free drinks toronto

Bar in Toronto gives free drinks if you beat their bartender in chess

It's true when they say the geeks will inherit the earth. Or at least a few free drinks. 

The bar at Three Monks and a Duck in Toronto comes with a unique twist: a built-in chess board. The bartender is actually a chess master, and anyone who can beat him earns a free drink. 

Bartender Lev Marklov was trained by a master chess player in Russia and regularly challenges customers who take a seat at the bar.

"We try to hire, of course by bartending/cooking knowledge, but also personality and other unique skill sets," says a spokesperson for Three Monks and a Duck. "We're in the process of hiring additional bartenders for the fall season, and are on the lookout for unique talents."

The restaurant serves a menu of vegan, vegetarian and meat options with Asian influences. They're also running an eight-for-$8 mimosa deal during their brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays, and offer buck-a-shuck oysters all day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lead photo by

Hector Vasquez


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Eat & Drink

Toronto's temporary shipping container market to stay for at least another decade

Canadian uses a spreadsheet to compare Costco prices to the grocery store

Iconic Toronto spot was refused a patio permit and people are pissed off about the reason

Blue Jays players are obsessed with Toronto's most-hyped steakhouse

There's a food festival in Toronto for a good cause this week

Loblaws shopper in Toronto claims they were sold yogurt covered in mould

Loblaw exec addresses underweight products claiming they're rare 'mistakes'

Shopper claims months-old expired mouldy cheese being sold at Loblaw-owned store