Toronto's jazz heartbeat. Seven nights a week, two sets per night, usually no cover. The Rex is irreplaceable — a genuine jazz room with no pretension, excellent sound, and musicians who mean every note.
Area: Queen West · Address: 194 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z1 · Hours: Live music 7 nights/week until 2am
What to expect
Lived-in jazz perfection
Local tip
Monday nights are secretly the best — experimental jazz, tiny crowd, incredible intimacy. Buy a musician a drink after the set; they'll tell you things about Toronto you've never heard. The back room sightlines are excellent anywhere.
Getting there
Subway to Osgoode (Line 1), then 2-minute walk west on Queen. The Rex is at the corner of Queen & University, one of the most central locations in the city.