- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for Bovine Sex Club
18 reviews in English
-
Review from Eliah H.
Toronto, ON
The Bovine is the closest Toronto has to New York's infamous (nefarious?) CBGB. Small, dark and rough around the edges the Bovine has no artificial pretensions. Be sure more than a few patrons have lost their hearing in front of the Bovine's stage, their virginity in one of the bathrooms and their minds to one too many Jägerbombs served up by some tattooed beaut at the bar. It's history is written by many a legendary rock band that's played their stage and/or sat on their bar stools. This is the place to catch those indie bands before they become big. Say you saw them at the Bovine first. The bar has stood the test of time, has maintained a loyal crowd and held it's own against newcomers like the Tattoo Rock Parlor.
You walk in, a small stage takes up the front of the establishment, then there's the bar against the wall to your left where you'll find tattooed maidens serving up common beers and whiskies. Above the bar is four old color TVs that loop through various anime, classic horror, vintage porno and just about any B-Movie or cult hit you could think of. Walk past the bar there are the washrooms and past that you enter a rear room that allows patrons to hang out and chat audibly, far removed from the stage and whatever band is peeling the wallpaper off the walls.
For the longest time the Bovine was also known for being THE place to get your Jäger drunk on. One of the few (and perhaps the first in Toronto) that served Jäger on tap. Now, last I went to the Bovine I found that Jack Daniels had replaced Jäger as the bar's promoted liquor of choice which seems rather odd to me. Jäger is to the Bovine as graffiti is to public washrooms. Perhaps just a temporary thing during NXNE? I'll have to go back soon to find out.
Not unlike the Horseshoe Tavern the Bovine is a part of Rock n Roll Toronto history. Even if your not a rocker it's worth going there at least once for sheer kicks. You might just catch a great up and coming band or see one of your rock idols sitting next to you. Whatever you do, bring earplugs. -
Review from bob t.
Etobicoke, ON
4/22/2012
I arrived late, only saw the last band perform, but I think I got a good feel of the place.
The Bovine is pretty small and cramped. If you like elbow room then you may have issues with this place. The stage is right near the front as you walk in. Also, the stage isn't that high off the ground and the floor isn't graded so if you're short, you might have problems seeing the band.
Things got a bit rowdy and physical near the front. There was a mini mosh pit, a few people fell down, beers were spilled, but it looked like they were all having fun.
If you're not into pushing and shoving, I would say the best vantage point is at the front but off to the side, near one of the walls.
The acoustics were fairly good, which is always a plus.
It was pretty packed when I went (a Saturday night). It was mostly people in their 20s of the rock/metal variety. The show ended around 12:30am.
You may be wondering if this place is for you as there are some things that don't seem appealing but I had a good time and it was an interesting experience. If a good band is scheduled, definitely consider going. -
Review from Meena A.
11/19/2011
Goths, gypsies, misfits, and a really hot bartender.
Decor: like a tornado went through a junk yard. Comfy, dirty and just the right amount of creepy.
They have live music fairly frequently. Rock, alternative, metal, and grunge. The bands are friendly and talented.
When coming here, I try to wear something that displays the maximum number of my tattoos. Crowd is fun and relaxed. Talk to someone, anyone. No need for stilettos. Required: black eye liner, military boots, tattoo sleeve.Listed in: Dance, Stagger, Drink, Dance
-
Review from Karly G.
Toronto, ON
7/20/2011
Bovine hasn't really been a local for me until just recently when they started their weekly 'School for Band Aids' on Sunday nights.
It's not the regular playlist (or clientele) with DJ Candy-O spinning Indie, Brit Rock, New Wave, and Retro. Oh, and there is a light-up dance floor. (Yes, the Bovine HAS a a light-up dance floor)
It's a great way to finish off your weekend or kick-off your work week. I have hit up the last two weeks and really enjoyed myself. Great music, great people and cheap drinks.
I think it starts at 10pm. -
Review from Noel D.
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't feel totally qualified to review the Bovine Sex Club because it's simply not my vibe. Through appearance alone I am assuming this venue caters more to the hard rock, punk and metal sort of vibe -- and so for that scene this place could very well be amazing?
But for me I am not really into places looking like they're some sort of post-apocolyptic bomb shelter. They have tons of chain-link fencing around the venue and other random creepy things hanging from the wall. I do like the busted televisions they have along the bar playing obscure b-movies though. And the men's washroom is surprisingly spacious and doesn't smell, from what I can recall.
They have a back room area as well with an additional bar. This used to be the "smoking room" when Toronto was going into its smoking ban transition, and this room used to be terrible with dozens of smokers going at it in a closed-off location. Not a good atmosphere. They used to also have very high benches, but all of this has changed and now it's a good place to re-locate if you want to escape the live band.
Again, if you're into hard rock, metal and punk then this seems like an awesome venue for you. I have seen bands there before and it gets very very loud seeing as the space is quite small. I can imagine things might get a little rowdy here... But if a band you like has a gig here I am certain you will have a pleasant experience! -
Review from shyni y.
3/16/2011
My review of this spot may not count because I was only there for a couple of hours on a WEDNESDAY, enjoying a few drinks with few friends.
I figure though , hump day is the best day to see how great a bar is - specially when it's got "Sex club" in its name.
WAARNING: my review may also be biased because -- well, you know, alcohol has that affect on ya and by the time I got HERE, i was well buzzed. So I'm going to comment on the decor. I also stayed for.... an hour? Probably less.
I knew of this place with all sots of dangling things out side - I never went in for years simply because I didn't know what it was - it looks like pure dumpster and my thought was, if I am going to go to a dive, Sneaky Dee is just around the corner. I wish I had gone in earlier.
Aside from the awkward stares we got when we walked in (3 Caucasian 1 Asian and a black man) - and you can almost here their thoughts saying "Fresh meat" - I was blown away with nostalgia at first foot inside - all the lights and dangling thingamagigies all around creates this nice ,intimate atmosphere so you might actually be able to hear what your friend is saying right beside you. I found that to be really refreshing - because it's hard to find a quiet spot these days, because EVERYONE has live bands - and what was once a social night out- became a deafening experience and you didn't really get to socialize. Don't get me wrong, I love live bands, but i think it takes something away too.
I even appreciated the fact that the dangling madness outside actually isolated the place completely and provided privacy- you really gotta look close even to see if it's open (actually we knew it was open cuz we heard low music).
From what I read here, it's a great place for a live music too - so I'll definitely have to check it on a weekend or something to experience it myself. For the moment, I am a fan -but I am a woman and inclined to change my mind every second - so I'll press "post" now, before I think too much and change my mind.Listed in: Best Happy Hour +
-
Review from Justin E.
Toronto, ON
7/25/2009 ROTD 6/3/2010
The CBGBs of Toronto, basically.
Small, intimate and outlandishly decorated with...uh...random discarded crap (fences, xmas lights, bicycles, car parts, creepy chained-up dancing baby figurines, old flickering TVs), this place is an authentic rock dive - unpretentious and always a good time. All comers are welcomed, although if you show up looking like or expecting a club-district vibe, you will be ignored and/or shunned, which is how it should be.
The place is frequently packed to the gills for sets by great local (and sometimes international) punk, metal and hardcore bands and it's staffed by bartenders who look the part, are approachable and keep the drinks flowing. Speaking of drinks, the Stock Ale is cheap and plentiful - so don't waste money on buying imported beer, ok? I mean, who drinks imported beer anyway?
Bottom line: if you hate the club district, do not consider yourself a vampire, do not wear Affliction t-shirts, enjoy immersing yourself in the true spirit of rock n roll and want to have a loud, stripper-pole-enhanced drinky-poo while hanging with genuinely rad 20- and early 30-something compatriots, this is your scene.
Bonus recommendo: if you're hungry after a night at the Bovine, Sneaky Dee's is this place's ideological sibling - and it's not THAT far away. Definitely worth the trip up the road. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
9/7/2008 3 photos
When I first moved back to Toronto from Montreal, The Bovine is the only place that I felt was truly accepting.
The place is a total rock bar in the truest sense. There's a real bond among the staff and it's really laid back. What happens at the Bovine stays there, and generally it's impossible to get out of there having only consumed a few drinks. I usually end up getting high school smashed and making out with one of the hot bartenders who look like the Lunachicks or Joan Jett (then not now). They play rock, mostly hard rock and the crowd is a bit older, although it's not weird if you're younger (like 19).
There is all this garbage art hanging from the outside and in. There's a small stage at the front and a lounge at the back. Don't be fooled by the rough exterior of the joint, they have some of the cleanest bathrooms in the city.
If you're itching to hear Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, or The New York Dolls, this is your spot.
They have bands and a DJ every night and a hot dance night called Thunderpussy on Sunday nights. -
Review from Jason E.
4/6/2010
I have walked past this place many times, never realising what it was. I had wrongly assumed that it was a junk shop that had closed after featuring in a giant size "Will it Blend" episode or possibly a long shut post-apocalyptic bicycle graveyard. The windows are all boarded up and covered in random matt black and rusted mechanical detritus.
Walking past it late one night last week there was a bouncer at the door, which struck me as odd for a shop that had obviously been derelict for years; I asked the guy at the door, "...is this some sort of bar or club?". He advised that it was a bar and live music venue specialising in heavy metal and punk. Before parting with the $5 cover charge I asked if I would regret going in and was informed that the band is normally very good. And it was. On that night it was a hard rock group with a female vocalist. They were rythmic, talented and gave a very powerful perfomance. Well worth the minimal cover charge!
The mechanical disaster area theme is continued to the interior with chainlink fencing on the ceiling supporting all manner of bicycle parts, old toys and unique pieces that must have cost the owner well in excess of 25 cents and possibly a lot more once dry cleaning charges had been incurred from hours of rooting through dumpsters behind garages to obtain the artefacts are taken into account. The atmosphere is lifted by a plethora of fairy lights strung to the walls and ceilings. Think of it as the sort of place that Mad Max would go for a beer and relax after a hard day at Thunderdome. The clientelle is mixed, the staff are friendly and presumably all get a substantial discount at local tattoo parlours.
If you like hard rock, this is an excellent venue to see good Torontonian bands. I only found out the name as I left, Bovine Sex Club, curious really, there were no cows there and no sex. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2008
As a young student straight from small-town Ontario, the mere sound of this club's name frightened me to the point of shielding my eyes. I took the name too literally and assumed it was a place where grinding was de rigueur. When I discovered it was a live music venue, all bets were off and I had to go in.
Deceptively dank on the outside, the club attracts a flood of hip punk rockabilly types on the higher end of the hipster age scale, making me feel infinitely less cougar-like. Phew. The bands rock, the atmosphere is eclectic, and the people are funky and terrifyingly good-looking in that greasy rocker way. Come to momma!Listed in: Get your gig on
-
Review from Nate Y.
5/31/2009
I'm glad I got my second wind and stopped here. It was past midnight and I was about to bail, but after having a slice of pizza for nourishment, that was enough to keep me out for the evening.
When entered the BSC crowd was a young, hip, crowd. There was a band of young'uns that were rockin' out, doing Beatle's and The Who covers. They were great! We go in the back what used to be the smoking room but now has a DJ and a stripper pole on stage in the middle. I guess this puts in the S in BSC.
With HR Puffinstuff and some other cartoon playing on screens above the bar (gave me ideas on what to play on the flat screen during house parties), and all the crazy stuff hanging from the ceiling and off the wall, this had the makings of a good time, and it was. -
Review from Sylvain T.
Bolton, ON
I really dug this place. The atmosphere, the set-up, the music, the weird movies on the tvs. It's small, it's cool, it's in a good location. That chick I met hasn't called me back but I won't it against her.
-
Review from Greg L.
Toronto, ON
8/13/2009
Well...my opinion of this place may be a bit 'biased' but the BSC rocks! The music is always awesome! The majority of the bands that pass through here never stop less of a great show.
The decor is amazing; it looks like a tornado went through a garage sale (similar to the Underground Garage on King st. minus the polaroids of topless flashers). You can catch random odd flicks on their old school TV's (Battle Royale, Super Girl? haha)
Drinks are priced on the cheaper side. $3 Bohemians? I almost always end up at the BSC when my night is cut short...
I think everyone should at least experience the BSC at one point in their lives even if it's just a stop in or pre-drink meeting spot! -
Review from Jon S.
Toronto, ON
4/13/2009
I've been in Toronto for 8 years and I've never been to the Bovine Sex Club. This was emphasized when I went to meet friends there last night and accidentally walked into Velvet Underground.
When I finally made it to BSC, it wasn't that busy (it was a Sunday night afterall), but the DJ (Thunderpussy) was great. Mash-up after mash-up. And the few people on the dancefloor (who were pants-less) were loving it.
I would have loved it more too, however I was stone cold sober. Tres unfortunate. Next time my friends... next time... -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2008
The Bovine is a great place to grab a drink or see a show. They used to have awesome bands playing every week and post-show, people would stick around because they'd play awesome music and there would always be cute boys around :)
The decor is basically...scrap metal yard? Chunks of metal fences and car parts are stuck to the outside and inside, all along the ceiling and behind the bar. If you want to zone out with drinks, there are TVs with something entertainingly strange playing most of the time, and they have lots of cheap booze options to keep people interested.
The patio out back is great in the summer, and the crowd is usually a lot of fun. If you've ever been into the punk/metal/rockabilly crowd, this is a great place to hang out, although with the birth of Tattoo Rock Parlour across the street, the crowd has changed quite a bit. Still a good place to drink, though. -
Review from Tim G.
8/30/2009
Not quite sure what to
make of this place. It's weird but
surely not the worst. -
Review from Catherine M.
ON
12/7/2008
Having never stepped foot in this place before a friend insisted we go there one night, I couldn't help but puzzle a bit at the name and wonder how crazy things get in there. The twisted found art sculptures out front and seemingly satanic babydoll hanging in a cage over the bar didn't exactly take the edge off either.
But a few drinks in I realized that the Bovine is just a pretty surprisingly relaxed bar with a great staff and rock 'n' roll atmosphere. The patrons come from all walks of life, and having been to various events and shows here I can definitely say its bark is worse than its bite.
Friends tell me that the Bovine was in fact a much darker, tougher place back in the day, but I think that somewhere along the line there was a shift in either ownership, business model, or both. And the recipe seems to be a success, as the place can be packed to the gills on weekends and with a good showing other nights of the week too.
I'm especially grateful that they god rid of the homocidally high booths in the back room of the bar. I have witnessed more than a few people go cartwheeling off of those things to their peril. Now the seating arrangement in the back, as well as the decor, is a little more conducive to relaxing, even if the soundtrack isn't. Overall, the Bovine is a fun stop for friends from out of town or for a once in a while visit, but not really my style. That doesn't mean that they aren't necessary and blessedly unique in what can seem like a strip of cloned clubs and pubs downtown. -
Review from Kathryn S.
11/8/2008
fantastic music venue. cute boys. relatively cheap drinks. marvelous ambiance. the name is just the icing on the cake.
