The Best Lounges in Toronto

In Dovercourt Village, laidback types head to this chill spot for a taste of café culture combined with all the best aspects of a solid bar, restaurant and listening lounge. The team also excels at eclectic programming — meaning you can shimmy 'til you sweat one night, then exercise your brain playing chess the next.

Spread across two floors, this Japanese-inspired spot brings listening lounge vibes, complex cocktails and a menu of elegant bites to King West. Settle into the moody lounge to sip on soothing elixirs as you take in selections from the team's sizeable vinyl collection.

This Dundas West speakeasy is a sassy, spunky spot to blow off some steam. Designed to keep things lively, weekly programming at the subterranean club revolves around a world of sounds — from soca and dancehall to melodic techno, '90s hip hop and much, much more.

Tucked at the back of a Dundas West laneway, this live karaoke spot beckons to extroverts eager to flaunt their pipes to a room full of strangers. Not keen to regale the crowd with your singing? You can also just enjoy the show with rounds of textbook cocktails.

Serenely sultry year-round, this King West spot in the Ace Hotel feels like a swish relative's trendy living room. Cozy yet chic, it fluctuates between calm hideaway for post-work restoratives and happening hot-spot late into the night. Choose your scene wisely.

Fancy snacks — think tartare, pavé fries and conservas — unique wines, vinyl and a rotating cast of DJs keep things fun at this Little Italy mainstay. Casual with a palpable undercurrent of class, it offers the type of high-low mash-up that never goes out of style.

Three luxe areas tempt visitors to roam at this spacious Yorkville cocktail lounge. Besides the focus on premium sippers, the venue also offers playful light bites, slick service, heaps of places to rest, and the type of people watching that you can't put a price on.

Dedicated to live music, this veteran King East speakeasy is as storied as they come. A perennial fave with locals, tourists and visiting celebs, its formula of globally-inspired tapas, solid cocktails and daily performances are a winning combination.