There is a point in December when Toronto decides it is winter for real. You feel it the second you step out of the subway, and your breath fogs under the streetlights. That is also when you realise your best nights this month will probably end at someone’s place. Not because the city is short on things to do. It’s because there are so many things to do that the smartest plan is to gather the people you like and let the evening find its own shape.
Skating plans will draw a few friends to Nathan Phillips Square, and someone will angle for The Nutcracker. Use those outings as the spark, then take the glow home. Skating turns into hot chocolate; ballet turns into a playlist and a late dinner. That is where Drink Ink fits, because keeping the night stocked without leaving your couch is one of December’s great luxuries. Free delivery in the core, fast service, and after-hours coverage when most shops have gone dark.
Keep the setup simple. Put a kettle on low so there is always hot water ready. Stack mugs near the stove. Slice citrus and stash it in a small bowl. One bottle that can do three jobs is your friend. A smooth rye like Crown Royal becomes an easy hot toddy, a rye and ginger for the sports fans, or a neat pour for the person who prefers simple and classic. A clean gin such as Bombay Sapphire is bright and zesty in a tall glass, or warm and aromatic in a quick hot punch made with strong tea, honey, and lemon. If you keep tequila in the wings, Casamigos carries you from kitchen-dance margaritas to cheerful Palomas without drama.
Offer a welcome sip that buys you a few minutes to sort coats and snacks. A chilled bottle of Bottega Prosecco is a reliable start. For a lighter option, park some White Claw in the fridge door so guests can help themselves between rounds. Beer keeps the conversation easy, so a case of Heineken does a lot of heavy lifting without stealing attention from the room.
Food should match the mood. Think handheld and satisfying. Cheese, crackers, and a bowl of clementines are already half the work. Add chips, olives, and something warm that can hang out on the stove. If a friend offers to bring dessert, say yes. December is built for butter tarts and anything dusted with icing sugar.
This month is not only about the big staples like lights and ballet. Kensington Market’s Winter Solstice parade snakes through the neighbourhood on the longest night of the year with lanterns and drummers, and the whole city exhales. You do not have to go every year to borrow that feeling at home. Dim the lamps. Put a small string of lights in the window. Invite the friend who tells good stories and the friend who brings board games and let them cross-pollinate.
Appoint a restock captain. It takes one person with a phone and your address to keep the night moving. When the conversation hits that easy stride and the playlist settles into familiar territory, a quick call is all you need. Central zone delivery is free, and outside that footprint, there is a small distance-based fee. Hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly and until 7 a.m. on weekends, with extended holiday coverage. Save the number now so you do not have to search later.
Tiny game plan you can copy:
- Welcome with something sparkling or tall and crisp.
- Pick one hero spirit and offer three easy options.
- Keep water visible and top up glasses without asking.
- Label recycling and compost before anyone arrives.
- End with something warm. Tea for some, toddies for others.
The best part of December nights is not the moment you walk in. It is the moment you decide to stay. You will still make the city rounds this month, then do the real celebrating the way Torontonians always have. Together, at home, with enough good company to turn a regular night into a memory. And if you need us, we are already on our way.
Quick order recap: Crown Royal, Bombay Sapphire, Casamigos, Bottega Prosecco, White Claw, Heineken