11 Best Bars in Toronto, Ontario

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, Father John Misty, and Echo and the Bunnymen.

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.

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. Lula is also an arts center, with dance and drumming lessons and a multitude of festivals and cultural events.

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. Stop in on Sundays for a traditional Jewish brunch buffet called "Bella! Did Ya Eat?," complete with live klezmer music.

Once a Portuguese sports bar, after over a decade on Dundas West, this spot has become a key local live music venue. The back room isn't huge, but it's a popular spot for up-and-coming touring musicians as well as locals looking to make a mark, not to mention many hopping DJ nights. It also hosts occasional live music and events like the quirky non-expert lecture series Trampoline Hall. A front room bar/cantina is a neighborhood hangout spot.

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.

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.

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.

Legendary on the Toronto jazz circuit since it opened in the 1980s, the Rex has two live shows every night, and multiple acts on weekend afternoons and evenings. Shows range from free (bring some cash for when the band passes the tip jar) to C$30. The kitchen serves diner fare, and there are even affordable hotel rooms available on-site.

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.