Bovine Sex Club

For my friends south of the border who may be reading this review, this is so not what you think. This is an amazing, live music venue where only the coolest bands and djs of the region (and occasionally further!) hold up residency. Anytime I'm up this way, I try to hit up this venue. I enjoy slugging back a great many Molson Canadians while I catch a band or a deejay groove or two. There are a great many bars in Toronto that go back decades that I just adore, but The Bovine is probably my favorite. Back when smoking was allowed in bars, they used to have matchbooks that read, "Pets or Meat?" on the booklet flipside of the bar's infamous moniker. The staff also use to adorn themselves with these really cool black t-shirts that read on the back, "Pet Me, Milk Me, Kill Me, Eat Me". BEST BAR IN ALL OF T.O.!

The Bovine Sex Club is a legendary venue in Toronto that truly stands out. Located on Queen Street West, it has been a staple of the city's music scene since 1991. The club's unique junk-encrusted exterior and vibrant, cluttered interior create an unforgettable atmosphere. It's a haven for music lovers, offering a mix of punk, rock, and retro 80s tunes.

The crowd is diverse and energetic, from die-hard rock fans to casual music enthusiasts. The upstairs Tiki patio adds an extra layer of fun, making it a perfect spot for a summer night out. Over the years, Bovine Sex Club has hosted countless legendary performances, featuring local talents and international stars alike, including members of Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Foo Fighters.

Whether you're there for the live music, the eclectic decor, or the lively crowd, the Bovine Sex Club promises an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it and give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

It was totally dead early in the evening on a Wednesday. Cool atmosphere and I am sure a great place to see a show.

One of Toronto's supercool bars unmatched by most for the scene to be seen and many a celebrity has partied hard here

The Bovine is a fantastic place that is the same today as it was decades ago. not only that, but it is also one of the cheapest pints that you can find. Now, are the taps dry? Maybe. Are the beer cans running out? It's possible. But, it's a dive in the way of the old dives. And the acoustics for bands are... not great. But they are a sign of what once was.

Without attempting to try to present a front of a time long gone, The Bovine simply exists today as it once did in that time long ago, before Smokes stickers, before iPhones, back when people would just go to a bar to talk with those they didn't know the morning prior.

Bring cash though, unless you're looking to make some big orders, because credit card is a minimum fifty-dollar spend.

Great place for live music from local alt bands. They have a rooftop patio for warm nights. Considered a landmark by Toronto locals. Lots of character in this place and a good selection of solid beers.

great service and the whole place is chill as we had many great nights and the owner is one solid guy.!!!!! Frank from Higgins Event Rentals.!!!!
great place even greater people.!

I love Rock and Roll. No other words are needed. So happy this survived the Pandemic!

We went to the tiki bar at the bovine sex club last weekend for a quick drink as we had about an hour to kill before we got to the top of the yelp waitlist at barchef.

The upstairs tiki patio bar is awesome. It is open and airy, and all of the wooden fixtures, tiki masks and the wall of plants/flowers look really cool.

Their drink menu offered about six different basic, rum based tiki cocktails for $14 each, as well as a cocktail for two that is served inside a pineapple for $30. The beers were all around $7 a bottle and they had house wine for $7 a glass which is dirt cheap.

We shared the pineapple cocktail. It was fun to drink and a huge contrast to what we'd be having at the next bar we were going to.

I would've easily given this place four stars but I kept smelling these random odours in the air. At times there was a gust of what I can only describe as an ocean washroom scent, other times the smell of burnt oil. It was strange.

I'd go back to the tiki bar on its own but I'd love to go back once they get live music going at the downstairs venue again and be able to go back and forth between the rock bar and the tiki bar.

***this review is only for the tiki bar upstairs***
last summer i was fortunate to come here for two afternoons to partake in the iron maiden pre-party upstairs at the tiki bar, i was one of the first people to show up on both dates which to me was really funny, this hawaii'ian/island themed bar upstairs was really cool to partake in, it was a really hot week, and being upstairs on the rooftop patio was a little slice of heaven, not to hot and a good breeze was going through both days. the staff here were outstanding, dealing with that volume of people couldn't have been easy, as this was a iron maiden trooper beer party as well. a couple of my friends got some food here as well and they told me it was some really great flavors mixed in with the food, some friends had tacos, another friend had a cheese/salsa dip. two really good nights back to back.

transit options are the 501 queen streetcar and the 511 bathurst streetcar, directly, but with a bit of a walk, since both stops are on the intersection of queen/bathurst. lots of parking options in the neighborhood with directly on the street, various side streets and some above and below private lots in the area. if you choose to drive please DO NOT drink under any circumstances.

cant wait to come back upstairs again!

Dive bar, no frills, with an attitude. I was looking for that alternative crowd and I found it here. Will def be back.