Underground

The Drake Underground is my favourite venue for intimate concerts with great up-and-coming musicians (located under the Drake Hotel). I’ve even found a few of my favourite musicians because they played there. Plus, tickets are actually affordable, at about $30-$40/person, in my experience. There is a bar in the performance venue (fyi, the Drake Hotel restaurant is a totally separate space, upstairs on the main floor). I frequently check the What’s On event calendar (filtering the events by “Drake Underground”) to find new musicians to listen to. I hope, in future, the Drake Underground will be available to view as a Curator on Apple Music, as I don’t use Spotify. The website can be a little difficult to navigate given there are multiple locations of the Drake Hotel chain, and multiple features and venues within each location. For example, the Drake Underground isn’t formally listed on the main Menu, but you’ll find it through the What’s On Calendar. I would prefer if the website listed key information like whether purses/bags are allowed into the performance venue (they are), and if there’s an optional coat/bag check (there is, at $3/item). I had even called ahead of time to ask, but unfortunately, the friendly employee I spoke with wasn’t informed that there would, in fact, be a coat check available.

I went for Drag Brunch. The staff and service was incredible, the ambiance was great, and the drag performance by Miss Moco was spectacular. I’d definitely go back for special occasions or for a fun experience. Me and my friends are vegan, and while the kitchen could accommodate, the options were pretty limited and lacked flavour and creativity. I’d highly recommend that the restaurant get more creative with vegan options and add something like vegan pancakes or waffles or get a vegan egg option. I’ll definitely go back, just hope that in the future the food becomes more fun for vegans.

Was at The Drake Underground for a concert recently: Venue holds 200 and is downstairs from street level, but there's an accessible entrance through the hotel lobby & an elevator to take you down (a staff member needs to escort you because a key fob is required & the corridor goes past the dressing room(s) and side of the stage - right to the front of the house). The bar & staff handling admissions are at the back of the house - up a short flight of stairs - so you won't be able to get up there with a mobility device & will have to ask staff or your companion(s) to scan your ticket or get you a drink. The accessible bathroom is back on the main floor, beside the elevator, and there's a bar/restaurant just off of the lobby too (you don't need the key fob or staff assistance to return to the main floor, but you will need it to get back down to the venue). Overall, it's a great spot to catch a live show & staff were friendly and very helpful! Intimate size, sound is great, and you can get right up to the stage.

Took my daughters to lunch here today while visiting Toronto. I had the Hanoi bowl and it was delicious. Had a light summer taste, very enjoyable. Service was friendly and quick.

Love the Drake. Was there twice last week for awesome bands and intimate shows. Friendly staff for a fun time.

Bought Tickets to see Dj Whipped Cream, awesome smaller venue and she put on a great set. I’d come back for another Dj event for sure. The only improvement would be to have more than 1 bartender, took a little while to get drinks at times. Drinks were around $10.

The girl working the night shift on February 8th by the bar has the worst customer service, she looked hispanic with black shoulder length hair. I recommend not coming here, but if you do, I recommend not getting service from her, she was rude!

Great experience at a Laphroaig whisky event and comedy show at the Drake underground! Amazing food, all Scottish menu, and a fantastic venue that was well appointed and run!

Underground is such a vibe! Been for a few concerts there, Maeta (2023), Christian Kuria and Bobby Nsenga most recently. Fun vibe with the lights, intimate smaller venue perfect for up and coming artists. You can buy nice cocktails from the rooftop lounge and bring them downstairs. The bartenders in the underground are always super nice. Such a fun venue!

First time coming to Drake Underground for a concert. Was pretty surprised by the nice intimate atmosphere for the bands Misty Blue and A Short Walk to Pluto. Upon entering the building there is coat check which was $3 and an instant photobooth that costs $5 for two pictures. My one criticism was that there appears to be two bars at the venue but only one was open resulting in big congestions. There was also a coat rack beside the bar which appeared to be free but granted it is a concert venue not sure how well secured it is. Overall would come here again for another concert in the future. The drinks at the bar were around $10+ . The staff there were quick to serve as well just needed more bartenders.

The Drake Underground is in the basement of the hotel obviously, but does not have the basement-y feel that I expected going in. The bar as you enter is cramped and covid-claustrophobic if that's a thing, but since the place was absolutely packed with beautiful women, that made it easier to take! It seemed everyone was happy to be out of their cages and shaking it on the d-floor. That night was an amazing showcase of talent! I had so much fun. It was a celebration of a various artists album called Coverama that my friend John Orpheus was a part of and has the first song spot on the album, and as well was the headliner of the evening's show. There was plenty of room to dance, as well there was lots of room on the stage for the performers. The bathrooms were nice, and should be considering the venue's prominence in Toronto, and were not disgusting as is often the case with these kinds of events. Highly reco'd for your party needs.

People aren't nice. It's very clicky in there. Tok forever to get a drink. Don't go unless you know a regular.

I really only go to The Drake for two reasons: brunch or to see a show at the Drake Underground. I'm not one to stand in line for...well anything really, but especially not to drink and listen to a soundsystem. If I'm going out to drink and dance on a weekend, nine times out of ten its to see a band. And the Drake Underground is a place I have visited for some great shows in the past. The sight lines are good and capacity is a manageable 200 people I believe. Plus, being part of the Drake it just looks cool inside. They don't really do the same cocktail program down here that they do upstairs. Its more beer and rail drinks, which is nice when the place is at capacity and you don't want to wait forever for your drink. It is also worth noting that on weekend nights when there is an early show at the Underground - we're talking it starts at like 8:30pm - there will very likely be a DJ set after, starting around 10:30. If this is your thing, you can stick around and they won't charge you cover again.

GET THERE EARLY AF! Like 10pm. Yeah you'll be the only loser Inside at that time but it beats standing on a never moving line of hell. I'm from NYC and in my early years I did the lines because I didnt know any better; fast forward to present day and I have perfected my "skip line, get in, fuck shit up" game. I cant give you the exact formula to this thang. I use different techniques depending on the situation. For this case I simply walked to the front door entrance to scope out the bouncers (were they in a happy mood or if they woke up on the petty side of the bed, etc). While devising an easy entry plan; things unfolded infront of me, I got lumped into a group of people whom was throwing a private party some how and boom I was in. (The Club Gods looked out for me) Checked coat ($3) Got drinks (fast bar service considering the crowd) Found a prime spot to dance with easy access to drinks. Music was on point (Early 2000 - Present Hip-Hop). The Drake Underground will be a staple every time im in T.O.

We came here on a Saturday night for a friends party in October. We were at the upstairs bar. The patio was open to accommodate for our party and they did have heat lamps. Unfortunately, only one was working so everyone gravitated to that one. They also conveniently had a bar in the patio. The patio was nicely decorated as well. It's a great location if you want to host a large party. Service was really good considering the volume of people that were at the bar. We had the departed and the bourbon cocktails, as well as the Sangria. I'd recommend not getting the Sangria and opting for their more interesting cocktails. Later, we headed to the club downstairs. There is coat check but you can skip the long line outside if you come early and chill at the bar upstairs. The music choices were pretty solid and overall had a great time. It does take a while to get here though if you are coming by street car.

Went to see Sampha here and it was amazing! Great sound system and lighting. Very small and intimate venue so you feel very connected to the artist(s). Would surely attend another show here.

We went here for dinner and dancing on a Sat night. Food and service were excellent !! The DJ was awesome and the club is small and not over crowded. Highly recommend !

The Underground is the basement venue for the Drake Hotel. It usually hosts local acts, touring indie bands, DJs & occasionally stand-up. This venue is perfect venue for that, as it's one of the smaller venues in the city with a capacity of around 200 creating a very intimate space. It looks like the space has received a major renovation since the last time I was there The sound system is phenomenal along with a good selection of drinks at the bar (same as the upstairs) with Ontario favourites Mill St. Organic & Beau's Lug Tread. The drinks are reasonably priced and there's more selection here than other venues in Toronto. Sightline's are solid as well. You can see anywhere. I would come back to the Underground to see a show for sure

Went here on NYE this past year and found it pretty underwhelming. The bar itself was nicely decorated and the music was good but that's as exciting as it got. Would definitely be a cool venue for concerts though!

Here's the story with The Drake Hotel. it was a total dive in a crappy area known as Parkdale and then five years ago, they did this hot revamp and turned it into a boutique hotel. It ignited West Queen West as a hip artist area, and drove the dive-inspired Parkdale past the bridge. It also brought Starbucks and a ton more night club spots. So it's a hotel, and it's a restaurant, lounge, rooftop patio and there's the underground. Each has different night life programming that suits the crowd, but the underground is where all the good jams happen. Basically, it's become a weekly mix of monthly parties featuring a healthy mix of local and out of town acts. They also book it for screenings and private parties, but generally there's something doing every Friday or Saturday down there. The room holds about 250 with a small stage and screens for projections. There's one bar, and it's a basic square. It's also the same level where the bathrooms for the Lounge/Main Floor and the Underground are, the coat check and the ATM machine. The cover at the Drake is usually $5 to get into the building. The general rule of thumb is: Suits on the roof, rich kids and waspy uptowners in the Lounge and party kids in the Underground. Pick your floor, seal your fate. All in all, this is like a meat and potatoes meal as far as decent nightlife goes. There's something for everyone, and it's easy to have a low maintenance good time on any given night.

Did not have any food or drinks from the bar, but as a small concert venue this place was great. The acoustics of the room sounded great for the concert I attended (Noah Gundersen). The venue is extremely small but very fitting for the style of concert I went to, there isn't a bad place to be in the room where you won't be able to see or hear the artist very clearly. The staff was also very kind upon getting to the Drake. I'd absolutely attend another concert at this venue.

Had a great experience at Drake Underground for Jacob Banks's show, but I was annoyed at the bar service. The menu says $7.25 for a beer, yet the bartender charged me $8 for my first, and the same bartender charged me $8.50 for my second. I'm a pretty non confrontational person, so I just moved on and enjoyed the show. Just bothered me in hindsight. I guess my fault for not saying anything...

Not sure if the drink prices change depending on the event. I went to the Toronto Poetry Slam. $36 for 2 glasses of house wine. A $9 per bottle Ontario blend, being marked up to $18 a glass. Great events, but pre-drink somewhere else or you'll end up paying a fortune just to wet your lips.

Ah, the Drake. The venue itself is quite beautiful. I remember the first time I ever went I was completely blown away by the atmosphere and thought the Sky Yard was a thing of beauty... But this is a review for the Underground so I will stay on topic. The Underground is where you will likely see the best side of what the Drake has to offer. A few years ago I saw M.I.A. perform there and I know they have had some other pretty legendary performances. When the place is packed it's almost impossible to get a drink seeing as they have the one bar at the back, but lately they have opened a side bar with limited drinks, but the popular ones so you're pretty much set. The sound can get pretty intense down there but if the music's right then things are tight. They have DVD projections on three screens which definitely adds to the atmosphere. They used to have a video jukebox near the back bar but that's long gone. The crowd can be very mixed. Pending on the event you can get the hipster locals who just want to have a good time, and then you can get the club crowd who dress up super fancy and aren't down with the program. I guess the Underground gets the spill over from the Lounge but overall the crowd is down there to dance, dance, dance. And everyone can appreciate that, right? Oh, and the staff is usually pretty amazing. They definitely are there to work and get the job done, but they are also friendly and efficient at the same time. I once fell down the stairs with a full pint of beer and the bouncers came over to make sure I was alright. That made me happy.

The Drake isn't my favorite place, but if something cool is happening in the Drake Underground I might be swayed to check it out after all. The underground tends to have more arty happenings, although lately it seems to be a lot of random DJ nights I'd just as soon skip. There have been some key screenings, comedy shows and other events that have hit the underground, especially around TIFF time. While I find it a little unfortunate that the Drake tries to be all things to all people, it's a sure bet that there will always be a crowd present for whatever happens there. I think the slick, upscale vibe of the Drake probably appeals to just as many people as it does to offend me, but that's why we all like different things. One thing I would watch out for is going to the Drake during the key busy times, they have been known to essentially eject people who have stepped outside to talk or for a smoke, and literally not let them back into the building except to retrieve their things. This has happened to a few people I know, mostly guys. I imagine this is because, as we all know, the rich guys upstairs were running out of 20-year-old blondes to creep out, so they needed to kick some dudes out in order to keep below capacity. :)

BIG UPPPS TO JARETTH THE SECURITY GUARD super friendly grrat croed control kept us chill during s super long super cold wait. Jarreth I don't remember how to spell your name but youre the man

I like this place, its fun it is dingy, claustrophobic, intimate and all that makes for great live shows and music where every seat is a good seat. Except those along the side walls, they're kind of shit. I would give this place five stars if they were not such a rip off on drinks, I would expect after paying $30 for a show that I would not have to pay a premium for crappy beer. So tempted to take another star off but meh this place is fun and I did not even need to button my collar up to get in and avoid frowns.

The Drake Underground, as the name would suggest, is the basement level of the Drake Hotel. It normally hosts concerts and DJs spinning particular styles of music. I think that it's a great venue for an intimate dance night. One of the cool things about the Drake is that it's usually a flat cover charge for all levels, so you can wander around between the floors. If the Underground is empty, you can hang out on the main floor. If you meet someone on the main floor, you can take them downstairs to hang out too. It's more fun than a one room venue. The Drake Underground has a great sound system, with no need for ear plugs. It's dark, and when the dancefloor gets packed it can be kind of hectic (in a good way!). The relative darkness is a great environment for dancing. There are always couches on the side, so you don't really need coatcheck either. I love how laid back it is.

The Drake Underground is an interesting place. On one side, I like the design aesthetic in how the stage is outlined with oldschool speakers, with the actual p.a. speakers set outside those to still provide proper sound. I also like that they have tables and couches or benches along the side that don't require bottle service to sit at. Too many dance venues have limited the ability to sit in a booth or at a couch unless you have ordered a couple of overpriced bottles. This is brutal in my eyes as it sets the people on a pedestal who just want to buy there way into being "elite" (yet are typically the ones that are that much more out of touch with the actual club scene to begin with). But I'll save my "bottle service ruins clubs" rant for another place and get back to the Drake Underground. Also unlike most "dance" venues, I could appreciate that they actually had a good variety of beers on tap. In theory they wouldn't have much excuse to not have them given the rest of the building offers tap beer, but still, it's a nice luxury to drink a pint of Creemore in the club. That said, things arent cheap. 2 shots, a pint and a mix drink come to $31, so essentially you're looking at $8 drinks on average which isn't cheap but isn't out of the question either. One thing I will say is to get their early on the weekends. We were able to get in right quickly upon arrival around 11-11:30 but within an hour of going outside to accompany a friend who smokes, the place had a lineup down the front of the building and had numerous people practically begging to get in. All in all, while my socks weren't necessarily knocked off, it was a good time and I could see myself coming back at some point.

When you want to forget that you are in Toronto and escape to big city fun...NYC scene...that is what it felt like...Toto I don't think we are in Kansas anymore...hidden gem for indie up and coming bands etc.

Most of my experience in the Drake Hotel has been in the underground. They have an excellent concert space in the basement which is pretty much in constant use by local bands. Occasionally something a little more outside the box will occur, like a cabaret, or a cabaret for the dead. Every Monday, the Drake is host to Elvis Monday's, a long standing event that's been happening in Toronto for a really long time (like 15 years I think?) It's been hosted in several venues over the years, but lately it called The Drake home. Elvis Mondays, in addition to offering free local music, offers free food! There's usually a delicious stew or something equally wholesome available to everyone. Drinks here are a bit pricey, in the 6-7 dollar range for a beer, and about the same for a mixed drink I think.

This place was ok. The drinks were blah but the staff was nice and Music was great. We enjoyed ourselves

My friend's band, The Jilted Lovers Club, was playing last week at the Drake Underground as part of their Elvis Mondays. The show was free and packed with awesome indie bands. I love that the Drake goes out of their way to help infuse Toronto with its own brand of culture. The location is dark, intimate and provides just enough seating to encourage drunken dancing. The bar doesn't take debit, but there is an ATM right outside the door.

Awesome layout, awesome music, and awesome people! Always had a great time attending the bar each time I did. Two thumbs up!

Very fun place caught a story telling show down stairs. Great night and good food. On a strange note the bathrooms in Canada are super nice.

I do enjoy the Drake, its got wonderful interior, very trendy and cool. I guess as a university student, however, this wasn't my scene. I was there for Trivia once, hardest Trivia in the world by the way. You have to pay to play which is kind of lame? Drinks are a bit pricey, as I will elaborate. In accord with Anna V's post, you do pick your place (whether it be the sky lounge, the main floor bar or the underground), the Drake is indeed multifaceted. On the sky lounge yesterday I ordered a Manhattan, and the bartender oh-so-casually hands it to me and says "That'll be $13"... I moved down to the underground and stuck to the $6 pints of Labatt 50 the rest of the night to say the least. P.S. They don't do pitchers! In the Underground, it was an OK scene on a Thursday night. I enjoyed myself, but I wouldn't rave about this to my friends. Its really trendy and up on style, so it'd be a nice place to go when you're feeling swanky.

MITCH WEBSITE DJing tonight I cannot wait ! Love this place, but get here EARLY if you don't want to stand in line forever

Cell phone reception be darned, this basement bar features great bands almost nightly and is worth the communications failure. Go easy on the beer though - it's a little on the pricey side.

Recently spent an evening at the Drake Underground for a concert. It was my first time at the venue, and as soon as I stepped in I knew that I would like it. It was cool and dark and I felt as if I were at an underground speakeasy (fortunately, the drinks are legal here!). The neon lights reading "BANG BANG" and the speakers framing the main stage also add a touch of rock n' roll nostalgia. There are also a bunch of eclectic sofas and chairs around the stage, offering patrons the choice of sitting or standing eagerly in front of the stage waiting for the band to come on. I really enjoy the smaller, more intimate feel of the place...would definitely come back here for another concert or event.

This a really quiet, intimate space. I went to a concert here with a meet-and-greet with the artist beforehand, and it was such an awesome place for it--couches, dim lighting, excellent acoustics. The show was great, and even though the room was crowded, we still had a great view. (But I still have to roll my eyes at the couple who sat on a couch near the back of the room and complained to each other about all the people who then moved up to stand in front of them--guys, I get it, people standing in front of you sucks, but at a general admission show, you've kind of got to get used to it.

Would have given it 5 stars but I took one away cause the drinks are overpriced and take forever to be served and took another b/c that means I can't go very often without spending at least $100 and considering I need cab fare money for food the night just turns out to be way too expensive. Place isn't too bad though. Mush cheaper to buy a 24 for $40 and sit on the back patio at home then to wait 30min for a $7 beer. Place isn't really bad if you have a lot of money and don't mind waiting for a drink.

Came here randomly one fabulous Friday evening . There was this electric energy in the air and whoever the DJ was that was spinning seriously took it to another element. Loved it! Danced the night away and will be returning.

Haven't been to the Drake in many years. A couple nights ago four of us go to see Son Lux, a great artist from Brooklyn. Amazing show, great sound. It was sold out, it was a Sunday night. My beef is that there was no coat check (it was closed). It was -10C outside, so everyone, us included, came in with winter apparel. We arrived early - I asked the girl taking tickets if there was somewhere else - she suggested I talk to the concierge upstairs. So I did. I get a nice dose of unhelpful, non-apologetic attitude from this guy and made to feel like the a**hole for asking if there was somewhere else to check our coats. He said it was because "its a quiet night" - despite the fact it was a sold out show downstairs. Basically his advice was to just "throw them on the floor somewhere". There is no where to put a coat unless you have one of the very few seats, its mostly standing room. For a higher end place that charges between $11-$16 for a mixed drink, I'd say thats pretty weak. I even called the manager today and was told that they only have coat check on Fri/Sat nights, unless they know in advance a show is sold out. How could they not be able to muster someone to man the coat check for 3 -4 hours during the show? Certainly their wages are covered and we aren't left to chuck our clothing on the dirty floor. I've heard they rake in like a $1 million a year from the Underground venue ...

I come here usually for show events like the spoken word shows. The venue itself is nice and the drinks are averagely priced. I personally dont care for the club-like nights or dancing but hell I'd go if there was a big group of my friends going.

Haven't been for a while & decided to go last night...horrible experience. Staff was not at all welcoming & washrooms were filthy & didn't have toilet paper. What kind of established venue that has pride would conduct themselves in this manner? The drake that's who.

Love the Drake, great atmosphere, love the rooftop patio, great ambience. Love the old school music DJ plays in the main bar area.

rad for shows. great programming. saw a burlesque show here for work, once.

3 levels, 3 diff DJs, variety, roof top patio=great scene and a fun night out