Wildflower

Wildflower is the Fashion District's boujee hip-hop room, tucked in the basement of the Thompson Hotel: hip-hop, rap and trap till 2am, a dressed-clean 19+ crowd, and a small classy space that hits capacity fast on Friday and Saturday. Here's the honest rundown.

Wildflower: the full review

Address & location

Wildflower's in Toronto's Fashion District at 550 Wellington St W (M5V 2V4), in the basement of the Thompson Hotel on the east side of Bathurst. It's not hard to find, but first-timers can miss it: the Wildflower entrance is on the left and the Thompson lobby and rooftop lounge are on the right, two separate lines.

The room

Holds about 220, so it's a medium-small room that fills fast and hits capacity at the peak of the night, if not sooner. There are two bars, one at the front and one at the back, a main dance floor ringed with booths, and an elevated VIP section behind the DJ booth. There's also a rooftop area open in the summer months. The booths are open, so figure roughly 8 people per booth comfortably.

Who's there

Mostly upscale young professionals, roughly 22 to 30, dressed clean and semi-formal, with a slightly more mature mix on some nights. It's a sophisticated but sociable crowd. Want real energy, current hip-hop and a room that's actually full? Weekends here deliver.

What's great

• Upscale venue with its own vibe. Unique lighting, modern design, and a classy-yet-welcoming feel that's easy to like.
• The music is always on point. A consistent hip-hop, rap and trap mix, and the DJ will spin up-and-coming local Toronto artists too.
• A sophisticated, sociable crowd. Cool, friendly people, a great room to host a small party or meet new people.

What to know going in

• Bouncers can be picky. Entry is tight, and you're unlikely to get in without guestlist or bottle service.
• It packs out. Small venue, so it gets very crowded on busy nights and fills quick.

Move like you know

• Beat the line. Sign up for guestlist a day ahead and arrive by 11pm, ideally 10:30 to 10:45, since it hits capacity fast and guestlist closes at 11:30.
• Stamped entry allows in-and-outs, and the smoking area is outside, so get stamped before you step out.
• The dress code eases up if you book bottle service, and a booth guarantees your spot. Birthday? They do birthday specials, so let your host know.

The music

Wildflower plays a mix of primarily hip-hop, R&B and rap, with a light deep and lounge house mix usually at the start of the night. Fridays (Clash) ease in with lounge house that gradually transitions into hip-hop. Saturdays (MNML) are a straight banging mix of hip-hop, rap and R&B. The DJ keeps it consistent while still working in up-and-coming local Toronto artists.

What to wear

Dress code is classy and fashion forward street wear. Think collared or button-up dress shirts, dress shoes, and strict upscale casual with no graphic print. Leave the sneakers, runners and hoodies at home. Men's side-bags are typically not allowed, though women can bring bags. One thing worth knowing: the dress code is more lenient if you have bottle service.

Age limit

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

Where Wildflower is

More Toronto clubs

If Wildflower is not your night, here are more spots close by or with the same energy.

Or browse every Toronto club, the best clubs in Toronto, or sort a bottle service booth.