Hemingway's Restaurant

In 1980, when New Zealander Martin McSkimming opened Hemingway’s, Yorkville’s transformation from bohemian cultural hub and hippie centre to glamorous, upmarket neighbourhood had begun. Today, this Cumberland Street bar and restaurant is one of Yorkville’s premier meeting places. And Martin, a former chartered accountant, has outlasted many in one of Toronto’s most competitive neighbourhoods.

Martin remembers a time when people doubted he could last six months in the business. “But I know money,” he adds with a smile. “It was really tough for the first fifteen years. There was a lot of hard work. But in 2015 we celebrate our 35th anniversary.” Martin is now the sole owner of Hemingway’s and the land on which it was built.

Hemingway’s started with only one floor and one patio. It now has three bars, a dining room, a busy kitchen, approximately 80 staff in summer, 24 beers on tap, and four tremendous patios misted in summer and heated in winter. Hemingway’s is open every day of the year from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The kitchen produces great food, including traditional favourites, salads, pastas and some New Zealand-inspired dishes. The restaurant’s Kiwi lamb burger, lamb chops and curried lamb are made from lamb sourced from Martin’s homeland. The Boston clam chowder has been on the menu from day one. A snack menu is also available from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Martin attributes his business’s fine reputation to good value for money, a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, quality products, and valued and carefully selected staff. One of his employees, Alenka, who has been at Hemingway’s since 2002, describes the staff as “like a big family” and Martin agrees. “We all work together here. Look around and you can see.” The sous chef at Hemingway’s in 1980 is the head chef in 2014. Martin loves his staff.