A downtown hotel is getting a Tokyo-style listening bar

There was a time when going out for drinks meant shouting over a too-loud playlist. Then came the revival of quieter, moodier speakeasies. But lately Toronto is obsessed with a concept that merges both trends, with vinyl taking centre stage.

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On May 8, W Toronto will debut Toki Listening Bar, a Tokyo-inspired spot tucked behind a discreet doorway. It’s the latest addition following the hotel’s recent renovations—and the latest in a lineup of listening bars to open in the city.

Inside Toki, velvet drapery, rich colours, vintage-inspired details, low mood lighting and neon accents set the scene. A vinyl-focused DJ set-up anchors the space, with speakers designed to bring out every crackle and bass line. “Toki” means “time” in Japanese, and the whole experience is built around slowing things down. No chaotic bar energy, just curated playlists and guest DJs.

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Of course, this is still W Toronto, so there will be cocktails. The menu riffs on Japanese drinking culture, with a focus on highballs—crisp, carbonated and dialled in using a Suntory Toki highball machine. Beyond that, drinks are grouped into three categories: “Fruity Expressions” (less sweet, more spirit-forward), “Umami Layers” (leaning into savoury complexity) and “Foundations” (reworking classics through a Japanese lens). If that all sounds a bit complicated, there’s also an expansive selection of premium Japanese whisky, gin and vodka.

And given that the listening bar shares a hotel with Tono, Akira Back’s new Nikkei-inspired spot, the Michelin-starred chef will be in charge of the food menu at Toki. Guests can expect sharable light bites and deeper umami-rich plates built for whisky pairing.