Toronto's nightlife scene offers a diverse range of options for both locals and tourists. While the city's Entertainment District boasts glamorous nightclubs with bottle service, it is the more intimate and vibrant areas like Downtown, King Street West, Queen Street West, Ossington Street, Dundas Street West, College Street, and Yorkville where the true excitement lies. From gritty holes-in-the-wall to upscale cocktail lounges, Toronto's nightlife caters to every preference and taste.One can spend an evening exploring cozy bars and hidden gems, where the ambiance is relaxed and the focus is on good music and great conversations. If you're in the mood to dance the night away, there are plenty of energetic clubs that pulsate with music and vibrant crowds. No matter where you choose to go, Toronto's nightlife promises an unforgettable experience.Don't forget to stay hydrated throughout the night - whether it's having your water glass topped up or enjoying a pint, there's always a time and place for everything in the spirited 6ix. So, put on your dancing shoes or grab a cocktail, and get ready to immerse yourself in the best of Toronto's nightlife scene.
King West
Experience Vibrance at EFS Nightclub
EFS Nightclub, standing for "Every Feature for Sale", boasts an alluring fusion of chic concrete design and luxurious leather elements, ideally located at King and Bathurst. This modern, loft-style venue routinely attracts a well-dressed, stylish crowd that brings a mature yet contemporary vibe to the space. Visitors are drawn by the charm of sinking into plush leather seating under a panoply of pop-art works, while enjoying a double vodka treat. With an enticing seductive ambiance, emphasized by a myriad of unshielded bulbs dangling above the bar, this 5,000-square-foot domain never fails to impress. The usual Bay Street professionals can be observed early on, while the regular high-energy King West nightlife seekers generally show up post-midnight.
When you need a break from the indoor excitement, the 2,500-square-foot rooftop patio is a welcoming retreat. Here, you can find a cozy cabana and create new bonds under the starry night. The club also offers bottle service for those looking to enhance their experience.
Contact: 00 1 416 477 5460; efstoronto.com
Prices:££
Operating Hours: Wed-Sat, from 10 pm till 3 am.
Admission: Dress to impress. To get on the guest list and get additional details concerning bottle service, contact: rsvp@efstoronto.com. On Wed & Thurs, entry is free before 11:30 pm while Fri & Sat offers free entry for ladies before 11 pm with the guest list.
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Discovering Lost and Found
The magnetic appeal of Lost and Found, nestled in the historic architecture of King Street West, is a delightful discovery. This intriguing underground space is adorned with an inspiring sign declaring "Not all who wander are lost", and it's adored by Toronto's A-list tourists, trendy hipsters, and successful young professionals. You might even rub shoulders with celebrities like Justin Bieber and Kanye West, both of whom have frequented this hotspot. Don't be surprised if you find Monday nights peculiarly energetic as the area's fashionable denizens indulge in their festivities, sans the thrum of suburbanite crowd from Mississauga and Scarborough.
For inquiries: Dial 00 1 647 995 5772 or visit lost577.com
Cost: ££
Hours of operation: Monday, Thursday-Saturday, from 10pm until 3am
Entry guidelines: Interested parties are invited to fill out the online form to be included in the guest list, but please note that this doesn't assure admission. A strict upscale chic dress code is enforced - no sportswear is allowed.
Entertainment District
An Evening at Mister C. Bar Room
The luxury lounge of Bisha Hotel Toronto holds a captivating charm, adorned with a profusion of sumptuous velvet flock wallpaper. An immersive hush envelopes you as the very walls seem to absorb every sound. It's an early evening phenomenon, this remarkable serenity - a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere that comes later. As evening deepens, the plush, gold-accented chamber fills with guests, each engrossed in conversation and the enjoyment of well-crafted cocktails. Not to be overlooked is the delectable variety of Japanese-Korean delicacies sourced from the admired Akira Back restaurant located just adjacent. Looking for the ideal unwind after a long day? The daily happy hour offers an impeccable cinq-à-sept, complete with tattooed mixologists stirring up your spirits with unprecedented zeal.
Enquiries: 00 1 437 800 5938; misterctoronto.com
Price Range: Moderate
Operational Hours: Mon-Sat, 5pm until late
Nearest Transit: St. Andrew Station
Recommended Seating: Near the cosy fireplace at the rear
Entry terms: Forgo sneakers and headgear in your hotel quarters
An evening at Mister C. is an experience of vibrant Toronto nightlife at its best, and the bar's world-class sips are worth writing home about. The city's unique culture of lively and luxurious nightlife is captured in its finest form, making Mister C. an enduring favourite for locals and visitors alike.
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Queen West
Immerse Yourself at Bar Chef
At Bar Chef, you are invited to undertake a full-fledged sensory journey through their cocktails. Frankie Solarik, a renowned mixologist in Canada, masterfully curates these drinks for a unique and upscale experience, akin to dining at a high-end restaurant. In their extraordinary mix bar, the drinks menu is categorized into three engaging sections: The Overture Series, which features drinks with a leisurely rhythm composed of handcrafted herbs, bitters, and house-prepared syrups; The Parfumerie Series, which takes a classic approach focusing on the potency of alcohol; and The Modernist Series for the more avant-garde palette. Additional highlights include an impressive collection of absinthe, aged bottled liquors, in-house infused spirits (including a must-try Lavender Grand Marnier!), as well as hundreds of high-quality spirits.
Contact: 00 1 416 868 4800; barchef.com
Price Range: ££
Hours of Operation: Everyday from 6pm to 2am
Accessibility: Open to walk-ins, standing spaces not available
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Experience the Heartbeat of Toronto at The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar
With a heritage dating back to the 1980s as a cornerstone for jazz music, The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar continues to enliven Toronto's nightlife scene. Offering a bustling schedule of 19 performances each week, The Rex teems with local maestros, budding talents, and jazz luminaries. Its enchanting Tuesday evening jazz sessions have become a much-anticipated weekly event.
Since being family-owned for over six decades, many are surprised to know The Rex still operates as a hotel with rooms available at an affordable rate of around Can$100/£59 per night. This makes it a good value for travelers, particularly given its central location and lively onsite entertainment. However, for visitors to Ontario who are still looking for options, there are many other attractive Ontario Hotel deals on www.ontariocahotel.com.
True to its working-class roots, the ambiance of the bar at The Rex has been well-preserved—generating an intimate vibe that requires patrons to show up 30 minutes ahead of show times.
Get in Touch: Dial 00 1 416 598 2475; visit therex.ca
Price Range: £
Show Schedules: Mon-Thurs at 6:30pm and 9:30pm; Fri at 4pm, 6:30pm and 9:45pm; Sat at 12pm, 3:30pm, 7pm and 9:45pm
Closest Subway: Osgoode Station
Entrance: For Walk-ins only
Yorkville
Basking in the ambience of Alobar Yorkville
This upscale hotspot in Toronto, Alobar Yorkville, isn't just a regular bar or restaurant - it spectacularly surpasses the classifications. The high-caliber food offerings at local bars have been drawing in crowds, challenging the city's fancy eateries, and Alobar Yorkville stands as a prominent example of this. Catering to both casual patrons looking to unwind with a few drinks, and food enthusiasts craving for gourmet bites, its charm lies in the intermittent fusion of an easygoing post-work drinkery and a classy gastronomic venture. The noteworthy establisher and chief, Patrick Kriss, who takes pride in his thriving establishments Alo, Bar Alo, and Aloette, all add to this venture's allure. Staples like the Pop Gun bourbon sour or the sherry-rum-banana concoction fondly known as Leisure Noise, shouldn't be missed.
To connect with Alobar Yorkville, dial up: 00 1 416 961 1222 or visit alobaryorkville.com
Cost: Moderate
Timings: Sun-Wed, 4:30pm-10pm; Thurs-Sat, 4:30pm-11pm, with drinks served till 12am
Closest Public Transport: Bay Station
Littly Italy
Discover the Magic of The Mod Club
Experience the intoxicating allure of The Mod Club - a delightful mix of retro chic and modern edge, situated in the heart of Little Italy. Established in 2002, this dual-purpose entertainment hub operates not only as an upbeat nightclub but also a lively concert hall, creating a harmonious blend of fantastic acoustics and laid-back Torontonian ambiance. The venue, with its 600-person capacity, offers an eclectic mix of weekly musical concerts, vibrant music festival showcases, dynamic DJ nights attracting crowds with diverse sartorial choices, and sensually tantalizing burlesque nights. The club has been graced by performances from notable bands including White Lies, St. Lucia, Dizzy, The Philosopher Kings and Saint Etienne, along with a plethora of undiscovered talents that are worth tuning into.
For direct contact, dial: 00 1 416 588 4663 or visit themodclub.com
Entry Fee: Check website
Operating Hours: Visit the website to check the online event calendar for precise performance timings and detailed event information. Please note, some shows might require advance booking.
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Downtown
Discover Toronto's Night Scene at The Carbon Bar
Experience a touch of the high-end South in an expansive room located on Queen Street, slightly east of Yonge. What draws the crowd is the welcoming front lounge: polished, tufted black-leather seating arrangements that perfectly blend with dazzling red-leather chairs. Your cocktail hour is elevated with the presentation of delightful amuse bouches. The bar rail never falls short, boasting an impressive lineup of quality brands. Enjoy Indie music softly playing in the background while sipping on various economically-priced drinks. The highlight of their beverage menu would be their innovative cocktail concoctions: the uniquely charcoal-flavored black margarita, Jack Daniels Manhattan infused with a tinge of tobacco, and the intriguing smoked Old Fashioned.
Among the local beers and traditional dad favorites, wine connoisseurs can indulge in a variety of craft brews. Compliment your drink with an assortment of small but mighty dishes from the kitchen, which include an utterly tender brisket and a Korean-style fried cauliflower that rivals the taste of KFC. Notably, this downtown oasis has frequented the pages of Toronto Life Magazine as one of the top 50 restaurants in the city.
Connect at: 00 1 416 947 7000; thecarbonbar.ca
Expense Rate: Mid-range
Schedule: Mon-Wed, 4pm to 10pm; Thurs-Fri, 4pm to 11pm; Sat-Sun, 5pm to 11pm
Closest Metro: Queen Station
Arrangements: Making a reservation is encouraged
Riverside
The Rooftop
They had us at Negronis on Tap. You can pretty much see for miles in all directions in the glass cube on the roof of The Broadview Hotel. The indoor-outdoor space has been a total scene since it opened in 2017. Décor pays homage to the heritage building’s strip-club past and the hotel’s hip future. Teal walls outline black marble tabletops, blue and green chairs, and green velvet sofas. Hanging plants in the glass roof’s white rafters make you feel like you’re sitting in a terrarium. Well-dressed and cool eastenders sip on Aperol spritzes, rum punches and pitchers of Negronis. It can get a bit noisy on weekend nights.
Contact: 00 1 416 362 8439; thebroadviewhotel.ca
Prices: ££
Opening times: Mon-Wed, 5pm-12am; Thurs, 5pm-12:30am; Fri-Sat, 5pm-1:30am; Sun, 5pm-11pm
Best table: The L-shaped wraparound patio is extremely refreshing in the summer with both east and west views
Getting in: Reservations are recommended
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Leslieville
Unveiling the Pinkerton Snack Bar
Iconic Gerrard Street East continually attracts people downtown owing to its charming establishments such as the Pinkerton Snack Bar, renowned for its surprising culinary quality and exceptional cocktails. The ambiance of the eatery, adorned with exposed brick walls, recycled furnishings, and hardwood tables, is mesmerising. The curated playlist, predominantly encompassing rock music from the nineties to the noughties, harmonises wonderfully with the character of the regulars, known to sport beards and tattoos. Enjoy traditional, wallet-friendly drinks, or select from a compact yet formidable lineup of wines, predominantly Canadian, and cask beer which frequently changes. Their signature late-night offerings that carry an Asian essence are highly recommended, specifically their sublime Tuna Tostadas.
To get in touch or secure a table, call on 00 1 416 855 1460, or visit their official Facebook page: @yourpinkertonsnackbar.
Charges:£
Timings: Tues-Sun, 5pm-2am
Closest subway station: Pape Station
Entry: Walk-ins only
