The ultimate guide to the best nightlife in Montreal right now

Praised by international DJs for its impeccable sound system, Stereo keeps house and techno beats pumping into the late-night hours, long past last call elsewhere—just ask folks who dance the night away until the sun comes up here. With soundproof walls and a dance floor reinforced with springs and shock absorbers, their after-hours nightclub is fully equipped for hardcore all-nighters that flock in from all corners of the city.

Datcha sticks out as one of the rare places to hit for clubbing in Mile End. The club opened several years back in partnership with legendary local DJ Thomas Von Party and his Multi Culti label. These days, other local DJs are the ones spinning house, electro, disco, funk and techno for the club’s intimate dance floor from Wednesday through Sunday. Arrive early, and you can hit up Kabinet next door for caviar bumps and bubbles.

This West End street is one of the main nightlife destinations in Montreal for tourists and suburbanites having a night out on the town, especially when it plays host to legendary Formula 1 parties during Grand Prix weekend. On the three blocks between René-Lévesque Boulevard and Sherbrooke Street West, you’ll find dozens of places to eat, drink and dance.

If electronic dance music is your jam, New City Gas’ industrial space is the place to go. Known for welcoming EDM heavyweights like Tiesto, David Guetta, Bauer and Steve Angelo (Swedish House Mafia), it's a massive converted warehouse in Griffintown that spans two floors that can hold up to 2,000 people. These days, its large outdoor area has been converted into Bazart, a massive Mediterranean bar, restaurant and NFT gallery. While there, make sure to pay a visit to the opulent restroom area, which features a communal Turkish fountain cloaked in purple mood lighting and chandelier accents.

This nightlife spot on Plaza St-Hubert is a self-proclaimed combination of a restaurant, bar, club, venue, lounge and social club. Inspired by New York venues, expect a lot of vinyl turntables and natural wines as its dance floor comes to life thanks to an awesome sound system, but not before you stop in to eat your way through their menu and platters of popped oysters. The programming here is jampacked with all kinds of local acts playing almost every night of the week; get a feel for the vibe by listening in to their Soundcloud account.

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Back from the dead, this nightclub for anyone looking for choice EDM music during a night out, but who also wants a more intimate setting. As the music pumps and the room turns dark, keep an eye on the ceiling’s lighting for when the music drops. It’s also a fairly easy-going spot where the drinks are cheap and there’s room to relax between bouts of dancing, so all in all, a pretty solid bet for the casual club hopper.

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This institution in the Village is a multifunctional complex: While the ground floor sports a bar that’s open every day of the week, the upper floors are equipped with dancehalls, the notorious Sky Club and rooftop terrasse. We could go on about their jacuzzi, swimming pool and sauna best enjoyed in the summer too, but why spoil the fun of seeing them for yourself?

If you’re from out of town (or you just don’t get out enough) and you’re wondering what’s causing the traffic jams at the corner of Prince-Arthur and Saint-Laurent Boulevard on Friday and Saturday nights, this bottle servicing, high skirt-wearing spot is the reason why. With more than 17 years in the business, Le Rouge is where you’ll find a great mix of original artists and great hits playing. Just be sure to put your name on their list via the website before you go.

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Found on the border between the Plateau and the Mile End, this nightlife destination’s programming prides itself on offering a little bit of something for everyone throughout the weekend. All genres of music and performance arts get pumped through their speakers, from house music nights and ska bands to R&B and hip hop performers, plus some drag nights for good measure.

If you’re looking for a grander experience, this here’s Canada’s largest: Tucked inside is an indoor Japanese garden that leads into a 6,000 square foot dining room that has a 15-foot-tall Geisha statue towering over it and a menu heavy on Nikkei cuisine from chefs Andrew Bambino and Hakim Chajar. If you want to drop a few thousand, consider booking one of their bottles of Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac kept in glass cabinets with a white glove service. 

Part supper club, part nightclub, part speakeasy, this subterranean address themed after a forest is one of the most popular spots in Downtown Montreal—after the entirety of Crescent Street, anyway. Frequented for seafood platters and cocktail parties in the evening, the crowds start to really stream in when the tables are tucked away and music by resident and guest DJs starts to spin. This is definitely one of the more elegant venues in town.

This underground club in Old Montreal has been maintaining a reputation for hosting as many lavish dinner services as it does popular DJ nights. Earlier hours of the evening have an attractive cocktail program and fusion-y menu that’s equal parts Japanese and Italian, but at night? A killer light and sound system are put to good use by top acts both local and international.

The Terrasses Bonsecours is hands down own of the most luxurious and picturesque places to spend you night in Montreal during the summer months. Open from May to October, this club, restaurant and bar is located in the heart of the Old Port on the Clock Tower pier. During the day, grab a pitcher of sangria and a bite to eat outdoors while taking in magnificent views of the Saint Lawrence River, Old Montreal and surrounding skylines. Once the sun sets, you can dance on all three floors of this large complex under flashing lights or stars.

Find this downstairs bar by the green neon pineapple which hangs above the staircase. A swanky tiki-inspired lounge, Le Mal Nécessaire made a huge mark on Chinatown when it opened in 2014, bringing a fresh breath of nightlife to the otherwise food-dominated landscape of its neighbourhood. The place features a colourful menu heavy on tropical ingredients like cachaca, rum and pisco, oftentimes served in cored coconuts and pineapples—don’t miss their Dragon Boat punches, perfect for large groups, and bartending events. If you’re hungry, the bar has a direct line to the Chinese restaurant Fung Shing above it for snacks.

The quality of its cocktails and décor—designed as though it sits at the bottom of a drained pool—are great drawcards for this bar, but so is their musical curation. Guest DJs from out of town with vinyl rigs are just as valuable as the local acts here, and just about every night of the week has some really, really chill music playing. Weekends are the best for dancing, while weekdays are solid for aural appreciation. Either way, we recommend arriving early in the evening for one of the best happy hours in Montreal.

Located high above Chinatown, this sixth floor spot inside the Hampton Inn by Hilton is big on its menu of French bistro fare with Vietnamese flavours in addition to a bar menu constructed by none other than Kevin Demers and Sam Kirk of supreme cocktail bars The Coldroom and El Pequeño. It’s spacious too, with 7,000 square feet and 250 seats to spare, and is a big summer hangout thanks to its views of the Old Montreal skyline.

Bar Renard has distinguished itself as one of the most elegant spaces in the Gay Village and one of the most inviting—it’s particularly popular among LGBTQ women, but everyone is welcome. It offers a wide selection of local beers and a variety of cocktails including liters of Pimm’s Cup and Mojitos. A menu of light meals is also available, with meat-based and vegetarian takes on burgers, pulled pork and hotdogs. This is a place where tables get pushed aside in the evening, as DJs turn up the volume to get clients dancing. Pure, clean fun.

Cabaret Mado is Montreal’s premier drag queen cabaret, and Mado Lamotte has been running the place personally since 2002. You’ll find themed nights with a host of drag performers, hilarious and provocative comedy sketches and lip-syncing. Once the show is over, the DJs take over and you can hit the dance floor with Mado and her friends. Many unforgettable nights have started (and ended) at Cabaret Mado.

The Wiggle Room is the new kid on the block in Montreal’s storied cabaret scene, inspired by classic speakeasys of the 1920s. Featuring old-school burlesque, drag queen and drag king galas, comedy sketches and theme nights, the Wiggle Room also serves up an expansive and elegant selection of cocktails both new and classic which perfectly accompanies an evening of entertainment. Make sure to wear your wildest outfit and get ready for an epic party here.

Café Cléopatra is one of the last remaining vestiges of Montreal’s infamous Red Light district at the corner of Saint-Laurent and Sainte-Catherine, surviving multiple rounds of demolition and expropriation. Its façade, which dates back to the 1800s, is now surrounded by a brand new glass and steel office complex that couldn’t contrast more with the interior of the establishment. On the ground floor, you’ll find one of the best strip clubs in Montreal with a colourful range of performers and décor that hasn’t changed in 30 years, or head upstairs for wild gender-bending drag and burlesque performers or baraoke on the first Saturday of every month when anyone is welcome to strip while singing (and trust us, it’s more fun than you think).

Whether it's wine, mixology or perfect pints you're after, use this list to find the best bars of Montreal.

Boredom isn’t an option in Montreal when looking at all of the city's parties and festivities happening year after year.