Excellent watering hole on the East side with a fantastic blues jam on Friday nights.

Got here the bartender no greeting, no hello, no thank you and no welcome. I asked her for the drink menu, she asked me to go have a look at the tap beer name other side of the bar. She asked me to pay right away without a please!! Miserable woman. Even she didn't give me the receipt! When I asked she seems embarrassed saying "ehhhhhhh!!! Then she gave another customer's receipt And guess what? The bar is empty!!! How the owner can put this creature behind the bar and trusted her!!!! At the end she turned me her back without asking if I want another drink!!! She served 2 peoples the 2nd one just came in and still didn't ask if I wanted another drink!! See the sequence of the pictures. I have to leave BORING BAR BY THE WAY! read more

Black Swan is my favorite Bar on the Danforth!!! Bill and John are amazing and the music is always awesome. I feel like Black Swan is sort of my bar like the bar in Cheers! Everyone, makes you feel so welcome. The Friday Night Blues jam with Mike and Robin and Juliette is just amazing. What great musicians, and so welcoming to all other musicians who turn up to play. I help run a huge music festival "Govfest" check out Govfest.ca and we have been holding our Battle of the Bands at Black Swan for several years. The sound run by Kevin is awesome and the support provided by John and Bill makes it so easy for anyone wishing to host a night of great live music. Black Swan has so much history and it will always be my bar to go to for a night of great company and great music. Dorothy Currie read more

I happened upon this place a little while back after seeing a show at the Danforth Music Hall across the street and it is now one of my favorite bars in the city! I love the old fashioned style bar- it's got so much charm and a great atmosphere. Very cozy and casual. The service is always amazing, they are super fast and very friendly with everyone. There are three dart boards and a pool table to play with which is a lot of fun and in the evenings they have great bands play! Every night is something different and I've heard some really talented people play there. There's also an open mic on Mondays and Wednesdays and I've heard if you're a new band or musician looking for stage time they love booking spots on weekends for new artists, which I think is awesome. It's the perfect place to grab a drink before or after a concert, check out a new band, watch the game, or shoot some pool with some friends. And the drink prices are the best anywhere. read more

Black Swan Tavern - The Black Swan is my favorite bar on the Danforth, hands down - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Good bar. Moderately friendly bartender. Owner switched to the game when we asked very easygoing. No kitchen so no food. A few yum yums asking asinine drunken questions. But nothing serious. It's Sunday night at a bar after holidays. Pretty standard fare. read more

Black Swan Tavern - The bar - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This establishment took away drinks I paid for because they believe I brought in "outside alcohol" even though it was an unopened wine bottle. I will never come back here. read more

I give it three fingers in the belly button. (not all at once, but sequentially. You're weird.) After leering at the Swan many-a-time while strolling along the Danforth, I decided to pop in for a patio pint today because it was a beaut-i-ful day and I'm convinced that the lawn *will* cut itself. Clearly, there were plenty of sauced regulars in there and clearly I wasn't one of them, but that didn't stop the bartender from pouring me a near-perfect Guinness as I waited on the teeny patio. Nor did it stop one of said sauced regulars from repeatedly calling me Scott and telling me that it was good to see me again. That was nice, and though I did agree that it was nice to see me/Scott again, it was a little weird and a little intriguing all the same. Kinda like putting your finger in your belly button or a Q-tip dangerously deep in your ear canal. The Swan's great for people watching/discovering your alter ego, it's easy on the wallet and they haven't updated their web site since 2003. Love it. read more

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Even though the swan is a bit of an ugly duckling to look at, it more then makes up for it when you give it a chance. I frequent the swan often enough to have most of the bartenders know what I drink without me having to tell them, so I can personally attest to the fact that not all of their regulars are "gap toothed hicks" (Ok, so I have a gap in my teeth but most people think it's quite cute, thank you very much!) Always love the service, both upstairs and down and have sat chatting with the bar staff for ages on slow nights. Also they always seem to have an android charger floating around behind the bar which is AWESOME because my phone is always almost dead. Definitely in the top 3 CHEAPEST places to get a drink on the danforth, and people should really think about that when they complain about the decor. I'll take cheap looking and cheap drinks over fancy and expensive most nights, but then again, I'm usually trying not to blow the rent money. Love they have a pool table and darts in the back when I come in with friends. Really want to check out the comedy shows and poetry night they have upstairs, but usually am still at work when they are going on. Heard excellent things though. Also I have been their to see a friend preform with her band and the accoustics were quite nice. This is one of the oldest bars on the danforth, and one of the few places to still have a tavern licence (you can't get them any more). You can tell that most of the people there have been coming since they were my age, and while they can be a bit abrasive at times, I've never had a problem with them and have always felt a welcoming, down to earth, unpretentious vibe being there. I like what the other reviewer said about most of the people there being "salt of the earth" types, jsut looking for a drink (or ten) that won't break the bank. Since they stopped letting people smoke on the patio there are also less drunken afternoon old dudes outside... It's the end of an era. read more

The main floor often hosts music jams and has a pool table. If you can get past the initial judgement of the clientele on the patio, you'll find a pretty cool place to have a drink. Upstairs, on the second floor at the Black Swan, you will find some form of comedy show (improv, sketch, stand-up, musical) almost every night of the week. The decor upstairs has transformed the space considerably and the staff are friendly. read more

I'll preface this by saying that both previous reviews are (or at least can be) pretty accurate. I've been a few times. What you get is a solid tavern that won't take a big chunk out of your wallet. There are some odd folks, but also some salt-of-the-earth folks who are just looking for a nice beer buzz (as early as 11 am). I've not tried the menu but I'd dare anyone to order the meatloaf. I have, however, had a few of the free hot dogs from the communal colander. They weren't bad and I've lived to tell about it. There used to be the occasional band upstairs on weekends, but the last time I was there it was loaded with tarts in some sort of beauty contest. They were nice and gave me some of their pizza. I understand there's open mic comedy now. read more

Been here way too many times over the years. Unfortunately it doesn't live up to it's reputation of past years. Rarely has any good bands anymore. Staff can be moody and sometimes unfriendly. Only thing going for it these days is after having to renovate the upstairs due to the roof caving in it has some good looks and pretty comfy chairs. Odds are you'll find better entertainment across the street at the Dora. read more

It's a divey dive. It has traditional music on Thursdays and Comedy upstairs. It has its own crowd of regulars who are umm .... interesting.... And very friendly. I don't think they do food. They used to offer meatball subs from a Crock-Pot. Divier than the Old Nick and Dora's which are also on this strip. Enter with no illusions and you will be fine. read more

I had been passing past this place for years before I decided to go in one night just to check it out. The reason I kept passing by is because the Black Swan is a place where regulars go, and not exactly my type of demographic (younger, urban dude, weekend drinker versus older males and females drinking all day). The place had the stale vibe I had seen from the outside. It's redeeming factor was the music. Beautiful blue grass / country playing that night -- I'm talking actual live singing. I did not know such things existed on the Danforth. That's what you get for exploring I guess. read more

If you're looking for a place where a bunch of middle-aged folks are inconveniently standing out front all the time while they emit a collective cloud of second-hand smoke for pedestrians to have to walk through, look no further. read more

Maybe I caught a good night? I live on the Danforth so I know all about sketchy patio people but there were none on the night I went. Staff were very friendly and super attentive. There were two forms of entertainment going on that night with a jam session happening upstairs and a solo guitar performer playing downstairs. Drinks were reasonably priced. The place also gets bonus points for being right beside the subway. I think the only areas I'd take away points are the decor which gets more and more ugly as you move from the patio to the back of the building and the smaller crowd which hinders mingling to some degree. I'd go back. read more

older establishment but i had never been upstairs before and it's had a makeover compared to downstairs. staff are nice enough. bathrooms are clean. prices are so so considering the size of the drink. read more

Black Swan Tavern - Upstairs - Pubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

In it's heyday the Black Swan was the place to be on a Saturday afternoon. There was usually a jam on stage and customers would jam into the long tables upstairs. Saw Mat "Guitar" Murphy one time in the mid-80s'. read more

Found this place a few nights ago when a few of us were searching for a drink after work. I was feeling a little tired and not in the mood to go out, but once I stepped in I immediately felt at home. The ambiance and service was so comforting and cozy. The service is super friendly and the band that was playing was so good!! I can't wait to come back here for some more drinks! I love the Black Swan !!! read more

If you are in the Danforth and want to drink a beer with your buddies, that is perfect other than that there is nothing else to do there. The woman at the bar was not that helpful when I went to a Metal Music show the other day, she was like ...Whatever... read more

I felt like absolute royalty here! The owner and bartender were really exceptional! I wish I was a Toronto local. We never waited for a drink, they were especially friendly and accommodating; our group of 8 had a BLAST!! The local music/jam session was a super plus, and they even indulged our singing along and jamming with them I will be back for sure!!!!! read more

I am looking forward to my first time at the famous Black Swan. I am attending on May 3/11 for the Steven Ambrose Honouring. From what I have heard so far about the Swan is its a 4 Star establishment for Blues/Jazz music and service, etc. read more

I had my first experience at the Black Swan last night, I've known about the place and have a good friend that jams there all the time and is always asking me to do the same which was my reason for being there for his Birthday jam last night. I came in excited to see him and proceeded to head to the bar to order a drink, I squeezed my self between 2 gentlemen and preceded to get the bartenders attention. When we connected from a distance i waived my hands to place an order, he just looked at me and didn't respond and then continued to ignore me, so i waited just thinking he is busy but i knew better, while i wait which felt for ever i can hear a drunk fellow on my left screaming "is he harassing you" over and over, i had no clue whom he was talking about, until i asked him if he was referring me, shocked and astonished and insulted, i replied are you kidding all I'm doing is silently waiting to place an order...he proceed and slurred stating "I own this bar" which disgusted me to know this is how he welcome his patrons...I wanted to leave just then but in consideration to my friends birthday event i ignored him but it wasn't easy to let go of his drunk insults, convinced by my friends they calm me down we ended the evening upstairs, which was a good decision with a more respectable staff, just as we were settling to relax and enjoy the evening a fight break out right in front me and my partner... with two hammered individuals, one on top of the other choking the older gentlemen, took a bit to have it resolved, but it followed by a table of ladies getting up to leave the bar, couldn't blame them. I shrugged it off, we sat down and enjoyed the talents on stage, but i couldn't help but notice the terrible sound and i looked over to see whom is doing the sound and sure enough no one was at the desk, but then the sound guy returned with his beer to tweak the sound but nothing came out of this and he was gone again to drink his night away, only to come back on and off, to the extent that someone else had to step in to take care of his duties...yep all in one night would i recommend this place "NEVER", it seems this establishment is geared toward majority of old drunks who are looking to ruin new comers night. read more