9 Best Bars in Queen's Park, The Annex, and Little Italy, Toronto

Renovated in 2021, this mid-size club and concert venue boasts impressive lighting and sound systems. The roster includes a mix of live acts (from pop and rap to jazz and indie), touring DJs, and dance parties. Get down on the main dance floor, or head to the upper deck for seating and a killer view of the stage.

The family that runs this narrow beer bar has a side business importing rare brews from all over the world, so you know whatever's on tap—whether it's brewed in Ontario or Belgium—is going to be stellar. The setting feels decidedly Old World, complete with weathered brick walls and a hidden patio space that feels like a walled-off courtyard. A specialty grocer and bottle shop, Bottega Volo, is two doors down.

Located a short jaunt west of the Annex is this basement club, a hotbed of activity for homegrown and touring comics alike. There are sketch and stand-up shows from locals most nights of the week, but the room has also hosted boldface names like Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron, and Mae Martin.

From open mics to folk music and stand-up comedy, there's something happening almost every night of the week on this casual eatery's backroom stage. The biggest draw is a traditional Jewish brunch series called "Bella! Did Ya Eat?," complete with live klezmer music, that's held every Sunday.

An Annex fave since the '90s, this brick-walled spot offers a variety of drink specials throughout the week, plus bar bites and the odd live DJ set. Head right back the next morning for a tasty brunch.

The rowdy atmosphere—every guest is greeted with a cheerful hello in Japanese by kitchen and serving staff when you walk through the door—is just part of what makes this izakaya so charming. Grab a Sapporo, sake, or cocktail splashed with Suntory or vodka, but don't sleep on the delicious small plates.

Originally launched as a pop-up taco stand, La Carnita expanded to this space on College and eventually spawned a number of sibling restaurants across the city. The tacos, hand-crafted cocktails, churros, and house-made paletas still reel diners in week after week. The space is filled with funky graffiti and the sounds of loud hip-hop beats.

Some of the most exciting bands in rock, indie, and punk play at this grungy-yet-venerable club with a psychedelic graffiti facade on the edge of the University of Toronto campus. Grab a Toronto-style roti (Indian curry wrapped Caribbean-style in flatbread) from the service window between sets. Upstairs is the Dance Cave, a no-frills dance club popular with students.

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).