9 Best Nightlife in West Queen West, Ossington, and Parkdale, Toronto

This restaurant, bar, and on-site brewery has been a smash hit since it opened in 2012. If the sun is shining, expect a line for the spacious patio, a great spot to sample the always evolving craft beer selection. Sour-beer fans should try the seasonal fruit-infused Jelly King, which has beer drinkers queueing up at the bottle shop on release day. The hearty snacks run the gamut from Canadian cheeses and terrine to a crispy Newfoundland cod sandwich.

The Gladstone draws an artsy Toronto crowd that appreciates creative endeavors like music performances, cabaret and burlesque, and trivia nights. A 2022 relaunch gives the trusted community and LGBTQ+-friendly programming a bright neon pop art backdrop, with a light-up dance floor, '70s and '80s art-pop records on the wall, and TVs broadcasting what's on stage during busy events. Regulars flock to popular karaoke nights—both recorded and with a live band—and drag brunches. The Bar + Bistro has an accessible comfort food menu with Mediterranean and North African twists, plus plenty of themed cocktails that play off the Gladstone House's long history. The Gladstone Ballroom, once the centerpiece, now hosts mostly private events and weddings, but does sometimes host big party spillover. Original pieces from local artists are on nearly every wall.

Latin-music lovers of all ages dress up to get down to live Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and salsa music at this old-school hot spot. Now over two decades old, Lula has become a global music institution, going beyond those genres into samba, cumbia, reggae, Indigenous throat singing, and anything else you can think of. Weekend salsa nights include dance lessons, live band performances, and a prix-fixe menu (C$64). Lula is also an arts center, with dance and drumming lessons and a multitude of festivals and cultural events.

Locals know the Drake as a hub for art, culture, food, and nightlife, with multiple spaces hosting events on any given night. The basement is home to the Drake Underground, a venue that hosts live music and DJ nights, while the rooftop Sky Yard patio serves drinks surrounded by eye-popping art installations.

Restaurateur Jen Agg is a household name in Toronto, and the drinks are never an afterthought at her restaurants or at Cocktail Bar, where the ceiling is covered in pressed tin tiles and bottles gleam behind glass-paned cabinet doors. Across the street from Agg's other flagship spots Rhum Corner and Bar Vendetta, this boozy spot respects classic cocktail tradition—think Manhattans and absinthe concoctions, but rarely any vodka—but isn't afraid to take a few left turns either.

This dark but friendly little bar opened at the corner of Dundas and Ossington in the early 2000s, long before the neighborhood became trendy. Now, with its snack bar sign from its earlier incarnation and old-fashioned vinyl jukebox filled with punk and indie rock classics, the Commie (as the regulars sometimes call it) is an institution. Not much more than a bar and a few tables, it's the kind of spot you can go to, have a couple of pints, and find yourself in a deep conversation with someone you just met.

Sitting just north of the booming Ossington strip, this cozy basement bar and music venue has been a neighborhood favorite for over a decade and a half. The wood-paneled, whiskey-soaked vibe might remind you more of Nashville than Toronto, but this concrete city has always had an urban cowboy streak, especially in the music scene. The Dakota is a great spot to catch a high-energy bluegrass hoedown or an intimate singer-songwriter or indie rock showcase.

This classy tequila bar was ahead of the bar buzz on Ossington (it opened in 2007) and is still going strong. The dark wood, large windows, big back patio, and mix of DJs and live jazz set the tone for a serious list of tequilas meant to be sipped, not slammed. There are also enjoyable Mexican nibbles like ceviche and tacos. Reposado has also expanded into a bodega next door with enviable bottles available for takeout.

Once a Portuguese sports bar, after over a decade on Dundas West, this spot has become a key local live music venue. The back room isn't huge, but it's a popular spot for up-and-coming touring musicians as well as locals looking to make a mark, not to mention many hopping DJ nights. It also hosts occasional live music and events like the quirky non-expert lecture series Trampoline Hall. A front room bar/cantina is a neighborhood hangout spot.