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Entertainment
Guide to Entertainment, Events and Nightlife in Montreal

Montreal has literally tons going on at any time of year. Good quality entertainment venues offer a full programme of performances in all the arts, while a calendar of festivals and city wide events means that there is always plenty of peripheral entertainment.

Music

Classical
Montreal offers a packed classical music programme. Most performances take place at the cavernous Place-des-Arts complex at 175 Ste Catherine Ouest. Call +1 (1)514-842-2112 for information about the programme of events.

The most popular resident orchestra is the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Most of its performances take place at Place-des-Arts. The programme of events can be picked up from the tourist office or by calling +1 (1)514-842-9951. During the Christmas period the Symphony Orchestra performs The Messiah at Notre Dame Cathedral - a real treat for classical music lovers. Also based in the city and performing regularly, the Metropolitan Orchestra can be reached on Tel: +1 (1)514-598-0870.

Contemporary
Montreal's contemporary music scene is second to few and most large bands now include the city on their North American touring circuit. Live music abounds throughout the city, two particular specialities here are jazz and punk rock.

International artists play at either the Bell Centre (Tel: +1 (1)514-989-2841) or the Olympic stadium, which is still trying to recoup the money spent on its construction for the 1976 Olympics. (Tel: +1 (1)514-252-4737 or Tel: +1 (1)877-997-0919 - toll free).

If you prefer the more intimate sounds of jazz, it can be found throughout the city at many of the lounge bars such as Jello (151 Ontario Est. Tel: +1 (1)514-285-2621). House of Jazz (2060 Aylmer. Tel: +1 (1)514-842-8656) has live performances Friday and Saturday from 22h30 and has a low cover charge of CAD2.50.

Punk rock and alternative music can be found at Foufounes Electriques, 87 Rue Ste Catherine Est. Tel: +1 (1)514-844-5539.

Theatre

As with classical music, regular theatrical performances are held at the Place-des-Arts complex downtown. Performances are usually in French.

French-language theatre can also be found at Theatre du Nouveau Monde (84 Ste Catherine Ouest. Tel: +1 (1)514-866-8668) and at Theatre du Rideau Vert (4664 St Denis. Tel: +1 (1)514-844-1793).

English-language theatre is played at various locations throughout the city. Contact the Quebec Drama Association on Tel: +1 (1)514-875-8698 for up to date information.

Opera

Opera enthusiasts are catered for by the Montreal Opera . With an annual programme (Sep-Jun) of half-a-dozen performances per year the opera covers classical opera as well as modern interpretations and new works. Performing in the Salle Wilfred-Pelletier the opera also works in conjunction with visiting orchestras on several projects each year. 260 De Maisonneuve Blvd Ouest. Tickets start from CAD40. Tel: +1 (1)514-985-2222.

Cinema

It's always a good idea in Montreal to check which language the films are being shown in as they can be subtitled or dubbed in either English or French. There are plenty of mainstream cinemas to choose from, including:

The IMAX Paramount, a huge complex of cinemas on Ste Catherine's, showing films in both English and French. 977 Ste Catherine Ouest, Tel: +1 (1)514-842-5828.

Famous Players at the Eaton Centre, a good bet for English language films. 707 Ste Catherine Ouest. Tel: +1 (1)514-842-5828.

Le Parisien shows predominantly French language movies. 480 Ste Catherine Ouest. Tel: +1 (1)514-866-3856.

The Cinema du Parc is a repertory movie house. It shows a variety of low-budget and art house films, from both local and international directors. Films are usually shown in their original language with English subtitles, although it is worthwhile checking. There is little point in watching a Japanese film with French subtitles if you understand neither language. 3575 Avenue du Parc. Tel: +1 (1)514-281-1900.

Casino

On the Ile Notre Dame you'll find the distinctive Quebec Pavilion left over from Expo 67. Refurbished, this is now home to the Casino de Montreal (1, avenue du Casino, Tel: +1 (1)514-392-2746).

Offering much more entertainment than the turn of a card, it is a popular attraction with more than just high rollers and hardened gamblers, and has become a definite fixture on the city's entertainment listings. Over 3,000 slot machines and more than 120 gaming tables (offering classics such as roulette and blackjack) keep the punters happy, but with four top-class restaurants, bars and a full repertoire of cabaret entertainment on offer you don't have to keep on spending to have a good time. Only people over 18 years old are admitted. You should bring a passport or other photographic proof of age, and dress reasonably smartly for a visit. Open: Mon-Sun 00h00-24h00.


Nightclubs

With bars closing at 03h00, many bars become clubs later in the evening, but Montreal also has more than its fair share of dedicated clubs, opening mainly on weekends and catering to hard-core clubbers. If 03h00 is not late enough for you, then Montreal has a famous after-hours club scene that exists despite attempts by local regulators to close it down.

Café Terrasse Le Saint-Sulpice
1680 Rue St Denis. Metro: Berri-Uqam. Tel: +1 (1)514-844-9458
Four-level bar and dance club complex in the Latin Quarter. Saint-Sulpice attracts a young predominantly French speaking crowd. The basement holds a dance club playing Hip-Hop and R&B whilst the top three levels are reserved for bars. Its gets very busy at weekends and is especially popular in summer when the crowds take a break from dancing on the exterior terrace. Good selection of Quebec micro-brewed beers on tap.

Dome
32 Rue Ste Catherine Ouest, Metro: St Laurent. Tel: +1 (1)514-875-5757
The largest nightclub in town features all the frills that you would expect from a top class venue. A 25000 watt sound system pumps out R&B, Hip-Hop and House over several floors. Regular guest stars man the decks and provide entertainment, while themed nights keep the variety going. The crowd is uniformly young and good looking. Expect to pay a cover charge of around CAD15.

Newtown
1476 Rue Crescent. Metro: Guy-Concordia. Tel: +1 (1)514-284-6555
Owned by former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve this bar/restaurant/club is a stylish additon to the Crescent street scene. There are several floors of bars and a basement club decorated in an understated modern style. Newtown attracts Montreal's glamourous English speaking crowd and the clubbers tend to be professionals rather than teenagers found in some of the other clubs in the city. Best nights Friday and Saturday.

Sona
1437 Rue de Bleury. Tel: +1 (1)514-282-1000
Montreal's number one "after hours" club opens its doors at 02h00. It's recently moved to a new location in the former home of the Montreal Canadiens, the Pepsi Forum. Open only Friday and Saturday nights, Sona attracts the mega stars of the DJ world and has a variety of themed nights. Prices aren't cheap, before 03h00 it's CAD25 and after that it's a steep CAD35. The main room can get very loud and sweaty although the atmosphere is unforgettable. The secondary room is a Hip Hop room. If you can handle the heat and the volume until daylight at 06h00 then Sona is the place for you.

Sport

In Montreal, "sport" means "hockey", and hockey means Ice Hockey. The city is amazingly proud of its team the Montreal Canadiens, whose 24 Stanley Cups make them North America's most successful professional franchise. The "Habs", as everyone knows them, play at the 21,000 seat Bell centre (1260 de la Gauchtiere Ouest, Metro: Lucien l'Allier). Tickets are usually sold out well in advance though you can check by calling Tel: +1 (1)514-989-2841.

Ticket touting, known as "scalping" goes on around the Lucien L'Allier Metro station on game days. Ticket prices start out steep, but as game time draws near the tickets can usually be had for CAD30-35 for seats in the 'nose-bleeds' or highest levels.

Montreal does have other professional sporting teams, although, judging by the reaction of the press, you wouldn't think so. The perennially bankrupt Montreal Expos play major League baseball at the Olympic stadium, although half their home games in the 2003 season were relocated to Puerto-Rico. Still, they have some good players and are never sold out. Ticket availability and prices can be found by calling Tel: +1 (1)800-463-9767 (toll free).

Montreal's other professional team is the Alouettes. They play in the CFL, a Canadian version of US Gridiron. The Als were the 2002 Grey Cup champions and the 2003 runners up. They draw reasonable crowds at their downtown McGill Percival Molson Stadium at 475 Avenue des Pins Ouest. Tel: +1 (1)514-871-2255 for information. The season runs from Summer time to November.

Special Events

Montreal is Canada's festival capital. Here are just a few highlights of the festive calendar.

January
The Fete des Neiges is a huge outdoor winter party with winter sports activities for all the family and the traditional Quebec treat of hot maple taffy (syrup poured into snow and wrapped a round a stick). Festivities take place on Ile Ste Helene.

February
During the Montreal HIGH LIGHTS festival troupes of artists from around the world entertain the crowds with plays and performances. Takes place at various locations around Montreal.

March
St Patrick's Day Parade. Bands, floats and street parades march along Ste Catherine's street to celebrate all that is Irish. Lots of green beer, French-Irish accents and leprechauns.

June
Le Mondial SAQ is the most famous fireworks competition in the world. Competitors try to outdo each other in blazes of glory that light up the sky. CAD35 for viewpoints on Ile Ste Helene, free views from the Old Port.

On the 24 June each year the city celebrates the Fete de St Jean Baptiste. The state day of Quebec, the celebration sees most of the city partying, celebrating their Quebecan culture through a series of concerts and free events.

July
Canada Day is celebrated on the first of the month. Canadians all over the country celebrate all things Canadian. In Montreal this means free concerts and events, and lots of English speakers descending on downtown Montreal covered in flags. It's not as big as the St Jean Baptiste festival, which tells you a lot about Montrealer's allegiances.

Later in the month the world's biggest jazz festival comes to town as all the major artists and hundreds of up-and-coming performers play over 500 shows in the heart of downtown Montreal, during the city's International Jazz Festival.

No sooner has the jazz festival finished than one of the world's premier comedy festivals comes to town - The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. International comedians hold over 2,000 performances, mainly centred on the Latin Quarter. This is the festival where South Park first aired.

For those with energy left, at the end of the month and continuing on into August the world's largest French language music festival, Les Francofolies, hits the city. Local artists hold centre stage in a fascinating alternative music spectacle

August
Superstars meet the unknowns in the Montreal World Film Festival. Hollywood stars are on hand to launch their latest films while Independents from around the globe have the opportunity to air their offerings to the world, via the free screenings outside at the Place-des-Arts complex.

 

Hotels in: Montreal Downtown, Anjou, Dorval, Laval,
Longueuil-Brossard, Montreal Airport Area
 

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