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The Boat
Categories: Nightlife Dance Clubs Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Dance Clubs, Music Venues [Edit]
158 Augusta AveToronto, ON M5T 2L5
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 593-9218
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
11 reviews for The Boat
11 reviews in English
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Review from Caitlin J.
Toronto, ON
6/13/2011
I was a few drinks in when I came here so this review is based on a pretty hazy memory. But I know I had a good night so here is how I break it down:
1 Star for letting me in despite the fact that I was proabably partially googley-eyed.
2 Stars for making me feel like I was back at high school prom. The round, linen-covered tables + parquet dancefloor. Ahhh.....brings me back. Sadly, nobody asked me to slowdance.
1 Star for the awesome bartender. Can't remember why I liked him, but I know I did.
Can't give it 5-stars because the music was not the best, but hey, the music sucked at prom too, so it kinda added to the vibe. -
Review from Margs L.
Toronto, ON
1/26/2011
I am a fan of this place but I don't recommend getting any of the bar food. DO NOT BE TEMPTED. If you are hungry just leave. Lol. We went to this place for a birthday party for the night where they play hits from each decade in a sequence (I am not sure what it is called). The crowd was pretty young hipster types. The cover was only 5 dollars and the coat check was very cheap too. The music DJ was amazing and very fun. Everyone was there to have a good time and not stand around being cool. Very refreshing from the regular bigger lounges.
Get there very early for any event because I believe that once you get there around 11, you won't get in or will have to wait the whole night. -
Review from Kate R.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2010
Well... we went here with promises of "Yacht Rock". The perfect theme for a club that looks like a boat. And is called "The Boat".
On the way we kept bumping into people that didn't want to pay to get into The Boat as it was empty. We went anyways as the music was fun and it was nearing last call.
Great tunes, fun evening. Place would have been packed if everyone that left because "nobody was there" actually stayed.
Also heard that apparently these Yacht Rock parties are going to be held weekly instead of monthly. If the promoters of Yacht Rock do happen across this - great night, but once a month or people will quickly lose interest. -
Review from Kaye H.
Toronto, ON
10/25/2009
So for my first review in eons, I've decided to talk about The Boat, as it is one of the only places in the last few months that has made any impact on me whatsoever.
A little over a week ago I made my way to this venue as my friend's band The Diableros were having their CD release there. I don't usually enjoy going to shows all by my lonesome and I had had an awful day, but I wanted to support my friend.
The first thing I noticed when I walked up to The Boat was how nice the bouncer was. This struck me, because usually, bouncers can be quite rude, and try to strike the fear of God into many of us semi-intoxicated individuals. The bouncer was really friendly.
The Boat is a larger venue than I anticipated, with lower ceilings and moody, sultry lighting. The stage is at the front of the venue, and it's quite large (in comparison to the size of this venue which is not as large as say, the Silver Dollar), allowing everyone to crowd around comfortably without having a claustrophobia-induced panic attack. Even though I entered on my own, I felt pretty comfortable.. the people at the front collecting cover were kind, there was room to breath in the venue, there were little lights everywhere creating a cozy, and even somewhat secretive feel.
That's another thing I really enjoyed about The Boat, upon entering, you almost feel as if this is a secret only you and the other show-goers know about, because when reaching the outside of the venue, you can't hear much from inside, the outside is a little worn-down and unrevealing, and I certainly did not expect to enter into this little haven of music, drinks and dancing.
The bartenders were also pretty nice, the older man was quiet but kind, and the younger, female bartender was very upbeat and smiley.
After the band finished up - older 40s and 50s pop and Doo-Wop music exploded onto the dance floor via the sweet DJs, and I was pleasantly surprised by the music choices that littered my ears.
The Boat is definitely a venue you should check out at least once! -
Review from Noel D.
9/2/2009
I had the pleasure to do a monthly event at the Boat for several months and the staff were very good to me. The owner maybe only said two words for the year I hosted my event there, but that's cool -- the booking agent was awesome and that's what matters most.
For those that are just visiting? The Boat is pretty cool. It's not exactly in shape and smells a little, but this is what hipsters look for in a venue these days. The drinks are dirt cheap which is a huge plus (or at least they are cheap compared to fancier venues). The layout isn't the greatest with the dance floor right by the entrance and a makeshift stage, but the place has advanced slightly since it first opened.
The Boat stills seems to be wildly popular with the kids. Line-ups are almost a given on the weekends and they have become very strict with their capacity. Back in the day they used to ram this place to the point of uncomfortableness. I met Ron Wood (Rolling Stones) and Dan Aykroyd on the same night once. Pretty cool if you ask me. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
4/14/2010
The problem is, that I"ve never actually been inside, and will have to update once I do.
We went for the Goin' Steady party, which seemed like such a rocking night, except when we got there at 10:45pm the lineup was literally almost a block, and NOT moving at all. The only reason it did move was becuase people left. During the whole 2 hours we stood there in minus 10 weather, only about 4 people went in.
It seemed like they were at capacity, but never could tell.
During our wait, I saw a lot of people coming outside, sweaty, hot, just for a breather then running back in. Made me this it was really stuffy in there.
I'm sure this place is great, once inside, but woudld totally recommend (as with most clubs) to GET THERE EARLY, around 9:30pm and chill and drink inside, rather than standing outside.
I'm still interested in going again, one day. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2008
The Boat was once a restaurant and a karaoke bar, but a few years ago it became a scenester dance party venue and indie live show venue.
Inside, it looks like the inside of a ship, which enhances the whole ship under the sea vibe inside.
The drinks are cheap and the dance floor is packed and it's usually filled with quirky themed parties.
It's all around a great time. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2008 1 photo
The Boat pulls in some great indie local music talent, offering an intimate backdrop in Toronto's coolest neighbourhood. You'll find lots of table seating in the back, so if you're alone and just want to melt into the walls, you can do so without being judged. The interior certainly gets you in the maritime spirit, and is one of the highlights of this space; perhaps due to this quirkiness, OCAD types come here in droves.
Though dance nights do happen here, including the ever hip "Goin' Steady", I hesitate to come up here for anything but straight live music -- it's a tiny space with low ceilings, and the floor seems like it would buckle if crowds did anything more than sway in one spot. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2009
The Boat was indeed once a restaurant -- my friend's parents went on dates there back in the day.
Nowadays, the interior still looks like it could be a banquet-y looking restaurant, with its small dance floor and carpeting, but it's party central.
I've been to a million different dance nights here and I've only had a bad time maybe once or twice. Most of the time it's a fun crowd, it's become much more popular in the past two years, so expect lineups for popular nights after midnight.
The bar is tiny and gets crowded easily -- usually they only have two bartenders working but they manage to hold down the fort pretty well. Washrooms are decent but can get on the gross side on crowded nights. And this place becomes a sauna in the summer -- just accept it and stop caring what your hair looks like, because no one's hair looks good at that point in the night anyway.
My favourite ongoing night by far is Going Steady, with tons of 50s pop funk and soul music that gets people dancing in the best way possible. Generally I prefer Going Steady to Shake a Tail at Clinton's, just because the Boat is easier for me to get to, although the music is generally pretty similar. -
Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2008
A fun place that vaguely resembles its namesake by sticking some circles in the windows.
There never seems to be much in the way of staff anywhere, other than bartenders of course, and they are often friendly. They have a small offering of beers at regular prices.
The real special thing about The Boat is the variety of great events that they host. I've been witness to a variety of activities, including 50s dance parties and the occasional slam poetry gathering. I really recommend going to one or some of the events put on by this place, because they really know how to pick 'em. -
Review from Catherine M.
ON
12/5/2008
Walking into the Boat for the first time, I instantly had the impression of a 1970s seafood restaurant that was at some point also a strip club. Something about the nautical elements, overindulgence in dark wood, and a slight air of sleaze all come together to make the Boat both a bit creepy and a bit awesome.
Decor aside, I have seen quite a few great shows at the Boat, as well as danced my pants off more than a few times. With regular dance nights and special events, you are sure you to get a chance to hit up the Boat at some point. Halloween night the line went down the block nearly to the park, and this was early in the night, too. Ever the popular meeting ground between Kensington hippies and Parkdale hipsters, you can always count on an interesting mix of people.
The drinks are cheap, the staff do their job efficiently without a lot of fuss, and if it's not too swamped they are also super friendly. If the lineup at the bar goes four people deep, you're probably going to have a very brief exchange, but rightly so. Somewhat regularly you can find multi-band lineup shows, which are a great way to check out a bunch of bands for a relatively low cover.
