10 Best Bars, Live Music, and Nightclubs in Toronto

The Piston is a nightclub and bar in Toronto where you can dance to music that spans the previous 5 decades. Events include 1990s video dance nights, disco parties and 1960s mod vinyl DJs. When you need a break from the dancefloor, you can relax in a booth in the main bar area and refuel on gourmet sandwiches and tapas.

The Piston is only open on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 pm, so expect to jostle with crowds of partygoers. If you’re planning a private party, you can book out this venue throughout the week. The closest subway station is Ossington Subway Station, which is about a 3-minute walk away.

At C’est What, you can choose from over 40 beers on tap, as well as spirits from the dedicated whiskey bar. If you like your beverages to be a little more colorful, we recommend checking out this taproom’s extensive cocktail menu. You can also fill up on comfort foods, such as wraps and burgers

On most days, C’est What opens its doors at noon, when you can enjoy a quiet lunch or play board games in a laidback setting. If you want to experience the pub at its liveliest, we recommend arriving around 7 pm on a Friday or Saturday, just in time to grab a table before the crowds arrive.

Get Well is a Toronto taproom that’s popular with the locals and provides the traditional atmosphere of a pub. The vibe is complemented by its vintage decor and retro pinball machines. Its menu includes around a dozen beers on tap and at least twice as many cans and bottles, with most beverages sourced from local producers. There’s also a selection of home-brewed beers available.

Get Well is open daily from 5 pm. If you’re looking for something to do before the doors open, we recommend checking out the nearby Art Gallery of Toronto or the Royal Ontario Museum. Dufferin, the closest subway station, is around 2 km away.

The Comedy Bar is an independent venue that occupies a relatively small pace, but it hosts over 150 up-and-coming improv and stand-up acts every month. You can also attend workshops and classes if you’re interested in getting involved in the action. On its menu, you’ll find a large selection of local and international beers, wines, spirits and cocktails.

While busiest on weekends, the Comedy Bar can attract large crowds any day of the week. We recommend booking your table in advance to avoid disappointment. Stick around after the show, and you might get to have a beer with the live entertainers.

Bar Raval transports you to Barcelona with its Gaudi-esque, curvy wooden panels and covered patio, where you can sip sophisticated cocktails while mingling with the locals. On top of beverages, Bar Raval boasts an extensive Spanish tapas menu. It’s especially popular with students from the nearby University of Toronto.

While visiting Bar Raval, you might want to check out the nearby bohemian Kensington Market neighbourhood, where you’ll find specialty bakeries, cheese shops, vintage boutiques and art spaces. You can reach Bar Raval by taking the bus to the Bathurst St at College St transit stop, which is just a short walk away.

Coda is a lively and large underground music venue that attracts musicians from across the globe. It’s the successor to the previously popular Footwork club. Electronic music is Coda’s main draw, though this nightclub features acts in genres ranging from punk to R&B and everything in between.

Coda is only open on Fridays and Saturdays at 9 pm. We recommend buying a ticket in advance or getting there as early as possible to avoid long queues. The Bathurst subway station is located just across the road, about 60 meters away.

Track & Field is one of Toronto’s most popular lawn games bars. Here, you can sip beers and cocktails while playing a game of shuffleboard, bocce (closely related to British lawn bowling) or the Ontario-invented crokinole, which is a miniature disk-flicking board game. You’ll find seating spread across 2 floors, a 30-ft bar, and a lounge area.

All draught beers and house cocktails at Track & Field are reasonably priced. Don’t forget to grab a bite from the snack menu – Track & Field sources its meals from the highly regarded Fidel Gastro's Street Food Company.

El Convento Rico is a nightclub established in 1992 as a haven and hotspot for the LGBTQ+ community in Toronto. Today, the club’s weekend evening drag performances are its main draw. You can also listen to live DJs playing Top 40 and Latin music.

The menu includes imported and domestic beers, martinis and cocktails. If you intend to stay here until the early hours, you might want to order from the bottle service menu. El Convento Rico remains lively until around 3.30 am.

Lost and Found is a dimly-lit, small but exclusive basement venue, where DJs play top 40 trap, underground and hip-hop music. It’s a well-known and relatively pricey nightclub that often attracts celebrities (it’s even mentioned in a song by The Weeknd), which makes reservations essential.

Lost and Found is so exclusive that even reservations don’t guarantee entry. Make sure to arrive on time and boost your chances of being invited inside by ordering from the bottle service menu. Also, keep in mind that Lost and Found operates a strict dress code, which it describes as upscale chic.

The Good Fortune Bar is a basement cocktail lounge that also serves comfort food and a range of beers and wines. Its palm leaf motifs, pink walls, colorful plants, dangling lights and neon signs give Good Fortune Bar a 1980s Miami Beach clubhouse vibe. You can either sip your cocktail from the comfort of a cozy booth or a high-top table.

To make sure you can grab a table, we recommend heading to the Good Fortune Bar before 8 pm. Expect loud music and a crowded but lively atmosphere from 9 pm onwards. If you’re feeling a little peckish, try one of the bar’s burgers, such as the cheeseburger with crinkle-cut fries topped with hickory sticks.