There’s no law written in stone that says in order to dance the night away you have to head south of Bloor. Midtown Toronto has its share of eclectic places where, to the strains of Latin, jazz or rock, you can be a dancing queen (or king).
Following on from the leftfield legacy of The Annex Wreckroom, which was a local magnet for university students, this club has a full weekend program of dance music with DJs imported from across Canada and around the world. Boasting all the latest equipment for the best sound and dazzling lighting, it attracts both fans of the DJs and punters looking for the next big thing and a night of dancing until dawn. Food is available, if you dance up an appetite.
The graffiti exterior snags your eye and the interior promises all-hours dancing. This double decker venue boasts awesome sounds from both levels. The upper level is The Dance Cave, where alternative music (including '80s pop) reigns. The lower level is Lee’s Palace, where eclectic live acts grace the stage, including Nirvana and Oasis — both of which made their Toronto debuts here back in the day. Both floors are licensed, so age restrictions apply but there are occasional afternoon shows for all ages.
You can enjoy Latin dance à la chi chi in this supper club in Yorkville. Once you’ve dined, the lights go down at around 10 p. m. and the party begins with a DJ spinning the decks for different kinds of dances four nights a week. There’s salsa, bacchata, meringue and an explosive combination of all three on Saturday. If you’re new to these dances, on some evenings a complimentary lesson takes place beforehand so you can tame your two left feet.
There’s music and dancing every night of the week except Sunday at this dinner-dance spot, and that’s only because there’s likely a private party going on. Depending on what evening you go, you can take in jazz, soul, R&B, blues, west coast swing, funk, pop and DJ salsa and bacchata. There’s no cover for the jazz on Latin dance nights. Warm up with a free lesson before the partying begins. The menu is fusion Mediterranean, so feel free to work up an appetite.
There’s nothing like the cheery vibe of an Irish pub in any season. The Unicorn on Eglinton serves live jamming and Top 40 bands four nights a week, making your Guinness go down even more smoothly. There’s a pub menu with salads, wings and sandwiches to keep the munchies away (you’ll burn off the calories while you’re dancing). Even better, there’s no cover charge for the live music.