On the Scene Toronto: Locals Talk About Current Trends in Their City

One of the most interesting trends in Toronto at the moment are listening bars. These bars ars not only about good drinks, but also about listening to good music, and usually run by record aficionados. In addition to a carefully selected record collection, professional loudspeakers and amplifiers are also a must.

The concept reportedly originated in Japan where the art scene used to meet in small coffee houses in the fifties. Since then they have grown into listening or hi-fi bars in Tokyo first before popping up in other cities as well.

At The Little Jerry, for example, a cozy hi-fi bar on College Street, the staff – all collectors – bring their own records at the start of each shift. Collecting records is almost part of life in Toronto. In the Queen West and Dundas West neighborhoods, there are a number of long-established record stores that sell both new and second-hand items.

Jodie, the bar owner, stores her favourite records behind the counter – right next to a fine collection of unique vermouth. The music selection is eclectic. On some evenings you can hear ambient and psych, on others dub, reggae and rare groove, on others it’s about jazz and blues as well as disco/funk/soul. This bar is also known for bringing in up-and-coming DJs from nearby Detroit and Montreal – as well as their extensive wine list.

Cocktail bar manager Hailey Burke has lived in Toronto's West End since 2015. She is the co-owner of Bar Raval, a lively cocktail bar on College Street, and the neighboring wine bar Martine's. After moving to Toronto from her hometown of Montreal for her studies, she quickly fell in love with the vibrant restaurant scene in Toronto's West End. On the weekends, she alternates between both bars, mixing cocktails and looking after the guests.