The Bent Expressions eNewspaper since 1996
A Social Enterprise of QueerWest.org (Formerly The Inside Story).
Your complete resource guide to Queer West Village, Toronto
ON: Accommodation, Businesses, and Restaurants, Bars
and Night Clubs. Gaybourhoods (Street
Map ) We cover:
Music - Art - Films - Theatre - Politics - Community Events.
We tear up Queer Toronto, finding cool stuff,
we think you'll enjoy. Click around and have some fun!
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Queer West Village Gaybourhoods (Big
Street Map )
Queer Neighbourhoods: Bloor-Annex
| Chinatown | Roncesvalles
| Queen West | Little
Italy | Little Portugal
Bloor West Annex Neighbourhood 
A Bohemian funky area featuring trendy restaurants serving innovative cuisine. There’s always a new & hot restaurant in the spotlight here. City Map of the Annex | Take The Annex Video tour
Dance Cave - Lee's Palace - 529 Bloor St. W., one and a half blocks east of Bathurst St Exit the TTC at the Bathurst Subway Station. 24hr info line (416) 532-1598 Sin Sundays with tough chicks, dykes, rocker dudes and drag queens to end your week mingling and mating to the new wave, disco, old school, Goth, industrial, punk, ska and “cheese-o-rama”. DJ Shannon spins on Manic Monday's. An alternative for the already alternative queer. 10pm. No cover. The Annex neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Annex WreckRoom - 794 Bathurst Street Phone: (416) 536-0346. Formerly the Hacienda - New owners will be holding gay, queer, gender bender all night events Not wheelchair accessible. www.theannexwreckroom.comThe Annex - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Chinatown & Kensington Market
Neighbourhood
The Boat - 158 Augusta Ave. 416) 593-9218 in Kensington Market.$$ Affordable There’s a new place to party in the Market. The Boat is a pirate ship-themed bar located at 158 Augusta and hosts weekly queer events. | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Comfort Zone (Dance Club) - 480 Spadina.416 975 0909. Afterhours
nightclub. The Comfort Zone is unlike any other club. It's most infamous for
its Sunday after-parties, which starts at sunrise and is rocking by mid-morning,
wrapping up at around 3 am Monday. Line up starts at 5:30am, doors open at 6am
on Sunday mornings- be ready to grease the doorman. Have your "line-by
pass card" handy. Inside, you will find a low ceiling basement, lit only
by black lighting. This is no fashion show. This is NOT for the faint of heart.
Music is loud, and sounds great. The 19+ crowds are awesome. Best nights Thurs-Saturday.
El Mocambo -
(Dance Club) 484 Spadina Ave @ College; Doors are at 10:00
pm Hosts weekly queer events. Get ready to strut your stuff ’cause this
crowd means serious business out on the dance floor. 10 pm-3am. Trinity-Spadina.
Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Supermarket - (Best Place to Eavesdrop on Yuppie Angst) 268 Augusta Avenue,416.840.0501 Former owners of the ultra-funky College Street Lava Lounge have transposed themselves to become the hot new spot in Kensington Market. This diverse fusion restaurant offers dishes like the popular braised oxtail and veal shank with lemongrass topped with Thai basil, to tapas-style sharing dishes like grilled chimichurri calamari and sweet potato chips spiced with chipotle and sea salt. Feel like surfing the net while having an after-work snack? Bring your wireless laptop too, and ask your server for the password. On weekend evenings, the venue gets packed full of well-dressed people sipping drinks inside or on the outdoor patio. On “do-right Saturday” nights you will hear DJ Fase on the decks, rated one of Toronto’s finest, spinning a mixed bag of hip hop, funk, and classic soul. Dine, dance, and discover this unique oasis of coolness hidden inside hippie-town. Age group 18-25 Open 5.30 pm to 2 am $$ Affordable. (Kensington Market) Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Palmerston - Little Italy Neighbourhood
Bars & restaurants - College/Little Italy. Bordered by College St. to
the north, Dundas St. to the south, Ossington. to the west and Bathurst Ave.
to the east. About
Little Italy | Queer Toronto events
Andy Poolhall (Dance Club) - 489 College Street. 416 . 923 . 5300 Daily
2:00 pm - 3 :00 am. www.andypoolhall.com
| Little Italy, Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Cafe
Diplomatico - 594 College. 416-534-4637. $$ Affordable Still one of
the most sought-after gay friendly patios in the city, summer seats 150. Expect
lineups starting late afternoon for the patio. Reasonably priced food, homemade
sauces, mix-and-match pastas, $14 pitchers of domestic draft. Sun-Thu 8am-2am;
Fri-Sat 8am-3am. Little Italy - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
El Convento Rico Kicking arund since 1993. Never involved or supported
the west end queer community. Latin dance and drag club mainly attracts straight
905ers, who like to play the down low. More of an Old Dowager Queen these days.
416-588-7800, 750 College St.underneath Blockbusters, Little Italy - Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
The Mod Club Theatre
- (Dance Club) 722 College Street two doors east of El Convento Rico,
416-588-4663. Hours: Thurs, Fri and Saturday, 9:00 pm - 3:00 am Known for its
britrock and swinging retro-mod dance nights. The crowd is typical circuit-fabulous,
mixed up with: british mods, polyester-clad queer scenesters, '80s music fans,
folks not quite sure what they’ve wandered into. The crowd ebbs and flows
all night, thanks to its diverse musical selections. Little Italy - Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
Revival (Dance Club) - 783 College Street 416-535-7888.
$$ Affordable Since the beginning, Revival has provided a safe haven of good
vibes to artists and dancers alike. It allows anyone who appreciates the arts,
a chance to come together in rich surroundings. With a slogan of “Eat,
drink, talk, listen” Revival does just that. While many would be surprised
to find that it offers more than just generously-poured cocktails. Dominic Tedesco,
one of the owners of Revival, is very proud of his club and happy to see it
through its fourth year of business. “It’s an amazing place where
the club community can connect.”. A great place to dance or lounge and
a have lot of fun!!!!!! - www.revivalbar.com
| Little Italy - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Sneaky Dee's - As throngs of local queers know, Sneaky Dee's is the place to go when you've given up on all other places. Anti-corporate, pro-feminist, pro-gay. Some of the better bar food in the downtown core. The great thing about Dee's is that their kitchen is open incredibly late (2 AM or something) and you'll walk away eating for under $15. Whether you're travelling north, south, east or west, all streetcars eventually have to stop at the corner of College and Bathurst. 416-504-7934. Age 20-40. $$ Affordable. 431 College Street, The live entertainment happens on the 2nd Floor, | www.sneaky-dees.com | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Little Portugal (Davenport South)
including Ossington
Baby Huey, 70 Ossington, 416-992-5462.There's seldom a cover, almost
always some kind of drink special for those on a budget. A domestic beer normally
costs $4.50, a bar rail $5.50. There is a DJ booth, but the tunes are kept to
a conversational level and there's not much room to boogie. It's more a place
for sipping pints with friends, than for shaking your tail feathers. Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
Black Dice Café 1574 Dundas St. W.; No phone.Black Dice opened
in September, owner Hideki Saito's his wife, Kristin Jensen, a teacher who works
in the bar on weekends.Their jukebox plays 45s, and is the capstone of the cozy
venue's '50s vibe. two plays for a quarter. Lots of '50s, but '60 and '70s,
too. Elvis mixes with Johnny Cash, Joan Jett and the B-52s. The girls at West
Side Video tell us a small lesbian crowd is starting to hang out, mainly because
of the Jute Box.
Communist’s Daughter - 1149 Dundas St W. at Ossington. 647-435-0103.
(Best Place to See a Fake Artist) An obscure dive with a brass address No. 119,
an old store sign above reads "Nazare's Snack Bar" and next door to a
graffiti covered drug store. Don't let the curious moniker fool you: The C.D.
isn't a Socialist meeting headquarters - the name is taken from a line from
a ‘70s song. This queer friendly place is always full. Full means 29 patrons
and all the Goodwill tables and chairs occupied. Service is friendly, the bathrooms
clean, and the jukebox 3 for buck, Replacements, Stars, Dionne Warwick, The
Neutral Milk Hotel album from which the bar takes its name. And miraculously,
considering the young and with-it crowd, the pickled egg jar diminishes from
half-full to empty each night. The reason? Hard to say; perhaps it’s just
the beer. Though the juke-box vibe here on an average Friday night would send
your hipster self into helpless paroxysms of joy. Little Portugal Queer West
Toronto, Ontario
Crooked Star - 202 Ossington at Dundas. 416-536-7271 (Best Place to
Release your Inner Slacker) Has quietly become the ad hoc meeting place, watering
hole and, to some degree, home-away-from-home for many queer westenders. Touted
as a neighbourhood bar, the Crooked Star aims to soothe and comfort the young
locals that have recently made the Dundas West area their new back yard. Decked
out with folksy wooden booths and lit by regulation candlelight, the small space
hosts alternative -DJs most nights, offers crock-pot specials from the kitchen
weekdays and Coronation Street brunch every Sunday afternoon from 1 pm. Open
from 11 am daily. $$ Affordable | Little Portugal neighbourhood. (Queer West
Toronto, Ontario)
Dakota Tavern - (New Rock and Roll Country Bar) A new place, opened
January 2007, at 249 Ossington Ave just a few doors north of Dundas. 416.850.4579.
occasional queer event once a year. Websites: www.thedakotatavern.com
| www.myspace.com/thedakotatavern
| Little Portugal neighbourhood. (Queer West Toronto, Ontario)
Gayley's Fine Foods Ltd - (Best Home Cooking in the Westend) 1424 Dundas
St W at Gladstone Avenue. Family run business 416-538-3443. This a casual
spot that's never too crowded, always has stacks of newspapers to read and whips
up a respectable all-day breakfast for $5.95. Just don't be in a hurry: everything's
made to order -- very slowly. substantial soup 'n' salad noshes in a relaxed
room that would be horizontal if it were any more laid-back. Lots of mid 20-40's,
urban closeted queers. But then Equity Showcase is just around the corner. Complete
meals for $10 per person, including all taxes and tip. Open Monday to Friday
7 am to 5 pm, Saturday 7 am to 5 pm, Sunday 9 am to 3 pm. Catering services
too. Unlicensed. Cash only. $$ Affordable Little Portugal (Rua Acores) neighbourhood.
Queer West Toronto, Ontario
The Henhouse, 1532
Dundas St W. 416-534-5939 on north side. Open daily from 5pm-2am. Sat &
Sunday Brunch to 3 pm.
Wonderful cozy little bar, where even strangers are friendly. Mixed crowd. Henhouse
has become one of the most popular up-and-coming lesbian bars on the Queer West
scene. Where the Henhouse really seems shine is its inclusive atmosphere — which
is fitting for the Queer West Village in general. It’s nice to go out to a place
with your gay friends and run into your straight friends. Domestic beer is cheap,
$5 a bottle and only Cameron Ale on tap at $5.50 a pint. Open 6 PM to 3 AM,
best to go Friday or Saturday night, when the 1950 jukebox is jumping with Siouxsie
and the Banshees, Kate Bush, Donna Summer, Blondie. Most played Fleetwood Mac,
Dolly Parton. . Little Portugal (Rua Acores) neighbourhood. Queer West Toronto,
Ontario.
Julie's
- 202 Dovercourt Road, ph: 416-532-7397. Patio seats 20. Under tall shade trees
on a quiet street, Julie's offers Cuban cuisine that's not as incendiary as
its Caribbean counterparts but makes for perfect drinking grub. Decor: a detail-correct
30s general store. Queer friendly boité Open Tuesday to Sunday 5:30 pm
to 2 am. $$ Affordable Little Portugal (Rua Acores) - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
LeVack Block 88 Ossington , in the historic LeVack building,
a hipster hangout. The restaurant and bar area in the front has nine brews on
tap, and a neon-lit party venue in the back houses DJs and always a queer live
band. Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Lula Dance Lounge
- 1585 Dundas Street West, 2 blocks west of Dufferin. 416-588-0307. If you love
live music, this is a great new place to see the raw musical talent of Toronto.
Imported afro-cuban, sala, swing bands and spoken word nights. Little Portugal
(Rua Acores) neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Luna
Cafe - 181 Dovercourt Road on the corner of Argyle, two blocks North
of Queen Street, Across the street from new Argle Lofts. Formerly a corner store,
this cozy hip little boité serves up great sandwiches and brunch items.
A place where local gay art & antique dealers hang out. Community table
by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events.
Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the community. 416-588-3374,
Little Portugal (Rua Acores) neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
NACO’S Gallery & Cafe 647-347-6499, 1665 Dundas Street West, The
Gallery is local emerging and established visual artists, showcasing video and
new media, hosting book readings and other cultural events. As a gallery, their
aim will be to promote low rates of a professional gallery wall space. The Cafe
serves Mexican inspired Cuisine with an emphasis on healthy, tasty food. They
will also be offering imported food and coffee from Mexico. Both alcoholic and
non-alcoholic beverages served during special events and regular hours. . There
is more to know about NACO, so please check out our website, facebook page and
the attached files. www.nacogallery.com/events/
and www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto-ON/NACO-Gallery/49490352469.
NACO Gallery Cafe, 1665 Dundas West, PH: 647 347 6499. Queer West Village,
Toronto Ontario. Another Favourite of the President of Queer West.
Saving
Grace - 907 Dundas Street West. 416-899-9186. Don't let their business
card throw you off, just because it shows a crowned Virgin Mary holding a basket
of bread buns. This bare-bones minimalist style cafe white, white and white
with pale pine tables and a few very small, unobtrusive paintings on the walls.
But owner-chef Monica Miller has not just adopted a look. The essence of her
restaurant, from the menu to the service, is reassuringly uncomplicated. High
ceilings, large front windows and all that white make the cafe bright to the
point of crispness. The menu, typed on white paper, is brief and to the point:
a soup, four salads, four sandwiches, a few pies. Most lunch items are $5 or
$6, the priciest being a tomato-cheddar herb pie with green salad for $7. The
is definitely queer friendly boité, with a dyke or two working in the
kitchen. Trinity Bellwoods - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
She Takes the Cake - Hipster Cafe-Sandwich-Bakery Shop (Street
Map) 1600 Dundas St. W. 416-538-2253. Owners Adrienne and Peter
Weinberg are very gay positive, how could they be anything but, as Adrienne
puts with good humour"our bake shop is in the Lesbian capital of Canada."
The Dulce De Leche Cheesecake is to die for, as well as the chocolate bouchon
which is a combo of brownie/chocolate cake. Decadent indeed. They also sell
fresh Gryfe's bagels. Fair Trade coffee, expressos, hot chocolate and amazing
varity of teas. The place is a few away doors from Central Spa Bathhouse
at Brock.Ave., and down the street from West Side Stories LGBT video store
at Dufferin.
Sweaty Betty's
- 13 Ossington Avenue at Queen W. Pol Cristo-Williams owns Sweaty Betty's, is
part owner in The Red Light and is opening a new bar.This tiny place rocks with
its cheap micobrews. The two seats in the front window give you an exclusive
view of West Toronto's version of the "lower east side". The music
comes from the eclectic jukebox, jukebox '70s punk, '80s new wave, '90s, "guilty
pleasures" of all eras, current indie rock. Banned Shine on You Crazy Diamond,
Pink Floyd. Attracts mixed crowd aged 19-25 Trinity $$ Affordable. Bellwoods
neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
The Ossington. 61 Ossington Avenue 416-850-0161 This new drinking hole
on the suddenly hopping Ossington strip is more upscale-looking than the neighbouring
Sweaty Betty's and Baby Huey but maintains that casual laid-back vibe. The front
room feels very open and airy, The back room, on the other hand, has more of
a NYC hole in the wall vibe with couches, lower ceiling, more subdued decibel
levels and its own dedicated bar. A great place to relax until the DJ in the
front drops the next banger.While DJs are at work, the space isn’t really oriented
to dancing. There’s enough floor space to make it possible, but the music is
generally kept to a low level to facilitate talking rather than fancy footwork.
Queer West, Toronto Ontario
The Red Light 1185 Dundas St. W., 416-533-6667 new place
owner by Pol Cristo-Williams who owns Sweaty Betty's on Ossington. Not review
yet. Jukebox has a bit of everything. three plays for $1. Everything from Bust
a Move by Young MC to Lola by the Kinks. Most played Salt-N-Pepa, Push It; The
Clash, Rock the Casbah.
Zoots Cafe, 1438 Dundas Street West 416-536-2233.one business west of
Gladstone north side of street in a former shoe store, is full of character
and as much as I would love to keep this wonderful finding all to myself, I
have to recommend that you check it out next time you're in the neighbourhood.
The owners Shawn and Melanie are so easy going and welcoming that the feeling
is that you are visiting friends The friendly lesbian Suzette, who works part-time
as counter help. Told me, she use to work at Cock and Tail bar on Queen West.
But this place is more fun and laid back. Zoots is drawing in a huge lesbian,
gay men and queer friendly straight crowd, who mostly sip lattes, type in their
Mac's and gossip with friends, maybe because of Suzette. Nice assortment of
munchies from cakes, bagels to expresso, to while away the time.
Roncesvalles - High Park
Alternative Grounds Coffee House - 333 Roncesvalles Ave., So popular regulars have their own coffee mugs stacked on a shelf. Two community boards by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer community. Only Fair Trade coffee sold and served. Summer atio seats 20. A great place to try your Gaydar!. Gay friendly sticker on front door. $$ Affordable. Roncesvalles neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Butlers Pantry Cafe - 371 Roncesvalles - a quaint little community cafe. 416-537-7750. Community ledge by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer community. $$ Affordable Roncesvalles neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Gate 403 - 403 Roncesvalles Avenue, just south of Howard Park on the eastside - 416-588-2930 - Jazz blues bar. Roncesvalles area - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Grenadier Cafe & Tea House -Located in picturesque High Park, know for it's gay men's peek-a-boo, woodsie cruising areas late at night (behind tennis courts and south end of park) . Open daily 7 am - 9 pm entrance off Bloor Street. Follow the signs to middle of High Park. 416-769-9878. Summer patio seats 300. High Park. Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Hugh's Room 2261 Dundas W Phone: (416) 531-6604 licensed bar and reasonable priced food menu. 200 seat Blues, Folk, Irish & Celtic Jazz, Bluegrass and occasional queer musician. $$ Affordable Roncesvalles neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Margaret's On Dundas. Somebody
is finally Queering up the Junction - Saturday Rotating Starlett's
Brit pop, DJ WMD spinning his own brand of rap/metal/slow jams, City on Fire's
vintage electro etc., SUN - DJ Miss Lonely Hearts Radio with his all vinyl nostalgia,
TUES - Movie Night WED - Wu Tang! THURS - Lock3 down mash-ups, FRI - DJ Josh spins
it all. Bring it on for some good ol' fashioned dancin, minglin, and drinkin with
your neighbourhood queers, queers from the north, south, and east, and all of
our friends and allies. As always, no cover for you my pretties. MARGRET, 2952
Dundas St West (Dundas and Pacific Ave.). 416-762-3373 Hours: 8pm-2am daily Owner,
Chris Brown, a 37-year-old music producer and co-owner Jill Rooksby No Cover.
No Attitude. Dress to Dance. Queer West Toronto, Ontario www.margretondundas.com
and review http://www.blogto.com/bars/margret
and www.firstfridayevents.org
Mitzi's Cafe - (named after 1950's girlie pin-up queen Mitzi Gaynor).100 Soraurin Avenue, closed Mondays otherwise 11-8 pm, two blocks north Queen St., west of Lansdowne Ave A breakfast hotspot for queer Parkdale loft dwellers, newly weds, designers and writers. Brunch aficionados drive from across town on weekends for the oatmeal buttermilk pancakes. French toast that will rock your world and the best hash browns in the city. Cute summer patio for 14, and they'll serve you coffee while you're waiting outside for a table, which can take a while.. Community table by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer community. 416-588-1234, owned by Mitzi's Sister bar listed below. Cash Only! $$ Affordable Parkdale neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
River restaurant - 413 Roncesvalles Ave: 416-535-3422. Hours: Tues.: 5 pm to 9 pm; Wed.-Fri.: 5 pm to 10 pm; Sat.: 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm; Sun.: 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm. $$ Affordable This cozy, wedge-shaped restaurant in Toronto's west end culls its staff from the ranks of Toronto's homeless and at-risk youth. Menu: Eggs benedict, burgers, pastas, salads, salmon, lamb, chicken dishes and the like. Dishes like burgers, pastas to pork tenderloin are priced between $10 to $18. Weekend brunches are all under $10. River has a children's menu. What makes River more than just a restaurant is All Aboard Youth Ventures - a non-profit charity that helps at risk youth. Since 1998 kids from the shelter system, many with less than a Grade 12 education are given the opportunity to get a year's training in the kitchen or on the floor. Over 160 youth have gone on to full employment in the food industry. Location Map | Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Tinto Coffee House - 89 Roncesvalles, at Marion, 416-530-5885 Colombia is responsible for what is perhaps the world's favourite drug - coffee. So it makes sense that Bogota-born Elvia Saenz and Ricardo Rozental would name their west-side coffee house Tinto, the Colombian slang for a cup of joe.The two-storey café on Roncesvalles Ave. is stuffed with comfy chairs and is fully Wi-Fi'd. Complete vegetarian, meals for $18 per person, including all taxes, tip and a fair trade Americano. Average main $9. Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 8 pm, Sunday 10 am to 6 pm. Unlicensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement www.tinto.ca
Queer - West Queen West
Funky little restaurants surrounded by cutting-edge fashion, galleries, antique shops and dance clubs. This is a place to hang out and be cool. Running through the village is a beatbeat driven queer street which, defies the ordinary Canadian stereotype with its live lingerie models and progressive music scene Video tour - Queen Street West
Bacchus - Famous for having the best bread and meat fillings, but the
vegetarian versions are a little mushy. Try the tasty chicken or goat and don't
skip the delicious Guyanese desserts. 1376 Queen W. 416-532-8191. Parkdale -
Queer West Toronto, Ontario
The Beaconsfield - 1154 Queen St. W., 416-516-2550 Across from hipster hub the Drake, this cozy corner resto-bar radiates warmth and low-key luxury. A scalloped stone façade—remnants of a branch of the now defunct Molson’s Bank—frames a sleek expanse of glass ideal for scoping out the strip. Inside, sturdy scarlet leather banquettes, chocolate brown panelled walls and softly glowing diamond-drop sconces hark back to Dorothy Parker’s gin-swilling heyday. Weeknights, creative turtlenecked locals crowd the slick stainless steel bar to sip Stella and kvetch about Canada Council grants. Weekends, artfully disarrayed scenesters join post-dinner hangers-on, tossing back French martinis ($9) and grooving to soul, reggae and funk on vintage vinyl. Opens at four during the week, five p.m. Friday and Saturday. No cover. Pints $5–$6.50. Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Beaver Cafe -1192 Queen W.416-537-2768 Various queer event almost daily.
The small licensed patio in the back gets pretty busy in the summer. Open 9
am to 2 am. $$ Affordable. Queer West Toronto, Ontario.| www.thebeavertoronto.com
Bovine Sex Club
- 542 Queen St. W., 416-504-4239 ( Over-rated and past it's prime, the
queer punk crowd now hangs at Beaver Cafe) From the outside, this ultra-hip
Queen West boîte looks like the aftermath of an accident in an ironworks.
A moody rock bar that incorporates underground culture and desecrated art as
décor. The venue is quite an intimate experience. The stage makes for
close, interactive performances. The bar has both a queer and straight mentality
with a lot of androgyny thrown around. The clientele always includes artists
and local demi-rock gods. If you like your queer boys rough, inked and
pierced and your girls sassy and with character, this is a place for you. $$
Affordable Queen West Fashion District - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Cadillac Lounge - 1296 Queen Street West. 416-536-7717. Exposed brick walls make for stylish surroundings; the clientele is as unpretentious as the guitar-filled soundtrack (often provided by neighbourhood talent). They offer a complete menu with superb reasonably priced daily specials and a great brunch on the weekends from 11 am to 3.30 pm. Cadillac’s heated patio warms winter puffers. Truly a throwback to a simpler time. Regular queer events hosted here. $$ Affordable Parkdale neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Cafe Taste - 1330 Queen West, at Brock, 416-536-7748. If you wander past the pretentious boho vibe of West Queen West you will find yourself in unpretentious and sometimes unkempt Parkdale. Cafe Taste is a relatively new cafe with a lot of promise. Taste's small French-press coffee ($2.61), made up of 75 per cent Arabica and 25 per cent Robusto, not only cuts the environmental and political mustard (organic, fair trade, bird-friendly), but it also tastes good. The service was attentive and friendly. I particularly liked the touch of the complimentary carafe of water with lemon. The recently got a liquor license and Greg (owner) plans to serve gourmet cheese platters with wine in the evenings. Complete meals for $19 per person, including all taxes, tip and a coffee. Average main $9. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11 am to 8 pm, Sunday 11:30 am to 4 pm. Unlicensed. Access: two steps at door, washrooms in basement. Parkdale neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
The Cameron House - 408 Queen West, at Spadina, 416-703-0811. For more than 20 years, the queen of Queen West has attracted a sexually ambiguous crowd. Hell, even Prince has partied here! The small back room hosts music and theatre events, while tasteful tunes act as backdrop to intellectual repartee in the bordello-like living room up front. Definitely Queen Street Queer, with local rockers providing the beat. Open daily 4 pm to 2 am. Trinity Bellwoods Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Café Bernate - (Gay Owned, 1024 Queen West, north side just past
Ossington, 416-535-2835) Funky mismatched chairs and relaxed staff create a
comfortable ambience for chronic loiterers on Queen West's hip strip. The menu
offers 30 plump sandwiches for all tastes, and those drinking regular coffee
get free refills. Sandwich prices start at $6.96, none are, served on common
doughy Weston's bread. Lattes and caps, homemade iced tea and lemonade, memorable
in-house muffins that always sell out early. Nippy huevos rancheros with tortilla
and salsa at brunch. Complete lunches for $8 per person, including all taxes
and tip. Open Monday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday brunch 10:30 am to 4
pm. Closed Sunday. Unlicensed. Smoke-free. Cash only. Access: two-inch step
at door, washrooms in basement. Trinity Bellwoods Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
"Step out of Church St. Do it at the
Toronto Drake Hotel. The very best hotel in the Queer West Village, is without
a doubt the Drake
Hotel -Clean rooms, Efficient staff, Wonderful
events, Courteous service with a smile and, Best supporter of the local queer
community" said Michel F. Paré,
President and founder Queer Arts and Cultural Centre. A Bohemian inspired hotel,
including the 18 boutique hotel rooms. Designed for the local neighborhood.
It's fun, quirky, eclectic, tastefully mismatched, cheeky, open to new ideas.
A two level shelf by the door in the Drake Cafe, has local flyers and postcards
from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes
everyone in the community. Any given night finds, 15 taxi cabs waiting or arriving
at the front door. 1150 Queen Street West, east of Dufferin St at Beaconfields,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6J 1J3 Phone: 416-531-5042. Fax: 416-531-9493. Arts
and Design district, Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto,
Ontario.
Easy Cafe - For those who can't stomach another serving of hipper-than-thou-Huevos
at one of Queen West's restaurants du jour, this Queen at Roncesvalles bistro
is happily true to its name. The mood here is as mellow as hanging out at a
friend's, with the added bonus of excellent all-day breakfasts and a selection
of sandwiches. Waitresses recommend the Huevos Divorciados: a corn tortilla
filled with fried eggs, refried beans, spicy green and red salsas and ancho
chilli jam. 1645 Queen St. W., 416-537-4893. $$ Affordable Parkdale - Queer
West Toronto, Ontario.
Lot 16 Bar - (Best Little Underachiever in Queer Toronto) 1136 Queen
West. 416-531-6556. About 7 doors east of Drake Hotel. A diverse spill over
of crowds from the Drake, where cute metrosexuals in their 30's hang with fag
hags Looks empty at 10.30 by 11 pm, it's standing room only. The bar serves
a local mix of younger slacker types, inner city kids, CEO's and hipster and
artists, many of whom live in the area. Just like Cheers, everyone knows your
name at Lot 16. Wheelchair accessible. Half pints are $2.75 10 pm to 2 am, no
cover. Open 5 pm to 2 am. Age 20 - 30. No web site Trinity Bellwoods,
Art and Design district - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Mezzrow's - 1546 Queen W. 416-535-4906. Full menu, 8 beers on tap. Jazz/Latin live music. No cover. Daily, noon-2am. $$ Affordable Parkdale - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Mitzi's Sister - 1554 Queen Street West, 416-532-2570.The real action is catching up with the local gossip at the bar. Lovely, summer Patio seats 40. Open 11 am-2 am Mon to Sat., and 11 am to midnight Sunday's. “Our bar menu is all microbrews, so I think that is one of the attractions,” says owner Lesli Gaynor. We support local breweries. A sizable space made cozy by warm staff and mauve walls displaying local artwork; friendly chatter happens over microbrews and massive servings of well-crafted pub dishes. Live bands, queer author reading series and music jams. No cover. Lesbian owned. $$ Affordable Parkdale neighbourhood, Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
The Parkdale Drink - Not the usual sleek and modern, void-of-all-character-design
that's currently plaguing the city, the Drink has some enticing features that
creates a distinctly comforting haunt. The Parkdale Drink, 1292 Queen Street
W. Phone: 416 778 8822. Hours: Mon & Wed: 5:30-12:00 am, Thurs & Fri:
5:30-2:00 am, Sat: 11:00am-2:00 am, Sun: 11:00 am-12:00 am, Closed Tuesdays.
$$ Affordable. Parkdale Neighbourhood | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Poor John's Café - Poor John's has an irresistible warm and homey atmosphere. Welcomes a queer friendly artsy crowd, of students, writers and musicians. There tons of fresh baked goods (made in house by Sweet and Simple Designs) such as muffins, biscotti, gourmet cookies, and an assortment of other goodies. John's Sister-in-Law (S.S. Designs) also makes wedding cakes. A simple lunch menu is provided with a beer and wine liquor license. Open from 7 am to 10 pm. Scrabble every thursday 7-10 pm and book club. If your a local artist Poor John's will feature your work on their walls for 30 days. Location: Poor John's Café. 647-435-2688 1610 Queen Street West, at Callender Ave. $$ Affordable Hours: Mon & Wed: 5:30-12:00 am, Thurs & Fri: 5:30-2:00 am, Sat: 11:00am-2:00 am, Sun: 11:00 am-12:00 am, Tuesday: Closed Parkdale neighbourhood | Cafe review | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
751 - formerly Paddy Murphy’s (751 Queen West, at Tecumseth, 416-360-7272), accommodating one of the darkest of musical genres appropriate for the area - championing the work of everyone from Siouxsie Sioux to Marilyn Manson. It’s comfortable, welcoming and the drink prices are some of the lowest in the city. There’s a great selection of imported brews on tap and reasonably priced daily specials. You won't find too many coolios or swingers here, but the smaller, still-cool goth set gatherings make it easy to find a velvety nook of your own. Nearby gallery owner types and naïfs are also dipping in here for their late night libations. $$ Affordable Queer West Toronto, Ontario Trinity-Bellwoods - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Queen Star restaurant - The Queen Star is a little hidden gem, frequented by local queer music promoters, Drake Hotel management, village DJ's, artists and local rounders. Breakfast special all day, 4 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon, homefries and toast or tea all for $3.50. They have the usual Chinese and Canadian food at very low prices. You can get a homemade hamburger, fries and milkshake for $4.00. Hours vary mon to fri 4 pm to 10 pm Sat to 11 pm and Sunday and holidays 4-10 pm. Queen Star, 1144 Queen Street W, 416-537-1067 $$ Affordable Trinity-Bellwoods - Queer West Toronto, Ontario
Raq N Waq - 739 Queen Street West at Tecumseth St., Phone: (416) 504-9120.
Located in the old Future Bakery, the flour barn was saved from demolition and
converted into the classy bar and pool hall. Raq N Waq has been around since
1997 and features some of the character from the bakery beforehand, including
the flour hopper located directly above the lounge area. Also included in the
lounge are 11 top of the line Brunswick pool tables. Raq N Waq also has a dance
floor and patio for friendly gatherings. In 2007 started hosting weekly queer
Thursday dance parties, with DJ cozmic cat. She has her claws out, spinning
old school, funk, reggae, house, trip hop then infuses a touch of salsa to mix
up the “… night of boundless delight” No cover. $$ Affordable
10pm-2am. raqnwaq.com
Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Rhino Bar & Grill - 1249 Queen Street W, just west of Dufferin Street. $$ Affordable One of Parkdale's favourite hangs, this multilevel space in an upgraded Victorian offers better than usual pub grub and 11 microbrews. The floor needs resurfacing and lttle to dark in daytime, but a night, the table candles are lovely. A big central bar, pool tables and a pop-corn machine, adds to the joint's je ne sais quoi. where queer writers and arty fratbois hang out . 416-535-8089. Parkdale neighbourhood - Queer West Toronto, Ontario www.therhino.ca
Rustic Cosmo Cafe - 1278 Queen Street W. Patio for 15. just west of Dufferin St. Community table by the door has local flyers and postcards from galleries and community events. Always a sure sign, that place welcomes everyone in the queer community. A place where local artist show their work, LLBO, Latte, Lunch, Cappuccino, Dinner, Coffee, Brunch. Spoken word & poetry, 1st and 3rd fridays at 8-10 pm. $$ Affordable 416-531-4924, A Gay friendly space. Open 7 days a week. - Parkdale neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
The Social (Dance Club) - Best place to make out with colourfully
clad doe-eyed babe (female or male) while busting around to electro beats…and
then leave with someone else’s number Young artists and hipsters, the kind of
people you would actually find living on Queen West, rather than the more 905
straight-from-banking-job clientele of the Drake, populate the Social. Expect
crowds – but don’t worry, you’ll get in if you don’t arrive like a desperate
loser at 1:40AM. 1100 Queen W. at Dovercourt, northside under Spin Gallery.
416-532-4474. Age group 20-30 $$ affordable. Art and Design district Queer West
Toronto, Ontario. Check out the hotness: www.myspace.com/thesocialbar
Extra Bonus – if you are wasted and hungry when leaving – you can go get a piece
of sloppy ‘za from Pizza Pizza up the street…gets rowdy.
Stone's Place (Dance Club) - 1255 Queen Street West. 416-536-4242.
Has lost its luster as a homo hangout.www.stonesplace.ca
Parkdale neighbourhood .- Queer West Toronto, Ontario
The Sparrow - Red curry lentil soup is being served to urbanites savvy enough to venture up beyond Queen West. The Sparrow, 92 Ossington Avenue, hums with stylish Parkdalers, who flock here for dinner or a late-night drink. Candlelit tables line one wall of the gallery-like space; a gleaming, dark wood bar the other. The owners, who also run Sweaty Betty’s down the street. The kitchen’s Asian-inspired fare offers plenty of vegetarian options, while the comprehensive liquor menu includes martinis, highballs, cocktails and beer (imports and domestic). A selection of absinthes, adds to the bar’s bohemian allure. $$ Affordable Weekly queer events. www.thesparrowtoronto.com 416.537.0134 | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Telquila Bookworm - (College student queer hangout) Features a great magazine stand and book collection that you can use as your own temporary library. Or, failing that -- rock the board games! 490 Queen W. 416-504-7335 Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
Velvet
Underground (Dance Club) - 510 Queen Street West - 416-504-6688
- The Velvet Underground is Toronto's choice for Alternative Rock in an intimate
environment. Catering to a wide range of alternative types, from nouveau goths
to university preps, the Velvet Underground is a nice change from the ordinary.
The ultracool decor includes sculptures of angels created from found metal that
add to the lush unique atmosphere. Queen St., W. fashion district - Queer West
Toronto, Ontario.
Wrongbar (Dance Club) - 1279 Queen West at Brock, 416-516-8677.
Best place to get a photo of you taken while sloshed, and then see it on Facebook.
The cryptically-named Wrongbar has taken over the old Dragonfly spot (and the
short-lived B-Sweet). The difference this time around is that the new owners
- Nav Sangha a.k.a. DJ Nasty Nav and Chris Harper a.k.a. DJ Jelly - are well
connected in the Queer Queen West scene.The room is dark, beer is cheap, genres
change with the night and there’s more emphasis on the music than the
décor (and there’s nothing wrong with that.) In true Parkdale style,
there’s Labatt 50 in bottles and on tap, as well as tons of bottled beers
and, of course, shots. Age 18-35. Live Music Venue, Dance. Very tiny little
bar, holds 204 people. | Queer West Toronto, Ontario.
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