Toronto’s Top 10 : Bars & Clubs – Top Ten Places to See Live Music

Crush

Just
as diners are ordering dessert, the lights are dimmed and the music
turned up, officially ushering in the night to this restaurant and wine
bar. A terrific selection of wines, many by the glass and fairly priced.
The splendid loft space has a large adjoining patio .

The Roof Lounge

A
haunt of creative types, this bar atop the Park Hyatt Hotel offers
refuge from daily stresses. In winter, a fireplace and huge leather
chairs beckon; in summer, spectacular views from the terrace .

Guvernment

Rave
gear isn’t mandatory for joining the 3,000 clubbers who, animated by
lasers pulsing to the house, progressive, and trance beating from a
deafening sound system, party into the wee hours. Five lounges offer a
brief respite from the cavernous split-level dance floor. Concerts are
held at adjoining Kool Haus.

Avenue

It’s
all about style at this busy see-and-be-seen bar on the ground floor of
the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in fashionable Yorkville. At your
table, adept servers prepare the perfect cocktail in a miniature shaker;
nary a drop is spilled. At the bar, business tycoons talk takeovers
while scoping out the room.

Cameron House

Giant
“ants” on the front of this former flophouse signal a different bar
experience. Unspoiled by the acts that played here before making it big,
this low-key bar is dedicated to up-and-coming musicians. Join
foot-stomping regulars on weekend evenings for pay-what-you-can country
music .

Circa

Nightlife
luminary Peter Gatien’s 55,000-sq-ft (5,200-sq-m) facility hosts art,
music, and fashion events during the week. World class DJs and artists
liven up the weekends .

Irish Embassy Pub & Grill

Pub
lovers will feel at home with the mahogany bar and stool and booth
seating set among the marble columns of this historic bank building.
Good choice of beers on tap, and tasty pub food, including bison
burgers.

• 49 Yonge St

• 416 866 8282

Easy & The Fifth

The high-ceilinged dance club of this restaurant/bar venue 
caters to the 25-plus crowd. Bouncers ignore the jeans-clad in favor of
those casual-smart; once inside, grab a drink at the long bar, then
dance to R&B and top-40 music or play pool under the watchful gaze
of cigar smokers in the sideroom .

Lula Lounge

Lively
bands and hot DJs play everything Latin, from salsa to merengue. Enjoy
dinner before the show, arrive later for drinks, or go all out with a
dance lesson-dinner-show package .

Bar at Canoe

On the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower ,
this sophisticated spot caters to corporate wheelers and dealers
(reduced to size against the magnificent view of Lake Ontario), as well
as locals and visitors out for a special night. Excellent wines,
cocktails, and beer selection .

Opera House

An eclectic range of bands plays beneath the ornate proscenium arch. All-ages shows and blues nights pack the place.

• 735 Queen St E

Rivoli

Booking top alternative rock bands has made this spot a Toronto landmark.

• 334 Queen St W

El Mocambo

Revived by a recent facelift, this national landmark presents rock, folk, funk, and more on its two floors.

• 464 Spadina Ave

Horseshoe Tavern

The Rolling Stones kicked off their 1997 world tour at this venerable watering hole.

• 370 Queen St W

The Trane Studio

Jazz and all its manifestations in African, Latin, and world music styles are celebrated here.

• 964 Bathurst St

The Rex Hotel

The hotel’s jazz and blues bar attracts Canada’s finest musicians.

• 194 Queen St W

Hugh’s Room

Enjoy popular folk musicians in an intimate space.

• 2261 Dundas St W

Lee’s Palace

This gritty joint hosts edgy rock bands.

• 529 Bloor St W

Reservoir Lounge

Jazz, boogie-woogie, and jump blues; southern fusion cuisine.

• 52 Wellington St E

• Closed Sun

Phoenix

Rock bands, and dancing on DJ’d theme nights.

• 410 Sherbourne St