Toronto is a magical place, whether you visit it during the warm or cold part of the year. In spring and summer, you can head to a music festival all day and night, take a Niagara Falls cruise, salsa through the streets at Salsa in Toronto events, or explore High Park with a picnic. In the winter, there are snow sports aplenty, cozy coffee shops to linger in, and museums to frequent… but what about after the sun sets? The nightlife in Toronto is just as exciting and enticing as daytime activities, and these are all the spots you have to check out on your next visit.
Bars
Stopping off at a gorgeous Toronto bar is the perfect way to start a memorable, enjoyable evening. These are the best of the best, each one for a different kind of person who likes a different kind of drink or aesthetic.
- Bar Raval
If Poor Things and Gaudi had a baby, it would look like this bar. The astounding interior design features warm wood crafted into seamless organic shapes that give the impression of being inside a living cave. This alone is enough to draw crowds. Couple the unique design with incredible service, a selection of cocktails, and tapas at this Spanish-inspired bar, and you’ve got a real show-stopper.
- Woodys & Sailor
This queer institution (since 1989) is a welcoming space for any queer human or ally and showcases some of Toronto’s best talent, often in the form of drag legend Georgie Girl. The decor in the bar changes seasonally, as they have a full-time interior designer on staff, so it’s a new experience each season. Nowhere is more fun!
- Black Dice Cafe
Did someone say “dive bar”? This one is incredibly unique, with its dual Japanese and Rockabilly inspiration and a distinctly American nostalgic feel. Here, you can slam a few shots (if that’s your thing) and flip through the tunes on the classic jukebox. It’s a hole in the wall, so go earlier if you don’t want to be part of a huge crowd, and prepare yourself for the incredible Japanese fusion cocktails that they offer.
Casinos
If you’re the type who likes to dance with Lady Luck, you should check out one of the many high-end casinos and casino resorts Toronto offers. There are some big gambling names in this city (even the BetMGM brand is rumored to be excitedly preparing to launch a location in Toronto), so you’ll be really spoiled for choice on where to play casino games.
- Woodbine Race Track is a great spot for those who “love a flutter on the horses”, as the Brits say.
- The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is a one-stop shop for gambling, shopping, entertainment, and a wonderful place to stay.
- The Fallsview Casino Resort is not far from Niagara and is the perfect “after-hours” activity to follow a tour of the falls.
Restaurants
After drinks, it’s time for dinner, of course! Toronto is fortunate to have a direct pipeline to some of the freshest and highest-quality seafood (and other farm-to-table ingredients) in Canada and arguably the world, so there are restaurants aplenty to choose from.
- Lake Inez
If the bar where you sipped your drinks was crowded, then Lake Inez is the perfect antithesis for dinner time. This is the place to go for a calm, wholesome (yet hip at the same time, which is challenging but well-achieved here) atmosphere and to enjoy gastropub-style food and excellent wine at your leisure. This place is popular, with its floral Laura Ashley style wallpaper and dark wood seating, so book way further in advance than you think you need to.
- Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
This light, airy, and relaxed location gives you a taste of Jamaican cuisine using only the best Canadian ingredients. Light, weathered wood, bright prints and colors, rattan, and beachy wallpapers come together to bring the tropics to you. The selection of flamboyant (and strong) drinks and soulful Jamaican classics like jerk chicken is unlike any other in the city.
- Alder
Here is where you’ll find the intersection of warmth, incredibly refined taste, and modern design. The layers of interior accents will grab your attention first — neutrals are layered between warm woods and slate-colored walls, and brass fittings sit above the bar, which backs onto a roaring fire. The fine dining meets comfort food menu is exquisitely plated in a very minimal, no-frills but still chic way, and the portions are generous (not to mention delicious beyond belief).
Clubs
It’s time to round off the evening (or morning, spending on you!) with a stop-off somewhere you can dance the remaining hours away. Toronto’s club scene never disappoints, so choosing from these options will be a challenge!
- Rebel Entertainment Complex
This is a mega-club if there ever was one. Coming in at 45,000 square feet of pure multi-sensory entertainment and views for days across the Toronto waterfront, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything as lavish as this. If you’re looking for top-class entertainment, look no further: this venue hosts acts like ASAP Rocky, Cardi B, Tiesto, Steve Aoki, and Tyga. It’s a popular club, so unless you book a VIP package, you’ll have to take your chances in the line.
- Track and Field
This is a little more intimate than our previous option, but Track and Field loses nothing from being a smaller venue. Old souls love this venue thanks to shuffleboard and bocce lanes (very similar to curling), and beer fanatics love the selection of local and international options on tap. Enjoy great music, some laughs, and a diverse crowd.
- CODA
Underground EDM fans are big fans of this venue, thanks to DJs who really know how to select a phenomenal playlist. The parties hosted at this venue are the dance-all-night kind, and since CODA stays open later than almost every other club in the city, you could even make it a last stop after club hopping at other places. That said, if you want to guarantee you’ll get in, you should arrive before midnight.
Experience Toronto
After-hours Toronto is a version you never knew you needed to explore, but now that you’ve got all the details, there’s nothing standing between you and a night-life experience you’ll never forget.
