Coda ★ 4.4
Cocktail barDance club$$$the-annexFri-Sat 22:00-04:00
Coda on Bathurst at Bloor is the city's reference techno club since 2014, the basement room with the Funktion-One sound system and a rotating roster of European DJs.
Order: A Red Stripe and a ticket on Resident Advisor.
Tip: Friday and Saturday only. Tickets through Resident Advisor before 22:00 cheaper than door.
Horseshoe Tavern ★ 4.4
American dinerLive music venue$$queen-westDaily 16:00-02:00
Horseshoe Tavern on Queen West has been Toronto's reference rock-and-roll dive bar since 1947, the room where the Rolling Stones, Wilco and the Tragically Hip.
Order: A draft beer at the bar before the band starts.
Tip: Cover after 22:00 on band nights. The Tuesday-night Beat Camp jam is free.
Lula Lounge ★ 4.3
Cocktail barLive music venue$$$little-italyWed-Sun 18:00-02:00
Lula Lounge on Dundas West has run a Latin and world-music venue since 2002, salsa, Afro-Cuban and live samba nights with a Cuban-Caribbean kitchen menu.
Order: A mojito with the ropa vieja and stay for the salsa lessons.
Tip: Salsa lessons Friday 19:00; advance ticket online. Dinner-and-show pricing best on the website.
Woody's ★ 4.3
Cocktail barLGBTQ bar$$yorkvilleDaily 12:00-02:00
Woody's on Church Street has been the Village's reference gay bar since 1989, the room from Queer as Folk that drew the show's location scout.
Order: A pint at the front bar before the drag show.
Tip: Drag shows nightly; cover after 22:00. The Friday tea dance at 17:00 is free.
Communist's Daughter ★ 4.2
Cocktail barDive bar$$ossingtonDaily 16:00-02:00
The Communist's Daughter on Dundas at Ossington is the strip's reference dive bar since 2003, a former Portuguese diner with low ceilings and cheap beer.
Order: A pint of local lager with a shot of rye.
Tip: Cash preferred under $10. Late kitchen has frozen pizzas after 22:00.
Sneaky Dee's ★ 4.3
MexicanDive bar$little-italyMon-Tue 11:00-03:00, Wed-Thu 11:00-04:00, Fri 11:00-04:30, Sat 09:00-04:30, Sun 09:00-03:00
Sneaky Dee's at College and Bathurst is Toronto's reference dive bar since 1987, the upstairs live music venue and downstairs Tex-Mex kitchen open until 04:30.
Order: The King's Crown Nachos with a pitcher of Stella.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Late-night kitchen the city's most reliable after-bar option for nachos.