asked a lot by bands passing through Kingston: “Where should we go for a pint after the show?”
There are plenty of excellent pub options in this city, and if you’re chasing something specific, just ask… we’ll happily point you in the right direction. But more often than not, we point to The Toucan & Kirkpatrick’s. Mostly because that’s where we like to go.
Especially after summer markets or record shows. Moving heavy crates earns you a drink. This is just math.
Conveniently, The Toucan is located about two and a half blocks from Zap… a hop, skip, and a victorious pint away.
What’s it like? Cozy, unpretentious, always humming. Dark wood, snug corners… the kind of atmosphere where conversations blur together in the best way. There’s a solid selection of pints, often live music, and a food menu that understands it’s role in the evening: soak things up, keep you going, and quietly save you from yourself.
It’s the kind of place where you’ll see musicians still buzzing from the show, locals who’ve clearly been coming here forever, and record store people nursing a pint and saying things like, “I swear I’m not buying any more inventory this month.” (They are lying.)
If you hear someone at the bar arguing passionately about a B-side, an album ranking, or whether that band peaked in ‘92… it might be us. Or someone we sent there.
Either way, if you’re looking for a proper post-show pint, a post-crate reward, or just a place that feels right after a long day of digging, The Toucan & Kirkpatrick’s is a very safe bet.
If you’re curious about some of the bands who’ve passed through those doors over the years, check out our poster archive. There’s a dedicated Toucan post in there documenting a slice of the venue’s musical history.
Consider it a bit of archival crate digging… minus the dust and mysterious $3 polka records.