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Bars and Clubs

Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. rue Crescent, just west of downtown, caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. boulevard Saint-Laurent, especially between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins, has trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. rue St-Denis between Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips — you should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually unlimited choice.
 • SAT (Société des arts technologiques), 1195 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Saint-Laurent), 514-844-2033 . M-F 5PM-10PM, Sa-Su various hours. This one-of-a-kind venue is supported by the province of Quebec and the federal government to display and promote digital art. With high ceilings and low couches, it has the feel of a funky uberhip techno club, and in fact there is quite a bit of great club music on weekend nights. But there's also fascinating computer art installations going on at all times, with some video and live performances. A great place to meet people in Montreal. $4.50 draft beer, $5 well drinks, $5-25 cover (no cover before 10PM).
 • Pub Sainte-Élizabeth, 1412 rue Sainte-Élizabeth (metro Saint-Laurent). Best terrasse for a drink. Feels like a greenhouse.
 • Foufounes Électriques, 87 rue Sainte-Catherine Est (metro Saint-Laurent), 514-844-5539. 3PM-3AM every day. The name means "Electric Ass" in English, which is always worth a few laughs. But Foufounes is more than just a funny name: it's ground zero for Montreal's rock-and-roll scene. The cavernous bar hosts shows from local bands as well as lots of touring shows from around the globe. Reasonable prices and a down-to-earth attitude make Foufounes popular with residents and visitors alike. $3 draft beer, $4 well drinks.
 • Les Bobards, 4328 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Mont-Royal). Good happy hour. Great dancing on very diversified music on Friday nights.
 • Bily Kun, 354 avenue Mont-Royal Est (metro Mont-Royal), 514-845-5392. 3PM-3AM every day. Bily Kun — the name is Czech — is an institution in Montreal's Plateau district. Dim lighting, candles, and a huge bar give an intimate atmosphere, but Bily Kun gets hopping after 10PM with Montreal's hippest Francophones practically every night. Some of the area's top DJs spin experimental or loungey techno, but there's really no dance floor to speak of. Bar staff is kooky and nice, even if no one can quite explain the ostrich heads lining the walls. $4.50 draft beers, $5 well drinks.
 • Old Dublin, 1219 rue University (metro McGill), 514-861-4448. 11:30AM-3AM every day. Don't let the Vieux Dublin sign outside fool you — this pub is as Irish as it gets. There's not a lot of Emerald Island schlock around, but the pints are good, and homestyle meals for lunch and dinner really hit the spot. There's live music on weekends on the miniscule stage, but during the week it's quiet and comfy. Staff is polite and nice. $6 draft beer.
 • McKibbin's Irish Pub, 1426 rue Bishop (metro Guy-Concordia), 514-288-1850. Being next door to Concordia U. may or may not be a point in its favor, but there's no denying that this friendly pub is a great place for a pint. The food is above-average for a pub, too. Mckibbin's is known for their ladies night ever Wednesday with its all night open bar ($5 cover for girls and $20 cover for guys).
 • Hurley's, 1225 rue Crescent (metro Lucien-L'allier or Guy-Concordia), 514-861-4111. Probably the best Irish pub in Montreal, with live traditional music every night and excellent food at fair prices. There's an upstairs as well for the busy nights, and a part of the pub is non-smoking, in addition to outdoor patios in the front and back. Very cozy with a highly authentic feel, and friendly professional staff.
 • Casa Del Popolo/La Sala Rossa, 4873 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Laurier), 514-284-3804. Established in September 2000, Casa Del Popolo is Montréal's only family-run neighborhood vegetarian hot-spot! Part fair-trade café, part music venue, part bar, part foosball hall... The Casa and its sister venue, La Sala Rossa, frequently host touring indie artists. Shows are cheap, or even free. Try the goat cheese sandwich!
 • Le Réservoir, 9 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke), 514-849-7779. Brewpub. Amazing snacks.
 • Dieu du Ciel, 29 avenue Laurier West (metro Laurier), 514-490-9555. Brewpub.
 • L'Amère ?Boire, 2049 rue Saint-Denis (metro Sherbrooke), 514-282-7448. Brewpub.
 • Le Cheval Blanc, 809 rue Ontario Est (metro Sherbrooke), 514-522-0211. Brewpub.
 • Les 3 Brasseurs, 1658 St-Denis (metro Berri-UQAM), 514-845-1660. Brewpub and restaurant.
 • Brutopia, 1219 Crescent (metro Peel), 514-393-9277. Brewpub. English-speaking college crowd.
 • Bifteck, 3702 boul. St-Laurent. Some of the cheapest beer in town, served with some of the saltiest popcorn in all Creation, consumed by bohemians and students from near and far (and the occasional honest-to-God rock star). Great place to start or end a St-Laurent pub crawl: to the south, you'll find trendy, relatively expensive places; to the north, some of the best dive bars anywhere. Or you can just stay and get tanked.
 • Go Go Lounge, 3682 boul. St-Laurent. It's on the trendier part of St-Laurent, it looks trendy outwardly, the martini menu is certainly hip and happenin', but there's something missing: attitude. Anyone is made to feel welcome here, and if there's a velvet rope and a doorman, it's only because the place really is full.
 • Else's, 156 rue Roy est. Small, cozy space with a great selection of draft beers and fine whiskies. Technically, it's a restaurant, but you're better off eating elsewhere and just picking at the mandatory nosh (bowl of olives, etc.).

Dance Clubs
Dance clubs are often found all over the downtown area, hotspots being on St. Laurent and Crescent streets. Last call is 3 am for serving alcohol.
 • Saphir. St. Laurent. Goth and punk nights on two floors, usually very crowded.
After Hours Clubs: 2am-10am, no alcohol
 • Stereo. Electronica and other live shows.
 • Aria. Electronica and other live shows.
 • Circus. Electronica and other live shows.