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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-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.
Renovated in 2021, this mid-size club and concert venue boasts impressive lighting and sound systems. The roster includes a mix of live acts (from pop and rap to jazz and indie), touring DJs, and dance parties. Get down on the main dance floor, or head to the upper deck for seating and a killer view of the stage.
The family that runs this narrow beer bar has a side business importing rare brews from all over the world, so you know whatever's on tap—whether it's brewed in Ontario or Belgium—is going to be stellar. The setting feels decidedly Old World, complete with weathered brick walls and a hidden patio space that feels like a walled-off courtyard. A specialty grocer and bottle shop, Bottega Volo, is two doors down.
From open mics to folk music and stand-up comedy, there's something happening almost every night of the week on this casual eatery's backroom stage. The biggest draw is a traditional Jewish brunch series called "Bella! Did Ya Eat?," complete with live klezmer music, that's held every Sunday.
Originally launched as a pop-up taco stand, La Carnita expanded to this space on College and eventually spawned a number of sibling restaurants across the city. The tacos, hand-crafted cocktails, churros, and house-made paletas still reel diners in week after week. The space is filled with funky graffiti and the sounds of loud hip-hop beats.
This pub is dedicated to all things Scottish. If the massive mural of the St. Andrew's Cross decorating the cozy back patio doesn't give it away, the enormous whiskey selection certainly will. There are more than 500 single malts, with selections dating as far back as the '60s. The pub also hosts frequent tasting events featuring various distillers, and serves hearty Highland eats (haggis—real and vegan—included).
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