Nightlife in Montreal

As far as exciting Canadian nightlife hotspots go, it’s difficult to beat Montreal. Often referred to as Canada’s cultural capital, the Francophone city strikes a curiously captivating balance between French and wider North American culture. Montreal is also a melting pot of nationalities, with a cosmopolitan population providing fertile ground for the arts to flourish. Exploring its nightlife is a compelling way to feel Montreal’s cultural energy in the flesh.

From the bustling high-brow, late-night cafes of the Quartier Latin to the remarkable array of bars, clubs and music venues, nightlife in Quebec’s largest city is not something to miss. Arguably one of the most inherently interesting and unique cities in North America, Montreal has the capacity to wow, regardless of your preferences. If you don’t believe us, keep reading for the lowdown.

Bars

There is absolutely no shortage of bars in Montreal, regardless of whether you’re into cocktails or hard rock. Crescent Street in the West End is one of the most famous hotspots, with wacky places such as NewHaüs and Brutopia rubbing shoulders with more traditional country pubs like Sir Winston Churchill Pub. The area also hosts renowned parties during the Formula One Canadian GP, turning into a bustling street where celebrities mingle with the average Joe and everybody in between.

Elsewhere, La Distillerie No.1 on Ontario Street offers extraordinary cocktails in an inviting and intimate atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to meet friends before a night out or to spend an evening sampling arguably the best cocktails in the whole of Quebec. Upstairs Jazz Club is another great place for cocktails, but you get the added bonus of live jazz bands several times a week.

Casinos

Gambling enthusiasts don’t have much choice in Montreal, as the Casino de Montreal is the only legal casino establishment in the city. Fortunately, it’s also the largest casino in Canada, boasting an extraordinary 3,200 gaming machines and almost 150 table games. There are also several bars, music venues and restaurants, so you don’t even need to gamble to have fun.

And don’t let the lack of casino options get you down, either, because Montreal residents also have access to numerous online casino platforms if they don’t want to make a trip to the Casino de Montreal. MegaRush live casino games are some of the best available, providing live-streamed dealers and game hosts that make you feel as though you’re there in the flesh.

Nightclubs

Montreal has a vibrant and forward-thinking nightclub scene, where you can find a late-night dancing spot for pretty much any kind of music. Take advantage of the sheer concentration of top-tier Montreal clubs at the L’Axe du Mal to see what we mean. This quartet of venues at the crossroads of Saint-Denis Street and Mont-Royal Avenue covers rock, pop, 80s and techno, all in the space of a few metres.

If you’re after a quintessential warehouse clubbing experience, look no further than New City Gas. This industrial superclub has a 2,000-capacity space over two floors and has welcomed the likes of Tiësto, Swedish House Mafia and David Guetta in the past.

Soubois is a forest-themed bar in the early evening that transforms into a fully-fledged nightclub as the night sets in. Get there early enough to enjoy one of Montreal’s best cocktails before a night of cutting-edge dance music.

Traditional music venues

Montreal has a longstanding tradition in live music venues, having spawned world-conquering bands such as Arcade Fire, Simple Plan and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. They would have never hit such lofty heights without a firm foundation of fantastic grassroots venues to hone their craft in. Turbo Haüs is one such venue, particularly appealing to fans of heavy rock, metal and punk bands. If you’re looking for a bit of Montreal moshing, this one’s all you.

One venue that has done more than most to advance live music in the city is Les Foufounes Électriques. Established in 1983, it was a stepping stone used on the trail to world fame by bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana and Green Day. For a more authentic Francophile experience, don’t miss Quai des Brumes, a venue concentrating on this aspect of Montreal’s intriguingly split culture.

Restaurants

Restaurants aren’t typically part of the nightlife fabric, but the options available in Montreal are so good we couldn’t leave them out. You could list the top 25 restaurants in the city right now and not even come close to exploring them all. Montreal also has a rich tradition of supper clubs, blending the lines between traditional restaurants and nightclubs.

For example, check out Flyjin for a glimpse into this fascinating concept. Serving a Japanese fusion menu designed by Antonio Park, alongside first-class cocktails and international touring DJs, it’s undeniably one of the coolest spots in town.