The Drake Hotel is Queen West's three-floor staple: hip-hop, rap and R&B till close, a diverse 19+ crowd, and the only rooftop patio on the strip. It's a restaurant by day that flips to a club around 10pm, Friday and Saturday. Here's the honest rundown, plus the free list so you skip the worst of the line.
The sceneWhat it's actually like
The Drake is the most prominent venue on Queen Street West, and it plays like it. Three floors, three different rooms, a crowd pulled from all over Toronto and the GTA. The main floor has a dance floor and a bar with an elevated dining section. The basement, the Drake Underground, is darker and rawer, all dance floor with a bar up front. Upstairs is a square bar in the middle of the room with the patio off to the right.
This isn't a bottle-booth bottle-war kind of room. There's no dress code worth stressing over, the Queen Street artsy streak runs through it, and people show up dressed how they want. If your thing is hip-hop and R&B with room to roam between floors, this is the one.
Quick factsKnow before you go
The Drake Fridays & Saturdays
Three floors, three sounds, one cover. Here's the room you're walking into.
Get on a guestlist or book a table for The Drake
Straight up: The Drake runs first come first serve with no house guestlist, so the real move is to line up early. Our free list signs you up for other guestlist specials like free cover or free drinks at select clubs on the night, and if you want a private room with bottle service we'll sort it. Heads up: lines get long after 12:30 in summer, so get there before midnight.
We'll text you to confirm your spot. Want it faster next time?
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.
The Drake Hotel: the full review
Address & location
The Drake's on Queen West at 1150 Queen St W (M6J 1J3), right by Queen and Ossington, the closest major intersection. It's the most visible spot on the strip, with a Drake general store across the street, so you won't miss it.
The room
Capacity runs about 450 to 500 across three floors: the main floor, the Drake Underground in the basement, and the upstairs bar with the rooftop patio. Each floor has its own bar, the main and Underground each have a dance floor, and there are sit-down booths to post up with friends. Even with that size it gets busy, so come early.
Who's there
Mostly young professionals, roughly 22 to 28, dressed semi-formal with that Queen Street style. It's a diverse crowd from all over the city and the GTA, ranging in age and background, which is part of why the Drake has stayed a hotspot for so long.
What's great
- Multiple floors, multiple sounds. Main floor and upstairs share a mix; the Underground runs harder rap and trap. You pick the room.
- Big and spacious. Room to move, room to find your people, no one cramming you into a corner.
- The only rooftop patio on Queen St. When the weather's right, that alone is worth the trip.
What to know going in
- Summer lines get long. After 12:30 the wait can stretch, so beat it by arriving before midnight.
- The crowd drifts. People move room to room, so one floor is usually popping while another runs quiet. Follow the energy.
Move like you know
- Arrive before 12 to dodge the line. The club side kicks in around 10pm.
- Stamped re-entry is allowed, so you can step out and come back.
- Want a guaranteed setup? A private room is the only way to get bottle service here, so ask ahead.
The music
At The Drake, expect mainly hip-hop and rap with old-school cuts and R&B mixed in. The Underground goes harder: more hip-hop, rap and trap with the occasional dancehall set. The sound down there can shift depending on the special event, so the basement is where you go when you want it heavier.
What to wear
There's no major dress code at the Drake, so anything goes within reason. Caps, hats, jeans and sneakers are all fine, and streetwear fits right in. The one line they hold: no men in tracksuits or sportswear. The crowd's fashion-forward with that Queen Street flare, so put a little effort in, but you can keep it street.
Cover & how the door works
Cover's $10, no exceptions, and there's no house guestlist; the Drake is first come first serve, so lining up early is the play. Our free list signs you up for other guestlist specials like free cover or free drinks at select clubs on the night. Either way, get there before midnight, because the summer line after 12:30 is real.
Age limit
Strict 19+ on a normal club night. Ontario drinking age, no exceptions, so bring real ID.
Booths & bottle service
Booth and bottle packages are only available if you book a private room. Otherwise it's bar service for everyone, and the bar moves quick across four bars: one on the main floor, one upstairs on the patio, and two in the basement. Mixed drinks start around $6 to $7, beer $7 and up, shots $8 to $10, with specialty cocktails and craft beers closer to $7 to $10. Coat check runs $4 to $5 in the colder months. Want the private-room setup? Drop your date and headcount below and we'll line it up.
▸ Reserve guestlist or bottles
