You can’t talk about jazz venues in Montreal without talking about the House of Jazz, whose original downtown Montreal location enjoyed a 40 year stretch as the city’s jazz mecca. The Laval outpost continues brings in an ever-rotating list of local & international acts. Equipped with a full bar and full menu, this is a great place to visit for a romantic night of a delicious dinner accompanied by beautiful music.
UPDATE, spring 2023: While the doors of a few of Montreal's jazz clubs have shuttered, we are thrilled to add a few more venues to the list. And you can always count on the city's jazz staples—several of whom are recognized as some of the most important jazz bars in the world—to keep the music playing.
Make no mistake, the best jazz bars in Montreal are right up there with the bustling clubs may found in New Orleans, Paris or New York. This city has been home to some of the world’s jazz legends like Oscar Peterson, and the scene here is why events like the Internation Jazz Festival take place annually. While jazz today may not be as vivacious as it was in the early 1900s, there are still many venues around the island that keep this storied legacy going—and with dinner and drink menus closely rivalling that of the best cocktail bars and wine bars in Montreal. From chill sessions in garden venues to fast-paced performances and upstairs speakeasy vibes, Montreal always has something on offer.
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