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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.
An Annex fave since the 1990s, this brick-walled spot makes good on its name by serving from morning 'til late. Hearty bar bites are a draw, as are the DJs that spin most evenings and the wide-ranging drinks menu (including martini specials on Thursdays). Head right back the next morning for a tasty brunch.
If you are looking for a prime spot in the heart of downtown Toronto to relax and enjoy live music, this venue, east of Sankofa Square, hosts nightly performances across genres including jazz, blues, Latin, and world music. The sound system is state-of-the-art, and its signature red Steinway piano is affectionately known by regulars as Red Pops.
Some of the most exciting bands in rock, indie, and punk play at this grungy-yet-venerable club with a psychedelic graffiti facade on the edge of the University of Toronto campus. Between sets, you can grab a Toronto-style roti (Indian curry wrapped Caribbean-style in flatbread) from the take-out counter in front. Upstairs is the Dance Cave, a no-frills dance club and student hangout that also hosts smaller shows.
The hotel's spacious Lobby Lounge is famed for its high tea service complete with decadent pastry selection. The vibe gets swish by night as it transforms with live music, trendy cocktails, and delicious bar bites.
Brewing some of Toronto's most widely enjoyed craft beers, Mill Street Brewery runs a pair of adjoining brewpubs in the Distillery District. Enter off Tank House Lane to find the Mill Street Brew Pub, home of dressed-up bar eats, or veer down a side alley to feast at the modern Beer Hall. Both bars have several beer taps, with choices ranging from Mill Street staples like Organic Lager and Tankhouse Ale to seasonal and one-off beers. A bottle shop attached to the Brew Pub offers a selection of Mill Street offerings to go.
Renovated in 2021 (and renamed in 2025), this mid-size club and concert venue boasts impressive lighting and sound systems. The roster features mainly live acts, from pop and rap to punk and indie, plus occasional 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.
Crossing the threshold into this Danforth pub, decked out with cozy wooden booths (or "snugs"), is like teleporting to the Emerald Isle. Musicians playing folk and traditional Irish tunes perform here regularly, and the Guinness is always flowing.
This delightfully divey dive, on a relatively quiet stretch of the Danforth, is known as one of the city's best beer bars, with 25 taps plus dozens of bottles and cans; nearly everything is local. The atmosphere is dim and raucous, with 1990s alt-rock blasting on the stereo. Can't snag a bar stool? Pull up a chair in the adjoining two storefronts, which serve as an all-day café and a cocktail bar.
This late-19th-century vaudeville theater retains some of its original charm, most notably in its proscenium arch over the stage. The 900-capacity venue hosts internationally touring acts of all genres. Locals like to reminisce about seeing such diverse acts as Nirvana, Lucinda Williams, Kings of Leon, LCD Soundsystem, and the Black Keys here.
Toronto’s British heritage thrives at this classic neighborhood pub, where black-and-white photos on the walls reveal its true passion: soccer. A Manchester United game is never missed, though NHL and other sporting events are also shown. The wine list is admirable, and the beer and cider selection focuses on Ontario brews. Dressed-up British staples—served in the bar or the ground-floor dining room—range from Scotch eggs to a standout hand-chopped beef burger.
No hole-in-the-wall sports bar, this sleek 25,000-square-foot space adjacent to the Scotiabank Arena lights up with almost 200 high-definition flat-screen TVs and amazing sightlines from every club-style booth, table, or stool at one of the three bars. Head to the second floor to watch a game on the biggest TV, an HDTV screen two stories high. For popular sporting events, or any day or night the Jays, Leafs, or Raptors play, it's best to make a reservation (accepted up to three weeks in advance), though the bar does keep a third of its seats for walk-in traffic an hour before face-off.
This classy tequila bar was ahead of the bar buzz on Ossington (it opened in 2007) and is still going strong. The dark wood, large windows, big back patio, and mix of DJs and live jazz set the tone for a serious list of tequilas meant to be sipped, not slammed. There are also enjoyable Mexican nibbles like ceviche and tacos. Reposado has also expanded into a bodega next door with enviable bottles available for takeout.
One of Queen West's oldest venues, the Rivoli showcases indie music, theater, and comedy. Arcade Fire, Adele, and Tori Amos all graced the intimate back room's stage early in their careers, and for a cover charge (usually under C$20), you can catch what might be Toronto's next big thing. The low-lit front dining room offers a cozy atmosphere for snacking on their famous "wookie" balls or pad Thai, while the front patio is prime real estate for watching eclectic Torontonians go about their days. Head upstairs to shoot some pool at one of 11 pay-by-the-hour tables.
This hotel's sceney rooftop bar has become a bona fide party destination—especially when DJs spin on weekends. The lounge space is encased in a glass pyramid that allows for stunning views of the surrounding city, with a wraparound open-air deck. While you're feasting your eyes on that panorama, enjoy a simple-yet-flavorful house cocktail, a local beer, or some of the kitchen's globe-spanning small plates.
Just steps from the historic St. Lawrence Market, the restaurant and bar has been a neighborhood fixture for more than 30 years. The restaurant serves French-Moroccan fare, including tapas, eggplant Zaalouk, and tagines in traditional earthenware dishes. Inside, guests enter a Casablanca-inspired space, furnished with plush divans, rich fabrics, and lanterns. Sip a specialty cocktail like the Arabian caesar or Moroccan old-fashioned. It's also also known for its nightly belly dancing performances.
A predominantly upscale crowd of men—most in their twenties to forties—frequents this cavernous pub and its brother bar Sailor, where DJs mix nearly every night. The Toronto gay institution is known for Best Chest and Best Butt contests, which are hosted by some of the city's most beloved drag queens, as well as raucous dance parties. The exterior was used on the television show Queer as Folk.
Located in the heart of the Financial District, this culinary oasis is popular with the business suits that work in the area. Don't let that keep you away though, because this downtown hotspot offers a sun-filled patio that's hidden from the hustle and bustle of Wellington Street. Bartenders whip up phenomenal cocktails while the kitchen creates harmonious textures and flavors on your plate.
There may not be a better place in the city for a brewery and pub than in the brick-laned pedestrian-only Distillery District. Sixteen house-brewed beers are on tap; be sure to sample the signature trilogy: Organic, Tank House Ale and Wit. After a proper tasting, head to the on-site beer boutique where you can purchase some of your favorites. The pub serves dressed-up fare: beer-braised ribs, lobster grilled cheese and beer-steamed mussels. Alfresco tables are prime real estate in warm weather.
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