I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND...
Montreal Nightlife Clubs:
Right by the water in the Old Port of Montreal, Terrace Bonsecours is the best place to
spend a summer night. The great part about this club is that it's outdoors, which gives you
the perfect view of Old Montreal. Whether you're a house, hip hop or r&b fan, the DJ's
there make sure to appeal to everyone's distinct taste in music by spinning all kinds of
different beats. So strap on those heels, button up your dress shirts, and get ready to take
in the lively Montreal nightlife.
With sold out shows almost every weekend, two floors and amazing light shows, New
City Gas is quickly becoming the hottest place to be. Having opened recently, the club has
already set the stage for a number of internationally renowned DJ's (Sebastian Ingrosso,
Tiesto and Bob Sinclar to name a few) while still promoting upcoming talent. Make sure
you buy your tickets online beforehand as shows have the tendency to sell out quickly.
Fortunately, the tickets rarely cost more than $20, which is totally worth it for the
Montreal nightlife experience. New City Gas is decked out with two stages and an upper
and lower terrace so people enjoy listening to the music while taking in the summer air.
For those of you who enjoy more of a lounge feel, Koko will definitely be of your taste.
Located on Sherbrooke near St. Laurent, the club has a more sophisticated appeal,
with low-lighting and a laid-back atmosphere. It's been known to have a few celebrity
sightings (not to name drop or anything but... Channing Tatum, just saying), which goes
to show how popular Koko is. So whether you're there to celebrate a birthday or grab a
few drinks, it's a great place to have a night out with your friends.
Rated as the 19th best club in the world by DJ Mag (2012), Circus Afterhours is the
perfect place for those of you who enjoy the Montreal nightlife and parttying into the wee
hours of the night. This Afterhours Club has two stages with DJ's constantly spinning
great tracks. DJ Ben Gold has played at Circus and mentioned in his podcast it is one of
his favourite places to spin. With UV black lights, an open and spacious dance floor and
an amazing revolving massage chair for those who want to get the full experience, Circus
is well-known and loved by all those who have been.
... BUT WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND?
Montreal Nightlife Bars:
Ever had the urge to drink out of a sand bucket, ride a mechanical bull, or throw your bra
(or your girlfriend's bra) on a moose's antlers? Well we have the perfect place for you.
Right on St Laurent, Chez Serge accommodates a lively atmosphere full of craziness
which makes for great stories and a not-so-memorable night (if you know what we
mean). So get your friends together and get ready to say "remember that time I fell off the
bull?"
When trying to come up with a bar that serves the most interesting drinks, the first one
that comes to mind is La Distillerie. It has a wide array of drinks served in jars (yes, you
read that right). They have everything from cucumber to seaweed to cinnamon mixed into
their drinks to make the wildest and most unusual concoctions. It has more of a casual
atmosphere, where you sit on old style bar stools, surrounded by brick walls, making it a
great place for a date. Good luck at attempting to distinguish the different ingredients in
your drink!
For those of you with a sweet tooth, our next bar is a must. Candi Bar, located on St
Laurent, serves a wide array of sweet drinks topped with your favourite candies (ring
pops, sour watermelon and gummy worms to name a few). Not only can you get sweets
on your drinks, but every table has a gumball machine. While you're there, make sure you
visit the washroom; it's as intriguing as the rest of the bar, Montreal nightlife has never
been so fun.
HELP ME, I'M BROKE!
For those of you on a budget:
Sorry fellas, this first one is for the girls. Wednesday nights at Mckibbin's Irish Pub are
ladies' night, which means $2 drinks (score!), $4 beers, and not so great decisions. It's
the perfect place to break out of your weekday rut and have an amazing time. It tends
to get very busy after ten thirty so to avoid a line up get there early or get to know the
bouncer! While the bar stays true to its Irish heritage, the music is more modern so you
can let your inner dancer out. For those of you brave souls out there, feel free to try the
Rim Reaper wings, although you'll probably regret it in the morning (they make you sign
a waiver). Get ready to let that good judgement out the door and enjoy cheap drinks.
On Crescent Street in the heart of downtown, Winnie's (on the lower level of Sir Winston
Churchill's) is well known for its $2.50 Tuesdays drink specials. The bar is spacious,
the music is great, the TV's are tuned in to the game of the night (for all you sports fans
out there), and there are lots of couches for when your feet give out on you. This bar is
definitely worth going to, especially for a warm summer night on the terrace.
One of the main go-to bars for students is Hurleys Irish Pub. Also located on Crescent
and know for its great Montreal nightlife, the bar is known for its affordable drinks
(which they brew themselves) and delicious finger food. The bar has three terraces where
you can enjoy your drink of choice under the starry sky, or you can make your way inside
to listen to the live band. Make sure you make it in time for happy hour which goes on
until 8pm.
WHAT ELSE YOU GOT, MONTREAL?
Montreal Nightlife Events:
Montreal isn't all about the bars, clubs and nightlife or is it ? The city is also known for
its big events throughout the year. Known as a common favourite and set in the heart of
the Quartier des spectacles in downtown, the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
has been ranked as the world's largest jazz festival by Guinness World Records. Every
summer, thousands of global music fans get to enjoy 10 days' worth of music from all
around the world. Most of the shows are free and go from noon to midnight. Sipping
on a beer as you enjoy the music sounds like a great way to spend a summer evening,
wouldn't you agree?
Since we gave the ladies a good spot before, this next one's for the guys. One of the
biggest events in Montreal is the Grand Prix Weekend. While the racing is great, it's
not just about that. It's more about the entire city's enthusiasm and excitement. Tens of
thousands of people from around the world come to Montreal every summer to enjoy 72
hours of Formula 1. Even if you're not a huge racing fan, make sure you pass by Crescent
Street during the day to check out some of the amazing cars on display and enjoy many
free samples of drinks being handed out by the very friendly pump-up girls. Besides, who
doesn't like models and cars? We didn't think so.
Considered one of the largest winter festivals in the world, Montreal En Lumière (a.k.a.
Nuit Blanche) is an annual celebration that attracts close to a million people. From the
Quartier des spectacles, to Old Montreal, to the Plateau-Mont-Royal, and finally the
Olympic Park, the entire city comes alive with excitement through this unique festival
that brings together gastronomy, performing arts, and free activities all night long.
You don't need to worry about looking for parking because the metros run all night to
give you easier access to every part of downtown so you can relish in all the different
activities and shows.
For those of you (like us) who have always dreamed of going to Tomorrowland but can't
really afford it for the time being, Bal en Blanc should definitely be on your to-do list.
The huge rave is hosted annually and brings together 15,000 attendees who don their
white clothes and make their way to the Palais des Congrès to enjoy some of the best
Montreal nightlife and their favourite headliner DJ's from around the world. Bal en Blanc
has both a house and a trance room to accommodate for everyone's different preferences.
This is undeniably a great experience for anyone who enjoys this kind of music. Make
sure you stay hydrated though since the rave usually goes on for 15 hours!
Have you ever wondered how you can enjoy some of your favourite music while still
getting the most out of Montreal's summer weather? Well lucky for you, we have a
few ideas that can help. With shows happening every Sunday and cheap tickets ($14
all in), Piknik Electronik is the go-to destination for all you electronic music lovers
out there. Sit on the sand, enjoy the music or take a swim, because this is the perfect
place to do so. Another excellent and quite similar option is Montreal's Beach Club,
located in Pointe-Calumet, an island 30 min from downtown. You can enjoy partying to
the sounds of some of the best DJ's while still being able to work on your tan.
Our last recommendation would have to be Osheaga, a festival that brings together
music lovers
from all over North America to showcase over 90 bands (with big names
like Coldplay,
Eminem, the Killers, and Florence and the Machine) making for an
unparalleled setting
that you can only find in Montreal.
We hope that all these recommendations help you plan some of the best outings with your
friends. It's really hard to be bored with the Montreal nightlife scene, so get dressed, get out
there, and go make some crazy memories!
Carly & Tamara |
