LAURENTIAN ROOM
, 51A Winchester, 416-925-8680 Rating: NNNNN
VIBE A stylish bar/restaurant hidden behind the Winchester Hotel. The unmarked side door entrance brings up images of seedy after-hours joints, but inside you find a swank bar flanked by a long row of booths. Thursday through Saturday you’ll hear DJs or bands, from house to Latin to jazz, and the crowd is gay-friendly.
PAST LIVES If the bar and stage seem familiar, you’re much older than you look. First opened in 1935, the room retains many of the original fixtures that were sitting there collecting dust for years. Rumour is that Billie Holiday performed here back in the day.
SOUND & LIGHTS For this type of lounge, the sound system is actually fairly impressive and puts out a satisfying thump without shredding your ears. There aren’t any flashing lights or disco balls, but they’d seem wildly inappropriate here anyway.
BATHROOMS In good condition, clean and functional. Nothing particularly fancy, but as stylish as you’d want them to be.
