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Mile End
Two levels of DJs can play up-level house without disturbing the laid-back 25 to 40s crowd drinking and chatting downstairs. The bar is affiliated with Montréal's Turbo Records and plays host to record launches throughout the year. Its identity shifts with the hour; dancefloors might form but it's not a club, and the top floor is more like a lounge.
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Orchestre Métropolitain de Grand Montréal
This hip 58-member orchestra is made up of young professional musicians from all over Quebec led by conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The orchestra's mission is to democratize classical music so besides the swish Place des Arts, you may see it playing Mahler or Hayden in churches or colleges in even the city's poorest neighborhoods for reduced admission. A free 30-min concert talk is given by one of its musicians one hour before each performance.
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Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Begun in 1934 as an amateur outfit, the Montréal Symphony Orchestra has grown into an international powerhouse that plays to packed audiences at Carnegie Hall. Its Christmas performance of The Nutcracker is legendary. Conductor Kent Nagano, a Californian with a leonine mane and stellar credentials, took over as music director in 2006. Check for free summer concerts at Basilique Notre-Dame, Olympic Park and in municipal parks in the Montréal area.
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Passeport
A jewelry and clothing store by day, Passeport changes its spots after dark and becomes a small dance-music club spinning New Age and hip-hop. Québec's crème-de-la-crème shows up dressed to kill on weekends.
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Pepsi Forum
This flashy entertainment arena is built on the site of the old Canadiens hockey rink. Cinemas with 22 screens, restaurants, a Jillian's pool and game emporium as well as the Comedy Nest rank among the biggest tenants. There are free shows staged in the central amphitheater.
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Quai des Brumes
This pub is a fine place for live blues, rock and jazz; there's DJ-spun techno upstairs. The interior is in dark Parisian cafe style, with framed mirrors, ceiling mouldings and lots of panelling that's been toasted brown by a million cigarettes.
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Quartier Latin Pub
This cool bar with 1950s lounge-style decor has a small dance floor and a DJ playing New Wave on weekends, but Monday evenings you can catch rehearsals of the Vic Vogel Big Band for the price of a drink.
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Salsathèque
This bright, busy, dressy place presents large live Latin bands pumping out tropical rhythms. During the breaks slurp a margarita in one of the movie-theater seats and watch the 25 to 50s crowd gyrate into exhaustion. Practice your one-liners and prepare to meet people Latin-style. Salsa, meringe and bachata lessons are given Sunday nights.
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Sofa
This cigar-and-port lounge with the comfy lounge gear is often standing room only on the weekends when 20- and 30-somethings crowd in for live R&B, funk and soul bands. Hot snacks like nachos and designer burgers are served.
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Théâtre Outremont
Built in 1929, this theater was both a repertory cinema and a major concert hall until it was shuttered in the late 1980s. The municipality of Outremont later brought it back to life and the theater was reopened in 2001. Now, everything from pop concerts and dance performances to Monday-evening film screenings take place here.
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Théâtre St-Denis
This Montréal landmark and historic movie house hosts touring Broadway productions, rock concerts and musical comedies. Its two halls (930 and 2200 seats) are equipped with the latest sound and lighting gizmos and figure prominently in the Just for Laughs festival.
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Upstairs
This slick bar hosts quality jazz and blues acts nightly, both local and touring talent. The walled terrace behind the bar is an enchanting place at sunset, and the dinner menu features some inventive salads and shark steak.
