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The nightlife scene in Toronto is as varied as the neighborhoods. Downtown—in the Entertainment and Financial districts and Old Town—bars and pubs cater to theatergoers and weekday worker bees. They can be dead on weekends after dark, however—especially in the Entertainment District—until 11 pm rolls around and the big loft-styl
The nightlife scene in Toronto is as varied as the neighborhoods. Downtown—in the Entertainment and Financial districts and Old Town—bars and pubs cater to theatergoers and weekday worker bees. They can be dead on weekends after dark, however—especially in the Entertain
The nightlife scene in Toronto is as varied as the neighborhoods. Downtown—in the Entertainment and Financial districts
The nightlife scene in Toronto is as varied as the neighborhoods. Downtown—in the Entertainment and Financial districts and Old Town—bars and pubs cater to theatergoers and weekday worker bees. They can be dead on weekends after dark, however—especially in the Entertainment District—until 11 pm rolls around and the big loft-style dance clubs get going. To hang with locals at their neighborhood joints, head to Little Italy or the Annex, where university students mix with residents of the surrounding Victorian-lined streets.
Gay nightlife centers around Church and Wellesley streets northeast of the downtown core. Everyone under 40 ends up on Queen West at some point, patronizing the once-bohemian, now-established arty bars and cafés. Ladies who lunch meet for midday martinis in swanky Yorkville and later clink glasses at the tony lounges. Throughout the city are dedicated music venues, bars, and supper clubs that specialize in jazz, Latin, blues, rock, hip-hop, and everything in between.
Most recently Toronto has emerged as a food-obsessed city with late-night restaurants (from hole in the walls to the crème de la crème in fine dining), offering sips and nibbles to those who wish to feast past the usual dinner hour. Other emerging trends include a flourish of local brewpubs and luxury hotels offering unique evening programs which have locals and tourists swarming. In this section, we've covered the places that have cemented their place in the city's scene, but new hot spots are always emerging. Check local news outlets to get the latest.
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Queen's Park, The Annex, and Little Italy
West Queen West, Ossington, and Parkdale
Harbourfront, the Entertainment District, and The Financial District
This restaurant, bar, and on-site brewery has been a smash hit since it opened in 2012. If the sun is shining, expect a line for the spacious patio, a great spot to sample the always evolving craft beer selection. Sour-beer fans should try the seasonal fruit-infused Jelly King, which has beer drinkers queueing up at the bottle shop on release day. The hearty snacks run the gamut from Canadian cheeses and terrine to a crispy Newfoundland cod sandwich.
Though it's primarily a restaurant, Canoe, on the 54th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Bank tower, is worth a trip just for a drink at the bar and a panoramic view of the lake. It has what might be the city's best Niagara wine selection and an extensive list of international bottles, as well as cocktails and beer. It's popular with finance types from the neighboring towers, who suit the swank surroundings. Go just before sunset to make the most of the view.
66 Wellington St. W, between York and Bay Sts., Toronto, Ontario, M5K 1H6, Canada
Built as a cinema in 1919, this stately theater is now a live music venue that attracts popular touring acts that run the gamut of punk, rock, rap, folk, electronic music, and even stand-up comedy. Notable performers have included Rihanna, Blue Rodeo, Lizzo, and Echo and the Bunnymen.
Part rustic Balkan eatery, part cabaret, Drom Taberna is alive with the spirit of the Romani people. Every night of the week you'll be able to experience a wide range of global sounds from Middle Eastern--influenced flamenco to interactive Balfolk dancing. Menu must-tries include čevapi (a Bosnian grilled meat staple) and goulash, and no meal would be complete without a bowl of Ukrainian-style borscht. Armenian, Croatian, and Georgian wines dominate the drinks list, along with a dozen different herbal digestifs, rakijas, and palinkas (fruit brandies).
458 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2A8, Canada
The Gladstone draws an artsy Toronto crowd that appreciates creative endeavors like music performances, cabaret and burlesque, and trivia nights. A 2022 relaunch gives the trusted community and LGBTQ+-friendly programming a bright neon pop art backdrop, with a light-up dance floor, '70s and '80s art-pop records on the wall, and TVs broadcasting what's on stage during busy events. Regulars flock to popular karaoke nights—both recorded and with a live band—and drag brunches. The Bar + Bistro has an accessible comfort food menu with Mediterranean and North African twists, plus plenty of themed cocktails that play off the Gladstone House's long history. The Gladstone Ballroom, once the centerpiece, now hosts mostly private events and weddings, but does sometimes host big party spillover. Original pieces from local artists are on nearly every wall.
1214 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1J6, Canada
This legendary, low-ceilinged rock bar on Queen West has earned a reputation as the place to play for local acts and touring bands alike. Opened in 1947 as a country music venue, the Shoe (as it's often called) hosted greats like Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and the Carter Family. The venue's scope widened to include the emerging folk, rock, and punk scenes in the 1960s and '70s, giving way to early appearances by the Police, Tom Waits, and Talking Heads. The Rolling Stones even played a now-legendary surprise set here in 1997. Today, the venue books rock, indie, and punk acts from home and abroad.
370 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2A2, Canada
Latin-music lovers of all ages dress up to get down to live Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and salsa music at this old-school hot spot. Now over two decades old, Lula has become a global music institution, going beyond those genres into samba, cumbia, reggae, Indigenous throat singing, and anything else you can think of. Weekend salsa nights include dance lessons, live band performances, and a prix-fixe menu (C$64). Lula is also an arts center, with dance and drumming lessons and a multitude of festivals and cultural events.
1585 Dundas St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M6K 1T9, Canada
Locals know the Drake as a hub for art, culture, food, and nightlife, with multiple spaces hosting events on any given night. The basement is home to the Drake Underground, a venue that hosts live music and DJ nights, while the rooftop Sky Yard patio serves drinks surrounded by eye-popping art installations.
1150 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1J3, Canada
Such Canadian literary luminaries as Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler have used the 17th-floor Park Hyatt bar as a setting in their writings, and now it's been renamed the Writers Room. A popular date spot, it's also a good place to sip a glass of wine, scotch, or a cocktail and soak in the city. The chic bar has big, open windows and an impressive patio that offers some of the most breathtaking views of the city, including the nearby ROM and University of Toronto. Inventive, spirit-forward cocktails (presented with quotes from books) come with little bowls of nuts and olives. There are also adventurous sharing plates like foie gras doughnuts, beef tartare, and oysters.
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