Ya gotta love Lola! It's a neighbourhood spot that looks sketch enough from the outside that you won't find flakes or tourists inside that's for sure! But once inside it's cozy and warm just like going to mom's place with a friendly bartender to serve you. They advertise some drinks in the window but probably best to avoid and stick to beer. Cheap beer too! The added dimension to Lola is the back room with a weird layout, long and narrow with a makeshift looking stage along the long side rather than at the end. But here's the thing, it's a punk venue and one of the last of its kind, as far as the original Toronto-style plain and simple no-judgement spots. You never know who you could see here but it's always worth a shot to peek inside. Long live Lola and down with corporate rock and keep annoying the religious right! : ) read more

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Who knew a dive bar would serve sandwiches, let alone a peameal sandwich! We had never tried one so when we saw a sign outside the bar we had to come in and try. We were able to customize toppings, and it came out fairly quickly. The sandwich was what you expect- basically a ham sandwich. Nothing special but glad we tried! Very nice and friendly bartender. read more

Great down to earth people, good service, great location for people watching. Excellent local musicians. Not recommended for disabled, but very accommodating. Bathrooms in basement could use an update. read more

10 Stars plus. Wonderful place amazing people fantastic music and great art. Lolas has been a mainstay in the music and art field for decades and before that it was The Kim. The community treasure that represents the long term residents of the Market. Newcomers welcome. https://www.youtube.com/user/BellevueParkTV Here are some of our 6 hundred music videos from the past 3 decades. We love you Lola. Keep on keepin' on you folks. read more

Lola - Photo by Sue Deuce - Music Venues Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

If you love sketchy dive bars you'll LOVE Lola. This place is small, a little grimy and littered with "interesting" regulars. There is usually a band playing or musically inclined regulars jamming together. I honestly don't recall much of my night, but what I remember was fairly good. Beer was cheap and the bartender let me and my friend order 6 bottles at once for the two of us at last call. read more

Came here last summer to start my night off and as soon as i walked in I went to the bar and was told "you'd be suited to buy a drink somewhere else" and decided not to serve me read more

For the past decade it's fair to assume if you can't find me on a weekend evening, I'm hanging tough in a Kensington dive bar. It is with a heavy heart I announce Lola is too dive-y for me. This being said, it fills it's role as a grimy bar well. Smoke filled patio, late night jam sessions and cheap beer are what this place is offering up. The clientele gets too drunk but the staff are friendly, and this place might be for you if you're dirtier than Ronnie's and Last Temptation, but not quite ready for a Legion. This makes Lola sound gross, and I don't mean to, it definitely knows who it is and fills a purpose. Loooola. You're too divey for me, Loolllla. That's supposed to be like the song... I digress. read more

This place is divey, there is no doubt about it, but it's authentically, genuinely divey. In other words, it doesn't try too hard. The servers are always warm and friendly and the place is usually filled with friendly and interesting locals. Also, while they have a reasonable number of options for beer they frequently run out of either red or white wine. I recommend it if you're looking for a relaxed, laid back place with no frills or airs about it. read more

Yes a bit dive But more than makes up for that with genuine characters that'll make you laugh & let you join there World for a little while ? Beers Good, I'm from UK & visit Fam in Toronto from time to time & I Love Toronto the city & I would say Lola is my local when in town, Many thanks to Lola's Staff & Locals well done :-) "big up to Curly & Johnny Boots" read more

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Great small dive bar in Kensington Market. Really nice wait staff, cheap beers, and live music. Things can get lively when the local vagabond, Theresa, tries to chat you up on the outside patio, but she's all bark and no bite. I think. read more

Dive bar. Cheap drinks. Funny people most nights. I use to come here a lot. Always had a good time. Worth checking out.

Had my first Lola experience today, it was Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market, and a killer R&B band called "Park Eddy" featuring a great singer named Chloe Watkinson was playing right on the small, intimate patio, so the music and local talent you get to see at this bar is top notch, if that was any indication. The bar itself is truly a dive, but the staff are wonderful (say hi to Gwen Bang for me, the first server I've known to introduce herself and ask your name like you are friends, not server/customer). Beer was great, a couple of Ontario Craft Brewers represented, and the food also quite good for a divy bar, with a fairly limited selection of pub food, mostly, though there was a Dim Sum platter on there which someone said was really good.The whole vibe of the place, music and people watching is great. I'll be back. read more

I just closed a business on the street (The Rage) and had my 34th birthday party here in January 2010; the food was prepared in house and was amazing (hand rolled spring rolls and samosas), one of the owners made an incredible cheesecake! The staff was very attentive and pleasant, everybody had a great time. It was an open jam, so anybody could jump onto the house piano or drum kit....this is a real local dive, so lots of area regulars. This bar is old-school rock with lots of live, spontaneous playing and 2 of the friendliest, charming barkeeper owners ever. If you're anti-pretention and live to keep it real, go!! read more

Complete dive. But it's kinda cozy. Occasionally has live music.

DISGUSTING. Ordered French fries and there was a dustball in them. After telling the bartender she blamed the fact that we had left our seats for a while and it must be the debris in the air (what!?). She didn't offer to change them for us so I asked the other bartender. When the second plate of fries came there was a huge hairball in them again! The bartender didn't apologize, didn't change them, didn't refund them. gross. read more

Had an awesome Surprise Birthday Party at Lola Jan.8, 2011. The food provided by Lola was perfect. The chicken dumplings, spring rolls, and wings all hand made. Along I also brought food of my own for a house full of hungry partiers (30-40) person. All the guest had a blast that night with games planned, music played by a lived band and everyone was into winning the prizes. Most of all the Birthday Boy was surprised and had a very enjoyable birthday party shared with his family and friends. The cakes (cheese cake and a carrot cake) topped the icing for the night. Gwen one of the bar owner of Lola baked one of the best cheese cake I had tasted. If you or knows someone who loves cheesecakes be sure to ask Gwen to bake you one. If you are not a cheesecake lover you can ask Kim to bake you one of her most delicious carrot cake. Both cakes was so good no left overs and the cakes were not small 20" each. Want to Thank Gwen and everyone who came to Bruce's party. We all had a great time. Will definately plan another party at Lola again. Contact Gwen for more info. read more

Went here for a bite to eat on a patio. Unbelievably awful service... the server came back about 15 minutes after we ordered and double checked the she got our orders right. A few people ordered breakfast. About 15 minutes later one of the kitchen staff leaves then comes back with a carton of eggs..... Finally after another 60 minutes or so the food is ready. It was almost an hour and a half to make 5 simple orders.... 3 basic breakfast, BLT, and some pasta. At no point did anyone apologize for the incredibly slow service. The most ridiculous part is no one else was at the bar or ordering food. It blew my mind. On the upside.. the breakfast was decent..... but who wants to wait 90 minutes for a hangover breakfast? Ridiculous. read more

Yeah.... Dive bar in the most classical sense of the word... Life entertainment also every day. Good food and locals... Kensignton klassik.. Deep fried pickles anyone.... Hungrier than that... The specials will make you think you died and went to 1940. read more

Had a fantastic time. Gwen was an entertaining and fantastic bar tender!! We will visit again. Cheers

In the heart of Kensington Market lies a rare gem; Lola, at 40 Kensington Ave. You will find here a combination of delicious daily homecooked specials, international cuisine and reasonably-priced drinks in a comfortable atmosphere where an eclectic group of local talent and world travellers can showcase their art and music. Whether singing along at an acoustic jam and people-watching on the cool, shady patio in the summer, or rocking it out surrounded by local artwork in the cozy back room in the winter, there is always lots to hear and to see. read more

I love this place. My favorite place to be in the Market. People are real and friendly. There is an unpretentious atmosphere when you step in. Owners are awesome! Staff are cool and artsy. Cheap prices and food is yum! read more

lola is the best little patio in kensington market. always somebody playing a guitar and always a good joke to be had. if your hungry the food is fresh and well prepared. there is a reason i go there every weekend. read more