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The nightlife scene in Toronto is as varied as the neighborhoods. Downtown—in the Entertainment and Financial districts and Old Town—bars and pubs cater to theatergoers and weekday worker bees. They can be dead on weekends after dark, however—especially in the Entertainment District—until 11 pm rolls around and the big loft-style dance clubs get going. To hang with locals at their neighborhood joints, head to Little Italy or the Annex, where university students mix with residents of the surrounding Victorian-lined streets.
Gay nightlife centers around Church and Wellesley streets northeast of the downtown core. Everyone under 40 ends up on Queen West at some point, patronizing the once-bohemian, now-established arty bars and cafés. Ladies who lunch meet for midday martinis in swanky Yorkville and later clink glasses at the tony lounges. Throughout the city are dedicated music venues, bars, and supper clubs that specialize in jazz, Latin, blues, rock, hip-hop, and everything in between.
Most recently Toronto has emerged as a food-obsessed city with late-night restaurants (from hole in the walls to the crème de la crème in fine dining), offering sips and nibbles to those who wish to feast past the usual dinner hour. Other emerging trends include a flourish of local brewpubs and luxury hotels offering unique evening programs which have locals and tourists swarming. In this section, we've covered the places that have cemented their place in the city's scene, but new hot spots are always emerging. Check local news outlets to get the latest.
Hemingway's is a homey bastion in a sea of Yorkville swank. The three-story complex, with indoor and outdoor spaces (including a heated rooftop patio), is a mishmash of booths, tables, several bars, mirrors, artsy posters, and books. The pub grub menu, which covers everything from brunch to late night, is a big draw for the regular-heavy crowd, too. A different kind of sports bar, it's also a good place to watch international events like soccer, rugby, and cricket.
Crossing the threshold into this Danforth pub, decked out with cozy wooden booths (or "snugs"), is like time-warping to the Emerald Isle. Musicians playing folk and traditional Irish tunes perform here regularly, and the Guinness is always flowing.
This pub is dedicated to all things Scottish. If the massive mural of the St. Andrew's Cross decorating the cozy back patio doesn't give it away, the enormous whiskey selection certainly will. There are more than 500 single malts, with selections dating as far back as the '60s. The pub also hosts frequent tasting events featuring various distillers, and serves hearty Highland eats (haggis—real and vegan—included).
Toronto's British heritage thrives at this classy bar with a full restaurant, where the black-and-white photos on the walls reveal its true passion: soccer. A Manchester United game is never missed, though NHL and other sporting events are also shown. The wine list is admirable for a pub while the beer and cider selection is focused on Ontario brews. Dressed-up British staples—available in the bar or ground-floor dining room—range from Scotch eggs to an excellent hand-chopped beef burger.
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