Salut! After a flight cancellation, therefore arriving home an entire day late and combating fatigue, I have managed to survive to see this day. As a travel enthusiast, I love breathing the air of new cities, and Montreal is certainly distinct.
I'd love to share some of the highlights of my trip, if you'd like to see. This post involves the nightlife of Montreal as it is evident that the city completely transforms throughout the course of the day; the neon lights are endless and the streets are flooded with people and traffic and jubilant sights and sounds. Music can be heard in every avenue; the experience is both overwhelming and enjoyable.
Rue St. Laurent:
If you're looking for a central hub to explore on a weekend night, this is the best street to go. As it is considered the main road of Montreal, it is invariably filled with restaurants, boutiques, hotels, bars, etc., and is therefore, invariably exciting. Going around 12 am is preferable.
GoGo Lounge
3682 Rue Saint Laurent
Besides the vibrant decor (illuminating lights fill the bar area), the best part of this place is the menu, which is served on vinyl records. Additionally, the cocktails have rather original names (Coco Chanel, Mr. Breezy, etc). Overall, a great place to start the night.
B-Side
3616 Rue Saint Laurent
B-Side is certainly made for weekend life, as the specials are usually present during this time of week. Catching a 5 shots for $15 is certainly a steal, especially for the city life. The shots are all named after famous individuals (i.e. Jimmy Hendrix) and are incredibly delicious.
Rue St. Denis:
If you're looking to catch happy hour (5 pm-7 pm), St. Denis is the perfect place for an afternoon rest, as the streets are lined with an innumerable collection pubs and restaurants, most of them chain locations.
3 Amigos
1621 Rue Saint Denis
The 28 oz. margaritas are delicious, especially during a warm day. I would think any combination of the drinks is satisfactory.
Les 3 Brasseurs
1658 Rue Saint Denis
The ultimate pub experience, this pub serves beer by the endless pitcher. Overall, you will realize that any type/amount of their beer with poutine is magical.
Crescent Street:
I love Crescent Street for the fact that I went on a sheer whim with only a recommendation. It is possible that a Monday night might have not been the best time to people watch...
Mad Hatter
1220 Crescent Street
A general pub, Mad Hatter does not exclude specials for just the weekends. The most distinct aspect of this bar/restaurant is the decorative menu.
Brutopia
1215 Crescent Street
The one Monday night I went to Brutopia, it was trivia night, which left me with a rather cheerful impression. Generally, it is a pub for friends and fun.
Rue St. Catherine Est:
I try and avoid St. Catherine Est during the nighttime as it is in the Latin Quarter and is not considered the most safe street to be in Montreal. However, I would definitely recommend a visit during the day because the head shops, strip clubs (male ones included), sex shops, etc are distinctively unique, if not a bit gritty.
Les FouFounes Electriques
87 St. Catherine Est
The artwork can be considered psychedelic, a meet between Lichtenstein and Munch. The atmosphere is pretty grungy, and I would definitely try to avoid locking eyes with other clients and bringing friends along...but then again, what's life without a bit of rebellion?
Don't think I forgot to mention the cuisine; look forward to the upcoming posts.
