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Montréal neighbourhood: Discover the Quartier des spectacles
Leisure activities Gastronomy Festivals and events
Energetic and constantly evolving, Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles is the epicentre of 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 brief history of Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles
Red Light District, 1957
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?)
Fun facts
🎭 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, where alcohol remained legal. This anchored Montréal’s reputation as a fun-loving city.
🎉 Fast forward to today, and to the existing theatres and cinemas were added:
- Museums
- Malls
- Grand hotels
- Restaurants by the dozen
- And huge outdoor spaces perfectly designed for festivals to spread themselves out in all their glory!
What’s hot about the Quartier des Spectacles today
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
These days, the neighbourhood is the central gathering place for some 40 massive Montréal festivals, four seasons a year. Festivals such as:
- The International Montréal Jazz Festival, one of the most important events of the year
- The comedy festival Just for Laughs
- The French-language music festival, Les Francos de Montréal
- The African arts festival, Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
- The international documentary festival, Montréal International Documentary Festival
- The winter fun fair Montréal en Lumière
Quartier des Spectacles: The epicentre of all things culture
Perfect spots to eat and drink near Quartier des Spectacles
Bivouac
Smack bang in the centre of the centre of Downtown Montréal, it’s no wonder Quartier des Spectacles is crawling with amazing restaurants, too.
- COMMODORE in the stunning HONEYROSE Hotel, serves fine French food
- Restaurant Bivouac in the DoubleTree employs French techniques to our fantastic local terroir
- Café Constance signé BAZIN does French bistro food right in the iconic Wilder Building
- Stella Brasserie is beloved for its steak-frites
- Eila Bistro Moderne serves up inventive Lebanese cuisine
- Restaurant Kamúy celebrates the islands with its pan-Caribbean offerings
- Sésame Quartier des spectacles delights with its variety of Asian dishes
- Café Parvis does next-level pizza and supremely satisfying salads
- Restaurant ZinZin is the spot for a soup and a tartine
- Café SAT is a lovely spot for a sandwich and a pastry alongside the perfect latte)
- 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
10 unforgettable hotels in or near Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles
Hotel Honeyrose
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 Hotel Honeyrose Montréal, complete with indoor pool overlooking the Place des Festivals
- 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
- With its 15 meeting spaces and gym open 24/7, Hôtel Hampton par Hilton Centre-ville Montréal is ideal for anyone in town on business
- An affordable choice, Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal is located in Quartier Latin, near the exciting bustle of Saint-Denis Street
- The Hôtel Quartier des Spectacles - Abri du Voyageur is a hostel that has a second-to-none location
- Start your Montréal adventure ideally perched between Chinatown and Downtown at Hôtel Zéro 1
- 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
- Hôtel Humaniti Montréal is a designer hotel dotted with cool social spots
Some of the endless things to do in Quartier des Spectacles
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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.
Place des Arts
Featuring an impressive program of music, theatre, dance, opera, song, comedy and musicals all year round, this cultural venue comprises six distinct performance spaces, including the Maison Symphonique (where you can watch the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal).
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.
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 events on over 200 days a year.
MEM - Centre des mémoires montréalaises
The MEM is a museum and civic space celebrating the lives of Montréal citizens past and present through exhibitions, events and educational initiatives that invite visitors to experience the city through community testimonies.
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.
VOX, centre de l’image contemporaine
VOX shows off the cutting-edge of photography and multimedia creativity with free exhibitions for all that push boundaries. Overlooking the corner of Sainte-Catherine Street West and Saint-Laurent Boulevard, it’s at the heart 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 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.