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The Garrison
Category: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Music Venues [Edit]
1197 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6J
Neighbourhoods: Little Portugal, Beaconsfield Village
(416) 519-9439
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Sun
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
10 reviews for The Garrison
10 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011 5 Check-ins Here
According to my friend Christine, the Garrison is what the Rivoli was 20 years ago. I get what she's referring to; it's a space that is now the home to some of the popular indie events in the city, and what Queen West was back in the 80s and 90s.
This bar attracts a great crowd thanks to some of the eclectic happenings booked here: Wavelength, Trampoline Hall lectures, Turning Point dance parties, and Pillow Fight League matches, just to name a few.
The acoustics are good and the stage lighting is bright enough to not need a flash. It's intimate enough without feeling too cramped and when it's cramped it's not sweltering hot either. I hope it will achieve legendary status someday as one of the city's top venues.Listed in: Play It Louder
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Review from Courtney B.
Pickering, ON
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been here a few times either to check out bands or for bar nights. It's a good, midsized space for that in between sort of act....not not famous, but not really famous either. One of those places where if some act gets really huge, you can be all "oh, I saw them at the Garrison years ago."
The sight lines are good -- it's basically a box of a room -- and there are benches around the sides of the room. The sound-guy space (that's the technical term) is right beside the bar, so if you like to drink, you will also get to enjoy the acoustic sweet spot.
Beer prices are reasonable for cans, and the bartenders are quick and efficient.
The toilet situation is not ideal, though it sounds like it would be: unisex private stalls. I think there are around 5 of them, and the night I was there, the lights were broken in two so they were unusable. I recommend heading to the front part of the venue to use the bathrooms there. -
Review from Brianna R.
Toronto, ON
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is great for bands just starting out or small functions. A very awesome space.
The one problem -- THE BATHROOMS. Gross! I'm by no means at all overweight and I could hardly close the door behind me.
Also, the beer selection is terrible and my boyfriend ordered a pint and it was completely flat. Flat beer is incredibly awful.
The only thing this place has going for it is the performance space. Period. -
Review from Noel D.
11/22/2011
I've never had a chance to go to the Garrison because I'm simply not interested in any of the shows or events that happen here. There have been some shows I wanted to check out but was busy, so I don't want to come off as a total music snob, but this place does seem to lean towards the indie-rock vibe, which is not my bag.
Anyway, some friends were having a CD release show here recently and I was looking forward to finally checking out this venue. I've walked by it many times and looked inside and have seen the front area, but never the actual stage in the back. The outside is very bland and basically looks like every other generic building on Dundas West -- I'm not even sure there's any signage to be honest. If you walked by on a slow night and a bunch of hipsters weren't smoking outside then you probably wouldn't even know it's a bar, let alone a concert venue.
The back is pretty basic as well. It was dark so you can't really see much, but there seemed to be a ton of exposed wiring and random pieces of wood on the left side. The right side had high benches that make you feel like a little kid when sitting on, and are very useful for shorter people to see a show comfortably. The bar in the back is physically quite small, so I can't imagine how difficult it would be to get a drink if there were a dozen people trying to do the same.
The sound was decent. It didn't blow me away or anything, but it certainly didn't sound bad. The stage itself has little character with no branding at the back like most spaces. It appeared to be a good three feet off the ground so another good quality for the vertically-challenged. The washrooms are single rooms and there seemed to be a few of them, but they're really small. I was a little drunk, but found it awkward getting out because your legs get sandwiched between the door and toilet bowl.
Overall the Garrison is a decent venue, but was disappointed that it lacked any character. It obviously has a reputation as a place to see quality shows, but right now it just seems to be a giant room with a stage and some bottles at the back. At the moment with its thrown-together half-assed decor it visually reminds me of one of my least-favourite venues in the city: El Mocambo. -
Review from Madelaine D.
Toronto, ON
4/8/2011
As far as smaller music venues go, the Garrison is okay. I prefer Lee's Palace which is wide and has that pit, and The Horseshoe which is wider and has more character. The Garrison is just a little too long, narrow and plain to give too solid of a rating.
It's sketchy looking from the outside, so much so that it's a bit tricky to find. When you first walk into the venue you walk into a small room with a bar and a few tables, from there you pass through a door, hand over your ticket and walk into the long concert hall (that you could probably pack no more than 300 people into). At the back is a small bar that serves a full array of drinks including local draft beers for $6.
The sound system here is good, maybe a little too good. I counted 12 concerts I've been to in the last year or so (so my ears are pretty damaged) and this is the first venue in a long time to leave my ears ringing well into the following day.
The walls are bare, black and grungy. There are a few chairs around the outside of the venue, though if you did choose to sit in them you wouldn't be able to see a thing.
The washrooms are small, (understandably) dirty, and right beside the stage. The stage lighting is low and simple.
Overall, not the best place in the city to catch a show, but not a terrible option either.Listed in: Concert Venues
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Review from Kate M.
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hipsters? Check. Hipster beer? Check.
Find me her to check out some good music? Check.
I like The Garrison. Is it my fav venue? No. Why not? I can't put my finger on it. Maybe because the bouncer seems to hate me for no reason? That could be it.
Other than that though, if you're in the mood for good music this is the place to be. Good sight-lines, big enough that you don't feel squished but small enough that it feel intimate.
Bonus? It's oh so close to my fav 24 hour spot The Lakeview so if after last call you want some snacks, food is not far! -
Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2011
This is a really odd place. From the outside it looks like an abandoned laundromat, except that there are all of these people hanging around and it's 1 am. When I say all of these people, I mean the most eclectic group of people you have ever seen. For example, when I was there a dude was wearing leopard skin pants, a cheetah skin jacket and a Daniel Boone hat.
The first room you walk into looks kind of like a Legion, except they are selling good beer rather than Labatt Blue. In the back there is a spot for live music, it's kind of like the Horseshoe, but smaller and weirder.
The night I was there the "headliner" was a bunch of middle aged men playing covers, like Rave On (you may remember this tune from the Cocktail soundtrack), but in a Ramones style. Cheetah man was loving it, but it wasn't really my thing.
The entire time I was there all I could think was, "Man, Toronto is crazy. Apparently there is a place where people have been watching middle aged men play punk covers and wearing a full jungle cat outfit accented with a coonskin hat is sort of normal."
I would recommend The Garrison for the experience if nothing else. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
I know I am biased because I saw such a great show last night at The Garrison. The bias is fair. It is a music club, so having great shows is worth some stars.
The Garrison opened in the fall, and this was my first visit, but I know I will be back. I will make an effort to return, frequently. This is a great music venue. There is a pretty big front room with tables and a bar, but the magic happens in the back. All the way in the back room is an elevated stage, of pretty good size. The room is wide, with great sight lines of the stage (especially important when you're 5ft 4), and good acoustics.
Last night, the music was awesome, the crowd was hopping, but no one ever pushed me, people were smiling and happy, it was very Canadian, and I liked it.
Bartenders were nice and friendly, and there were enough of them. Beers range from Camerons and other locals on tap, to PBR in a can. I think the most expensive beer was $6, so not bad.
I plan to keep an eye on the music schedule at The Garrison. It's definitely a good spot to see live shows. -
Review from Val G.
11/24/2009
Wavelength has moved from Sneaky Dee's to the Garrison, which just opened this fall. If you look at it in google street view the sign says 'Portugal Bar and Lounge' and has a couple of old portugese dudes hanging around outside but have no doubt that this is the new music venue of the Ossington/Dundas corridor.
This past sunday the Garrison was about a 1/4 full for the young mother, provincial parks and parlovr show. The sunday night wavelength shows are coming to an end so catch as catch can. This is not the end of wavelength though, just a move toward a special events based format.
PBR bottles are $3.75 and 50 bottles are $4.75. Wellington on tap. Better sound and lighting system than at sneaky dee's. Good size, minimal seating, fresh line-up, and no frills. Keep the cover cheap and ravenous trendy crowds at bay and I'll continue to go to this local joint. -
Review from Sahra G.
7/20/2010
I have now gone to this venue 3 times and I am a huge fan. I love this place, its nice and big, and it has 2 bars one in the back and one in the front. The front one is usually less crowded and they let you take your drinks in the back that you buy in the front so you can save yourself some time.
All drinks are reasonably priced, and the staff are happy and nice. The bouncer is a friendly dude too.
My only complaint is the lack of A/C when I was there on Friday it was so warm that my fake eyelashes started falling off because I was sweating so bad from everywhere. They need a couple of fans or something in there.
