Montreal's nightlife keeps going into the small hours of the morning, and its bars and clubs cater for everyone – from the students of the Quartier Latin and the punks who hang out on the corner of Ste-Catherine and St-Denis, to the anglophone yuppies of rue Crescent. The places listed here are the best of the bunch and are open until 3am unless stated otherwise. Many bars have regular music nights, with jazz being especially popular. Other than the bars, there are numerous venues in the city, with top-name touring bands playing at the new Centre Molson and the Olympic Stadium.

For up-to-date information, the Mirror (www.montrealmirror.com) and Hour (www.afterhour.com) are free English weekly newspapers with excellent listings sections. The English-language daily The Montreal Gazette also carries comprehensive listings – the Friday weekend guide is particularly good. Montreal Scope, available in tourist information offices and the better hotels, is primarily for mainstream tourists.

Montreal Bars

• Angels 3604 boul St-Laurent. Young, university hangout, with the atmosphere of the average common room and house music on the weekends.
• Bar St-Laurent 3874 boul St-Laurent. A dark and dank rockabilly bar popular among punks and squeegee kids.
• Le Bifteck 3702 boul St-Laurent. Studenty, cheap beer bar/venue with taped music from grunge to hip-hop.
• Bily Kun 354 ave du Mont-Royal est. Packed brasserie-pub, with stuffed ostrich heads on the walls.
• Blizzarts 3956a boul St-Laurent. Funked-out lounge-bar with retro furnishings, Sputnik-lighting, and a tiny dance floor. Draws a late-twenty-something Plateau crowd.
• Le Central 4479 rue St-Denis. Unpretentious, old jazz bar. Another student hangout, as the drinks are cheap and admission is free.
• Le Cheval Blanc 809 rue Ontario est. Old-style Montreal pub with the same Art Deco decor as when it opened in the 1940s. They brew their own beer, and it's good.
• Else's 156 rue Roy est. A warm and friendly neighborhood bar-pub with green walls, huge windows onto the street, newspapers and magazines for loan and plants galore.
• Futenbulle 273 ave Bernard ouest. Probably the largest selection of beers in Montreal.
• Hurley's Irish Pub 1225 rue Crescent. Very popular Irish pub with smooth Guinness on tap.
• Île Noire 342 rue Ontario est. Sophisticated Scottish-type bar with warming whiskeys.
• Jello Bar 151 rue Ontario est. Enjoy live jazz and blues at this bar furnished with 1960s and 1970s novelties. Martini cocktails are the house speciality.
• Laïka 4040 boul St-Laurent. Cafe by day, lounge by night, Laïka's got it all: good food, drinks, music and chic decor, though the service can be a bit spotty.
• Pub Sir Winston Churchill 1459 rue Crescent. Known locally as Winnie's, this English-style pub attracts an older crowd of local and visiting anglophone professionals. Pool tables and a small dance floor. Prime pick-up joint.
• Pub le Vieux-Dublin 1219 rue University. Irish pub with Celtic music and a massive choice of draught beers. Popular with everyone.

Montreal Venues, Clubs and Discos

• L'Air du Temps 194 rue St-Paul ouest (tel 842-2003). The most famous of Montreal's jazz spots. In the heart of Vieux-Montreal with ornate antique interior. Admission $10, but arrive early to get a decent seat. Live acts from 10pm Thurs–Sun, but call ahead to confirm; closed Mon–Wed.
• Aux Deux Pierrots 104 rue St-Paul ouest. Quebecois folk singers are the mainstay of this club and everyone sings along. There's usually a good crowded atmosphere but don't expect to understand a word unless your French is excellent. Outside terrace in the summer. Admission from $3.
• Le Balattou 4372 boul St-Laurent. Montreal's only African nightclub. Dark, smoky, crowded, hot, loud and friendly. Live acts every night; entrance $5 on weekdays, $7 at weekends (includes one drink).
• Le Belmont 4483 boul St-Laurent. Yuppie francophone disco dance-bar, cover charge Thurs–Sat. Closed Mon–Wed.
• Cabaret 2111 boul St-Laurent. Probably the best place in town to see a live act – it's an old-school venue with a balcony and chandeliers.
• Club Soda 1225 boul St-Laurent. One of Montreal's most popular venues. Attracts good acts, especially during the comedy and jazz festivals.
• Les Foufounes Électriques 87 rue Ste-Catherine est. A bizarre name ("The Electric Buttocks") for a bizarre and wonderful bar/club/venue. Known as Foufs, it's the best place in Quebec for alternative bands, attracting a young crowd from ravers to students. Huge outside terrace perfect for summer evenings. Tickets for bands from $10, otherwise admission is free and pitchers of beer are cheap.
• Le Passeport 4156 rue St-Denis. Small dance-music club with long queues at weekends. Frequented by Quebec's rich and famous; drinks are overpriced. Cover charge usually applies.
• Stereo 858 rue Ste-Catherine est. Said to have the best sound system in Montreal. The stereo in question kicks techno, house and drum'n'bass all night long, usually manned by an internationally renowned DJ. Opens at 2am and closes whenever. Fri & Sat only.