Fun and entertainment Montreal

Located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, this mythical venue, still known to many as Métropolis (the name was changed in May 2017), welcomes a crowd of 2,300 who can sway to their hearts' content in the pit and balcony. Big names such as David Bowie, The Wailers, Ben Harper, Manu Chao, Les Rita Mitsouko, INXS, Lady Gaga, Jon Batiste and Björk have performed here. The venue also hosts a number of major concerts at festivals such as Les Francos de Montréal.

Want to feel at home while getting some stress-free work done? L'Anticafé is for you! You can even invite friends, but only if everyone (including yourself) pays the small fee for use of the premises. You can work, read, study, socialize, play board games and even sleep if you like. Coffee, tea and cookies are available free of charge, and several cultural events are held here each week. A café like no other!

The Bell Centre is the largest complex in the greater Montreal area with a total capacity of 21,000 seats for field hockey and 15,000 for shows. It is the place to be for mass gatherings during Montreal Canadiens field hockey games, but also for large-scale shows, rock and pop star tours, various circuses or ballets on ice, boxing galas, etc. For the adventurous, it is always possible to get last minute tickets at the door from scalpers.

It is stated bluntly: it is one of the best addresses in Montreal for electronic music. International DJs sometimes perform there, but residents are also very familiar with their business. All in a relaxed atmosphere and a rather surprising decoration, a mix of modernity and kitsch, completely faithful to their former address in the Plateau. The programme of events and guest artists is available on the Facebook page of the Daomé Salon (interesting promotions on some evenings, including free admission).

You can't miss the beautiful wood-clad front. A little British air in the heart of Hochelaga! You come here to have a drink with friends at the end of the day, to watch a game on one of the HD screens, or to party until the wee hours. Hop lovers of all kinds of hops will be delighted here with over 100 varieties of beer (a fine selection from Quebec) and more than 70 whiskies and scotches. Céad míle fáilte (Welcome a hundred thousand times!) !

Divided into distinct zones on three half-storeys, the place is breathtaking: a veritable oasis of greenery with over 400 plants everywhere, lounge areas, an open kitchen in the center, a large glass roof at the front, a garden terrace at the back, and so on. The decor is by Amlyne Phillips, renowned for her superb bar and restaurant designs. We come here for the house cocktails, the Asian cuisine and the ambience of what becomes a dance club later in the evening. A must-see!

With its vintage and trendy look, Harricana brings back the good old days of brasseries in a bistro version and a friendly bar. The menu reflects the image of the place: eclectic, mixing the great brewery classics, family cuisine and bistro dishes. To top it all off, the place also brews its own beers on the spot, including matured or barrel-aged editions, as well as versions resulting from a blend or a technique out of the ordinary, because creativity is the order of the day here. To be discovered without hesitation!

The largest cultural complex in the city. Place des Arts has several venues: Théâtre Maisonneuve (large theatre), Salle Claude-Léveillée (small theatre), Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (huge hall that houses the great names in music, among others), Théâtre Jean-Duceppe (large theatre), Cinquième Salle (smaller hall with emerging shows) and Maison symphonique (residence of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal). Restaurants, bars and shops, outdoor area (Esplanade de la Place des Arts).

Part craft brewery, part beer bar, part gastropub, Le Saint-Bock is routinely packed. Between the beers brewed on site, those of other Quebec microbreweries and private imports, there are dozens of beers on the menu, so it might take you a while to decide... For those with cravings, the menu ranges from burgers to nachos and other gourmet dishes that rhyme with beer. And the kitchen stays open every night until 2am. In short, a classic to try!

Thrill-seekers will find their happiness in this great centre that brings together karting (the largest indoor track in the country), paintball, laser combat and escape games. For paintball, the place is considered the largest indoor center in America, as for laser combat, it is the new generation of laser tag with more than 30 tactical mission scenarios in spectacular urban combat settings. The place also hosts X-Cape dedicated to escape games. Action guaranteed!

Classics become superb productions in this beautiful Italian-style hall. The stage floor can be dismantled and opened in all directions, allowing for the most ambitious stagings. Major works from national and international repertoires, from Molière to Koltès, from Shakespeare to Michel Tremblay, are produced and presented here, with a strong emphasis on new works. The building is currently undergoing major renovations, and is soon to be given a modern facelift and expanded space.

Welcome to this temple of underground music, which has attracted the most marginal of Montrealers over the years. Les Foufounes remains one of the places where originality dominates on every level. Themed evenings: Maudits Tuesdays (varied music from the 1950s to 2000), It's Lit Thursdays (top 40, dubstep, hip-hop, dancehall, EDM, house & afrobeat), #Foufs Saturdays (punk, hardcore, metal, alternative, etc.). Les Foufounes is also synonymous with live entertainment (programming on the website and Facebook page).

Open since 1996, the illustrious artisanal brewery on Saint-Denis Street has acquired a loyal clientele thanks to the quality of its products. Always striving for excellence, the owners have drawn inspiration from German and Czech styles to develop their beer menu. L'Amère à boire specializes in the brewing of low fermentation beers (lagers) and also offers several ales. The bistro style dishes (nachos, burgers, poutine...) go perfectly with the slate beers. A must in the Latin Quarter.

Stylish deco, a pleasant atmosphere, specialty beers, a kitchen "on the thumb", including a assiette of Quebec cheeses, exhibitions of visual art and other events… one will quickly understand why this place is so popular.

Attended by young students who want to have fun without pretensions, Café Campus is one of Montreal's most famous places. We keep talking about its atmosphere and the quality of its musical programming. It is divided into two parts: the Petit Campus, at the bottom, a medium-sized concert hall, and the Campus du haut, a large space equipped with a stage and a mezzanine. On this floor, there is also a bar-discotheque with a lively atmosphere that delights a young and diverse clientele. If you're not afraid to move, try retro Tuesdays!

The owner of Le Baptiste never expected to be so successful when he decided to "revamp" this institution, which has borne the same name since the 1930s (branch on Mont-Royal Avenue). His gamble paid off, creating one of the most popular pubs for 20-40 year-olds on the Plateau and in New Rosemont. Despite its popularity, the place has managed to retain its "people's bar" feel, a merit that the owner attributes to his staff. The friendly program includes Monday quiz nights, which attract regulars and the curious alike.

Well-established in the heart of Chinatown, Le Mal Nécessaire is an exotic cocktail bar with a tiki connotation and an eco-responsible facet. Nearly twenty cocktails are available, such as Fresca 3.0 (Bombay gin, cucumber, coconut water, lemon and Thai basil) or Painkiller (bacardi cuatro rum, pineapple, homemade coconut cream and orange), served by the glass or in a pitcher. Possibility to order small dishes of Cantonese specialities, prepared by the restaurant le Fung Shing, located upstairs.

The blues temple in Montreal, not without reason. Since 1975, the Bistro in Jojo has hosted hundreds of blues musicians of all kinds. Here's the pure blues, the one that comes to us in the guts. Amateurs: this is the address to remember!