Fun and entertainment Canada

There's nothing like a good craft beer to reward your efforts after a day out in the great outdoors. And it's just the thing, because a great craft brewery set up shop in the village a few years ago. On the menu: house beers such as Juste Sabro, an American IPA, Kiraz, a red cherry sour ale, and Montagne Noire, an oatmeal stout. In summer, La Confrérie's food truck sets up in the beer garden to satisfy both small and large appetites (snack menu also available year-round).

For the record, EtOH is a contraction used in medical and scientific circles to refer to ethanol, a molecule with intoxicating properties so sought-after and present in all alcoholic beverages. On site, about twenty lines of barrels serve delicious homemade nectars as well as beers from other Quebec microbreweries. You'll also find a fine selection of ciders, meads, liqueurs and spirits from Quebec and elsewhere. Sandwiches, a variety of tartars, sharing boards and other small dishes are also on the menu.

A pub devoted entirely to the pleasures of play, with a collection of over 1,000 table games. The concept is simple: pay a small entrance fee, take a seat, and the entertainment team will suggest games according to the knowledge and motivation of the group. What a pleasure to have the rules of the game explained in detail! You can also enjoy a bite to eat on site, with dishes to satisfy both young and old appetites, accompanied by a good microbrewery beer or a signature cocktail.

A charming tavern with a retro look, now the headquarters of the Little Burgundy neighborhood. On offer: a fine selection of scotches, wines, cocktails and beers (including Ste-Q blonde and rousse), as well as snacks and more substantial dishes made with local produce from the Atwater Market, just a few steps away. The atmosphere is friendly, and fans of alternative and progressive indie-rock music will be delighted.

The Ritz PDB moved into the premises of the defunct Il Motore in autumn 2014. Completely revamped, it continues the vocation of its predecessor by hosting independent music groups in its performance space. It has to be said that the owners are steeped in the milieu: Meyer Billurcu is the co-founder of Blue Skies Turn Black, a concert promotion company, and Thierry Amar and Efrim Menuck are members of the famous music group Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Special mention goes to the superb century-old bar, imported from Chicago.

Located in the heart of the Byward Market, The Rainbow has been a legendary blues venue for nearly four decades. The two-storey venue has a mountain lodge feel with a fireplace, large wooden beams, brick and stone walls. Prices at the bar are reasonable. Check the website for the full lineup (tickets can be purchased online or at the door - sometimes cheaper in advance). A true Ottawa party institution!

Open since the winter of 2018, this microbrewery is worth checking out. Located near the train station, straddling the Walkerville and Ford City neighborhoods, Chapter Two has set up a small tasting room adjacent to its brewing facilities. Among the house brews are its English ale with a malty flavor and a sweet caramel twist, and its West Coast IPA with citrus notes. Bonus: a gourmet menu and live entertainment.

An address in the spirit of Val-David, renowned for its musical shows by established artists, its excellent coffee and its gourmet menu which includes, among other things, good dishes for vegetarians. We recommend without hesitation the poutines for which the house is famous, notably the General Tao poutine, well garnished with succulent crispy chicken. Its terrace near the water is pleasant to have a drink at the end of the day.

Cameron Ewen and Heather Williams, two passionate beer enthusiasts, are the founders of this well-known Microbrewery of Saskatchewan. Nearly different beers are covered there, including the emblematic Crazy Farm Ale (Belgian season) and the rotating seasonal season. A gourmet menu perfectly adapted to beer completes the experience.

A multi-faceted complex, it is mainly known for its restaurant specialising in oysters and grills. But on the 2nd floor is a relatively intimate concert room offering indie music, rock and other. Some festivals, such as the Music PEI May Run Music Festival, hold several répresentations as part of their programming. Before the show, take a glass on the roof at the Fishies on the roof, a beautiful oasis in the city.

When you set foot inside, you feel like you're in a beer garden, with large wooden tables and small white lights hanging from the ceiling. Actually, that's pretty much the concept. In this spirit, it is not surprising to see the long list of beers from Canada, the United States and Europe. And, of course, a nice selection of homemade sausages is on the slate for both small and large appetites (vegetarian options available). A nice place to go out, which we recommend

The trendy address of La Petite-Patrie, Yïsst (from the word "yeast" in French) has a common denominator: the famous yeast, found in beer, wine and bread, among other things, the stars of the place. First of all, the homemade beer, brewed in collaboration with the Branch in the MaBrasserie's facilities, but also a menu of guest nectars. Then the wine, by the glass or bottle, including some organic wines and a local selection. Finally the bread, like the tasty flatbreads on the menu. Another nice address to try!

The idea here? A nice trip to the Russian capital in pre-revolutionary times. A small, intimate place that is both a café by day and a bar in the evening. Le Kabinet specializes in cocktails, many of which are Russian vodka-based, of course (it's the place to sip an excellent Moscow Mule), and Amaro liqueurs (more than twenty at the bar). From Thursday to Saturday, at 10pm, its neighbour, the bar Datcha, opens its doors and dance floor for an even crazier evening to the sound of the electro music of the moment.

An evening at the Apt. 200 is like being at a friend's house, in a large loft decorated in vintage style. You settle comfortably in the small spaces arranged as lounges with sofas, next to the library, or on the bed in the large bedroom! Billiard table and arcades are available for those who would like to have fun while sipping a drink. The Apt bar. 200 is best known for its lively DJ parties and popular after parties, with a crowded dance floor.

Since 2016, this café-bar has been floating on the waters of the Lachine Canal, a stone's throw from the Atwater Market. Housed in a superb vintage barge, the place is peaceful and intimate: there are only around 30 places available (first come, first served) to enjoy aperitifs, beers, wines, cocktails and tutti quanti. Entirely glazed and open on the sides, with an abundance of flowers, you can sit on a banquette, a little bistro chair or even in the roof terrace area. The setting is definitely worth a try!

To find the entrance to this secret address, you have to look for the little duck as far as the little Saint-Amable street, perpendicular to Saint-Vincent street. This very famous bar in town took up residence in a basement that was a cold room in 1877, hence its name. People come here for the excellent cocktails, the atmosphere and the impeccable service. Building on its success, the speakeasy has opened a new venue right next door: El Pequeño Bar, designed as a "waiting room" when the first one is crowded, transports visitors to Cuba for a drink.

Located in the heart of downtown, this nightclub is frequented by young English-speaking Montrealers, mainly students. The second floor features a large dance floor, two bars, VIP tables and the DJ platform, while the second floor has another bar and a more intimate VIP lounge area. Resident and guest DJs keep the well-prepared crowd dancing into the wee hours to the rhythms of house, R&B, hip-hop, Top 40 and Club Anthems. It's worth noting that the atmosphere can get pretty chaotic at times.

Fans of emerging electro music, you've come to the right place! Located across from the charming Le Sainte-Elisabeth pub, on a small street in the Latin Quarter, this minimalist nightclub presents excellent shows by both Montreal and international artists and DJs. Opened a little less than a decade ago, it is considered by many as the temple of avant-garde electro music in the city. All the programming is available on the website, which also allows you to buy your tickets online.

Oenophiles have found their address in town! In this cozy little bar-resto, the wooden shelves showcase a fine selection of wines, from Tuscany to small European producers. The kitchen offers a few dishes, such as raw kanpachi (lime) fish, that pair perfectly with the tasty elixirs. All wines are selected with love and are available by the glass. A big plus, which allows to vary the pleasures, without ruining oneself.

Named after the famous fake jazzman, played by Sean Penn in Agreements and Disagreements, The Emmet Ray is a place for jazz and whiskey enthusiasts. On the menu: a selection of 230 bottles. It must be said that the owner knows all about it. The whiskies come from all over the world. To satisfy a small hunger, try the famous Ray Reuben sandwich, a real delight. Whether it's in the lounge, near the big glass window overlooking the street, or in the small back room, where the different bands play, it feels like home.

Mostly frequented by a student population, a few meters from Cabana Pool Bar (same owners), Rebel is spread over a huge space with a stage more than 20 meters long. Facing Lake Ontario, with a view on the skyline, here we saw things in a big way: performances, real sound and light shows, video projections... To see it, it's here. Music: Top 40, hip-hop, R&B, Soca, live shows. Check the website for the evening's schedule and ticket prices (if applicable).

What was Uniun until 2018 has made way for the Toybox club, run by the same team behind Rebel, Cabana Pool Bar and Cube Nightclub. Housed in an incredible space, where state-of-the-art technology aesthetically blends with industrial architecture, you'll see great art in terms of visual projections and move to the beat of the sound of a state-of-the-art multi-dimensional system. Alternating between local and international DJs, the nightclub is, at the time of writing, a "place to be" in Toronto.

This vast cultural center is located directly on the waterfront of Toronto. The venue hosts music, dance and theater performances. You will not fail to notice its immense glass surface, a work of art entitled Waterglass and created by Canadian artist Sarah Hall. Harbourfront Centre is home to several performance venues such as the Fleck Dance Theatre and the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, as well as art galleries (including The Power Plant) and even restaurants.

Founded in 1970, the theatre's mission is to promote exclusively Canadian works, which has made it a highly coveted base camp for Canadian artists over the past 50 years. It is also an ideal place for emerging Canadians to present original, high-quality pieces. Trying to valorize emerging and different paths, here is a nice address to make discoveries. Mention of the two buildings that house the theatre, which are part of the city's heritage.

This is the club in Toronto to sway to the rhythm of world music. Latino, salsa, bachata, reggae, jazz, etc. all styles are represented and the atmosphere is really joyful. It must be said that live musicians - not to mention DJs - are often in charge of the musical entertainment. Lula Lounge also offers a dinner show on Fridays and Saturdays as well as an à la carte menu for lunch and dinner at its Havana Lounge (three restaurants in a pop-up formula). An address that contrasts sharply with the atmosphere of the downtown clubs.

Coda is THE place to listen to house music at full throttle, but also to the Top 40, techno (the place received the big names of Detroit techno in December 2019!) and other EDM-type music. The club regularly displays a beautiful program of internationally recognized artists. For those who don't like to be glued together too tightly, be aware that the dance floor is huge and leaves plenty of room to breathe. Consult the website for the evening program and ticket prices (if applicable).

The formula is simple: take a bunch of friends, a passion for food, wine and beer and you get Boxcar Social, one of Toronto's trendy coffee bars. This Riverside location, just before Leslieville, is the second spot opened by the trendy little company. You'll find a nice selection of draught beers, as well as a beautiful wine rack, which has replaced the books in this former bookstore. Beautiful design and a love of doing things right are ingredients that work quite well. Other locations in Toronto.

One of The Annex's best craft beer spots, Crafty Coyote offers a great selection of beers, mostly from Ontario microbreweries, on draft or in cans, as well as house beers, ciders and a slate of gourmet dishes. The latter is in the style of pub food, offering burgers, fish & chips, grilled meats, poutine and deli meats with sides. Without a doubt, a very popular place in the neighborhood. To be discovered!

Tallboy's claims it has one of the largest selections of Ontario beers. And we have to admit, that alone would be enough to convince us to pay a visit. But that's not all. The bar is located in the rapidly changing Koreatown neighbourhood, which the owners make a point of celebrating. Try their great Koreatown-style burger and follow the advice of these beer enthusiasts.

This friendly café offers a wide range of coffees, to be enjoyed in the dining room or on the terrace, or to take away. The place is warm and inviting, with a number of different objects and artifacts as decoration. At the start of the day, opt for the Brise du Matin (breakfast), served daily until 11am. Then it's on to the à la carte menu, featuring salads, gourmet sandwiches, pizzas on naan bread, mac & cheese and other delicacies. To be accompanied by a Gaspesian beer, of course!

L'Albion produces English-inspired beers (modern, old and forgotten), all brewed according to the rules of the art. Some are also barrel-aged. L'Albion also offers a cuisine section, focusing on local products cooked in the traditional way. Finally, there's a small concert hall where musicians of various styles and other artists frequently perform. New: tasting room and boutique in Sainte-Mélanie.

Installed in the summer of 2013 in the heart of Little Burgundy, this soberly decorated wine bar has captured the hearts of an eclectic clientele. One goes there to discover good natural and organic wines, presented by a team of connoisseurs. In the kitchens, local vegetables are honored, wonderfully highlighted in small plates, conducive to sharing. In summer, the terrace at the back is very pleasant. A very good address for a drink at the end of the day... and more if affinities.

Fans and connoisseurs alike agree: Sawdust City's beers are a pure gem! From the West Coast IPA to the Baltic Porter, the Pilsner and the Best Bitter, they'll take you on a journey through a fabulous world of flavors. To discover them, take a tour of the tasting room, nicknamed the Saloon. There is a constant 18 cask lines (house and guest beers) as well as a pub-style gourmet menu and a food truck in season. Bonus: live entertainment is presented every Saturday night at 8pm.

Let's start with a bit of history: yes, Le Bordel did set up its stage in a former brothel. A raw, straightforward encounter between a stage, a microphone and a dense, overexcited audience. Different types of shows are presented, such as the famous Comédie Club (five comedians whose names are revealed on site) or the Open-Mic (comedians come to test new acts). In April 2022, Le Bordel opened a second venue just a stone's throw away (330 Ontario Street East), doubling the fun!

Although there are a few beers and cocktails on offer, the Rouge Gorge's trump card is its excellent selection of world wines, particularly those imported from France. It's an opportunity to share a simple glass by the bottle with friends in a contemporary, convivial and subdued setting, with the expert advice of a very attentive staff. There's also a selection of inexpensive "à la tirette" (i.e. cask) wines to accompany a plate of charcuterie, cheese or oysters. In the basement, the former cocktail bar now offers the same menu as above.

The credo here? Sobriety. The tables are arranged in front of the large openings, the wooden bar spins for several metres, with its twenty or so barrel lines in the background, while works by local artists adorn the walls. The slate displays homemade beers (Pilsner, American Pale Ale, West Coast IPA, Café Rico Breakfast Stout, etc.) as well as nectars from other Quebec microbreweries, but also cocktails, selected wines and spirits for those who love more robust products. On the kitchen side, the chef puts Quebec on your plate by sourcing, as much as possible, from local producers. A great HQ for beer and food lovers!

Those who know Stone City Brew Co. won't be too disappointed. Three friends, who run Something in the Water microbrewery in Toronto, have taken over the small Kingston brewery to make it their^second location. It has the same employees as the Stone City brewery and many of the beers that made it famous. In addition to the house beers, the new team has also started distilling with its Canadian whisky.

The jewel of Little Italy, just a stone's throw from the Jean-Talon Market, Birra is a brewery in 2.0 mode. Birra's in-house beers are the result of a unique and resolutely local collaboration: the recipes are developed and brewed on site. All you have to do is enjoy the atmosphere, with a glass of Ginette or Saint-Laurent in hand, inside the establishment or on the sunny terrace. And on Monday evenings, it's music quiz night, a joyful rendez-vous!

Lost And Found is a trendy address focused on top 40 music and hip-hop. The population is mainly made up of hipsters and young professionals, reflecting the image of the neighbourhood. If you don't want to stand in line for hours, we suggest you register on the guest list. Please note that before midnight, admission is always free for ladies, and for gentlemen, admission is reduced to $10 CAN. Consult the website for the evening program and ticket prices (if applicable).

One could almost miss the entrance to this bar, which is located in the heart of the entertainment district. Just a few steps from Sainte-Catherine Street, you have to take a small street to be able to take advantage, in summer, of the superb terrace that makes the reputation of the place, surrounded by walls covered with climbing plants and dotted with trees. The atmosphere is very warm and the space, whose decoration is reminiscent of London pubs, is spread over two floors. Always a pleasant place, especially during the day when the bar is less crowded.

Located in Marché Bonsecours, BreWskey is divided into three entities. First, there's the pub on rue Saint-Paul, with its great food(mac & cheese, ribs, etc.), in-house beers and, above all, an incredible selection of whiskies. Then there's the taproom of the craft brewery (rue de la Commune), with some thirty keg lines and a slate of local spirits, all on a beautiful terrace overlooking the Old Port. The annex is the latest addition: a Prohibition-themed boutique and bar (rue Saint-Paul).

Siboire Saint-Laurent, the third Siboire branch to open, is located in a century-old building in the heart of the lively Plateau Mont-Royal district. With a constantly evolving selection of house beers and a varied bistro-style food menu, Siboire Saint-Laurent is sure to satisfy the beer lover in you, and provide a first-rate brewing experience thanks to its unique atmosphere. The big plus: the terrace, which stays sunny for much longer than its neighbors!

In a neighbourhood where bars are not legion, the Palco reverses the trend. The place is beautiful, all white, black and wood dressed. White light bulbs and subdued lighting in the evening, mezzanine, small space for various services and a fairy-tale inner courtyard. Homemade cocktails, microbrewery beers and privately imported wines are popular, as is the gourmet menu (some vegetarian and vegan options). The beautiful socio-cultural program and the atmosphere make this neighbourhood bar a very pleasant place for exchanges and gatherings.

We can't ignore the breathtaking decor of Blossom, all signed by designer Guillaume Ménard: a futuristic Japanese atmosphere in the middle of which is flanked by a beautiful cherry tree in bloom. In the glass, the largest selection of sakes in Montreal from private importation as well as wines and cocktails, while on the plate, we bet on the concept of Handroll Bar with a menu that honors the country of the Rising Sun (makis, dishes to share, etc.). Sophisticated and exotic to the max!

Open since May 2017 in the upscale Mount Stephen Hotel, the Bar George immediately seduces with its sumptuous décor rich in woodwork and simply magnificent architectural details. In this historic setting, you can sit down with friends or talk "business" with a glass of wine or a cocktail in hand. For lunch and dinner, the address offers an English-inspired menu featuring Quebec products. The weekend brunch is well worth the detour, accompanied by a mimosa, Bloody Caesar or English coffee. A chic address!