Nice small venue for a concert. The washroom downstairs is a little chaotic when you send everyone down for a quick break. It was hard to go up and down the stairs as it was narrow, so had to wait for people to pass first. Water was $7 in a can... which is a lot. read more

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This is a really interesting venue to go to. It's small, it still looks like the vaudeville theater it started life as. And, it's really loud because of the layout. It also seems like the type of place that is floor only. But, the real trick for anybody over the age of 30, is to rush in immediately and go to the second floor. Grab a table and stand and watch from up there. The view is better, the sound is better, and you're not fighting with everyone around you. If you're one of the first 16 or 20 people, you can even get a seat. But try to keep that secret quiet, so there's a seat for me next time I go! read more

This is a beautiful old venue in Leslieville / Riverdale. I have been here for concerts as well as raves. The room is quite big, and there is a balcony upstairs. Acoustics aren't bad! Probably are designed for actual opera, and not rave music. Staff are efficient - never waited in line long to get in or at the bar. read more

I saw the fugees here The DJ went on forever, but the show was great It's a great urban music hall Something in the east end on Queen street read more

The Opera House - Music Venues Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The security guard is really, I would say extremely harsh and impolite, showing no respect to my girlfriend. Once she was told that she's not allowed to enter the house, she showed frustration but she's willing to leave and all she wants is to accompany me for a bit more time. We did not expect the shouting from that men screaming: LEAVE!!!! to my gf when she's LITERALLY ON HER WAY TO EATON CENTER. We would love to follow the rules IF the security guard would have at least a sympathy tone!!!!! Show some respect to a poor girl who lost her only chance to see her favorite band and the chance to accompany her partner to the entrance. More training on social etiquette is needed for security guard read more

This is a small venue east of downtown with a standing area and a balcony. I came here for a K-Pop concert for the group BAP. I have mixed feelings about my experience here. Before arriving at the venue I understood that it was $4/item for coat check but what I didn't understand was at the concert I attended we were given a drawstring bag with merchandise inside and told we had to have it checked. The bags should have been given to us later since it was a blatant money grab of another $4. We were told we HAD to check our jackets but later found so many people with their jackets still on inside. How come there was this disparity? read more

I think this is a great place to see a metal or less known band. Acoustics may not be perfect but you can see the band from everywhere and I thought the place had a great atmosphere. The highlights: - Easy to get there (street car runs every few minutes, 10 minutes from Younge st.) - Cheap drinks - Multiple bars - security is not as aggressive as other locations - intimate feel with the Band - you can get really close to the stage and get a good view of the stage from all areas - Sound is OK (given ticket prices) - Concert prices are very reasonable On the downside - Bathrooms are in the basement - No need for a bathroom attendant in the washroom I look forward to seeing my next concert here. read more

BOTTOM LINE: Um, I can't hear any of the lyrics because the sound reverbs so much off all the walls, so....1 STAR. Not sure how other Yelpers, despite their complaints, still end up giving this place 4 STARS. I've been to a few shows here over the years but don't think I ever realized how poor the sound is until my recent attendance to the Hilltop Hoods for CMW. This hip hop group with melodic injections became non-stop, incomprehensible noise. My group left early because their work became so distorted. :( This, perhaps, isn't that surprising when you look at what's been done to the gutted insides of a opera house of yesteryear - basically nothing. An original venue meant to amplify the human voice (check out the curved ceiling) doesn't translate well when you have massive speakers already amplifying the sound in a small-ish space. All you're left with is muffled vocals and way too much bass. Plus, it gets really hot in there no matter what the season. Sadly, after this most recent experience, I don't think I will come back here - unless, of course, hologram Tupac's playing. :P read more

I have not been to the Opera House for a few years but my recent experience there will definitely encourage future trips . It is funky place with loads of atmosphere and a good sound system . The staff and security are excellent , in fact i had asked a manager there a question and even got a reply on gig day which is awesome [ Athena ! ] . If you havent been to the Opera House you owe it to yourself to check this gem of a place out . read more

The Opera House - Ministry - Music Venues Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The Opera House is far on Queen East, so here's what you'll need to go to a concert there. First, know that you are NOT going to meet up with your friends back in the wet end after even though you said you would because The Opera House is so far and a 30+ cab ride after won't seem worth it. So go, knowing that this is all your doing that night. Make sure the band you're going to see if one of your favourites so that you don't mind the strict door policies, the lineups for the bathrooms and the fact that you can't seem to bring your drink anywhere cause there are so many stairs. Finally, when you're finished seeing said mind-blowing concert, go tot he strip club across the street, I believe it's Gillies. The beer prices are decent, they don't mind groups and the strippers are actually pretty friendly and outgoing in a conversation way, but most of them are not hot. The strip bar part is a bit of a ritual thing. Everyone has been there after a concert at some point cause there is almost no where else to go near the venue. As far as a concert venue goes, The Opera House is a great intimate venue with good sight lines and decent sound. No shame in that. read more

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I would recommend against going to this music venue. If you can go to a show at The Danforth or th Phoenix, I'd recommend going there instead. It is a true shame if music artists end up playing at this venue. The security is needlessly aggresive for such a venue and the drinks are overpriced. Avoid seeing showes at this venue if you can. read more

I like the venue especially for an intimate concert like Mika on Friday. For an artist that I think could easily fill 3/4 of the ACC, I love that he chooses to play in smaller places and much more a concert than a show. There is a large stage in front and two bars on either side. It's all general admission so die hard fans can go straight to the front, and on the floor. What I loved was how there was a balcony with a bar up stairs. If you're lunch enough you can get mezzanine seats right at the edge, or on the barstools one level up. There are tables here too, but I think they just take up space. Would recommend coming up here if you can. The coat check seemed long and cumbersome, and folks were waiting for a while single file. Go up to the balcony and you can it in various places. Sound wise, I think it was good for what it was. Upstairs we could hear everything, but not always so clearly when he spoke to us, but I think it's a function of the sound engineers. AND lots of good food options nearby. Free parking on Queen street after 6pm read more

I came here for the first time for the pancakes booze and art show event a couple weeks ago. Surprisingly I've never been to The Opera House before so I was excited to see what I was in store for. It was a packed event so the space was a little stuffy but nothing terrible. I liked the multi level, although there was much more space down below than on the top. The bathrooms are also a little inconveniently located, all the way in the basement. Oh well! Love the area it's in and I'm sure I'll be back in the future! read more

Decent Venue but not the easiest to get to. Coming from Finch station, take the subway to Bloor Yonge and transfer to the eastbound train to Broadview then take the 504 street car southbound to Queen East and it's about a 5 mins walk from there. I went here to see Alvvays for their biggest headlining show in Toronto, a Sold-Out crowd at Opera House. The venue is pretty small, and it has a really sketchy grill/restaurant attached if you wanted to get some food before the show. I didn't eat there but the food didn't look too bad. The inside was very clean, and they have multiple bars. 2 on the General Admission floors and one on the balcony. The sound was nice, and there were great acoustics. The sightline were also very nice, and you could get a good view of the stage from pretty much anywhere in the venue. I sat up in the balcony and had a GREAT view of the stage. The bar was very close to my balcony seat and I had no problem getting a drink. They have a decent selection of beers. The drinks, like any venue are over priced, I paid $7.25 for a tallboy of PBR. The washrooms were also well maintained and were located downstairs. They had an attendant which I have NEVER seen. Don't really know why he's there. Opera House is a great Toronto venue that books some pretty great up and coming bands. It's not the easiest place to get to but not that hard either. I would definitely come back if they booked another band I wanted to see. read more

Good venue compared to a lot of other ones in Toronto - it markets itself as a grungy venue, but it's actually well-kept. The bartenders/coat check folks are super nice, but the security was harsh as hell (I get it - they have to be, but some of it seemed a little over-the-top, but anyways). Definitely would come back here again! read more

great venue, I didn't drink when I was here so I can't comment on the prices but there are a total of 4 bars in the place, 3 on the first floor and one on the balcony. security is good here, they pat everyone down and have security making sure that if any shit goes down they can stop it really quick. There was an attendant in the washroom i am assuming for this reason, although he stands there and gives you soap I'm guessing his main purpose is to stop people fucking and fighting in the basement (he also makes sure everyone washes his hands, extra bonus) The acoustics in this place are great, its plenty spacious and no matter where you are you should be able to see the stage, unless there is a tall guy in front of you I suppose. For those with sensitive ears if you stay back or on the balcony you should be fine. All in all a great venue that is extremely safe and fun to be in, its got lots of room to move around and plenty of good spots to watch your show. I highly recommend. read more

The Opera House is one of those nice cozy venues which really isn't all that hard to navigate. It's smallish size makes it seem intimate, but not so cramped that you cannot move. The bar and merch booths are always conveniently at the back, where you can chill out if you don't feel like getting up close and personal with the band you're checking out. Another bonus is that the balcony area is typically readily available without having to purchase VIP tickets, meaning you can get a nice bird's eye view on the performance. A must-see for any Toronto concert-goers! read more

for a concert venue that has capacity of less then 1500(very generous) the opera house is amazing. after coming to about 50+ concerts to this venue alone, it has quickly become a favorite of mine, especially since the passing of the kool haus/government(rest in power) one of the easiest venues to get to, literally on the corner of queen and Broadview, this location has it all. one of the best sound systems I have heard out of any of the venues in Ontario, I love it very much, and it has a very special place in my heart, with memories for a lifetime. this venue has gone through a bit of a facelift with the outside looking very clean and sporting a marquee on one side of the building. the security and bar staff are among the nicest in Toronto, speaking of the bar, I think the opera house has some of the best priced beer/mixed drinks menus in Toronto. the venue generally is spotless at the beginning of the night, but not by the end sadly. the bathrooms are very clean, and have gone through a renovation as well, with ample toilets to use at any given time, the only negative is that the wonderful bathrooms are in the basement. this venue also sports a seating balcony with a bar, that is not always open, and the balcony it self is not always open either, very hit or miss, and if the balcony isn't open, a security guard is defiantly guarding it. my favorite venue in Toronto, that everyone needs to experience. read more

My friends and I bought tickets to an event, but when we got there we were told we can't go in because supposedly we'd been pre drinking... they thought our water bottle full of WATER had alcohol in it, and therefore told us "goodbye". After 20 minutes of bargaining with the security they told us that it's their venue and they can deny us entry WITHOUT GIVING A REASON. The owner was also misinformed about the event taking place inside. She told us that it was a high school dance, meanwhile it was clearly not advertised as such. When I asked her what school, she said she didn't know. The fact remains that we lost our money, and a fun night we were looking forward to, for a mistake that security made. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, extremely rude and agressive security. People were getting denied entry for no reason, even those who weren't drinking. Would not suggest this place to anyone. read more

I've been coming to the Opera House for shows for about 10 years now, and it's easily one of my favorite venues in Toronto. It's not the most modern venue in the area, but I would have to disagree with some of the previous reviews that it's falling apart. It does have the dive bar feel to it. but for the type of shows put on there, it's the perfect atmosphere. I mean, who would want to go to a metal show at some frou frou bar that serves nothing but martinis? If you're looking to go to a show where you can kind of sit down. chill in front of the stage. and watch the show, The Opera House probably isn't the right venue for you. The main floor is standing room only, and most shows here are General Admission only. They did just do some renovations to it, and the new men's and women's bathrooms are a lot nicer than they used to be. They also did some renovations to the front foyer and added really nice couches to the upstairs balcony area. Highlights: - Very easy to get to from most parts of Toronto, as it's right on a street car line - Friendly, experienced security that gets people in pretty quick when there's a line. As long as you behave, you shouldn't have a problem. -Multiple bars, so you're not usually waiting long for a drink - The balcony area. It's really nice to be able to take a minute from the main floor during the rowdier shows and still be able to see everything that's going on on stage. - Well priced drinks. - Food?! I'm pretty sure it's only bar food and maybe only available during certain shows. But they did have it this past time I was there. - Easily accessible & reasonably priced coat check. A very big plus in my book, This is a venue that gets rented out for different kinds of shows though (I mostly attend edm shows), and each experience may differ depending on the promoter throwing the show. The core staff here that's been here for pretty much every show that I've attended here is great though. read more

Saw Mika here last night. Not only was it a great show but I was impressed with the cool choice of venue. The trip from Queen Station on the streetcar was much faster than I expected, security was easy to deal with, bar prices were reasonable with no line-ups, and the building itself is both intimate and interesting due to various balconies, etc. On the negative side, I'm not sure that the sound quality was as great as it could have been, at least from where I was standing, and it looked like the people who had to retrieve their coats from coat check on the way out were in for a long wait. read more

Pretty good place to see a smaller concert. High ceilings and open concept mean that the sight-lines are great. I've been to two concerts here and neither of them were overly packed (mostly because it is smaller indie bands that play this venue) and I was able to get really close to the stage on both occasions. The sound quality is pretty good and you can pretty much be guaranteed a decent show at this venue. One thing I really like about this venue is that there are 3 bars serving alcohol so you can get a drink fairly easily. The one thing I dislike about this venue is the location, it is not completely out of the way but I would prefer if it were a little more central, also the area is a little bit seedy (sketchy strip-club across the street). Overall an adequate venue for those who love the smaller indie acts. read more

I played here on my 25th birthday. It was 13 degrees fahrenheit outside. Amazing show, local kids got me a penis cake that I ate mid-set. I had some food down the street. Good times. read more

Queen Street A-Bit-East, not that far from Jilly's (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/jillys-toronto) (if you need it), the Opera House sits at Queen and Broadview. Large vaulted ceilings, a pronounced proscenium arch, and a balcony give this place the feeling that you're watching a show in, well, an opera house. Except the Rollins Band play there. This is definitely another one of the premier performance venues in the city. Larger than Lee's Palace, it's able to take bands to the next level of "beginning to lose your intimacy", with a larger dance floor, three bars that surround it, and fairly decent acoustics. Because it's larger, you feel a bit more drowned by the folks surrounding you. A crowded night there can truly feel it, but you should feel up for the task given the acts that go there. Everything about this place is geared towards bands performing there. The first links found on the Opera House website (http://www.theoperahousetoronto.com/) is all the technical information about the venue, what the hall is like, and for foreign travellers, what will be expected for immigration into the country. The last thing you need is the likes of A Perfect Circle, Björk, or The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones being held up at the border. read more

I had a bad experience with the bartender, I was sitting top of the opera house she said the beer was all nine dollars every single one. Then I said how much was the shot 9 dollars too. She is a scammer blond hair and shore. read more

I will not be returning here. Every staff member I interacted with was outrightly rude. The person running the coat check was incredibly difficult to speak to, along with everyone else I interacted with. We waited in line in the freezing cold 30 minutes past when the email told us to be in. The email said, be there ON TIME. Yet, we're there on time and have to stand in -10 weather for 30 minutes? Then, we went into the wrong door when lining up and the staff member looked at me and said "I know, listening is HARD"... as if I was some kind of misfit child. I misheard and was treated terribly, with no respect. It was just so unprofessional and rude I could not believe someone would talk to a stranger, let alone a customer like that. Bands... if you're looking to play here: look somewhere else. And fans... if you're seeing a band here: good luck. read more

I was here for the October 2015 event for pancakes and booze and It's a total scam. This event is a total NO NO!!! Here's why There's a $15 hanging per artwork and I was a rookie back then so I thought it's normal to pay hanging fees but I did more research about it. It's a vanity gallery. You pay them to showcase, which makes no sense at all. At first I was excited to get accepted because I thought it meant I was good. But that's not the case. A lot of the artworks I saw there were terrible! Like no skills at all! But again, it's a business and this company definitely makes more profit from artists than the guest. And because I'm a girl, I even got molested by a drunk horny guy! It was super scary! So overall, I am pissed at this place for these following reasons. 1. Wasting money 2. No proper publicity, they're all drunk. None of them are interested in art! Most of them came here to party and watch blue jays game. I want my money back but I know I cant. Overall, I felt totally exploited and taken advantage of. Something like this should totally be illegal! read more

The worst part of the Opera House is where it's located. If it weren't for the Opera House you would never find yourself in this part of Toronto. That aside it's a great venue. It's all standing, though I believe there are some seats on the upstairs balcony. read more

This place might get such a good rating from me because it reminds me so much of my favorite place to see a concert back home (the Uptown Theatre). I'm very into old-style converted venues. Also, because the first band I saw there was The Gaslight Anthem, and c'mon, how could that be a bad thing? The stage is set high and offers a great view from pretty much anywhere (if you can score a spot on the railing at any level you're completely set). The sound is also one of the better systems I've found in these parts. I don't find it hard to get to as the Queen streetcar runs regularly enough and stops just a short block away. However, I do find the post-show trip complete with crack addicts on said streetcar harassing everyone for money to be less-than-desirable, but what can you do. Annoyingly there are no ins & outs, mostly because there is a strange little cafe of sorts attached to the venue (you can enter from the sidewalk/smoking area or from inside) that wants you to buy overpriced fries and such. So if you need some "fresh" air (which, you probably will because there seems to be zero ventilation inside the building) you'll be stuck hanging out in the smokers patio. If you drink there are plenty of bars here for you. The main bar at the back of the top tier of the floor area and 2 smaller bars on the sides of the main floor itself. There is also a bar on the balcony level when it's open (for larger shows). Security was very thorough (2 people looking at all the ID's, bag searches for girls / pat downs for guys) but really laid back about it. The girl in front of me first got busted on her fake ID, but they just Xed her hand and she went on. Then security found her "pot-in-the-mints-container" stash and dumped it ... but STILL let her go to the show. Where I'm from, you'd probably be arrested for either of those things on the spot, so this was definitely surprising. All in all it's a good mid-sized concert experience and I won't hesitate to snatch up tickets when good bands stop by and play here. read more

Despite the fact that the music playing when I went was absolutely terrible (with the exception of one band - "two seconds") I think the opera house is a pretty sweet venue. With a sound system to kill. I love the style of the decor inside. It's a little creepy being felt up when you come through the door but all that says to me is that you should feel a little bit safer being here than at bars without people who feel you up! I didn't eat, or drink anything while here so I can't comment on that. The opera house seems to have an unnecessary washroom attendant with a bad attitude but big whoop. Just don't tip him for standing there and watching you pee then not doing anything. Overall, great venue. Hope I go back to see some good music sometime soon! read more

This is a great venue overall. The sound is good, the staff are friendly, everything isn't as overpriced as the larger venues. The show I went to see was unreserved seating and was first come first serve essentially. Mid show, we realized we could go to the upper level and take seats. It was very nice to have the option to stand up and stay in the crowd, or go up to sit and relax. There are around 3-4 areas to get drinks so you won't have to wait too long which is another bonus. I'd say my only complaint was the lack of security during the show. They were pretty much non existent. Crowd surfing and moshing in inevitable at shows (especially metal shows). There should have been several security guards in front of the stage to keep the acts and crowd safe. read more

I ve been at this cool place for a jazz listenin occasion Good location (Queen East) Good accoustic A balcony Nice pricing Most importantly, an old opera house w ornments ll make u feel comfort. Go for it! read more

I would love to give this venue 5 stars for atmosphere, sight lines and alcohol accessibility - BUT the sound is horrible. Muddy, imbalanced and concert experience destroying. It pisses me off because out of town bands I like keep coming here. Please - Opera House do something. read more

I think the Opera House is a great great great venue to see live music. The sight-lines are good and the mezzanine is fantastic! Even for a sold out show we had an awesome view and plenty of space up there to enjoy it, and free and easy bar access. The sound was alright. The bathrooms are filthy and in between bands the line up for the ladies was cray-zay, but whatevs. It was fun to imagine the Opera House in it's glory days. I'm sure at one point it was quite elegant. I like that much of the historic character remains! read more

The tribute to Don Berns couldn't be at a better place than the Opera House. The sound, the lighting, the ambience was perfect...so was the people. I had problems with one of the security personnel as he had trouble scanning my VIP ticket, but hey! It's better to be sure, and I was not at all angry. I was patient, he finally got it to work and...it was all worth the wait. The event was beyond anything imaginable. David Marsden got his theatre back...and I told him! Also, Don Berns would've been so proud. He was. We all felt the SPIRIT that day read more

Best sound in the city for a metal show. No matter where you stand, you have a great view. Great bar staff, friendly security, and moderate prices. read more

I love the Opera House. I saw Lacuna Coil, I was in the second row, I got to meet them, and it was a nice small place with great air conditioning. I also like how old the place is, it's beautiful inside, and the concert was very intimate and nice. It's easy to get to, has parking nearby, security is kind, drinks and water are cheap and they will refill your water bottle for free unlimited amounts of times. Not crowded because they properly control ticket sales (Unlike The Sound Academy). read more

The best thing about the Opera House is the sight lines. I'm 5'1" and can still see the stage from also anywhere in the venue. Drink prices are reasonable compared to other venues in the city. Despite the appearance of the kitchen, the food is great and affordable. It is convenient if you are heading to a show after work and don't have time to eat (or if you want some late night munchies). For those complaining about limited seating... this is a general admission concert venue. Here's some advice: http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-General-Admission-Floor read more

Saw Comfortably Numb last night and seriously, I think you had to be to actually enjoy it. Let me try and put this delicately - the Opera House is a dump. The floors and walls were filthy. There was one bare light bulb illuminating the stairs from the balcony. You couldn't have paid me to use the washrooms but my husband was desperate. He told me there was an 'attendent' handing our soap -it's rationed now?- and paper towels, and apparently fishing for tips. From my vantage point on the first balcony, I watched the bartender handling cash and then putting lemons and straws in people's drinks and flipping open their beer cans without any hand washing - ewwww. Can you say Communicable Diseases?Also saw her pour herself a couple of beers just in the first half of the show - didn't stay for the second half - is it really ok for bartenders to drink? Maybe it was self-serve for the 2nd half. The girl at the front door was also sucking on a beer. Hmmm. Expect to stand if you go here since there are only 20 seats in the whole place - and that may not be a bad thing. Can you imagine how gross the seats would be? Besides, standing on a concrete floor for 4 hours is fun! As far as the music goes, I think there needs to be a bit of an upgrade on the mixing. It was sometime hard to tell which Pink Floyd songs they were playing which was too bad because there were moments when they sounded pretty good. read more

the opera house is a really fun venue and convenient on a few fronts. firstly its home to an enormous proscenium stage at the back that is even better viewed from the multi-tiered balcony. that last sentence really combines a couple things. the room itself is intimate enough to easily get within a couple feet of the performers to cry your eyes out and scream if you like. the floor before the stage is pretty large; if this place were not as much of a rock venue, it would have the potential panache of an event hall for a wedding, or the grand presence for, i dont know, let's say...an opera. and putting those two ideas together is a no brainer. i often find myself staring up at the ceiling when im there to look at the ornate embellishments carved out many years ago, when im sure this was an opera house. the other thing about this place is its balcony which is great when you dont want to be moshing in the mosh pit down below, but just want to dance with your head lets say. it has a bar up there too - easier to get to then the bars that lie on either side of the stage. actually, theres a bar at the back bottom too. i always remember the sound being great here and i look forward to my return. read more