The Reservoir Lounge: "Swing, Jump Blues & Boogie Woogie"
This jazz club in downtown Toronto has a very underground feel to it. Maybe because to enter you literally have to go into the basement. With this speakeasy vibe, it's easy to get into the jazz mindset.
But, luckily for us all, the days of prohibition are over. So order that gin and tonic and settle into your booth. The atmosphere is quaint and cozy, with red lights setting the mood and big comfy couches to sink into.
The crowd arrives fairly late, so if you want a good seat for live music, show up around 9:30 or 10 p.m. There's no cover on Mondays, but all other days have a $5 to $10 cover charge. They accept reservations if you want to hold a table for your group.
I visited on a Monday night, and the band blew me away. The bassist and pianist were exciting to watch, and the singing was very lively.
Each night The Reservoir features a different band. You can view the music schedule here. Some weeknights you can even hear music earlier in the evening to unwind from the daytime stress.
The bar serves wines from Chile, Italy, France, Australia, Spain and California. Beer comes in bottles and on tap, and it goes for about $5 to $7.
You can also order some interesting cocktails -- grapefruit, strawberry coconut, Royal Tenenbaum and chocolate storm martinis; kiwi margarita, Tokyo fog, sweet ginger brown and reservoir red. Cocktails are about $11.
Food at The Reservoir includes salads, tapas, sandwiches, pizzas and desserts. Munch on some spicy chicken potstickers, chili and lime scallops or devil's toast.
Posted by Jessica Bates
