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Gay Montreal: the ultimate guide to the best bars, clubs, hotels & more

Stefan Arestis
Gay Montreal: the ultimate guide to the best bars, clubs, hotels & more

This is our gay travel guide to Montreal based on our PERSONAL EXPERIENCE – tips on the gay scene of montreal, gay hotels to stay, cafes and more…

Montreal is beautiful. Montreal is proud. Montreal is energetic. Montreal is bold. Above all else, Montreal is open, ready and WAITING to embrace you!

This gorgeous city in Canada's French Quebec region is home to one of the biggest gay villages in the world. It's literally an entire neighbourhood, officially recognised in city maps and social media tags. The atmosphere here is one of the best we've experienced from all the different gay scenes we've been to around the world.

There's always something going on down the mile-long Rue Sainte-Catherine with plenty of bars, clubs, after-hours clubs, saunas, ꜱtriþ bars, cafes, and more, to suit everyone. And we are LIVING for it!

We visited Montreal in the height of the summer during the Fierte Pride in August. My god, these guys sure know how to have a good time! We'd happily return in a heartbeat. Check out our vlog about the first-ever Fierte Canada Pride in Montreal right here.

 

Heads up: We just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. That means if you book something through one of those links, we'll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep our blog going – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥

Is Montreal safe for gay travellers?

Short answer: hell yeah!

This is definitely one place we felt absolutely comfortable walking the streets holding hands. Put it this way, even at government level there is immense pride in the city's LGBTQ community – for Montreal Pride, not only the mayor and the Premier of Quebec led the parade, but alongside them was the country's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Lovely Justin also happens to be one of Montreal's famous residents, who made this beautiful speech about diversity:

“Diversity is the engine of invention. It generates creativity that enriches the world”

Justin Trudeau

Canada generally has always been at the forefront of LGBTQ rights, being one of the first countries to legalise gay marriage and with one of the most progressive transgender laws in the world. Montreal, in particular, has always been a bedrock of acceptance and cultural diversity, to the point where it has developed the largest gay village in North America (see below), and also hosts many gay events throughout the year

To get a feel for gay Montreal, we highly recommend watching this short gay web series called Montreal Boy: Some Strings Attached, made by the tourism board and Logo TV (let's just repeat that part: the tourism board of Montreal commissioned this series: a sure-fire sign that a city truly welcomes and celebrates its LGBTQ community!)

Justin Trudeau leading the Montreal gay Pride parade
Justin Trudeau leads the parade at Fierte Canada in Montreal with the former Mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre on the left and former leader of Ireland Leo Varadkar behind him

Le Village Gai: the gay neighbourhood of Montreal

Montreal's gaybourhood, otherwise known as Le Village Gai or just The Village is famous for being the largest gay neighbourhood in North America. It's literally an entire district of the city, even officially recognised in tourist city maps and searchable in social media location tags.

The Village is the heart of the city's LGBTQ community, based along the mile-long Saint Catherine street, bordered by St Hubert Street to the west, De Lorimier Avenue to the east, Sherbrooke Street to the north and René Lévesque Boulevard to the south.

The Gay Village dates back to the 1980s when it used to be a poor working-class neighbourhood. It was first occupied by gay and lesbian businesses after they were forced out from downtown Montreal. Over the years, the area gentrified massively to become the pink bubble of fun it is today.

During May-September, St Catherine Street is closed to cars, allowing the cafes, bars and restaurants to spill out onto the pavements to create outdoor terraces, giving the village an exciting buzzy atmosphere. We love it just for this! It also has a rainbow crossing to mark its starting point. 

Montreal gay village rainbow crossing
At the end of this rainbow is not a pot of gold, but the entrance to Montreal's awesome Gay Village

Gay hotels in Montreal

Montreal is one place in the world where you know most hotels welcome LGBTQ travellers with open arms. We've never had any issues booking a double bed as a gay couple travelling in Montreal, especially at the large chain hotels.

We've set out some of the best gay friendly hotels for all budgets, either which we've tried and loved, or were recommended to us by fellow LGBTQ travellers:

01

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth

Downtown Montreal

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is one of the most gay friendly and luxurious hotels in Montreal

Why we love it


  • Luxurious and famous hotel in the heart of the city
  • Lovely spa, swimming pool and fitness centre
  • Beautiful rooms and suites
  • Excellent restaurant, cocktail lounge and coffee shop

We stayed at the very gay friendly Fairmont during the Fierte Canada Pride in Montreal, located in downtown Montreal.

It is regarded as one of the best luxury hotels of the city, made famous by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, where they staged one of their week-long Bed-Ins for Peace protests against the Vietnam War in 1969 (specifically: Room 1742 which you can book for yourself). You can watch the full documentary about it on Yoko Ono's YouTube channel.

The Fairmont is the place where celebs and famous people will most likely stay when in town, so you know you're in good hands! When we stayed here for the Fierte Canada Pride, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was not only staying here but in the same corridor as us! (Cue Stefan's many pathetic attempts to try “Hello housekeeping!”) In addition, the gay pride parade passes right outside the front door of the Fairmont, so you can watch it from the comfort of their outdoor terrace with a birds-eye view.

Rooms and suites at the Fairmont are comfortable and gorgeously designed, with lots of bold art on the walls. As well as being right in the heart of the city there is so much to do inside the hotel. For example, they have an indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a luxurious spa offering lots of wellness treatments. We loved dining at their Rosélys restaurant (famous for its French food) and also recommend getting a few cocktails at the sophisticated Nacarat Bar. They also have a cafe called Kréma which does the perfect morning brew (unless you wanna head to Timmies for a “double double and a box of Timbits” – ask your Canadian friends to translate that!).

STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL

Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ community. Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, voiding any nasty surprises when you check-in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene. Click below to get 10 € (or $10) off our first booking.

02

Hôtel William Gray

Old Montreal

Hôtel William Gray - one of the most gay friendly and gorgeous boutique hotels in Montreal

Why we love it


  • Amazing boutique luxury hotel
  • Wonderful spa, swimming pool and gym
  • Rooftop terrace dining and drinks with a view
  • Multiple restaurants and a cafe

This is one of Montreal's best gay friendly boutique luxury hotels. Lush, delightful and uber romantic!

It's located in Old Montreal facing Place Jacques Cartier. And my god it's absolutely gorgeous! The hotel's buildings are stunning examples of 18th-century history, created by building a glass tower on top of the historic Maison Edward-William-Gray and the Maison Cherrier. Now the buildings are home to this stunning boutique spa hotel that you'll never want to leave!

The rooms are huge, often with incredible views. Some have a private outdoor terrace. We loved the hotel's rooftop terrace, where you can dine in the rooftop restaurant, or just have a cocktail and enjoy spectacular views of the city. The indoor Maggie Oakes restaurant is also a stylish haven, with lots of dark wood and a pop of green from the succulent wall. Perche is the terrace restaurant, which also has an adjoining cafe. We particularly enjoyed the big lounge room space, with a library, pool table and another bar.

Hôtel William Gray also has its own gym, handy for burning off all those poutine calories. The hotel spa is also incredible, with a luxurious hot/cold thermal circuit, a Himalayan salt room, Finnish sauna, steam room, experiential showers, cold room, herbal sauna and a seasonal outdoor pool. You can even relax in one of their Gharieni spa beds that involve a healing warm quartz massage bed or a Spa Wave sound therapy system. You're guaranteed to leave the William Gray feeling truly pampered!

03

W Montreal

Old Montreal

The W Hotel in Montreal is both pet friendly and gay friendly, as well as being very luxurious!

Why we love it


  • Luxurious hotel with bold and quirky design
  • Truly pet-friendly with lots of extras for cats or dogs
  • A divine 1940s-style bar for cocktails
  • Excellent fitness centre

The W is one of our favorite international hotel brands. It is notorious for being super gay friendly with a global policy for diversity and inclusion. On a more local level, in 2017 when the city was hosting the first Fierte Canada Pride, the W Montreal held the LGBTQ Queer Me Out event.

W Montreal is a luxury design-driven hotel, located in the Banque du Canada building right on the line between Downtown Montreal and Old Montreal. It's particularly popular with younger gay travelers in their 30s and 40s, but of course, they welcome everyone!

Bold design and bright colours are King at the W Montreal, along with plenty of quirky artwork on the walls. This was also the first pet-friendly hotel we'd encountered, offering pet-friendly rooms with dog/cat beds, food/water bowls, “Bark Box” treat boxes and even dog sitting/walking facilities. Gym bunnies will be delighted with the fitness centre: it's massive, with super modern equipment and lots of bold bright colours!

There are no on-site restaurants at the W, but this is isn't a big deal as there are so many great dining options nearby. In terms of inhouse bars, you need to check out the Bartizen. It's a beautifully designed space which captures the feeling of a 1940s-style lounge with felted seating and stunning dark tones, creating an intimate spot for a cocktail. They also specialise in Quebec gin and tonics, to which they even add perfumes…let's just say you certainly won't forget your G&T&P here in a hurry!

04

Bed and Breakfast du Village BBV

Gay Village

A cozy bedroom with a brick feature wall and tv at B&B Du Village BBV in Montreal.

Why we love it


  • Gay friendly accommodation IN the gay village
  • Intimate and beautifully appointed rooms
  • Lovely little terrace garden for relaxing
  • Welcoming and friendly hosts

This is one of the most popular gay B&Bs in the Gay Village of Montreal.

This is ideal if you want to be right in the heart of all the gay action and still have the peace and serenity you associate with a boutique hotel. It is like a little oasis of tranquillity from the busy Gayborhood outside. We loved coming back here to chill with a glass of wine to hand after sashaying our way down the fabulous streets outside.

On offer are Suites, the Cottage room, and The Queen Room. Guess which one we picked?

The rooms are all cozy and comfortable. There's a shared kitchen where guests can prepare their own meals, although you're just steps away from the cafes and restaurants in the Gayborhood of Montreal. The breakfast is a big highlight – plentiful and everything home-cooked breakfast each morning; in the summer months, it's so nice to have your breakfast on the terrace. The shared areas are also lovely to relax with a book, with the ambient music oozing out around you.

Gay bars in Montreal (open till 3am)

There are many gay bars in the Gay Village of Montreal. We recommend to just head there and see where the night takes you. There's always something happening every single night of the week.

Note that in Montreal, there's a blur between what is a “bar” and “club”. Most places combine both and are open late until 3am (due to the lax licensing laws). After 3am, people head to “after hours” clubs. So to differentiate between the two sections, we've put in this bit the best gay bars/clubs, which are open until 3am, and the “after hours” ones we've listed in the “Gay Clubs” section directly underneath.

Complexe Sky

Complexe Sky is the biggest gay club in Canada! It's also the most popular and famous gay bar in Montreal. We loved it. It's in a large building with a restaurant on the ground floor called Le Branché, then four floors with different styles of music above that, concluding with a rooftop terrace with a pool and hot tub. Our favourite part was definitely the Cabaret area, where there are regular fierce drag shows, but basically the entire building is one big go-to for gay gay gay party and fun!

Located at 1478 Rue St-Catherine Est, the different parts of Complexe Sky have different opening times but most of them are open from 4pm until 3am.

Le Stud

Although Le Stud is officially a bear bar, everyone is welcome and that's why we love hanging out here. It has a really friendly atmosphere with an outdoor drinking area during the warmer months and a large dancing area inside. Look out for their themed nights or longer events like “Polar Bear Week” and the “Full Moon” parties. The connected L'Antre BBQ + Grill does fantastic pub food with burgers, hot dogs and poutine to keep all those rumbly bear tummies happy.

Bar Le Stud is located at 1812 Rue St-Catherine Est and is open daily from 10am until 3am.

Cabaret Chez Mado

Mado Lamotte is Montreal's most popular drag queen. She became famous for hosting one of the biggest drag shows called Mascara. Cabaret Chez Mado is her home where she hosts some of the city's best cabaret and drag acts, particularly on Tuesday and Saturday evenings. You don't need to be fluent in French to have a rollicking time, but knowing a few words and phrases will help you get some of her more subtle jokes!

Cabaret Mado is located at 1115 St-Catherine Est and is open every day from 4pm until 3am.

Bar Le Cocktail

This is the best gay bar in Montreal for karaoke. Every evening a live DJ hosts the karaoke, which goes on till late. On Fridays before 10:30pm they have a Happy Hour. We loved the friendly fun atmosphere – it feels like being in a gay Cheers bar, albeit a very chic one! There are two levels to the bar as well as a lovely terrace that's nice to sit outside in summer.

Located at 1669 Rue St-Catherine Est, Bar Le Cocktail is open daily from 2pm – 3am.

Aigle Noir/Black Eagle

Aigle Noir (French for Black Eagle) is a cool “man's” bar, similar to other Eagle bars we've been to around the world. It's friendly and cruisy, with three different bar sections. On the mezzanine level, there is a sports bar in case you want to pretend to be a hetero dude grunting over football (we tried and failed!). We came here on a Friday evening when it was absolutely heaving, but really enjoyed it, especially on the terrace.

Located at 1315 Rue St-Catherine Est, Aigle Noir is open every day from 8am til 3am.

Club Unity

Whilst the name says “Club”, we found Unity to be more of a bar environment, which became a dancy space later in the evening. It's a big gay complex, much like Complexe Sky, but not as massive. It has 2 different dance areas playing a mix of electro/pop music as well as a VIP lounge and a large rooftop terrace. The rooftop terrace is quite a romantic spot in the evening when there's a cool breeze and you can see the stars shining bright above. Unity also hosts awesome themed parties (like for Halloween) and drag shows.

Club Unity is located at 1171 Rue St-Catherine Est and is open Wednesday to Sunday evenings from 10pm until 3am.

Bar Renard

Bar Renard is a very stylish gay friendly bar, which almost every gay local recommended to us as their favourite place for “cute boys and cocktails”! It doubles up as a restaurant during the day, serving delicious meals, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Bar Renard is the perfect spot to begin your night, maybe with some of their delicious cocktails on the terrace surrounded by greenery…

Located at 1272 Rue St-Catherine est, Bar Renard is open every day from 3pm to 3am.

Gay guide Montreal gay bars
A night out with the Montreal boys

Gay clubs in Montreal (open after 3am)

When it got to around 3 am in the Gayborhood when the gay bars (listed above) were closing, we found that most of the local gay guys who wanted to keep partying either headed to a sauna or to one of the after-hours clubs. Note that if you're looking to party after 3 am, Stereo is now the only option in Montreal after the sad closure of Circus Club in 2020:

Stereo Nightclub

Stereo was THE after-hours club everyone recommend to us. Playing primarily house and techno music until well into the next morning, Stereo apparently has an excellent sound system. Couple this with friendly staff and delicious drinks and you're bound to have you a gay ‘ole time. Sadly these two Nomadic Grandmas couldn't quite keep up and went home after Sky Bar closed at 3am!

Located at 858 Rue St-Catherine Est, Stereo is open only on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 2-10am.

Montreal has some excellent gay clubs to get your dance on at night
Seby sure looks excited to explore Montreal's gay clubs later!

Gay ꜱtriþ bars in Montreal

Gay ꜱtriþ bars are a thing here. Every local gay guy we met told us we have to visit a gay ꜱtriþ bar at least once in Montreal. The dancers are extremely talented and due to the lax laws, they bare everything. The best gay ꜱtriþ bars in Montreal include:

Stock Bar

It was the Tripadivsor reviews that really sold it for us, boasting the most handsome men in North America. And it doesn't disappoint! Located in the heart of the gay village, Stock Bar provides hours of hot entertainment in the form of fit men gyrating on stage, often in costume (until they take it off of course) and pole-dancing. The layout of the bar looks almost exactly like the one from the Channing Tatum movie “Magic Mike”!

Stock Bar is located at 1171 Rue St-Catherine Est and is open Tuesday – Sunday from 8pm until 3am.

Campus

Campus is a less touristic ꜱtriþ bar than Stock Bar, with a mix of gay boys and groups of (straight) women. There are two bars offering prime views of the stage (should you need a stiff drink while fanning yourself!) Campus is also open during the day, so you don't have to wait until dark to enjoy the, erm, delights within… Day-time ꜱtriþpers are usually more twink-like while those working the night-shift are more of your butch bodybuilder types.

Campus is located at 1111 Rue St-Catherine Est and open Monday – Friday 3pm-3am, Saturday/Sunday 1pm-3am.

Gay saunas in Montreal

There are two gay saunas in Montreal, conveniently located right in the heart of the Gayborhood… So, as you stumble out of Club Unity or Le Stud at closing time at 3am and try to decide where to go next, if you don't go to one of the after-hour clubs, then you'll most likely be joining the queue to enter either Oasis or Sauna GI Joe:

Oasis

What's not to love about Sauna Oasis? It's open 24 hours a day, has a cheeky “hole in the wall” room and free WiFi! Not to mention the fact that there are more than 100 different rooms including private ones you can rent for a bit of fun, a steam room, dry sauna, oversized spa, and hot movies for your viewing pleasure. Oasis really is the place to come for fun, no matter the time or day!

Located at 1390 Rue St-Catherine Est, Oasis is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sauna G.I. Joe

Another 24/7 gay sauna in Montreal is the oh-so-naughty Sauna G.I Joe. The facilities are spread out over four floors, including a roof terrace. There are lots of private rooms some featuring your very own swing. There's also all the sauna amenities you would expect like a steam room, dry sauna and spa, along with little extras like cheeky “holes in the wall” and play areas.

Sauna G.I Joe is located at 1166 Rue St-Catherine Est and is also open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Gay cruising in Montreal

To be honest most gay guys looking for play in Montreal now use Grindr to connect with locals. This has dramatically reduced the outdoor cruising options. However, the following are places that locals told us are still quite popular for gay cruising, but we can’t vouch for them ourselves:

  • Piscine Hochelaga: located at 1870 Rue Davidson
  • Olympic Stadium Hall's toilets: located at 4141 Pierre de Coubertin.
Head to Montreal's gay neighbourhood to relax in the gay saunas or watch a show at one of the gay ꜱtriþ bars
A selfie with the many balls of the Montreal Gay Village

Gay events in Montreal

Since it's such a gay friendly city you can bet there are plenty of fabulous events just for us LGBTQ folk! Montreal Pride in August is definitely the biggest and best, but be sure to check out the others we've listed. For more, read our favourite gay events in Montreal.

Fierte Montreal Pride – August

Every year in August, Montreal has an incredible gay pride event attracting 2 million people! Everyone gets involved, families, allies and the whole LGBTQ community of the city. We visited the Fierte Canada in Montreal in August 2017 and absolutely loved it. It features a moving Moment of Silence to commemorate LGBTQ pioneers, after which, the parade culminates in the Gay Village where there is a fantastic, fun party atmosphere going on till late.

Black & Blue Festival – October

This is a large gay festival of social, cultural, sports and party events that take place over a full week in October, which also coincides with the Canadian Thanksgiving (second Monday in October). It started in 1991 and has been going strong ever since. The Black & Blue Festival raises money for AIDS charities and attracts more than 80,000 people from all over Canada, U.S.A., Europe, Australia, South America and New Zealand.

Image+Nation Gay Film Festival – Nov/Dec

The annual Image+ Nation Festival Film LGBTQueer Montreal (now that's a mouthful!) is an 11-day long queer film festival which highlights revolutionary storytelling. It takes place in late November/early December and in 2019 celebrated its 32nd anniversary. This is a wonderful way to experience both local and internationally produced films that amplify the voices of LGBTQ storytellers.

Igloo Fest – Jan/Feb

From mid-January for a month, Igloo Fest takes over the Old Port of Montreal for a large electro-music festival each weekend. Whilst it's not an exclusively gay festival, it's extremely popular with the LGBTQ crowd. One highlight is the unique #Iglooswag winter wear competition, although we think the icy decor, projections and winter-themed activities are what truly make it feel like an Arctic wonderland.

Piknic Electronik Montreal – May/June/July/Aug/Sep

This is a large outdoor electronic music festival that takes place every Sunday afternoon from May to September at the Parc Jean-Drapeau. Like Igloo Fest, it's not exclusively gay, but all our local gay Montreal friends raved about this one as well. As it takes place during the summer months, the outfits are a lot skimpier compared to Igloo Fest…just sayin'...

Festival TransAmériques – May/June

Festival TransAmeriques (or FTA) is a popular, annual 2-week dance and theatre festival taking place in May/June. With workshops, debates and performances galore, you'll find plenty to enjoy if you're in the city at the right time. There are usually around 25 different performances taking place in more than 15 venues throughout Montreal, including outdoor spaces, so check their website for all the details.

Just For Laughs – July

This is the largest international comedy festival in the world, held every July for 1 week. It features dozens of stand-up acts, comedy galas and free events all over the city. Attracting more than 2 million people to Montreal, there are often huge comedy stars performing along with undiscovered talent. If you like a good laugh (and seriously, who doesn't?) then you have to catch some of this rip-snorting event in person!

Fierte Canada Pride in Montreal
The Nomadic Boys proudly attending the Fierte Canada Pride in Montreal

Gay cafes in Montreal

For when you just need a quick bite, breakfast or cup of Joe, Montreal has some wonderful gay cafes to check out. These are our favourite gay owned and gay friendly cafes we loved in the city:

Titanic Montreal

Titanic is a gay owned cafe in Montreal that serves comfort food and delicious healthy sandwiches

Unfortunately, we didn't spot Leo DiCaprio here, but Titanic Montreal is still a fabulous gay owned cafe in Old Montreal. It's been around for over 20 years and is a great place to come for lunch or coffee during the day. They specialise in home-style classics, big sandwiches and antipasto. We particularly recommend trying their delicious mac and cheese (with three kinds of cheese) on a cold day, or one of their amazing deli-style sandwiches with all sorts of cured meats to choose from. You can also order deluxe boxed lunches or big picnic hampers with everything you need for a romantic meal in the park!


Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar

Pourquoi Pas Espresso bar is very gay friendly and serves up some of the best coffee in Montreal

Pourquoi Pas Espresso Bar, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways… Well, firstly, the coffee here is uh-maaazing, with lots of different delicious varieties. The baristas are super friendly and often make cute latte art on your drink for you which is a sweet touch. Speaking of art, there's always artwork on the walls done by local artists, which you can purchase if you love it. Then there are the scrummy pastries for those who need something sweet with their coffee (guilty!), not to mention the gluten-free varieties and their non-dairy milk options.


Cafe Lulu

After an all-nighter at Stereo or any time of day really, you can get yummy crepes and hearty meals at Cafe Lulu in Montreal

Directly next door to Club Stereo, Cafe Lulu is (not surprisingly) popular with the all-nighter party gay boys! Aside from that, it's also a great place to come for brunch. Some of their best prizes include decadent crepes, French toast, yummy omelettes, bagels and plenty of pastries. You can even have a ‘hair of the dog cocktail' with your breakfast if you need it! We loved their coffee, as well as the smoked salmon on a bagel for lunch. The staff here are incredibly warm and friendly, plus they make everything on the spot as soon as you order – so you know it's as fresh as can be.


La Grain Brûlée

La Graine Brulee in Montreal is a quirky and gay friendly space with yummy snacks and video games

We just love La Graine Brûlée because it's super colourful and quirky. Make sure you check out the leopard printed seats, mini Ferris wheel, graffiti-covered cubby holes and small nooks that make it look like a playroom, complete with old Nintendo games! The menu is small and simple, but still delicious. With wraps, sandwiches, and small plates, it's perfect for a snack while hanging with friends and playing Super Mario Kart. This unique cafe is located on the west side of the Montreal gay village right by the Berri-UQAM metro station. It's THE place to take a selfie to kick off a great night out in the Montreal gay village.


Best gay restaurants in Montreal

The Montreal gay village has many different excellent restaurants to grab a bite to eat. Whether you're craving something healthy or some deep-fried chicken, you'll manage to find mouth-watering treats at wonderfully inclusive businesses. We've listed below some of our favourite restaurants, but for more mouth-watering inspiration, be sure to check out our guide to the best gay restaurants Montreal.

Le Saloon Bistro Bar

Le Saloon Bistro Bar is a gay institution in Montreal's gay village, with delicious cocktails as well as yummy meals

Le Saloon Bistro Bar was the very first restaurant we tried in the Montreal gay village. We love it because as well as being a gay institution of the village for over 25 years, they serve up delicious North American dishes like hearty burgers, tartars and healthy salads. They also do Ᏸlooɖʏ delicious Ᏸlooɖʏ Caesar cocktails! We loved sitting outside on the tiny terrace surrounded by plants, with rainbow flags flapping over our heads as we watched the world go by. Le Saloon is a lovely spot for breakfast, lunch or just a cheeky drink before heading out in the gay village for the night.


Le Red Tiger

For the best Asian food in Montreal's gay village, head to Le Red Tiger

Le Red Tiger was our favourite Asian restaurant in the Montreal gay village. Here they specialise in Vietnamese street food, which is ideal for sharing with friends. We loved their noodle soups as well as the decadent sticky mango rice. They also do some pretty spectacular cocktails like the Bà Den Lemonade, a sultry blend of bourbon, amaretto, organic apple juice, oolong tea, vanilla syrup, lemon juice and mint. Also, look out for the stylish and unique wall murals depicting images of Vietnamese life, with a twist…!


Rotisserie St-Hubert

For delicious rotisserie chicken, chips, gravy, ribs and more you can't go past Montreal's St-Hubert Rotisserie

Although Rotisserie St-Hubert is not too fancy, we like it because it's the perfect place to get a quick bite to eat some food that isn't too unhealthy – or for something really greasy and delicious when you need it! St-Hubert is a well-known chain of restaurants in Canada, but this one is conveniently located right in the middle of the Montreal gay village. They specialize in rotisserie chicken and ribs but also offer a gluten-free and vegetarian menu. However, the chicken with fries, Piri Piri sauce, and coleslaw is their classic, for a reason! They also offer brunch, with a variety of fluffy Belgian waffles and breakfast burgers!


Things to do in Montreal

As the largest city in Canada's Quebec province, you can bet there are lots of exciting things to see and do in Montreal. These are a few of the not-to-miss sightseeing highlights in Montreal that we loved the most:

The balls of the Montreal Gay Village

 

We promise you it's not a dirty analogy! During the non-snowy months of May to September, a stunning art installation called Pink Balls is hung above the main pedestrianised road (Rue St-Catherine Est) running through the Gay Village. Pink Balls is an installation made up of 170,000 pink balls, designed by architect Claude Cormier. During the Fierte Canada Pride, the balls are changed to the 18 colours of the rainbow flag to celebrate gay Pride. We love it because it not only has an awesome name – 18 Shades of Gay, but it also gives the gay village an incredible effect, unlike anything else we've ever seen before.


Montreal street art tour

street art murals in Montreal gay village

Street art murals are very popular across Montreal, particularly in the Plateau neighbourhood, which is not too far to walk from the Gay Village. There's even an annual mural festival which takes place over 11 days in June. During the festival, you can watch murals being painted live by world-renowned artists, as well as enjoy music, exhibitions and artist talks. We recommend taking a tour with the gay owned Spade & Palacio to explore Montreal's street art. The guides are gay locals who are extremely passionate about their city and know all the best spots to find gorgeous street art. They also do bicycle, food and Old Montreal tours.


Exploring Old Montreal

Gay guide Montreal Old Town sightseeing

The Vieux-Montréal is the oldest part of the city with many beautiful colonial buildings, some dating back to the days of New France in the 1700s. The gothic style Basilique Notre-Dame church was our favourite site, which you should definitely check out and also go inside because the interior is incredible! Outside, many of the roads are still cobbled and with horse-drawn carriages toting tourists around, it evokes the feeling of a bygone era. You can join a walking tour of the Old Montreal neighbourhood, which is a wonderful way to learn more about the history and architecture of this beautiful city.


Bota Bota Spa

For romance and pampering in Montreal, head to Bota Bota Spa in an old ferry

Bota Bota Spa is a unique and luuuuush spa in a large historic river ferry. Bota Bota offers numerous opportunities for relaxation with multiple heated pools, saunas, hot tubs, baths and treatments. We definitely recommend it as a romantic evening treat, particularly their Water Circuit at sunset which takes place in the floating garden part of the boat. There's also a divine floating restaurant called La Traversée where you can enjoy a gourmet meal before, during or after your spa time. They have regular events and packages for special occasions like Valentine's Day too.


Mont-Royal mountain views

Gay guide Montreal Mont Royal viewpoint

The city of Montreal got its name from the nearby mountain of Mont-Royal. This 233 metres (765ft) high mountain is the iconic symbol of the city from where locals get their bearings. You can hike up or drive to the Belvedere Observatory at the top for the best views of the city. There's a large park on the sides of the mountain where you can spot wildlife like squirrels, racoons, beavers, foxes or skunks. There are also lots of fun things to do here, especially in winter when you can access the snow tube and toboggan run or go ice-skating on Beaver Lake.


Observatoire Place Ville Marie

For stunning views of the city, head to the Plaice Ville Marie observatory in Montreal

Located in Downtown Montreal, the Observatoire Place Ville Marie is another popular place for awesome views of the city but these ones come without all the effort of climbing a hill! To get to the 360° observation deck you ride an elevator to the 46th floor where you can enjoy seeing the city of Montreal spread out before you. There's also a fabulous restaurant in the tower called Les Enfants Terribles, which serves up delicious burgers, poutine, tartars and more, all with a stunning view on the side. You can also come here for a yummy brunch or perhaps a romantic sunset cocktail before hitting the gay bars and clubs.


Taste Montreal's most famous dishes

There are some typical foods from Montreal you must try on your visit - like bagels, poutine and deli meats from Schwartz's

Montreal is home to some pretty amazing cuisine. First up is poutinethe perfect hangover dish! A poutine is fries served with cheese curds and topped with gravy. One of the most famous places to try poutine is at Patati Patata.

Another local culinary staple to try in Montreal is the smoked meats. The East European Jewish immigration to Canada in the 1900s brought with it culinary gems like smoked meats. Schwartz's is the most famous deli with queues going around the block (helped by the fact that it has been part owned by Celine Dion since 2012!)

Finally, don't leave Montreal without trying a few bagels. The best can be found at one of the many bagel bakeries in the Mile End neighbourhood.


Museum of Fine Arts

Gay travellers to Montreal who are interested in art and history will love the gorgeous Museum of Fine Arts, with art both inside and out

The Musée des Beaux-Arts is the most prestigious museum of Montreal and the most visited in Canada! They have a fascinating display of free outdoor exhibitions in front of the museum and along the main road outside, which are worth checking out. Tickets to enter the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts are affordable though, and well worth it once you see what's inside. The collection includes incredible local and international art, with special exhibitions of Canadian Inuit art as well as cutting-edge modern pieces. If you're at all interested in art or history, then we highly recommend a visit.


Ziplining over the Montreal Old Port

Montreal's Old Port area has a number of fun attractions, including the zipline experience which we loved!

We love activities that really get the heart pumping, and Montreal's Old Port area has a lot on offer. There is a science centre, an IMAX Theatre and an urban beach (in summer). But what really grabbed our attention was the Montreal Urban Zipline. We jumped at the chance to jump off a 100-foot tower and soar across the Old Port on a 1,200-foot cable. The feeling of weightlessness is absolutely thrilling and the views ain't too bad either. For those who prefer less adrenaline-inducing activities, you can also ride on the Montreal Observation Wheel – the tallest Ferris Wheel in Canada.


Spot wolves and bison at Omega Park

If you want the chance to feed wild bison, elk and other Canadian wildlife, head to Parc Omega not fair out of Montreal

Not far from Montreal lies Omega Park, a truly awesome location where native wildlife roams free. In some cases, you can even interact with some of them. This isn't like a zoo where the animals are caged, but they roam free as you drive along. Though in some areas, you're not allowed to leave your car. Some animals you may spot include wild wolves, bison, deer, elks, boars, buffalos and foxes. You can visit Omega Park on a day-trip from Montreal, which also includes a visit to Montebello Lodge. Montebello Lodge is the largest log building in North America, built back in 1930, and is now a Fairmont Hotel.


Plan your trip to Montreal

We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Montreal. Read on to find out everything the gay traveller should know before they go.

Travel insurance: Things can go wrong when you're travelling, from missed flights to lost luggage, illness or injury. For your trip to Montreal, we definitely recommend getting travel insurance, and we personally always use Heymondo Travel Insurance. They offer comprehensive cover at affordable prices, plus it's easy to make a claim online if you need to.


How to get there: Montreal is easily accessible from other parts of Canada or the US via trains, buses or even boats. If you are flying into the Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport then you can reach downtown Montreal in about half an hour via train, bus or taxi. We personally like to book a private transfer when we're arriving in a new place so that we don't have to juggle luggage on public transport or stress out if our flight is arriving late at night.


Visa requirements: While US residents can visit Canada without a visa, residents of some other countries (UK, Australia, most European countries) need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Canada if arriving by air. There is only a small fee for an ETA and it doesn't take long if you have the necessary documents. Of course, citizens from other less privileged countries do need a visa. You can check your visa requirements and apply for your ETA or Canadian travel visa here.


Getting around: Montreal has an excellent public transport system to get around, including a clean and fast subway system as well as buses. If you purchase a Montreal Attraction Pass you'll be able to visit lots of the city's top attractions as well as enjoy unlimited public transport access for three whole days!


Vaccinations: All travellers to Montreal should be up to date with routine vaccinations for things like measles, mumps, rubella etc. Depending on where in Canada you will be going and what you might be doing there then you may also need to be vaccinated for hepatitis A, hepatitis B or rabies. Check the most recent advice from the CDC and speak to your doctor before making travel plans.


Currency: The currency in Montreal and the rest of Canada is the Canadian dollar. The currency code is CAD and the symbol used is $ although sometimes it's written as CA$ to distinguish it from US or other dollar sign currencies. Currently, US$1 converts to about CA$1.33, €1 is roughly CA$1.46 and £1 is worth around CA$1.72.


Tipping culture: It's generally expected that you will tip for good service in Montreal and throughout Canada. Like the United States, Canada has a strong tipping culture so how much you leave will indicate how good you thought the level of service you received was. Have a look at this guide for details on exactly how much you should tip in Canada at different places if you're not familiar with tipping cultures.


Internet access: Montreal has one of the world's largest free WiFi networks, with 825 access points across the city! However, if you are planning to be doing a lot of work or needing reliable internet access at all times then you might prefer to bring a portable WiFi device with you.


Online privacy: While Montreal's free WiFi is easy to access it does not guarantee encryption and privacy. If you want to ensure you can access the web securely while you're in Montreal then we recommend using a VPN like those provided by ExpressVPN. Their VPNs are reliable and it's very affordable to organise for your travels.


Accommodation: We always use Booking.com when looking for gay friendly accommodation in Montreal because they have the best selection and prices! They also offer free cancellation on many listings and excellent customer support that's available 24/7.


Sightseeing and adventure: For more fun things to see and do in Montreal, make sure you check out GetYourGuide. We love finding things to do with them because they have so many choices, it's easy to book online and they also have fantastic online customer support available 24/7.


When to visit: Montreal has four distinct seasons so deciding when to visit really comes down to what sort of weather you'd prefer or which events you want to attend. Winter can be quite magical with the snow but if you prefer warmer temperatures then the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn will provide cheaper prices, especially for accommodation. Also, summer is filled with lots of festivals so there's that too!


Gay map of Montreal

Here's our gay map of Montreal to show you where all the gay bars, clubs, hotels and sightseeing highlights we've mentioned in this post are located. Use it to plan your own amazing gay trip to Montreal!

Check out our gay map and complete gay guide to Montreal with all the best gay bars, clubs, hotels, things to do and more!

For more inspiration:

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Check out our complete gay guide to Montreal - Nomadic Boys
Stefan Arestis

Hey everyone, I'm Stefan, the curly-haired Greek flavor behind the gay travel blog Nomadic Boys. Together with my other half, I have explored more than 90 countries across 5 continents. What I love most about traveling is discovering the local gay scene, making new friends, learning new cultures. I've written about LGBTQ travel in numerous online publications such as Gaycation Magazine, Gaycities, Gay Times and Pink News as well as for other non-gay-specific publications including Lonely Planet, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Huffington Post. Check my full bio here.

Sat

Monday 9th of December 2019

I am going to Montreal this December 2019 from 16th till 22nd. I am single and an average bear. I am going alone and I want to enjoy but scared as people might ignore me as I am fat. Although I am 5'11, still I don't feel confident. I am versatile and want to have the best time of my life in Montreal from Dec 16th till Dec 22nd. I hope the city will be welcoming to me as well.

Stefan Arestis

Monday 9th of December 2019

You're gonna have an awesome time :)

Peter Garneau

Friday 8th of November 2019

Looking for a fun new year's eve 2019 in Montreal? Where to eat? Where to have drinks? Best gay happy hour?

Regards, Peter Garneau

Rutabingwa Olivier

Wednesday 7th of April 2021

@Stefan Arestis, love you guys

Stefan Arestis

Friday 8th of November 2019

Oh you'll have an amazing time there for NYE!! Well jelly :)

Bourbon

Monday 15th of July 2019

Thanks for the awesome post! You guys really know what your'e taking about. The Gay Village is on the up and up, and it's chock full of restaurants and nightlife. Whether you're a local or a tourist, there's always something new and fabulous to discover.

Stefan Arestis

Tuesday 16th of July 2019

Agreed :)

Paddrick

Thursday 6th of June 2019

Loved that this post came up on Google when researching for a trip to Montreal! ❤️

Nomadic Boys

Thursday 6th of June 2019

Hahaha - awesome! Thanks for letting us know Paddrick :)

Michael Riemen

Monday 20th of May 2019

thanks for the great recommendations

Nomadic Boys

Monday 20th of May 2019

Our pleasure - thanks for reading :)