Spice Route

Spice Route is King West's restaurant by day, club by night spot: a big room with a summer patio, Top 40 and hip-hop on Friday and Saturday, and a casual 19+ crowd. Here's the honest rundown, the good and the rough.

Spice Route: the full review

Address & location

Spice Route is in the heart of King West's club strip at 499 King St W (M5V 1K4), right at King and Brant in the Fashion District, part of Toronto's Downtown Core. This stretch is where most of King West's clubs live. Spice is easy to spot since it's so large, right in front of the pedestrian crosswalk, with a big banner sign out front.

The room

Holds about 400, and with the patio open in summer that jumps to 600 plus. There's a massive dance floor in front of the DJ booth that's almost like a stage, with elevated booths lining the wall behind it that oversee the whole club. Four bars total: one central, one near the bathrooms, and two outdoor patio bars open in summer and fall. Bathrooms at the back, smoking area out front, so get a stamp.

Who's there

Mostly young professionals, roughly 24 to 30, dressed casual. The review crowd skews to late university students, the odd group of guys over 30, and a big Woodbridge contingent. Nothing wrong with it, but this younger crowd can get rowdy, and on off nights the ratio runs heavy on guys.

What's great

• Large, open concept. Big room, lots of space, plenty of room to dance and a central bar that anchors it all.
• The summer patio. When the patio opens up, this venue is at its best. Two extra outdoor bars and a lot more room.
• Booth nights deliver. If you're posted at a booth with bottles, it can be a genuinely good time.

What to know going in

• The music is hit or miss. Top 40, hip-hop and trap, but the mixes can be sub-par and the soundtrack inconsistent.
• The crowd swings. Some nights are dead, some run heavy on guys, and the younger crowd can get rowdy.

Move like you know

• Beat the line. Get there by 10:45 in summer at the latest, since the guestlist line can slow to an hour wait on a busy night.
• Spice Route does stamped re-entry, so get your stamp if you're stepping out front to smoke.
• Want a guaranteed spot? Roll with a booth and bottles. That's the version of this venue that's worth it.

The music

Spice Route plays a mix of Top 40, hip-hop and trap. The crowd vibes to it some nights, but song selection and the mix are lacking, and the soundtrack is inconsistent. If a specific sound is the reason you're going out, manage your expectations here.

What to wear

Dress is a mix of casual and classy. As long as you're dressed nicely, you shouldn't have problems at the door. Bags are not allowed, though women can bring a purse. Men: no sportswear, no boots, no hats, and no side-bags.

Age limit

Strict 19+ on a normal club night. Ontario drinking age, no exceptions, so bring real ID.

Where Spice Route is

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