The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar

Breakfast here is the best!!! A group of us came here after running the Scotia bank 5k so we were hungry and running on adrenaline. The breakfast was cheap and plentiful! The staff were also amazing as we got a bit boisterous at times. Definitely would come back and if you go… You won’t be disappointed!

The Rex is my favourite place for Jazz in Toronto. The bands are amazing, spanning a wide range of genres. I have enjoyed impressive Dixieland, Blues, and all the way to Fusion at the Rex. The key thing at the Rex is the music and the wonderful community and warm company. People are so friendly-​I was talking to a woman who later introduced me to her father-​the band leader-​a coronet player. I told him my son played the trombone and he invited my son to meet him and he said he would show my son a tune. The Rex is truly a place for music lovers who want a down-​to-​earth and authentic environment.

I decided to check the establishment out after leaving a nearby jazz lounge, but I was never acknowledged upon entering. I’m saddened because it looks like it could have been a great time, but I guess because the band was finished, the servers decided their shifts would end early too.

Came here on a Tuesday night, was not very busy and there was some awesome live jazz music playing at the front. I really enjoyed how the music was not mind-​boggling loud. My friends and I could actually have a conversation with each other without screaming which was a huge plus. And I’m no jazz expert by any means but the live music was great! In terms of the ambience, the bar feels super cozy and almost nogalistic. Me gusta.
The food was decent — got the shrimp alfredo special with garlic bread for a bit less than $ 9 and some chips and salsa for around $ 4.50 which wasn’t anything special but not bad. The drink prices are moderate, around $ 5 – 7 for a pint of beer. My friend got the raspberry, white chocolate cheesecake which was delicious! The service was okay, our waiter was super nice but not that attentive (he didn’t come around our table until nearly an hour after we finished our meals and didn’t check up on us for drinks!). I would probably come here again but not in a rush and probably not before trying out other jazz/​blues bars in Toronto!

I have always enjoyed Jazz music, I feel that I was born in the wrong era as I am a big 40s and 50s fan! The music the cars, the fashion, and the food! Every time I come to this cozy little spot I enjoy my time.
My brother in law plays in a Jazz band and they have performed here a few time, I have come to see them every time, but I also have come to see of my favorite bands from Chicago, NYC, and Louisiana. The music is why I come here, I love at atmosphere and the fact I can sit here and listen to some music over a few drinks. Out of all the Jazz clubs downtown this one is among my favorites and a top pick. I recommend you pay this place a visit it is worth a trip downtown.
The staff is very friendly and the service is quick, now I usually only order the starters so this may not be the case with the main courses. The sweet potato fries are quite nice. The drink selection is quite nice as they have a wide variety to suit all tastes, they have all my favorite liquors so I feel right at home.

There’s something nostalgic about this place. It reminds me of an old pub. Casual, fun. The jazz performers are stellar and always comprises of great variety of jazz music from solo to quartet… Sax to piano. Come early to get seats though.

This is super cozy spot. I’ve only ever seen great jazz acts. It does have cover but you can put it on your bill at end of night which is a nice touch. They serve standard brews on tap, but have all the classics which is great. I like their side patio on side of street, it’s a nice spot to sit to listen to the live acts. It does get super «cozy» as the night goes on. Theirs always an interesting and fun crowd here, it makes for a great night. Great place for a night cap with friends or so.

One typically goes to a jazz club for the jazz but I had a really awesome Portobello & goat/​feta cheese sandwich on a perfectly golden bread. The taste combination of the mushroom, feta cheese, and pesto was wonderful. And it was reasonably priced.
I had the pleasure of listening to The Sicilian Jazz Project with Pilar. The place is big enough with tables up close to the stage and other tucked back. Efficient service. I would return to catch another live show.

We stopped in to enjoy some live music. The place is decently nice inside — set up well for music and to hang out, with a bar and a variety of bar-​like tables. We moved around a few times pretty easily.
The jazz was loud, but fun.
Service was really good despite how busy it was.
Beer selection wasn’t great, but they had some good ones and we enjoyed it.

If you don’t enjoy drifting off to sleep listening to jazz at night, then don’t bother staying at the hotel because that’s how your night will end! My friend and I stayed in Toronto for only 3 days/​2 nights while she had a conference to attend and this was just the type of place we wanted.
The Rex is conveniently located downtown for visitors on a long street of restaurants, cafés, bars and shopping – all within walking distance! The hotel upstairs is no frills, but it is clean and has all the necessities you’d need: hot shower, 2-​in-​1 shampoo and shower gel, heat and clean sheets. It really is the perfect spot if you just need a place to sleep on your travels.
Down below is of course the jazz bar, where my friend and I had late lunch after we checked in. I had the mushroom burger and while it was no shroomburger from Shake Shack, it was tasty and came with the good steak fries. The fellas that work there were all so helpful and friendly, and very nice to talk to! If my friend and I didn’t already have late plans, we would have definitely gone back to the bar at night to catch that live jazz scene as well – sounded like such a fun time and looked like one, too, when we came back to the hotel at night!
Also great are the separate entrances for both the bar and hotel. I’d totally come here again if I backpack through the country.

Always a good jazzy time, always nice to hear some locals over a whiskey sour. Not a lot of room at the front, slightly cramped but can win them all. Still managed to slow dance with my boyfriend. Now at Christmas John MacLeod and the Rex 22 Piece Band are FANTASTIC! Last Monday of the month at 7 is when he shows.

I came here with a date and it was a really great experience. On a Friday night the cover is $ 10.00 (I’m not sure about the cover on Saturday). The Rex always has a live band playing and a good crowd (Mid 20’s to 30’s)
The band playing was really good! The musicians were really passionate about the music they were playing and my friend and I had a really good time.
It was a little challenging to find someplace to sit (we arrived after 10:30 pm) but once we found a table the waitress found us immediately and took our order. We ordered some drinks, which were good.
This bar doesn’t have a blender so the drinks are pretty basic but the atmosphere and experience is really nice. From everywhere within the bar you can here and possibly even see the band. The bar is laid out so everyone can have a good time.
If you want to go someplace where you can just relax with friends while listening to a band I highly recommend the Rex.
It’s also great for dates as you can sit and get to know one another in a cozy environment, which beats your typical Starbucks.

Will update later. Bar appears classy and elegant so far. Ambient noise is probably average for a pub but in my opinion, a little too loud. The music is just a bit louder than the talking. Will do a more thorough review soon.

C’est vraiment LA place à visiter. De la bonne musique, une bonne ambiance, de la nourriture mangeable et touuuuuut ca a un prix extrêmement abordable.
J’ai été trooooppp surprise de me rendre compte que j’avais doit à un repas complet avec vin et dessert pour moins 30 $
C’est vrai que ce n’est pas le baton rouge ou le madison, mais c’était mangeable, le vin buvable sans faire trop de grimace.
Le groupe présent ce soir était supeeeerr. Wooow
J’étais présente du début à la fin de leur représentation et je n’étais vraiment pas déçu.
Par contre, il est important de savoir qu’il faut payer a l’entrée (10 $ par personne ce soir) cash. Donc il est important d’amener sa petite monnaie.
Il faut aussi se faire à l’idée qu’il y a aussi des gens qui viennent que pour être dans un bar, boire une biere et parler (et fort avec ça) donc essayer de vous mettre proche de la scèné.
Amusez-​vous !!!

Du Jazz de haut niveau, de la bonne bière, à deux pas des grands hôtels du centre-​ville. A né pas rater sous aucun prétexte.

Dropped by here after hearing about it from a friend —

Haaa les concerts de jazz, depuis le temps que je voulais en voir un!
Passez le pas du Rex et vous serez transporté d’un coup dans les années folles: des tables un peu partout, un orchestre d’une quinzaine de musiciens et le tour est joué.
L’orchestre présent ce soir était composé de jeunes d’une vingtaine d’année dirigés par un chef d’orchestre. Les sessions solo sont fantastiques et on sent vraiment le partage d’une même passion entre les musiciens et le public.
Pendant que vous apprécierez le concert vous pourrez également commander à manger, on a accès ici à une restauration de pub classique.