Nightlife · Montreal · Canada
Montreal nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Montreal, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Montreal has one of Canada's liveliest nightlife scenes, with bars licensed until 3am, a deep live-music culture and summer festivals that spill onto the streets. The Plateau and Mile End have the neighbourhood bars, Saint-Laurent and Crescent Street the clubs, and the Village the LGBTQ+ scene. The main areas are Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Plateau and Mile End, Le Village, Crescent Street and Quartier des Spectacles.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Plateau Mont-Royal
- Local drink
- Ice cider
Where to go out
Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Bars, clubs and live venues along 'the Main', especially between Sherbrooke Street and Avenue du Mont-Royal.
Plateau and Mile End
Microbreweries, wine bars and small music venues on Saint-Denis, Mont-Royal and Saint-Viateur.
Le Village
LGBTQ+ bars and clubs along Rue Sainte-Catherine Est, busiest in summer and during Pride.
Crescent Street
Downtown pubs and bars popular with students and Grand Prix crowds.
Quartier des Spectacles
Concert halls, theatres and outdoor festival stages around Place des Arts.
Nightlife tips
- Bars can serve until 3am, so nights start late.
- The metro stops running around 12:30–1:30am; night buses and taxis cover the rest of the night.
- The legal drinking age in Quebec is 18, and ID is checked.
Evening sights
Religious site · Old Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica
Visit by day for the detail or book AURA in the evening; it is an active church, so services can affect visiting times.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- After dark
Waterfront · Old Montreal
Old Port
Rent a bike or quadricycle in summer, or skate the waterfront rink in winter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
- After dark
Garden · Olympic Park
Montreal Botanical Garden
Combine it with the Insectarium and Biodôme on a Space for Life ticket, and book Gardens of Light evenings ahead.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- After dark
Theme park · Parc Jean-Drapeau
La Ronde
The park opens seasonally; buy tickets online and arrive at opening to ride the big coasters before queues build.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- After dark
What to drink
- Ice cider — A sweet dessert drink made from frozen apples or their frozen juice, created in Quebec around 1990 and now a regional speciality served chilled with cheese or dessert.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 16°C (61°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:36 | -14°C (7°F) | 12 |
| April | About 19:40 | 1°C (34°F) | 11 |
| July | About 20:40 | 16°C (61°F) | 12 |
| October | About 18:09 | 4°C (39°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Buy an OPUS card or a 1-day, 3-day or weekend pass from machines in any station.
- Bus — Buses fill the gaps, including the 747 express between the airport and downtown, which runs 24 hours a day.
- Walking — Old Montreal, downtown and the Plateau are each compact and walkable, and the RÉSO underground network links many downtown buildings in winter.
- Taxi — Metered taxis can be hailed or booked by app, and Uber operates across the city; both are useful late at night and in deep winter.
Late-night bites
- Steamies — Casse-croûtes and diners across the city, especially along Boulevard Saint-Laurent.
Staying safe at night
Montreal is generally calm for visitors; pickpocketing in crowded festival areas and bike theft are the most common problems. In winter, icy pavements, ice falling from roofs and extreme cold are the real hazards, so wear boots with grip and dress in layers.
- Emergency number
- 911
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples, nightlife and solo travellers
Plateau Mont-Royal
The Plateau is Montreal's postcard neighbourhood of row houses with wrought-iron outdoor staircases, leafy Parc La Fontaine and streets — Saint-Denis, Avenue du Mont-Royal and Boulevard Saint-Laurent — lined with cafés, bistros, bars and boutiques. Mount Royal Park is a short walk away and the Orange metro line runs along its western edge.
- Good
- Excellent restaurants and bars; Classic Montreal street life; Close to Mount Royal
- Watch out
- Mostly small hotels and rentals; Noise on Saint-Laurent at weekends
- Nearby
- Parc La Fontaine, Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Mount Royal Park, Schwartz's
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Montreal?
Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Plateau and Mile End and Le Village. Bars, clubs and live venues along 'the Main', especially between Sherbrooke Street and Avenue du Mont-Royal.
+Which area of Montreal is best for nightlife?
Plateau Mont-Royal: Colourful row houses, outdoor staircases and Saint-Laurent bistros.