Like any big city, Toronto has a vibrant night life, with a plethora of clubs and bars throughout the city. If you live in one of the outlying parts of the GTA, life will be much quieter, and you will need to travel into one of the urban centers to find much to do at night. On the other hand, if you live downtown, there are plenty of nightlife options within walking distance.
Check these websites for listings of bars and clubs:
- http://www.torontonightclub.com
- http://www.alltorontopubs.com
- http://toronto.beforelastcall.com
- http://www.barsinto.com
Most of Toronto’s night clubs can be found in the “Club District” of Toronto’s downtown. The club district generally stretches from University Avenue to Ossington Ave, from east to west, and from King Street to Dundas St. West, from north to south. Toronto’s gay district can be found further east, around Church St. and Jarvice, and between King Street and Dundas.
Most nightclubs charge a cover fee of CDN$5-$20, while bars usually only charge cover fees for special events. While there are some underage clubs around, the majority of bars and clubs are only open to people over the age of 19 after 9:00pm. If you intend to go out drinking it is highly recommended that you make arrangements to travel by public transit or catch a cab, as drinking and driving is strictly prohibited in Canada.
Although there are no specific places where expats meet, there are several Meetup groups for expats who live in Toronto. These groups organize social gatherings at various venues, from restaurants to bars and clubs. It is a wonderful way to meet others and also sample Toronto’s nightlife. To find expats from your country, click here.
