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Lee's Palace
Category: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Music Venues [Edit]
529 Bloor St WToronto, ON M5S 1Y5
(416) 532-1598
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
30 reviews for Lee's Palace
30 reviews in English
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Review from Jarita L.
Markham, ON
3/30/2012
my favourite music venue in Toronto. Great size and decent vantage points.
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Review from Chris P.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
My first time here and it wasn't for a concert. It was for the Bedlam all-girls pillow fight. The event had around 150 people so there was tons of space to hang out and there was never a line at the bar. Actually, at the beginning of the night there was a line, but the bartender shouted at us (in a friendly manner) to not line up at the bar and to spread out across it so he could serve us more efficiently.
The layout here is great. The stage is quite high up (a good 4-5 feet) so you can see what's going on no matter where you are in the place. There's a pit/dance floor area in front of the stage and surrounding that is a railing with some platforms to set your drinks on. For seating there are benches and tables around the outside of the space and they're raised. So if you're sitting down you're sitting above the crowd slightly creating a great vantage point. -
Review from Courtney B.
Pickering, ON
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Reliable place to see a show. Good sight lines from most spots and quick bartenders. Easy to get to on public transport. Only thing is that you have to go upstairs to go the washroom, but at least there are a ton of stalls.
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Review from bob t.
Etobicoke, ON
3/2/2012
I went on a Thursday night ("Local Rock" night). I arrived a bit late so I only saw two of the four scheduled bands.
The acoustics are very good. Clear and loud (but not deafening).
The place was at about 25% capacity. I didn't mind. At least I got a seat. There is a lot more standing room than there are places to sit. The venue was smaller than I expected but in no way is that a bad thing. It's pretty much the perfect size.
As for the bands themselves, one was really good and the other not so much. I guess it depends on which night you go. If you have awesome acts then your night will be amazing, and vice versa.
Since I wasn't there the entire night, I don't know exactly how the setup works, but it seems like each band gets about 30-40 mins of playtime and then 15-20 mins is spent dismantling their equipment and getting the next band ready. There may also be intermissions. So if you get in and there's no band playing, don't freak out. Just wait a bit.
The crowd was mostly in their 20s though there were some 30 and 40 year olds. Staff did their jobs.
I will definitely return. -
Review from Ranell B.
2/22/2012
This place is beautifully decorated from the outside. It possesses a very fun, trendy look. We were trying to buy tickets to the show downstairs but it was sold out days in advance so we went to the club upstairs which offered free entrance with a Student ID. The place played unique music and included a diverse crowd. Drinks weren't bad- pricewise and based on mix. It was a fun night that included some interesting observations.
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Review from Madelaine D.
Toronto, ON
3/30/2011
I get REALLY excited when I find out a band I want to see is playing at Lee's Palace (most recently saw British Sea Power here...they were AMAZING). This place is small, intimate and set up so that you can see the stage well from just about anywhere in the venue.
There are bar stools and a ledge all around the pit that you can saddle up to to enjoy the show, as well as seating all around the outer walls. The pit is the liveliest part of the venue and where you should be if you really want to take advantage of the atmosphere.
The staff are all extremely friendly (both bartenders and bouncers).
I'm sure it depends on the crowd I find the bathrooms to be old and worn out but somehow still clean.
TIP: If you're the type that prefers to sit for a show the best place in this venue to be are the dozen or so bar stools that line the top of the pit but you have to get there REALLY early to claim them because they get taken right away.Listed in: Concert Venues
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Review from Kate M.
2/15/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My favourite music venue in the city. Hands down. Love it.
It's all in the layout and set up. There's a pit to dance in and standing room, all of this surrounded by seats at the edge in a square like formation. All with decent sight-lines. I love having these options. Seating you can see from! Amazing! A lowered dancing pit! The best! Basic stuff that should be at every venue. I really dig it, and it enhances my live music viewing experience.
I've seen some of my favourtie shows here. And even the random ones have been good. If that makes any sense... I guess what I'm trying to say is that every time I've gone I've had a positive experience. That's a good thing yo!
If a band I love is playing here, not going is not an option. I stood outside holding a sign to get into the sold out Tallest Man On Earth show - got in and it was amazing. Tweeted at the lead singer of Foals when their gig sold out - got to witness them playing on top the back bar.
As I said: My favourite music venue in the city. Hands down. Love it. -
Review from Lola L.
5/21/2011
Lee's is one of the better venues that this city has to offer.
There's a good-sized pit in front of the stage for the more lively fans, as well as seating along the outside of the pit and along the outer walls. Even at sold out shows, the congestion isn't that bad along the bar, which is long and usually well-staffed. Wait times for drinks aren't as bad as I've endured at other venues. They also seem to be booking a wide variety of acts here lately. The sound is some of the best I've heard in the city--much better than The Phoenix, etc. And the newly re-painted exterior looks phenomenal.
Glad to still be going to shows here, after all these years. Long live Lee's. -
Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2011
I think that the description of the facilities are fairly well captured in other reviews, in particular Kat F.'s review. One thing I would add is that the sight lines are pretty good from almost everywhere because the stage is really high. This is really useful if you are, or will be attending a concert with, a shorter person. You lose all of the benefit of the tall stage if you stay on the top or second level though, so if you're short try to get down to the pit.
Lee's is not trying to be something it's not nor not as cool as it thinks it is (to the extent a building has an ego). I know others have eluded to it, but Nirvana, Oasis, the Smashing Pumpkins and others all played here before they were big, so give it some respect as the musical icon it is.
The Dance Cave (upstairs) can be a fun and easy thing to do after a a couple of hours of live music. But know that the average age of a Dance Cave enthusiast is about 20.5 so you'll likely feel like you are back at a campus nightclub, which can be fun if you're in the right mood. -
Review from Matt H.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best venue in Toronto. New sound system last fall has just made seeing bands here a delight.
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Review from Lauren M.
10/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been going to shows at Lee's for over 10 years now and I have so many good memories coming out of this place.
As mentioned, the sound quality IS much better than it used to be. I remember seeing some shows in the early 2000's with just awful sound quality. Last 1-2 years it's noticeably much better.
The general set up seems good in my opinion. The main pit area in front of the stage is perfect for people who want to dance, mosh or crowd surf. The rest of the standing area is raised, so you don't risk getting trampled by any nutters in the pit area. Drinks are served at the far back, but even the "far back" isn't too far away, you can still see the stage.
I love the wall-seating around both sides of the room, you can actually see what's happening on stage (bonus for short people)
It's a shame the bathrooms are so grungy, but when my fav band comes to town I can definitely deal with it.
The famous exterior wall mural has been redone recently (same artist) and it looks amazing. -
Review from Kat F.
10/18/2009 4 Check-ins Here
Essential Tips From A Lee's Palace Regular:
Lee's got a makeover a few years ago but it doesn't look any less dingy. It's still the same ol' Lee's, but the centre bar has moved to the back and the stage is higher. Sound quality is good, shows are cheap and there is enough entertainment (Aroma, Sonic Boom, La Presse Internationale, Tim Horton's) surrounding the easily accessible venue. Washrooms are clean and there's hardly ever a lineup to use them.
I swear they re-drywall this place every other month. Every time I go to a show the walls are in different spots - it's like when Sara first gets to the Labyrinth and walls appear where they weren't before - so don't go charging your way through the hall once you're inside, because you might hit the wall (literally).
BRING ID
You WILL be carded. And if you don't have your ID with you, they won't let you in under any circumstances, even if you're 40 and decked out in orthodox Amish regalia. I've seen this happen.
FIND YOUR FRIENDS BEFORE YOU GO INSIDE
It's fucking dark inside and they pack this place to capacity (550) so don't expect to freely roam around trying to find each other. Good meeting spots are: audio deck, front right speaker.
WHERE NOT TO STAND
70% of the spots in Lee's Palace are a thoroughfare. Try not to stand near them, or you'll be bumped, elbowed and the victim of beer spillage:
- merch table
- three steps on the left or right to lower level
- three steps on the left or right to the 'pit'
Another shocking/annoying thing (depending how you look at it) is that there's actually waiter service here. So that means in addition to dodging elbows and random beer spillage, you have to stay out of the waitress' way as she delivers trays of beer pitchers. Watch out for her - she looks like Chucky.
DRINK WATER
Lee's is one of those awesome places that actually has water jugs and plastic cups that you can fill yourself, so no reason to get dehydrated or hassle the bartender for your thirstquenching needs.
BONUS TIP
If you're coming for Friday or Saturday night at the Dance Cave upstairs, save yourself some hassle and just buy a ticket to whatever concert is happening at Lee's ($10-15), even if you don't want to see the band. You'll bypass the line of louts and walk right in, and then go upstairs to Dance Cave whenever you're ready. Ticket to Lee's = ticket to Dance Cave ($6) too. So you're out a few bucks but you've saved yourself some grief. -
Review from Noel D.
12/21/2009 2 Check-ins Here
I went to a lot of shows here back when I was a teenager. This was before I moved to Toronto and I didn't know much about the city, so I used to think Lee's Palace was the centre of it all. I saw some pretty memorable shows that left a lasting impression on my youth.
These days my musical tastes have changed since the mid-90s. Lee's Palace definitely caters towards the indie rock crowd so since I moved to the city (ten years ago) I have only been back to Lee's a handful of times. They've thankfully changed the layout and moved the bar to the very back of the club along the wall, eliminating a dead zone and creating much more space for concert goers.
Even though I am only there about once-a-year, I've usually always had a good time at Lee's Palace and have seen many great shows. Plus it's a nice mid-sized venue right in the heart of the Annex, so you don't have to head out into the middle of nowhere to see quality headliners. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
5/30/2010 4 Check-ins Here
I love how they have free self serve water here. The pitchers are left unattended though so anyone that is paranoid or has a weak immune system should pass on this option.
Alternatively they have a bunch of Mill Street products available which are generally a good choice.
You have to get here super early in order to get a seat along the wall. I normally don't do this and end up stuck among the masses. I haven't sat down at Lee's since August 6, 2004 when I saw King Cobb Steelie. It can get excruciatingly hot and the air conditioning is almost guaranteed to not be working when you actually need it.
The bathrooms smell and look terrible.
I've attended many great shows here and I've generally been satisfied with the sound. -
Review from Kim B.
ON
11/21/2008 4 photos
Lee's Palace is a hole....but it's a hole filled with history (and therefore, not empty at all).
Many a great band has graced the stage there, from the Tragically Hip and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1986, to Blur in 1991, to Elliott Smith, to Sean Lennon, to Hayden, to Queens of the Stone Age...the list is seriously impressive and endless.
It is one of the places to see bands just before they get big and then come back to Toronto a year later and you have to watch them from way back in the nosebleed seats of the Dome.
Two stars for being awful.
Five stars for being awfully cool. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/27/2008
I remember when Lee's was way more ghetto, when I ended up with something on my pants any time I sat down, namely chewing gum. It was a hole. The washrooms were hideous, and it would've been way more attractive had I been stone-cold inebriated.
This was back in the days of CFNY at Bathurst and Bloor, where I spent weekend afternoons nose-pressed up against the radio station window and then outside of Lee's, waiting in line to be the first one at the stage. Sigh.
Grossness and youthful memories combined make me enjoy this place.
Besides, it attracts decent Canadian and international bands, of which my concert-attending roster included The Sadies, Superfriendz, They Might Be Giants, Velocity Girl, Gandharvas, Treblecharger... (Wait. Have I not listened to music past 1997? Help me.)
The greatest thing about Lee's is being able to SEE the band from anywhere I stand -- perfect for a shorty like me. The pit and elevated section beside it are great. The back bar area's acceptable, too, but seems reserved for chatty Cathys who are really interested in boozing and hearing their own voices. If you're interested in seeing bands, stay away from this area.Listed in: Get your gig on
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Review from ness y.
Toronto, ON
1/24/2009
A review of Lee's Palace is almost dependent on the show, almost. So, I'm going to try my best to separate the venue from the concert.
As a venue, it's stereotypical right down to the... well, the grungy entrance way, graffiti covered bathroom stalls, dusty appearing floors, black interiors, hockey-rink-concession-type bar, linoleum dance floor, slightly parted backstage curtain.
None of those stand out as reasons to go to Lee's Palace. It's certainly the concerts you go there to check out and when it comes to live acts in Toronto this is THE venue.
Crowds are usually friendly, after all everyone's there with similar musical tastes. Frankly, I think I'd be thrown for a curve if I met someone who was there for the venue. -
Review from eune y.
Toronto, ON
3/12/2009
Who the hell goes to Lee's Palace for the decor? This place is an effing particle board palace and I wouldn't want it any other way! It's been here since the grunge hey days and it's just not letting go. I've seen many a fantastic show here and the sound is consistantly great unlike some venues in Toronto. The layout is near perfect and they offer just the right amount of bench for us lazy folk. If you've got a band, play here. If you want to hear a band, hear them here. The only thing that could make this place better is if they served food 'cause I like nachos while I'm rockin' out.
okay.. one word of digression..and if you want a really depressing night of NOT dancing check out The Dance Cave; Lee's response to the Richmond street drag....is this still happening? Okay, it's been like over 10 years since I've subjected myself to the sadness of alternative 80s night and maybe it's hoppin' now...somehow I doubt this. Possibly a good place to drink and hate people. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
10/2/2008
Lee's Palace has been around forever and ever.
And it's hit or miss like any concert venue.
The door men are snooty and the bartenders are cold and it's always been like that, you just deal.
It's shaped like a big theatre with a sunken dance floor area in front of the stage.
I saw Dallas Green perform there as City & Colour during NXNE way before he even put out an album and it was epic! And i also saw the Teenagers there and they were terrible.
So many great memories have been had at this place, and so many mediocre ones too.
As far as bookings go, they are usually a bit ahead of the curve when it comes to music. Before they get all big room, they play here first, and the area has great spots to go for drinks before and after shows. -
Review from Josh N.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2009
One of the best clubs in Toronto to catch live music.
Really well located at Bathurst and Bloor.
The renovated in the past few years and raising the stage vastly improved sightlines throughout the venue. Staff are generally quite tolerable, and the sound is usually good here.
Bathrooms are a bit out of the way (upstairs) and kinda dirty, but as expected for a spot like this.
Their website (http://leespalace.com) generally is up to date with upcoming show listings, including set times for each act, which is really helpful to avoid showing up too early or too late to a show.
Street parking, or there is a paid lot right behind the venue.
I always look forward to seeing bands at Lee's -
Review from Eric M.
2/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Lee's is far and away the worst music venue I've ever been too and that's saying a lot from a person that grew up attending shows in church basements, fields and any other hole that could fit a band and forty kids in.
The acoustics are terrible and it seems like the only good place to stand is centre stage in the very front. It's dark, dingy and just uninteresting visually.
Having said that, yes I am aware of the number of bands that have played there and their pedigree. Yes the staff are all very nice, polite and attentive, but that just makes for a decent place to drink not listen to music. -
Review from Emily T.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2009
Ever walk down Bloor at Bathurst and see that building with the funky, colourful mural on it that is busy and tacky, and you are dying to go in? (This was me at 15) That, my friends is the legendary Lee's Palace. What can you go to Lee's Palace for? It could be a concert, a night of stand-up, or just a place to get some drinks and dance with friends...Lee's Palace is a good venue for all of these. It's layout is pretty functional:
There's a large bar at the front, within a large standing area, and below is a sunken floor, with seating all around and table space for drinks. Whether you want to mingle around, cram yourself at the bar for multiple drinks, mosh in front the stage, or sit and take in the music, Lee's pretty much caters to anyone.
I've been a number of times for music and went recently to see Jon Lajoie do his first stand up show in Toronto and it was the best comic-night I have ever been to. Whether that's because of the genius that is Mr. Lajoie himself, or the sound, light and stage hands of Lee's Palace, I can not defer. But, I think they go hand in hand, so to say Lee's Palace is a good place to see stand up is a definite understatement. It's fantastic!
One thing I've always found confusing about Lee's is the washroom set up. They aren't labeled too clearly and funny stories aside, I've accidentally used the men's lavatory before. And yes, for some reason I didn't see the urinals till after I was finished....Just a word to the wise; the women's washroom is located a few more steps from the men's. I'm POSITIVE this will help someone...
Acoustically, Lee's is a fantastic concert venue. The rhythm and bass can be felt energetically within this confined space; the music bounces off the walls and dives right in to you. If you don't like swassy crowds or loud, rambunctious music, you should pass on Lee's Palace. If you do, then this is the perfect place for you! -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
3/4/2009
If I were 15 and thought it was rockin to go to a place with other 15 year olds trying to pass as 19 year olds than yes.
I can't even compliment it and say it is grunge. It's I-wish-I-was-grunge-cool.
I MUST say though that the washrooms are uber clean and the bartenders are super nice. The rest of the bar/venue is sticky.
(Oh, and it also might take you awhile to figure out that 1) it's a venue and 2) how to get in) In other words the funky and elusive outside appearance is enough to make it an experience, but after that you're probably not going to go back. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2008
Lee's Palace is a decent venue in the city. They've got an interesting exterior and a good interior -- the layout is basically music venue downstairs, and dance club upstairs (Dance Cave), with the washrooms in the middle.
They usually have decent bands playing downstairs, and a fun time upstairs, but perhaps the two should have been reversed. If you're at a show downstairs, you will hear the bass thumping upstairs and you will SEE the floor shake. One day, I'm sure the ceiling will cave in.
But besides that, it's a good place to go for a show, and a fun time if you want to dance. Beware the bouncers -- they are HUGE jerks and are prone to denying people entry on a whim. And expect line-ups for Dance Cave most of the time. -
Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2008 2 photos
Once I found Lee's website, I checked out their "Best Of" band list (http://www.leespalace....) of the acts that have graced the stage. The list starts at 1985 and stops mid-1999, I'm guessing out of sheer exhaustion. There's been a lot of great acts that have blessed that stage and that's one of the key things that makes this place a great concert venue.
One of the smaller venues in the city, it's got a great stage, large dance floor in front of it, and a very active bar. Because of the size, you get great sound in the place and sound easily fills the room. There's a seediness to it that can make most to any act that takes the stage look just a little bit bad ass. Might be the mural on the outer wall.
There's been a bit of reno since, meaning they moved the bar to the back of the room and provided bands with a dedicated area to sell merch, but that's about all that's changed. It's still dark, dank, smells a little bit, but it's the place that in 1994 had the likes of the Hanson Brothers, Collective Soul, and Oasis perform there. You tell the Gallagher brothers they're wrong about the place. -
Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
11/27/2008
This place puts on great concerts. They have a great sound system and an excellent floor layout. With the pit area actually being a step down from the surrounding floor space, there's an easily visible delineation between people who want to get ruckused and people who don't. As someone who consistently flips flips back and forth, being able to satisfy my mood without any violent surprise is always appreciated.
The other great thing about this venue is its size. It's not small like the Horse Shoe or Dee's, but it's not gigantic and ugly like the Kool Haus. It's in this nice middle ground that not many places in Toronto can claim (others include The Opera House and The Phoenix.) If venue plays a factor in your concert going decisions, Lee's Palace is a big plus. -
Review from Richard D.
York, ON
10/13/2009
One of the best venues in Toronto to see concerts. Occasionally you'll get a really big act doing a small club tour, but most of the time it's up and coming indie artists.
Relatively cheap tickets and beer, as well as one of the cooler crowds in Toronto make this place a staple for anyone into indie music. -
Review from Keidi K.
4/6/2010
I think its an ok venue for less known artists. One thing that I always thought was great about this place is their service.
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Review from Anonymous A.
11/9/2008
Great place. The dance floor is excellent, lower than the rest of the place with seating at the sides. Even when crowded it can be fairly easy to move around.
Only complaints: the bar service was a bit slow last night, and the coat check is on the 3rd floor meaning you have to climb a crapload of stairs to get your coat. If you're drunk and have a coat there, you'll be screwed.
The show last night was only $10 at the door, fairly regular prices for beer. -
Review from Tyler b.
2/27/2010
dirty and grungy and small and intimate and everything a dive bar / music venue should be like... not to mention pretty well known bands play here... anyone ever heard of hilltop hoods from australia? they've played concerts in front of tens of thousands of people, but even from the back of the place, we could see them in all their white, suburban, hill top hoodiness.
