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Montréal neighbourhood: Discover the Quartier des spectacles
Leisure activities Gastronomy Downtown - Quartier des spectacles Festivals and events
Energetic and constantly evolving, Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles is the city’s entertainment district. With its bright nights all year round, it gives Paris a run for its title as the City of Lights! The Quartier hosts more than 40 annual festivals, houses 80-plus performance spaces, is serviced by three metro stations and 10 bus lines, and is a gateway to the city’s Underground City. No wonder it’s at the heart of so many iconic Montréal festivities.
A quick look back
With roots dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, the Quartier des Spectacles straddles the site of Montréal’s former Red Light district. (Sounds kind of naughty, no?) In the late 1800s it had already become an entertainment hotbed, with theatres and cinemas drawing the city’s growing crowds to the neighbourhood. America’s prohibition years of the 1930s represented a windfall for the Montréal economy, since alcohol remained legal here. This anchored Montréal’s reputation as a fun-loving city where (almost) anything goes.
Fast forward to today, and the neighbourhood has certainly cleaned up its act — but its liveliness remains the same! To the existing theatres and cinemas were added museums, malls, a ton of restaurants, a selection of grand hotels and some huge outdoor spaces perfectly designed for festivals to spread themselves out in all their glory.
The spectacles of now
These days, the neighbourhood is the central gathering place for some of Montréal’s biggest festivals. The International Montréal Jazz Festival continues to be one of the most important events of the year, but the Quartier des Spectacles venues are home to some 40 massive festivals that take place across all four seasons.
The annual comedy festival Just for Laughs is based here, as are a French-language music festival (Les Francos de Montréal), an African arts festival (Festival International Nuits d’Afrique), an international documentary festival (Montréal International Documentary Festival), the winter fun fair Montréal en Lumière, and so many more.
Quartier des Spectacles: The epicentre of all things culture
Perfect spots to eat and drink
Smack bang in the centre of the centre of Downtown Montréal, it’s no wonder Quartier des Spectacles is crawling with amazing restaurants, too.
If your tastes run towards the fine and the French, look no further than COMMODORE in the stunning HONEYROSE Hotel, Restaurant Bivouac (employing French techniques to our fantastic local terroir) in the DoubleTree, Café Constance signé BAZIN in the iconic Wilder Building or Galaxie Brasserie, beloved for its steak-frites.
Eila Bistro Moderne serves up inventive Lebanese cuisine, while Restaurant Kamúy celebrates the islands with its pan-Caribbean offerings and Sésame Quartier des spectacles delights with its variety of Asian dishes.
Grab a next-level pizza or a satisfying salad at Café Parvis, a soup and a tartine at Restaurant ZinZin or a sandwich and a pastry (alongside the perfect latte) at Café SAT. Also in the SAT, Pavillon serves up small shareable plates to accompany its private import wines.
Can’t choose? Head to LE CENTRAL - MANGER MONTRÉAL, a lively food hall that offers a world of flavour ranging from tacos to pintxos courtesy of Montréal chefs.
Unforgettable places to stay
You’ll never be further than 20 steps away from the heat of the action with a stay in the Quartier des Spectacles. And good news! Whether you’re looking for a large international chain, a unique boutique hotel or an affordable hostel, there’s something for every visitor’s budget.
Walk into pure 1920s glamour at the HONEYROSE Hotel, complete with indoor pool overlooking the Place des Festivals, or soak up the bird’s eye view on all festivals from the DoubleTree par Hilton.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Montréal provides an extremely comfortable central stay, while Hôtel Hampton Centre-ville Montréal is ideal for anyone in town on business, with its 15 meeting spaces and gym open 24/7.
An affordable choice, Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal is located in Quartier Latin, near the exciting bustle of Saint-Denis Street, while the Hôtel Quartier des Spectacles - Abri du Voyageur is a hostel that has a second-to-none location. Hôtel Chrome Montréal Centre-ville is another no-nonsense affordable choice in this cultural epicentre.
Start your Montréal adventure ideally perched between Chinatown and Downtown at Hôtel Zéro 1, or lean more towards the edge of the Plateau neighbourhood with a stay at HOTEL 10.
Ideal for the business set, both Hôtel Faubourg Montréal and Hôtel Travelodge Montréal Centre-Ville both serve up a complimentary continental buffet breakfast to their guests.
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Endless things to do
No matter when you visit Montréal, Quartier des Spectacles has evergreen attractions to add to the punctual fun of the festivals. Here are some not to be missed:
Society for Arts and Technology [SAT]. This avant-garde cultural centre perched right on the Main offers everything from live music to roller disco nights to immersive projection experiences in the huge domed space on its rooftop. The SAT is also a destination for its cool café on the ground floor and Pavillon wine bar on the upper level.
Place des Arts. Featuring an impressive program of music, theatre, dance, opera, song, comedy and musicals all year round, this cultural venue is comprised of six distinct performance spaces, including the Maison Symphonique (where you can watch the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal). Place des Arts is also home base to a few of the city’s other important arts organizations, such as the Opéra de Montréal and the Grands Ballets. In short: big-ticket cultural events happen here!
Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. Located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal highlights current art emerging locally and beyond. It was Canada’s first museum devoted to contemporary art, and it continues to offer a stellar array of programming from its temporary space in Place Ville Marie during a major renovation project.
Complexe Desjardins. Besides many well-known fashion boutiques, the Montréal downtown mall comprises specialized businesses, a supermarket, sports facilities and a food court. The large public square (at the centre of the mall) hosts over 200 days of events per year.
MEM - Centre des mémoires montréalaises. The MEM is a museum and civic space celebrating the lives of Montreal citizens past and present through exhibitions, events and educational initiatives (like its own online encyclopedia) that invite visitors to experience the city through community testimonies. It’s also got some great rentable event spaces.
Le Balcon. Located within St. James United Church, right in the thick of it on Sainte-Catherine Street West, Le Balcon is part New York cabaret, part Parisian dinner-theatre, and all Montréal. Come for its seasonal menu and craft cocktails, stay for the dance floor with live music from internationally renowned artists to get you up and off your chair!
VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine. VOX has been representing the cutting-edge of photography and multimedia creativity since 1985 with free exhibitions for all that push boundaries and advance new research. Overlooking the corner of Sainte-Catherine Street West and Saint-Laurent Boulevard, it’s at the epicenter of innovation.
Centre for Sustainable Development. This centrally located, LEED Canada NC Platinum certified space features innovative urban design from its green roof all the way through its raised floors, geothermal wells and five-storey-high living wall. Take a self-guided tour of the Centre for Sustainable Development building or join in on their organized activities.
Espace danse. A complex unlike any other in Canada, Espace danse in the extensively revamped Wilder Building offers a host of services to dance professionals and the public. It’s home to Les Grands Ballets, Tangente, École de danse contemporaine de Montréal and Agora de la danse. One address, the best of dance.
Isa Tousignant
Isa Tousignant is an editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. (All were transformative.) Her favourite things include discovering new flavours and celebrating the creativity that defines her hometown, Montréal.