TORONTO LATIN CLUBS!

 CLASSIC HOT SPOTS! surefire salsa gold!

EL RANCHO (430 College St., 921-2752) When you're feeling gutsy enough to brave the dangers of flailing body parts and evil stiletto wounds, El Rancho's the place to be! It's one of the only Latin spots in Toronto that's truly got that Latin feel to it! Whether you go alone or with friends, whether you're wearing jeans, a suit, or a mini-skirt, whether you're a pro or just starting out - you're pretty much guaranteed a great time dancing the night away! Fridays and Saturdays are very busy and crowded, music's great, and once the top floor becomes overcrowded, just go downstairs for another dance floor, bar, and additional seating. Thursdays and Sundays are pretty dead, usually only fun if you go with a group of people or your dance buddy to practise moves on an uncrowded dancefloor. Fridays $6 & Saturdays $8 - and you get a pass on your way out for free admission to Plaza Flamingo (see below) *****

BERLIN (2335 Yonge St., 489-7777) Latin Tuesdays. This is one of the few places you'll find a live band on a regular basis (also a different band each week!) Two sets of live music alternate with d.j. stuff. Classy atmosphere and lots of terrific dancers. Get there early - by 10 pm - to get a table and to get some real dancing in before it crowds up (as it usually does). One of Toronto's biggest Salsa dance competitions is held here annually in late winter. $8. ****

BA BA LU'U (136 Yorkville Ave., 515-0587) Wednesday - Latin Roots! A night where DJ Alvaro C. spins old-school Salsa and lots of unusual stuff you don't get to hear anywhere else. Fridays & Saturdays too busy usually, and Sundays can be decent. This club tends to be a more snobby club than others - unless you know the right people you probably won't be dancing up a storm all night. ***

LA CLASSIQUE (1069 St. Clair Ave. W., 658-7581) A good, big, wooden dance floor and totally mirrored wall-space are bonuses here. Attracts a slightly older crowd, and less singles than other spots. Some people get a kick out of the wacky contests (can you tell I don't?), or you might catch a live show or band night. (open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and actually it's free Sunday!) ***

SERIOUS CONTENDAS some have been around long, some have not too much wrong... try 'em you might find a good fit!

TEQUILA LOUNGE (794 Bathurst St., 536-0346) United Salseros host a Salsa night here every Tuesday. Huge turn-out for their popular multi-level classes (one set of classes at 8:45 and another at 9:45), food and dancing after the classes, serious dancer types here, doesn't last too long… it's pretty empty by about 12:30! Only $6 for everything!

COURTHOUSE ( 10 Court St. / 57Adelaide St. E.) El Rey Fridays. I love this space for dancing! It's like attending a party at your rich aunt's mansion - fireplace, couches, beautiful HUGE wooden dance floor. A great place to watch amazingly showy dancers dance, but hard to actually get a dance here (unless you're one of the aforementioned) They have a cool concept in that they have different guest salsa schools or teachers each month who teach the salsa class at 9:15 each week. $10

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ (4899 Yonge St., 229-2262) Frank Bishun and Eyad Tahir have saved us from having a salsa-less Monday finally! Great news! Free for ladies before 9:30 pm, class.

LATIN FEVER (2220 Highway 7, Concord, 905-761-5651) Quite the grand place with a big beautiful dance floor. Too far out though!

FREGATA (1900 Dundas St. E., Missisauga, (905) 270-6265). Thursdays. This club is a bit far out of downtown TO., but worth it! Free salsa lesson early in evening, live band, lots of room to dance on the great dance floor, smoke machines, laser light fx, often stupid contests, and DJ Efren Dinamita. $5.

PLAZA FLAMINGO (423 College St., 603-8884) right across the street from El Rancho: bad music, bad dancefloor, bad vibe, younger crowd, I wouldn't make a special trip just to go here, but you may as well check it out after El Rancho closes! (Friday and Saturday)

EL CONVENTO RICO (750 College St., 588-7800) kind of dark and basement-like, lots of room to dance, bad cement floor, free dance lesson early and drag shows are a big draw.

 DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH check these out for a new experience, but don't get married to going to any of them, their staying power not yet proven.

THE DOCKS (11 Polson St., 259-6384/461-DOCKS) Super Latin Tuesdays by the water. Dance Lessons from 8:30 - 10:30. This is a huge establishment with lots of perqs, check it out! Only open in the summer months!

MOMENTOS now 2 locations! (1201 St. Clair Ave. W., 654-6881) and (Yorkville Ave.) This is a very different place to go... some love it... some hate it! It's a very, very young crowd, dress casual, there's hardly any salsa or merengue - lots of Spanish rock music. Both locations get totally packed (feels similar to being in mosh pit) and wild! It's all good fun though! Get there early if you want to get in! Sometimes there is a cover charge of $5, sometimes there isn't.

LATITUD ZERO (2579 Yonge St., 488-0821) Just a block up from Berlin (Yonge & Eglinton area) new, I've never been... Thursday: Gringo Night w/free Salsa lessons, Latin House, House, R & B, & Hip-Hop w/ DJ Gabriel. Friday: Latin Rock, Latin House, Sat./Sun: Salsa & Merengue w/ Dress Code in Effect.

X.O. LOUNGE (2409 Yonge St., 932-3589) Latin Wednesdays with DJ "La Maquina".

SANTO DOMINGO (245 Eddystone Ave., 328-5714) Salsa competition every Thursday, live bands sometimes, DJ Cana Dulce. $10 cover.

SHINE NIGHTCLUB (2800 Hwy 7, inside Hollywood Princess, 738-4309) Wednesdays, the old Park Avenue, newly opened!

BAR ONE (178 Eglinton Ave E.) Wednesday Salsa Night hosted by United Salseros with class $5

PALAZZO