3 reviewed party hostels · from €18.56/night · Hostelworld rated
Toronto’s nightlife doesn’t just live in the downtown core: it spills into hostel bars and rooftop terraces where backpackers gather. Head to **The Only Backpackers Inn** on King Street East, where the deck fills up by 8 PM with travellers swapping stories over CA$6 beers. Or walk 10 minutes to **Planet Traveler Hostel** in Kensington Market, which runs its own live music bar downstairs. Most hostels here sit within a 15-minute walk of Queen Street West, the city’s unofficial party spine, where dive bars and late-night clubs keep the music going until 3 AM. The scene isn’t just about drinking, though. Many hostels organise free walking tours or group dinners, so you’ll meet people long before the pub crawl kicks off.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
One of the friendliest hostels in Toronto. Staff makes it easy for guests to mingle, and offer regular free pub crawls, karaoke nights or other social events. With free breakfast until 1pm, you can have a lie in after your night out, and all through the day, you can help yourself to tea and coffee. They also have a cosy rooftop terrace.
Spacious common areas with chilled vibes where guests can hang out and meet each other. Wonderful terrace and open-air patios with BBQs are perfect for group dinners. Their on-site café/bar is always bustling and offers over 200 different beers from around the world.
A nicely decorated Hostel with neo-classical furniture, with a fun and social atmosphere and a wide range of travellers type, and affordable prices. With a large lounge room with cable television and a different movie is shown every night, as well as several games and a decent library where you can meet other travellers.
Organised nights out with a local guide
This crawl visits four bars and clubs in the Entertainment District and Queen Street West. The tour includes a free shot at each stop and skip-the-line entry to Toybox. Groups are led by local guides who know the bartenders, so drinks often come with discounts. Expect a mix of backpackers and stag parties.
How Toronto's nightlife zones break down
This is where Toronto’s nightlife pulses strongest. The stretch between University Avenue and Dufferin Street is packed with bars, clubs, and live music venues. By day, it’s a shopping district with vintage stores and cafés. By night, it transforms into a crawl of backpackers, students, and locals. Most hostels here are within a 15-minute walk of the action.
A bohemian enclave west of Chinatown, Kensington Market is all colourful storefronts, global street food, and dive bars. The hostels here are smaller and quieter, but the area has a grungy charm. It’s a 10-minute walk to Queen Street West, so you’re never far from the party. The market itself is great for cheap eats and people-watching.
Home to Toronto’s biggest clubs and concert venues, this area is a maze of neon signs and lineups after midnight. It’s where you’ll find Toybox and larger clubs like REBEL. Hostels are pricier here, but you’re steps from the action. The district sits south of Queen Street West, near the CN Tower, so it’s easy to spot from anywhere in the city.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
This hostel bar is the default meeting spot for travellers staying in the east end. Expect CA$6 local beers, a deck with picnic tables, and a crowd that’s equal parts solo backpackers and groups of friends. The bar hosts weekly pub quizzes and live acoustic sets on Fridays. It’s not a club, but it’s where most nights start before moving on to Queen Street West.
Downstairs from the hostel, this bar feels like a cosy living room with mismatched sofas and a small stage for local bands. Drinks are priced for backpackers: CA$7 cocktails and CA$5 PBR cans. The crowd is a mix of hostel guests and Kensington Market regulars. It gets busy after 10 PM, especially on weekends when the live music kicks off.
A Queen Street West staple, this bar has a garage-door front that opens in summer, spilling onto the sidewalk. The music leans indie and rock, with occasional DJs on weekends. Pints are CA$8–10, and the crowd is a mix of locals and travellers. It’s a solid pre-game spot before heading to nearby clubs like Toybox.
Toronto’s answer to a Berlin-style club, Toybox is all neon lights and underground techno. Entry is CA$15–20, but it’s worth it for the sound system and late licence. The crowd is friendly, and the dance floor gets packed by midnight. Drinks are pricey: CA$14 for a vodka soda: but the vibe is unpretentious. Dress in black and bring cash.
A boutique hotel with a rooftop bar that’s become a Queen West institution. The Sky Yard terrace has heaters for winter and CA$12 cocktails. Downstairs, the basement club hosts everything from disco to hip-hop. It’s pricier than hostel bars, but the crowd is stylish without being snobby. Cover charges apply on weekends: CA$10–15.
A speakeasy-style cocktail bar where drinks are works of art: and priced like it (CA$18–22). The menu changes seasonally, but the smoked old-fashioned is a standout. It’s small, so book ahead or arrive early. The crowd is older and quieter, but it’s a great spot for a classy night out if you’re tired of hostel bars.
A sprawling, multi-level pub near the University of Toronto with a student-friendly price list. Pints start at CA$7, and the patio fits 200 people. It’s rowdy on weekends, with beer pong tables and cheap shot deals. The crowd is mostly under-25s, so it’s a good spot if you’re looking for a messy, fun night.