Jazz Bistro set to take over the old Top o’ The Senator space

Come February, Toronto’s long-defunct Top O’ The Senator space will once again be filled with jazz and other live music, six nights a week, with the launch of the aptly named Jazz Bistro. Colin Hunter, who founded Sunwing Travel Group and is a crooner himself, bought the building last year, and, given the loss of The Trane Studio in August, the timing is excellent. The sprawling three-floor space will feature a stage, a full-service dining room, a second-floor balcony overlooking the stage, two bars and a semi-private dining room, as well as a private events space and a rooftop patio (an A/V system will let everyone tune into the performance whether they can see the stage or not). The club will also feature a Steinway Red Pops grand piano, a rare and flashy set of keys that Bistro claims is the only one of its kind in Canada (it’s also said to be a favourite of Diana Krall’s). Daniel Racine (Six Steps, Lolita’s Lust Restaurant) will head the kitchen, serving seasonally inclined bistro fare for both lunch and dinner.

Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., jazzbistro.ca, @JazzBistro_ca