Things to do in Toronto at night

Immerse yourself in the performing arts

In the heart of the downtown core, the beautiful glass design of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts holds exceptional opera and ballet performances as the permanent home of the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company. With brilliant lights, soaring acoustics, and a variety of premium and accessible seating options, you are sure to enjoy a top-quality show. Roy Thomson Hall is another iconic venue that features a variety of symphonies and musical entertainment.

Originally founded in 1986, Mirvish Productions is one of Canada’s most recognized and trusted theatre production companies. It operates four grand theatres in downtown Toronto: the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre, CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre and CAA Theatre. Each regularly hosts a range of dynamic performances, including acclaimed Broadway plays, across many genres. You are sure to find a play you will love. 

Insider Tip: Mirvish sometimes offers same-day rush tickets: a limited number of tickets sold at a discounted price on the day of the performance. These tickets are available online, over the phone and in person, on a first-come first-served basis.

Listen to live music and concerts

When going out in Toronto, you will find plenty of small, intimate, venues where you can enjoy concerts and live music, up close to the performers.

Along Queen Street, soak in the Cameron House’s bohemian vibes and enjoy this cultural hub for musicians. The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar is Toronto’s longest running jazz club where some of the genre’s top musicians in the world come to perform. At Massey Hall, one of Canada’s most iconic music venues, you will find a wide variety of musical and entertaining performances. This popular hall has hosted famous stars such as Glenn Gould, U2, Bryan Adams, Jann Arden and more. 

Classical detailing, patterned brickwork and opal glass windows decorate the Danforth Music Hall. Originally a movie theatre, this historic music hall has hosted both local and international entertainers, including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Lorde, Iggy Azalea and more. For a contemporary Toronto entertainment experience, History offers incredible close-up, live music shows with high-quality sound and lighting, plus a bar close to the stage. 

You can also catch large-scale concerts and cultural events at Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, and Budweiser Stage, which often feature popular artists like Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift and more.

For more amazing events happening in Toronto, check out the city’s Festival & Events calendar.

Cheer on professional teams at sporting events

Ice hockey is Canada’s national winter sport, and the best way to get in on the seasonal fun is by joining the hometown fans in cheering on their teams. At Scotiabank Arena, you can get tickets for a Toronto Maple Leafs  NHL (National Hockey League) game or to a Toronto Raptors NBA (National Basketball League) game. The MLB’s (Major League Baseball) Toronto Blue Jays play at the nearby Rogers Centre while further out, in Exhibition Place, you can catch a football match of the Toronto FC at BMO Field. All these sporting event spaces are close to downtown and easily accessible by car and public transit. 

Insider Tip: Sports tickets, especially Toronto ice hockey tickets for the Leafs, sell out fast. Buy them early!

Visit iconic Toronto attractions

Consider visiting top tourist attractions in the evening when they are less crowded and you can enjoy the bright city lights.

Experience natural history and architectural artifacts at the Royal Ontario Museum, located in the heart of Yorkville. Whether you are interested in ancient civilizations, world cultures or fossils and minerals, there is a lot for you to learn and see at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). Nearby, the Art Gallery of Ontario features an ever-changing collection of stunning art exhibits. Take your time and marvel at the works on display by artists like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, The Group of Seven and more. 

The iconic Casa Loma in Toronto is open every day and allows you to explore this Gothic-style mansion originally built in the early 20th century. Tour the period rooms, climb winding stairs to the top of the castle tower, walk along the 240-metre long underground tunnel that connects to a hunting lodge, stroll through the 2-hectare estate gardens and more. 

Near Union Station, check out the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Here you can walk through more than a hundred years of hockey history and displays about famous inducted hockey players. 

Get transported through an aquatic adventure at Ripley’s Aquarium, where you will see over 20,000 freshwater and saltwater animals. Then walk through an underwater viewing tunnel as fish swim overhead; you will even get the chance to touch and interact with stingrays. 

Go for an unforgettable adventure and take a sunset paddle around the Toronto Islands with Toronto Canoe. 

Insider Tip: Several of these attractions offer special/themed public events on select evenings. Please refer to each attraction’s main website for tickets and more info. 

Laugh at comedy shows

Thanks to its thriving comedy scene and talented comedians, comedy shows in Toronto are popular events that draw people every night. You may even spot some popular Canadian comedians like Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Mike Myers, or Seth Rogen.

Originally opening in Chicago in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret, the Toronto location of The Second City has expanded into a premiere comedy club and improv theatre, dazzling longtime fans and newcomers alike with its vibrant, humorous nighttime showings. 

A legion of the funniest Canadian comedians nurtured their talent in the Comedy Bar. With about 150 sketch and stand-up comedy shows running every month, seven nights a week, drop in whenever you want to enjoy a night of nonstop laughter in this cozy space. 

Enjoy the intimate atmosphere at Yuk Yuk, one of downtown Toronto’s top comedy clubs. Yuk Yuk regularly hosts amateur nights, giving new performers the chance to launch their careers—and you can sit right up close to the stage for their performances.

Enjoy diverse genres of movies

With five cinemas and over one thousand seats, the TIFF Bell Lightbox is an iconic symbol of Toronto’s film culture showing over 200 films all year-round. The building was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Award of Excellence in Architecture, making this a perfect spot for film lovers seeking commemorative photo-ops.

Insider Tip: The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) runs every September. If you are near the TIFF Bell Lightbox during this time, keep an eye out for celebrities!

Love documentaries? Check out Hot Docs, featuring some of the world’s best documentaries. It also hosts the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival every summer, which includes over 200 breakthrough films from around the world as North America’s largest documentary festival. 

Look for the classic theatre marquee in Little Italy and you will find The Royal, which features intimate, private screenings of everything from comedy shows to community film events. If you are seeking a more casual, drop-in affair, Cineplex has a wide range of movies available, which can be viewed on a regular screen or in 3D, IMAX and UltraAVX.

Play to win at games and bars

If you are downtown, The Rec Room is a short walk south of the CN Tower and has one of the best arcades in Toronto. Enjoy a variety of games, virtual reality experiences and live entertainment in this vibrant location. It has two restaurants, each with a diverse menu. 

Alternatively, The Ballroom Bar is close by. With 10-pin bowling, live music, delicious pub food and a rooftop patio with a stunning view of the downtown skyline, this giant interactive venue is the perfect place to hang out with friends. 

For the more sports-minded folks, Track & Field offers bocce ball, tabletop shuffleboard, a photo booth, two whole floors of party space and a 30-foot bar. This lawn games bar in Little Italy also has an extensive cocktail menu, ideal for a fun night out. 

If you are looking to combine drinks with your love of ping-pong, SPIN has a dozen ping-pong tables set up in semi-private rooms for you and your party to enjoy. Everyone’s favourite pop classics play overhead thanks to the DJ. Make sure to take some photos at the photo booth to commemorate your best ping-pong shots. 

Just want to enjoy some amazing beer? Get Well features a wide range of local, craft and imported beers, as well as 13 rotating taps. One of the best bars in Toronto, this vintage taproom near Trinity Bellwoods Park also sports exciting pinball machines and arcade games, perfect for livening up your night out.

Dine with drinks and amazing views 

With such a breathtaking cityline, it’s no wonder there are so many great bars with a view in Toronto. 

Harriett’s Rooftop has a rooftop patio where you can take in a spectacular view of the Harbourfront while enjoying the restaurant’s light farm-to-table cuisine and signature cocktails. You can even dine poolside and take a dip in the water under the stars.

Get a captivating view of Toronto’s bustling entertainment district at Kōst, Bisha Hotel’s rooftop restaurant sitting at 44 stories high. Inspired by the California coastline, Kōst offers casual outdoor dining with modern, delicious seasonal dishes.

Valerie at Hotel X is situated near the Exhibition Place, with a rooftop patio that overlooks the stunning cityline. You will love the restaurant’s fresh, creative sushi menu paired with a vibrant ambience.

Visiting during the winter? Lavelle in the King West neighbourhood is open year-round and offers close-up views of the CN Tower and the lakefront. This trendy restaurant features comfortable poolside seating beside its three rooftop pools, which are enclosed when the weather turns cold. 

The Drake Sky Yard offers affordable drinks and snacks for you to enjoy with this award-winning rooftop patio’s live music and gorgeous views. It’s open year-round with heating in the winter, so pop in during any season. 

Alternatively, visit Rendezviews, just a short walk away. Benches painted in neon colours are scattered around this bright parking lot-turned-patio. You can watch a sports game, movie, or live event on the summer restaurant’s giant jumbotron as you eat and drink your way through the scrumptious menu of pub food, beer, and cocktails. 

Offering one of the most iconic views in Toronto, 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower is located in the city’s most famous tower. Enjoy Canadian fine dining as the restaurant slowly spins, completing one full rotation every 72 minutes and providing you with an awe-inspiring panoramic view of the city. 

Insider Tip: If you are visiting the 360 Restaurant, book a reservation ahead of time so you can skip the CN Tower’s admission fee and still get to take in the breathtaking view from the top of this signature Toronto landmark. You can take in the views at the tower’s public viewing platform after your meal, at no extra cost. 

Dance to the beat at nightclubs

Toronto has a vibrant and diverse nightclub scene, and these nightclubs in Toronto cater to a wide range of tastes. 

Dress in your best clothing and hit the dance floor at REBEL Toronto. With two floors, a 65-foot stage, multiple bars and over 45,000 square feet of space, this popular nightclub will have you partying all night long. 

One of Toronto’s top music venues, Drake Underground offers a range of live music concerts, DJ sets and comedy shows by local artists. Its underground location and indie vibe makes this place perfect for those seeking an unique, off-the-beaten path experience. 

Stone walls, exposed pipes and dim lighting accentuate the industrial aesthetic of Bambi’s in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Great for casual night outs, you can look forward to a diverse drinks menu while enjoying the local musicians who regularly get the dance floor moving. 

If you are searching for great dance songs, check out Coda in the Mirvish Village neighbourhood. Many of Coda’s events focus on electronic music. With the club’s high-quality sounds system, you can enjoy the lively drop-in dance parties until five in the morning.