this is a great Queen W staple.. in 90's I remember it more…read morefor House music, appears more folk during the day incredible interior, great acoustics CASH only kinda old at this point... not to many carrying cash anymore

Top live music joint in the TO. There is live music in the front and sometimes a cover charge for…read morethe band in the back. Friendly service , affordable dranks and always fun music.

We seriously, really truly loved it here. We were a little nervous coming in but I would definitely…read morestay here again. Rooms are what you pay for, but for such a great location in Toronto I can't complain. Everything was clean despite being a little shabby and service was friendly and helpful. We caught a show on the one night we stayed here, split a liter of cheap boxed wine and some fries and had such a great time. What a classic Toronto space.

Stayed at the Rex hotel for a night, and went to the jazz club. The hotel is alright, it's nothing…read morefancy, and you gotta make some concessions. I wish they had a sliding door instead of a curtain for the bathroom, but this is one of the most affordable places to stay in Toronto without leaving the city much, so you take what you can get. Check in process was easy, but I wish they gave some recommendations for parking nearby. At the jazz club, very cool vibe there. Good selection of drinks for affordable prices, and we split some wine. Service was great during the jazz show, and the show itself was one of the highlights of our time in Canada. Everyone should go to one of these shows at least once, because at the very least you will walk away with an appreciation, but more probably a fan.

GOOD FOOD. GREAT MUSIC…read more CHEAP DRINKS. Way better than I was expecting! Group of us went out for a birthday. We started in the front part where the TACOS were amazing! Reasonably priced and filling. We then relocated to the back part to dance. Cover was $10 (which went us from the $5 posted when we arrived). But once on the dance floor, we had a blast. The mostly '90s throwback hits kept us dancing till 2am, and the drinks were so cheap! Just know the bar is CASH ONLY, but there's an ATM in the room.

Possibly the worst-sounding music venue in Toronto…read more If anyone in the audience makes a sound, claps, sings, etc, the artist performing is drowned out by the cacophony of life.

Now known as The Rockpile…read more A fair sized bar/concert venue predominantly showcasing Hard Rock and Metal bands. Some original artists, and a lot of cover bands. The atmosphere is always friendly, both from the staff and the patrons. People get loud, but never obnoxious. Tickets for many events can be bought online beforehand, but the venue is cash only. They do not take credit or debit cards at all. So bring a lot of cash if you want a drink or burger, as close to $15 for a can, you'll need it.

I was at the Rockpile to see The Exploited with Spades GT. It rocked!…read moreThere's tables where you can be served or just walk up to the bar and order your drink. Drink prices are fairly reasonable. A couple of drinks will cost you about twenty dollars. The ambiance is pretty laid back too and people enjoying themselves and the music. There's a back covered patio where you can relax too. I had an amazing time at the Rockpile. Thanks!

This is probably one of my favorite music venues it's the place to be in Toronto…read moreWalking in the bar area is just really cool and then you go back to where the actual stage is and you just don't expect a whole other room. The stage is super small which really makes the experience better in my opinion. It feels so much more intimate with the band. I've had so many good nights here Like that they have a bunch of sitting areas with tables right behind a standing area in front of the stage. Saw and fell in love with many bands here and many more to see in the future hopefully

If your standard for live music involves walking through a metal detector to enter a sterile,…read moremulti-tiered corporate sports arena - where you sit in a numbered plastic seat, look at a massive digital screen because you are half a mile from the artist, and pay forty dollars for a warm, low-bitrate lager in a branded plastic cup - stay on the Gardiner Expressway. You are a consumer of commercialized culture. You are participating in the systematic flattening of the sonic experience.

The best part about The Commie, aside from being one of the city's best dive bars, is Michael Louis…read moreJohnson, the musical barkeep. This man is a treasure--a multitalented musician who plays in many bands including The Lemon Bucket Orkestra. In season, you can catch Michael playing trumpet and singing with a jazz band on the back patio on Saturday evenings (5-8pm). The patio, accessible via an alleyway off Rolyat Street, feels like one of this neighbourhood's best kept secrets. Such a fun, chill vibe back there. Perhaps these Saturday shows will eventually move back inside, where they were held in the beforetimes, when the band sat cheek by jowl with customers in one of the city's most "intimate" performance venues. But whether Michael is performing behind the bar or on the back patio, the man is a marvel of multitasking. He'll perform part of a tune, set the trumpet down as the band plays on, take people's orders, prepare and serve drinks, and then pick up the trumpet and continue the song. So freaking cool. He also hosts a unique music listening event on Monday nights called Decide on the B-Side...don't forget to bring your favourite vinyl. As for the drinks, nothing fancy here, just a decent beer list and hard booze, mostly. But as described above, this bar is so much more. It's chock full of fun and character.

The owner was horribly mean to my friend. Do not go here if you aren't in the mood to be yelled at…read moreand physically intimidated by the crotchety old owner who polices everything that is said in the bar. Especially if you are a woman. Not a safe environment. Thought this place was meant to be open-minded and welcoming but apparently not.

One of my all time favourites - this place has amazing burgers & the grilled wings are bomb too…read more I'm also a big advocate of their onion rings, they're super big, perfectly crispy, never soggy. If you go during happy hour there's a dealers choice cocktail special where they make something for you based off your flavour preferences, which I also love. There's also live music on weekend nights & its always incredible. It's just the best environment to be in - 10/10 date spot but also a great place to go with friends to eat, drink & have a good time.

The live music definitely adds something special; and the decor is very cool. We had a 6pm…read morereservation, and the place was pretty empty, but did start to fill up around 7pm. We ordered two of their cocktails - and we found both great; good combination of flavours and excellent presentation. They had some constraints in the kitchen, so the food orders were taken late and some items were not available. I can say that the braai platters had an authentic taste; but with items missing, opportunity was lost for the truly authentic platter. Given the constraints, the service was excellent - friendly, and we were kept well up to date. Would love to come again.

Spectacular atmosphere, friendly and warm servers, superlative drinks, and the company of great…read moremusic. I wouldn't go there in a night in with people who are going to be chatty. Walk in, order something relaxing or fun, and enjoy. Possibly my favorite place in Toronto.

I could genuinely rave about Reservoir Lounge forever. It's such a unique spot, and I don't think…read moreI've been anywhere else in Toronto quite like it. The underground setting, live swing music, and overall atmosphere make it feel like you've stepped into a different era. We ordered the charcuterie board, grabbed some drinks, and ended up having one of the most memorable nights I've had in a long time. Danny B and his band were incredible. They had so much energy, and by the end of the night the entire bar was singing along with them. It just felt like the kind of place where everyone was there to have a good time, and it made the whole experience even more special. If you're looking for something different from the usual bars in Toronto, I can't recommend Reservoir Lounge enough. It's a place I know I'll keep coming back to, and it's a night I won't forget.