it's legitimate atmosphere something that you can really appreciate if you ever travel to Chicago.

Been coming here for around 20 years. The Main Ingredient, Dj Starting from Scratch, Back in tha Day, Break for Love, Sky's the Limit Charity events, off the top of my head. Chances are if you are reading this you have looked at an event and want to see what this place is all about. Solid classy place. Not your typical nightclub. Bouncers are cool. Front doors are welcoming. Staff is good. Owner has done a great job overall in keeping good events that attract the right crowds coming here. See an event you like, go freely and most of all Enjoy! Great spot! read more

I've been to revival for several functions. It is an event space that is rented by promoters mostly. The people who run the place do so very well. It is clean, the staff are courteous, and the drinks are reasonably priced. It is also located very well on a street car line or a short walk from Lexington. Subway. read more

It's such a stupid venue, they don't let u smoke inside, like the dumbass security guards okay you coming in with smokes but don't let u so DUMBBB, yet people vape inside read more

We attended a new NYE celebration here since we were ringing in the new year in Toronto. The party was 90s themed which is awesome for those of us who appreciate good music from back in the day (or something like that). Bouncers were nice, coat check (mandatory) was very nice and not all that expensive, bartenders were nice but got slower and slower as the night went on. The downstairs lounge has a more laid-back vibe which was more our style. The upstairs was a larger area with a long bar and a stage. The upstairs had a countdown going on the screen, the downstairs did not. No one even knew it was midnight until someone checked their phone and it was already 12:02. No countdown, nothing. Drinks are expensive like any other club/lounge. The line for the restrooms is ridiculous and there are only two stalls in the ladies room! The coat check line to leave was atrocious and we ended up staying a half hour later than intended waiting for the line to die down. Okay spot to maybe catch a show upstairs but be prepared to shell out money for drinks, not use the restroom until you get home, and wait forever for your coat if it's wintertime. read more

Beautiful venue, this particular Saturday night after Caribana the DJ and crew did an amazing job, music was fantastic. Just wish there was more room in the women's washroom on the lower level. read more

Revival - a crowd of people at a concert - Dance Clubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Revival is a great venue, I came here for their special Burlesque night and it was awesome! Neatly organized and clean, the Toronto School of Burlesque put on an amazing show that had me laughing and screaming all night. Even though there were a lot of people attending this event, the venue exceptionally ran the event without any conflicts. The main floor level is very open and there are bench seats all along the side of the venue (plenty of space for you to move around). The sound system is also pretty dope, I could perfectly hear everything when I walked towards the exit. I had a great night connecting with Toronto's diverse community under one roof. The drinks were a bit pricy, but I'm used to overpaying for drinks at special events so I didn't really mind it. Other than that it was an unforgettable night. read more

Revival - a man on stage in front of a crowd - Dance Clubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Worst bar experience in our life, never recommend. They threatened to arrest us. Literally one of those places that has no other purpose than to take your money. It was the first Halloween we celebrated outside in Canada. We waited in line for about 40 minutes, which I think is quite normal for that part of the night. They charged $40 per person as we walked in. No tickets, no receipts, and they didn't warn us about non-refunds. We went in and it was a packed place, cheep sound system, a DJ performance that was not for our taste... We didn't like it and decided to leave. It took us about 5-10 minutes to get in and decide to leave. We asked if it is possible to get our money back which we paid minutes ago... The cashier who gave us wristbands said "No, I can't refund money even though I knew you had just entered." We asked if we could see someone in charge. She pointed to a man by the door. We're trying to talk to the man and the other staff there and all they're trying to do is try to get rid of us. There is no manager etc. and they started to accuse us of lying, with the attitude of saying something very clever, "How do we know how long you stay inside, maybe you are lying" . By the way, neither I nor my husband had a drop of alcohol or used anything. We say you can ask your cashier, they say how can they will remember you and they started to get angry to us and keep telling to leave the area. Which we are already outside on the sidewalk and not blocking the entrance. They told us to email the place. At that time, I asked if you have a camera, because I thought that even the people who got our 80$ in 5 minutes ago accused us of lying, How we will proof that we were that a very short time with an email. But they never answered that question as they immediately called security. Security threatened to arrest us if we won't left the place, and started yelling at us and walking at us while we were talking calmly (which I have proof of that moment!). We were threatened with being taken into custody when we asked if there was a camera and a person who is on charge. I emailed the bar but they didn't even respond. Then, I made a research and learned that in Canada, it is forbidden to sell services or products without giving a receipt, if they earn without giving a receipt it means their sales act as underground economic activity. However we are threatened with being detained because we only ask the authorities and the camera. They took our 80 dollars in 5-10 minutes without receipt or ticket! We pay tax on every cent we earn to the state. This is not making money, there is another word for that! More than throwing 80$ in a 7 minutes, their behavior afterwards was humiliating, rude, disrespectful. Definitely a place I will never go again. I definitely don't recommend it, especially if you have self-respect. Living these in the heart of Toronto, I don't know what to say. read more

I was recently at Revival for the incredible Lee Fields/El Michels Affair show and it dawned on me just how frequently I am at this venue. The main reason I am always there is because they simply put on some spectacular shows. I think I am there about twice a month checking out an event -- and it helps that I live just up the street. In the past couple of years I have seen acts such as Mr. Scruff, DJ Spinna & Bobbito's Stevie Wonder party, Lord Finesse, Maestro Fresh Wes, The Herbaliser and much more. Definitely a venue known for booking soulful acts, from funk to hip-hop and R&B. They also have a lot of classic house DJs which I am not much into but I know are massive draws. They also have Shuffle every month which is their biggest event, though I've never been. As well as the fantastic Hip-Hop Karaoke every third Friday of the month. The venue is one large space that holds about 500 people with very high ceilings with one very long bar to the side. A very similar layout to the Mod Club, who are also Revival's neighbours. There is a smaller bar upstairs that only opens when things get really packed and it's a great option to get quicker drinks and get a good view of what's happening on stage. There is also a smaller "venue" downstairs called the Stone Lounge which generally holds separate events than upstairs. Women get the luxury of a washroom that is located right next to Revival's stage. So if you can set up shop in that location you basically have everything at your disposal all night long: the bar on one side, washroom on the other and a front row experience. read more

Revival - Crowd at Hip-Hop Karaoke. - Dance Clubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cool vibe, they play a lot of old school hip hop. $20 cover and $9 drinks. Crowd is like 25-40ish yrs old. Good time, would go there again!

Very tight-spaced, and crowded with very limited seating areas on the side. The bar does not have many options and service was alright. I don't really have much to say.. it's a little inconvenient that we have to go back towards the front, through the crowd, and head downstairs to use the washrooms. Spacing is a little awkward with a stage in the back and a tiny DJ booth off to the side with a random small upstairs furnished with a few seats. I probably will never go back. read more

Was here on the weekend for their Circus Art Exhibition (that in itself is another story - a very poorly organized event. I feel sorry for anyone that paid to get in. Demand your money back. Too bad b/c it had the potential to be a very interesting event). I've been to Revival several times before - mainly for their hip hop karaoke. This is pretty much the only reason I would go back. HHK is off the hooooooook! Always a great..if not crowded time. Other than that...it's nothing special. No point to get up dressed up to come here because you would be wasting your time. There really isn't anything fancy or cool about it. It also isn't sketchy enough to be cool enough to be a dive bar. It's a bad in between. There are a few tables and seats along the perimeter...but they definitely have seen better days. Half of them have wobbly legs so watch your drinks as they sliiiiiiiiide off the table. With the exception of HHK nights, find a better place to have a drink or dance or chill with your friends. read more

Revival used to be a jam on the weekends I think. But it's never been much every time I've gone there. It's one huge room, like the MOD club across the street, but with a shit sound system and decor from the mid-90s. There is a separate room downstairs that is much smaller, with booths. I think it's meant to be cozy, but it just ends up feeling like a booze can in the basement. College Street in general is a crap shoot, but Revival is almost always a bad time. They are trying to use the venue for more modern parties as of recently, but it has yet to turn around. read more

Revival - DJs at Revival for a special event - Dance Clubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

2.5* How are 2$ tall cans selling for $10 here? Gettin ripped off left right and centre here. Nice venue, great events- but when you have a decent cover charge AND are super ripping folks off on drinks and you aren't supposed to be a douchy club?? Just the wrong combo. Will be back for events and gladly pay cover but will be skipping on the bar. They also have a really terrible selection on drinks. read more

Came here sat for "The Main Ingredient" Party. It's all hip hop, reggae and old school rnb. Much like Edwin A. pointed out a very chill and unpretentious crowd. The decor is quite nice with a long dance floor and a long bar running parallel. We were mostly in the back which was pretty much all about breaking a groove and the space to get down to ice cube and pump up to Sizzla. Good for groups and $15 cover. Hieni & Miller is pricey here but the girly drinks are pretty alright. Bartenders are shockingly polite and they don't ignore you. The girls are fine and casually dressed. The guys are not pervy but will leer. Overall , really good energy from the DJ to the party ppl. I will be def be coming fo mo. :p XOXO M. read more

Came here for a Nostalgia party, the DJ was downright awesome, getting me (the typical Asian dude who really doesn't dance much) to dance the night away. The venue itself was alright. It has a long bar that makes it relatively easy to line up against for drinks and high ceilings which give it an open airy feel. Bottles of beer were $7-8, well drinks $8. We came early so it ended up being a pretty expensive night . I'm not a fan of mandatory coat checks, which they have here, especially when you have parts of your group who just want to drop by for a bit. The crowd was old(er), which makes sense given the Nostalgia night. I'd definitely come back for Nostalgia nights, 'cause the music was just awesome. Not sure who the DJ was, but kudos to him/her! read more

This review is for the Stone Lounge (lower level of Revival). I go for Fabricated, 3rd Friday of every month. The lower level has an intimate feel and isn't that large. Sometimes my friends and I are the only ones dancing sometimes everyone is dancing! The Good: NO Cover Good House Music Amazing bartender - she's super amazing! The Bad: Mandatory coat check which means you can get stuck in a super huge line (for the people going upstairs to Revival) Douchy bouncers/security (but that's standard for clubs..no?) read more

I love Revival. It's one of my favourite event venues, in being that perfect medium size venue which can actually fit more than a few hundred people but also isn't too big where you lose your friends during an event, since the capacity is around 800 people. It's perfect for dj events or live performances. There is a second (much smaller) room and bar downstairs, making it especially fun for 2 room events. There is also a small viewing area balcony type thing in the back of the main room which is sometimes accessible. The sound system is not overwhelming or even necessarily impressive, but is consistent and clean. Between 1 off jams thrown by individual promoters and then other long standing monthly residencies of events like the legendary Hip Hop Karaoke, I come here a couple times a year and I can genuinely say I've never had a bad time in this venue. I wish there were more promoters putting this place to use so I could come more often. read more

This is a great venue, I've come here repeatedly from everything to raves, band performances, burlesque shows and so much more. The decor is alright, it's always been on the smallish side in terms of capacity, so sometimes you'll find a fire marshall wandering around during a late performance. In all it's a great place, if you're booking for a private event/band make sure you make arrangements in advance or find yourself with standing room only. read more

I was having dinner at Bar Isabel. Amazing food and drinks! But this review is not on Bar Isabel. A friend and I were sitting at the bar and beside us was this ravishing lady in red. She had a beautiful face and was perfectly done, she had to be somebody. We ended up speaking and she was an actor from New York. She was in town doing a show at Revival. We ended up going next door for the burlesque show. THis was my first burleque show in TOronto. I didnt know what to expect but OMG I was entertained!!!!!! We walked in and paid $25.00. THere were no seats available and the place was packed. Being short the view wasnt the greatest, but being short I made my way closer. The performers and dancers were endless and extremely animated and full of energy. I thoroughlly enjoyed the show. It was a good experience. As for the bar, the service was slow and the drinks werent as impressive as the show. College street is a great area to do many eventful things. We later ended up at El Convento...but thats another review.... read more

I've actually only been here for a wedding, so that's the only way I can rate Revival. Even though my lady and I didn't consider it for our wedding (it's just not really our scene) it's a perfectly nice venue near Little Italy. I was in the wedding party, so I hung around beforehand to get ready, take pictures, etc. and was quite impressed by the changing area. Very nice and clean, with plenty of space, not to mention a fridge stocked with beer for some pre-wedding brews. Nice touch. Another plus was how accommodating the owner, Joe, was. I informed him basically the day of that my date had a gluten / dairy intolerance and he saw to it that her meal was taken care of. Stuff like that is much appreciated. As for the venue itself, it's surprisingly spacious and even on a hot July day, things were nicely climate controlled. I've been to a few summer weddings where, despite supposedly having A/C, the place is stifling inside. I don't handle the heat well, so again something that I appreciate. The food was fine but nothing special. Pretty much what you'd expect for a wedding. Also, not that they can help it, parking isn't great. There's street parking and a Green P a few blocks away, but that's pretty much it. As someone who isn't big on taking the bus or streetcar, this is a bit of a issue for me but so long as you're more hardened to the rigors of public transit, it's not a huge deal. Service from Joe on down was great. No complaints there. So again, while it may not be my particular vibe, if you like Revival and have been there for other functions, certainly consider it for your wedding. read more

I went here a couple of weeks ago for a Hip Hop Karaoke show and it was absolutely amazing. Because the place is open concept, it can hold a ton of people - and there was a huge crowd! The show was absolutely amazing and I recommend everyone go if they get the chance. It's pretty much average, everyday ordinary people rockin' the mic like Kanye. But there's no reading words off a teleprompter or singing off-key- these kids have studied every word, ever move, ever facial expression. It's like hip hop day camp for white kids, middle-aged men and little girls who want some respect. Honestly, the show was fantastic but I think the venue and all the space available made it even better. Not sure what it's like on an average night, but I had a great time, there was a great crowd and it was a great show. Next time you see a Hip Hop Karaoke poster, you better get yourself there, and fast! read more

While I will agree with all the fellow yelppers out there with their views of the size of this place: it never seems so crowded, it's a nice place. My review is more on advising you to perhaps take more $$$ cash out from the atm before feeling your wallet bleed money like it just got stabbed. Coat check $3 - + tip - no biggie pretty standard Cover $15 - after 11pm (it's only 10 before) Beer $10 tall boy old style pils Beer $10 tall boy Grolsch They also had bottles of Heineken and I believe those were 10 bucks too... I'm just saying that's a bit steep for a 2$ can at the beerstore. I'm ok paying 3x cost at bar but 5x cost ?? I'm not at a strip club nor at a major sport venue so don't charge beer as if I were. HipHop Karaoke was pretty entertaining the guys on stage do a pretty good job so I give them props.. Will probably return at some point ... read more

I was here for K-Pop Night Out during Canadian Music Week on Fri, May 8, 2015. The venue is a relatively small space so everyone is trying to get as close to the stage as possible. A lucky few stood on the benches along the side and were able to have an unobstructed view of the performers. I've been a couple of times prior for concerts and have not had an complaints. read more

We came here for their Halloween Shuffle Party. Signed up for guest list but upon arriving realized that only those on the guest list come before 11pm to get in for $10 anyway so signing-up is pointless. Once at the bar I realized that the reviews were true, they do only serve Heineken (and Canadian if you ask). All drinks are ~$7.50. They do not take credit card. The music was alright. They played a mix of top 40, hip hop, and some TV show theme songs along with some 90's classics. After midnight though, it was mostly southern hip hop. The TVs in the place had a clip on repeat all night which must have been from previous Halloween and was interspersed with the dose.ca logo...? This place feels like it's sold it soul. The racial and gender mix of the club was noticeably tilted. I will probably not return. read more

2016 NYE party was interesting! Toronto nows how to have fun. Diverse people looking to have a good time under one roof. Dj played hip hop & r& b from the 2000's to now. The drinks were watered down and pricy, that was the only downfall. Other than that it was a good time! read more

Revival - NYE 16' - Dance Clubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Just attended a private event at Revival and had a great experience! I was the MC and had access to their Green Room, which was a bonus. Joe The Owner was present and he was very friendly to speak with. The bartenders were quick on the draw and the sound man did a fantastic job. Good lighting as well. I don't frequent Revival on the weekend, but for private events it's the TOPS! read more

Went to the Bootlegger's Ball here, New Year's Eve. The coat check was a disaster -- incredibly long line to depart. The alcohol selection wasn't great (scotch was Red Label and Bourbon was Jack Daniels), and drink prices were steep (but then it was NYE). Still, I had a great time, the venue looked great, the staff were friendly, it rarely took long to get a drink. I'd go again. read more

The bar is very intimate. There's a tiny stage for performers and a very small area for the audience to stand and watch the show. I came here for a venue album release party. Martinis are $14 and cash only. The crowd was very hipster for this particular event. I had a hard time deciding whether I liked this bar or not, since it's a small bar. There are also tables on the right side of the walls. Cute? maybe. Intimate, very. But, in comparison to other bars/venues I've been to I can't say this one was any more special. Just a very average hangout place in lil Italy. read more

Revival - The stage - Dance Clubs Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Just went to the Roxy Reunion. It was great to see some old faces and hear some old tracks. As the ex Roxy General Manager and head of Security it was very nostalgic. I have to say the only thing that bothers me about Revival is the mandatory Coat Check. My friends and I could only stay for awhile so we didn't want to check our coats. Respect to Shawn the Door guy at the front for letting us keep our coats. My friends and I worked in the industry for a long time and there is no reason to have a forced coat check. There are enough people that want to check their coats if its about $. And from a security perspective you don't need to worry about smuggled alcohol or weapons on a soulful house night. I know. I ran Roxy Blu for 8 years. read more

probably one of the better clubs in toronto located on college st - where it's happenin late anyways.. revival has a big commanding main room with a stage for the dj or performer. accoustics are so so, stay close to the front stage area. theme nights are cool here. hip hop karaoke and the shuffle parties were hype. crowd seem good and unpretentious - there for the music not to be scene kind of folk. read more

Don't think I'd come back here. Didn't enjoy the music so that was a no-no for me and it really put a damper on my mood. Booth area was small but staff were helpful. That's about all I have to say for my shortest review ever lol read more

Stone Lounge (in the basement of Revival) is a very nice venue. The low roof and small room make for clear compact sound and it doesn't take long to fill up and become a party. I have had a number of good times in Stone Lounge and definitely appreciate having the venue bring in such varied and talented acts. read more

I have been going here on and off for the past 5 years or so and I must say that this place has sold themselves out. We waited in line for a while and ended up entering a half-empty venue - not to mention a hefty $30 entry fee which I would remind you, use to be $10/$15 or free before a certain time. After we paid, we paid for coat check - which is fine but my friend had an extra bag with her and they told her they would charge her double for it. After unloading our cash to the devil, we finally entered the venue. The vibe was out of some cartoon. People were snap chatting furiously to a crappy remixed version of "I want it that way" by The Backstreet boys, girls were sucking on lollipops and acting like they were from some bad episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians - there was something plastic about the crowd. It was like some kind of millennial underworld (not to say that I'm not a millennial myself). I also felt like I was in some sort of 5th-grade school dance, except it was worse. No one was dancing. Guys were scared to approach women and vice versa. The music was sub-par. The drinks were overpriced. Revival has become something they are not. I genuinely miss the old Revival, and I, unfortunately, won't be ever coming back. read more

Went to Revival for a Rue Morgue party during the last weekend in August. There were loops of horror trailers playing on the myriad of TVs, plenty of bartenders -- we never had to wait too long for a drink -- and a very well-stocked ladies' room with a friendly attendant. Cool atmosphere. I'd go again if I lived in Toronto. read more

Here's something that will help you learn about this great local business. I don't do clubs as a compulsive habit, but have been casually frequenting them for many years. I come to Revival for a monthly event held there. This is what I have to say about the kind of place it is: every time I walk in there, as soon as the bartender sees me and recognizes me, he brings me exactly what he knows I always order, without me even having to ask, or wait forever for young drunks bellied up to the bar to get their acts together. Any club with people of character like that on their staff is a club in which you won't be disappointed. read more

I like Revival. I checked out Hip Hop Karaoke last month (always a good time) and the crowd was large but the space never feels too crowded. The bartenders are quick and good at keeping the drinks flowing at a standard downtown Toronto price. read more

ive been to two parties at revival which seems to be popular enough for the entertainment and film community because both those unrelated parties took place there. there seems to be ample space to dance and schmooze with tables and benches lining the walls. the benches on the side though seemed quite old and not well put together and coupled with the satin like drapes that kept clinging to the back of your head proved to be a nuisance. we had a decent house red wine there at about 7.50 per glass and the hors oeuvres that were served (could have been from a catering company) were decent - they seemed to be heated up from a frozen package.. the space isnt all that interesting but there is a stage at the back for presentations, djs etc and downstairs is a lounge and a 3 dollar coat check (grrr.) the bartenders when fine when it suited them, but i was told that i could either leave my credit card for a tab or just use it once, as opposed to continuing to use it separately each time i buy a drink. i find this reasonable enough, just communicated with a bit of disregard for respect. if not invited to something here, i dont think id come back. read more

I enjoyed a show at Revival last night. The decor is nice, if dark, and the ladies' bathrooms are lovely! The management actually turned on the AC in May because we were getting warm. My Corona was cold; my husband's pineapple juice tasted like can to me, but he liked it. read more

Revival is a very aesthetically pleasing and hip bar located on College Street. The main floor boasts exposed brick walls with arch shaped inlets. There is a raised mezzanine, high ceilings, a decent sized stage and a long bar. Capacity for shows seems to be pretty large (maybe around 500 or so). There is limited seating, so it forces you to cut a rug on the dance floor. The music is always fantastic and the acoustics are excellent. The bottom level feels like a stone dance cave. It is nice that the two levels may allow for completely different vibes and crowds within the same establishment. I have been privy to attend some awesome shows at this venue and I have always had a great time when I have hit up this joint! read more