A great place to check out jazz, and see a nice cross section of young and not-so-young Torontonians enjoying music together. The drinks are reasonably priced. It can be hard to find a table if you arrive too late. Great people watching scene right in the heart of Queen St district just a few steps west of University Ave.
Don't come for the seating, the sight lines, the atmosphere, the food, or the drinks. come for the music. If you love jazz, this is an essential stop and a Toronto institution. Often the opening bands are young hopefuls and emerging artists that will blow your mind for nothing more than a pass of the hat and a few bills. give generously and don't miss this chance to sit in on a piece of history.
For the restaurant/bar. Super nice vibe. We were sitting in an awkward area where we couldn't see much of the band/musicians, but the music was good. Food was decently priced and good portions. Highly recommend the chili. Enjoyed it overall.
We were looking for a good place for dinner with a good atmosphere. Rax was recommended and I'm so glad! Impeccable service And great food. There was so much on my plate I could not finish my meal. (Chicken club) . We were blown away the music. If you are looking for a good time in Toronto this is the place to go.
Went on a Wednesday night and the music was incredible. The live music really created a fun and lively environment to hang out with friends. The service and food was alright, nothing spectacular. The nachos were pretty sweet. But for the music, I would definitely recommend going.
Great losing close to subway. Love the interior design. There are live music in most nights. Cover was 10$ for Thursday but the band we had was so so. We were not hipster enough to enjoy metal jazz freestyle.
Just wrapped up a 2 night stay and LOVED it! Great place for a solo traveller. The room felt homey and was very comfortable. Staff were friendly and great with directions. I'll be staying there on every Toronto trip for the foreseeable future.
The best part of The Rex is the friendly staff and live music. The bar selection is great, and the food is consistently good. Make sure you pay attention to room details to get the amenities you want or need for your stay. Even though there is live music late at night, the rooms are pretty well insulated from the sound. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed for one short night while in Toronto with my partner. We were a little unsure given that this place is above a Jazz Bar, however, we had a fantastic time. Our room was directly above the stage but we found the jazz music below not at all disruptive and very enjoyable!
The room was a little older and not shiny and perfect like you'd expect at a brand name hotel, but it was clean and we were very comfortable. The space was small but perfect for a place to simply sleep and shower. Our bathroom was pretty tiny but clean and seemed to be recently updated. Our window overlooked Queen Street and we had a great time people watching and admiring a beautiful view of the CN Tower. Highly recommend this hotel if you want a fun experience in a great location for a great price! Thanks for a lovely stay!
Rooms are small and spartan, but if you don't need a fancy room, it's just fine. However, the bedding is fairly uncomfortable—very hard beds. The location is incredible. It's right by a subway stop and within walking distance of lots of stores, restaurants, music venues, and other attractions. The atmosphere with the jazz club is also pretty good, but can be noisy if you prefer to sleep early or find it hard to fall asleep.
The Rex is a classic Toronto Jazz and Blues club. This is one of the last great venues for this kind of music to see great Jazz and Blues in a small club. Sound is good. Good selection of beer with typical pub food. Not just local but international Jazz musicians play regularly here. Great place.
The overall experience here is superb. The music was excellent and the pub fare was tasty and not pricy. Loads of beer options and plenty of seating options. I will definitely return for another round. Or ten. One word of caution thoughif you go there for a chat as well seating in the back is a must,otherwise you hear nothing but the music.
Absolutely amazing location to explore Toronto! It's a jazz and blues bar with live performances every day and late into the evening. It can be quite noisy and our room was directly above the bar - but we had free entertainment when we got back in the evening which was a nice bonus. If you want a quiet room ask for one. Our room was very basic (only paid for a basic room) but as we were only using it to sleep in it was perfect - clean enough but probably needs to be refurbished some time soon. The staff were excellent! Friendly and informative! Definitely a great choice if you don't want to stay at one of many local chain hotels.
Went to the bar for a glass of beer. They had a live rap/jazz concert that night. Crowd was decent. We had a basket of sweet potato fries to snack on. Pricing was neither cheap not expensive. Portion was quite large. Service was good although they could use a few extra hands on such a busy night.
We came for the music and ordered drinks, and fries and onion rings. The drinks and food were great, and the prices were decent. The atmosphere was casual and welcoming. Our server was friendly and attentive.
If you come for the music just be prepared to pay cover.