Locals Only is King West's small basement bar: Top 40, hip-hop and R&B, a casual 21-to-30 crowd, and a cozy room that's rarely dead on a Friday or Saturday. Here's the honest rundown, plus the free guestlist so you beat the line before it caps out.
The sceneWhat it's actually like
Let's be straight: Locals Only is a small dive bar, not a big late-night club. It's tucked in the basement under a white building on King West, and you spot it by the trippy hallway with the bright white neon sign and the stairs leading down. Inside it's tight. You can take in the whole room in one shot. The walls are covered in eclectic painted art, the bar's at the back on the right, and a couple big windows up front let you peek in from the street.
We've been here plenty, and the play is simple. It's a solid pre-drink spot when you've just wrapped dinner and you want to kill time before hitting another bar or club in the area. The crowd's friendly, the vibe's cozy, and it's almost always lit on a weekend. Just know it's too small to carry your whole night unless you roll in with a full group that's down to stay.
Quick factsKnow before you go
Locals Only Fridays & Saturdays
Two nights, same easy formula. A look at the room.
Skip the line
Get on the Locals Only guestlist
There's no walk-up VIP here, it's first come first serve, and the room's small so it hits capacity fast. The free guestlist is still your move: sign up ahead, get there early, check in under your name, get stamped, you're in. A line can start by 10:45, so aim for 11:10 at the latest. Drop your night below and we'll help you plan it out.
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We submit your request to the venue on your behalf. Entry is subject to the venue's approval, capacity, age, dress code, ID, and cover, and is not guaranteed. By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request and may receive related offers.
Locals Only: the full review
Address & location
Locals Only is on King West at 589 King St W (M5V 1M5), the southwest corner of King and Portland. Look for the white building. It sits in the basement of the restaurant formerly known as Home of the Brave, which is now closed.
The room
This is a small one, capacity around 100 to 140, considered a bar or pub more than a club. One main bar, a few seating areas, and those eclectic painted walls. Big windows up front, the bar at the back on the right, bathrooms at the very back. You see all of it in one glance, which is part of the charm and part of the catch.
Who's there
A mix of affluent young professionals and college students, roughly 21 to 30, dressed casual. The crowd is friendly and welcoming. It's popular, so it hits capacity quick on a weekend.
What's great
- Great early-night pre-drink spot. Wrap dinner, post up here, then move on to the next bar or club on King West.
- Cozy vibe, friendly crowd. The room's small and social, and people are easy to talk to.
- Reasonable prices. Drinks come in fair for King West, and there's no cover.
What to know going in
- It's tiny. Bigger groups can have a hard time, and it caps out fast.
- It can get stale. One small room means it wears thin if you try to spend the whole night here.
Move like you know
- Get there early before it reaches capacity. The line can start by 10:45.
- Have a backup plan in case you can't get in. King West has plenty of options a block away.
- Birthday? Let the door or your host know about the birthday specials.
The music
Locals Only plays a diverse mix of Top 40 hits, hip-hop and R&B, plus 2000s throwbacks. It aims to cover everyone's taste and does a decent job of it. The DJ reads the room and keeps the mixes the kind the crowd likes.
What to wear
The dress code is very casual with no major restrictions. It's a bar, so you can get away with wearing pretty much anything, streetwear included, and whatever shoes you like. Come comfortable.
Cover & how to get in
Cover is free. It's first come first serve, and because the venue is small it hits capacity quickly, so the guestlist is still worth it. Sign up ahead, get there early, and at the door tell the door person what guestlist you're under, check in, get stamped, and head in. A line can start as early as 10:45, so aim for 11:10 at the latest.
Age limit
Strict 19+. Ontario drinking age, no exceptions, so bring real ID.
Booths & bottle service
Heads up: Locals Only is a bar and does not offer booth or bottle service. If you want to check it out, just sign up for the guestlist and one of our staff will help you plan the rest of your night, including bottle spots nearby if that's the move.
▸ Reserve guestlist or plan your night
