The Rex, Horseshoe Tavern, Massey Hall, Lee's Palace — Toronto's best live music venues by genre and night of the week, from jazz to indie to electronic.
Toronto is a serious music city — and not just because of Drake. The live music infrastructure is remarkable: over 200 dedicated music venues, from 50-person jazz rooms to a 20,000-seat arena, and a culture of music-going that means there's almost always something worth seeing on any given night.
The Rex is Toronto's most important jazz club. Seven nights a week, two sets per night, minimal cover ($10–15), and the kind of room that feels exactly like it should. McCaul Street, steps from the AGO. Go for the 9:30pm set on a Friday to see why Toronto takes jazz seriously.
Above the legendary Senator diner on Victoria Street, one of the oldest jazz venues in North America — been running since 1948. Intimate, historically important, and still booking quality acts.
Toronto events listings are best found through NOW Magazine (nowtoronto.com), Resident Advisor for electronic music, and the individual venue websites. Ticketmaster and organizer websites cover the major shows. For last-minute live music, the venues themselves often have walk-up tickets available even on busy weekends.
Pro tip Check the Horseshoe Tavern and The Rex calendars first — both book consistently excellent acts and the cover is usually under $20. The Rex in particular is an exceptional value for live jazz in a room that feels like a proper jazz club.
Toronto Events → — See what's happening in Toronto this weekend
WTF Toronto creates guides using independent editorial research, official sources, local knowledge and firsthand experience where available. Commercial relationships are disclosed where applicable.