Gay Friendly Montreal

When considering travel plans, many Americans are attracted to cities in Canada because of the country's notorious lack of hang-ups in comparison with many United States cities. This laidback and open-minded attitude which the country of Canada is known for is certainly true of Montreal, a location which is known for its love of celebration. There are annual events taking place all throughout the year, including the city's Gay Pride Parade which generally draws a crowd of over half a million people. Even when there are no special events taking place, the general attitude of gay friendly Montreal is one which embraces fun, diversity and a joyous appreciation of life lived to the hilt.

It's not just fun that rides on the waves of the strikingly clean air of Montreal; romance also abounds in this gay friendly city. Perhaps due in part to the French flavor of the city; the city is bilingual in English and French and has one of the largest French-speaking populations in the world. Or maybe it's just the beauty and vibrancy of the city which captures the heart of people from around the globe. The city's architecture is designed to be breathtaking. The city's nightlife is intended to impress. All around, Montreal makes that extra effort to be the date that you won't deign to ever forget.

As a thoroughly open-minded city, Montreal is gay-friendly in nearly all ways. However, there is a gay heart to Montreal and it beats within the streets of The Village. The Village is the section of town which exists between Sherbrooke Street and Rene-Levesque Boulevard and between St. Denis Street and Papineau Avenue. Within this gay heart is a central artery, Ste. Catherine Street East, where shopping, nightlife, art galleries, theatre events, and dining options abound. Primarily gay-owned and entirely gay-friendly, this section of Montreal is the place to spend the bulk of your time if you're seeking to have the true gay travel experience while enjoying the city (or if you just want to seek out the life of the party in a city where the party rarely stops!)

Speaking of the party, there are festivals taking place in Montreal almost all of the time. In addition to the exuberance of summer’s PrideFest, gay events in the city include January's WildSide Theatre Festival, February's Red Weekend (the gay Valentine's party), the Blue Metropolis Arts Festival in April, October's "Black and Blue" party, and a tremendous New Years extravaganza. And you won't have to worry about pleading with a designated driver because Montreal is known for its excellent public transportation. Use the Metro system to get almost anywhere. Convenience and fun - what more could a city offer?!


Where to Stay - Gay Friendly Hotels in Montreal

Since The Village is the center of gay Montreal, this is the neighborhood that you'll certainly want to research when determining the location of your ideal accommodations during a trip to the city. As soon as you start your search in this section of the city, you'll see that you aren't going to have to look far to find what you're seeking. For one thing, there is a hotel in the area which advertises itself clearly: Accommodation Montreal Gay. This bed and breakfast is situated just off of the activity of Ste. Catherine Street East and offers short-term hotel stays along with longer-stay apartment rentals - ideal for those staying in gay friendly Montreal for one night - or a month!

Of course, although not all Village accommodations are as clearly labeled to indicate exactly what they have to offer, there are numerous spots for resting your weary body after long days and nights spent enjoying Montreal. Accommodations International, Auberge Cosy Bed and Breakfast and Ruta Bagage Bed and Breakfast are just a few of the many bed and breakfast options which line the streets of the Village. If bed and breakfasts aren't your style, consider the Big Boys Guesthouse boutique hotel or the upscale Hotel Le Saint-Andre.

If you're the type who doesn't necessarily like to sleep where you play - or perhaps your business matters are elsewhere in Montreal, there are plenty of hotel options situated outside of the Village in various neighborhoods throughout this gay friendly city. The Holiday Inn Montreal - Midtown is a gay-friendly name brand hotel which offers the convenience of a downtown location. The Hyatt Regency Montreal is a gay-friendly option within walking distance of Montreal’s Chinatown. For a bed and breakfast outside of the village, consider staying at the La Chasseur. One of the newer hotels - Hotel Le Crystal - offers sleek rooms, one of the city's greatest restaurants - and don't even get us started about their sexy staff!

Options abound in Montreal. This is your chance as a traveler to decide what you want and to find it. From the charming bed-and-breakfasts where French is the common language to the sky-scraping buildings of the city's big hotels, Montreal offers a bit of something for every traveler.


What to See and Do in Gay Friendly Montreal

To get the true feel of gay Montreal, you need to spend time exploring The Village - however don't make this the only place where your explorations take place. There is much to see and do within this Canadian city and you should take the attitude that you're there to do it all!

Within the Village, window-shopping is the best way to start out your explorations. Row after row of shop after shop offers indulgence for the browser in everyone. Gay-owned and gay-friendly stores provide all of the different knick-knacks you could possibly care to see. Mixed in with these stores are dining options galore. And when you're ready for something a bit more active, this is the area where many of the city's museums, art galleries and theatre performances take place.

Montreal is a city which truly loves the arts, so attention to them should be a part of any trip to the area. Theatre, film and music performances in both English and French are easy to find, with the city's Place-des-Arts being one of the most well-known venues in the province of Quebec. The symphony, opera, ballet and literary arts are all popular and well-developed in Montreal. Although this type of culture is prevalent, this gay friendly city is also open to modern art and exploratory theatre and has numerous locations and exhibitions for experimental art. For example, check out the Black Theatre Workshop for ethnic theatre or the Festival International de Nouvelle Danse for a modern dance event.

Although much of this activity is concentrated in The Village, the rest of the city enjoys the arts as well. Neighborhoods outside of the Village which should be explored include Old Montreal which is home to the historic ambiance of the city and downtown, particular the downtown's "underground city" section, where shopping, dining, museums and a range of different architectural styles can be enjoyed. If it's summertime, a trip to the beaches surrounding Montreal is also in order. Specific attractions to note on a Montreal vacation include the Biodome, Casino de Montreal, the Botanical Gardens and Notre-Dame Basilica.

With so much to explore, you may feel like you'll never stop moving during your Montreal vacation. However, the city has a very laidback approach to its enjoyment of good times. People-watching is a terrific way to pass the time, so feel free to take a breather from the sight-seeing and linger at a cafe, enjoying croissants, cafe au lait and the beauty of the city.

Dining in Gay Friendly Montreal

Montreal is a city for Francophiles. Take the opportunity to enjoy as much French food as possible! There are European-style cafes, bistros, and fine-dining spots all over Montreal so you can find a French food that fits your budget. But, we all know that the French love their calories in quantities which most of us can't consume, so it's a good thing that Montreal also has plenty of other types of food to offer its visitors. This gay friendly city is highly cosmopolitan and there's a taste for every tongue.

In terms of French food, choices are nearly endless. In the Village, popular choices include Resto l'IndependEnt, Resto Bisous, L'Entre-Miche, Grain de Sel or Area. The latter is a primarily French restaurant with a menu which includes flavors from other cultures, offering a true Montreal experience of area food. Outside of the Village, popular gay-friendly French restaurants include Chez Queux and Le St. Amable in Old Montreal, RestFiore at McGill College and Helene de Champlain on Ste-Helene Island.

When you're ready to get that non-French food, both the Village and outside of the Village can meet your needs. Within the Village, popular choices located right on Ste. Catherine East Street include Bato Thai, the Mediterranean food of La Piazetta, American treats at Saloon and Italian delights at L'Amalfitana. Late night diners can enjoy sandwiches at Le Club which is open twenty-four hours. Outside of Village options are best indulged in Old Montreal, downtown Montreal and on the islands, with the latter being the best choice for gay-friendly fine dining.

The people of Montreal love their food almost as much as they love their fun. Whether it's the butter and cream of the French cuisine or the various flavors spicing the plates of different types of international cuisine, the restaurants of the city are sure to keep you alternating between mouth-watering desire and satiated satisfaction.

For a complete list of our favorite gay friendly restaurants in Montreal, click on the "Restaurants Tab" on the City Directory found on the left side of this page.

Gay Nightlife in Montreal

You know that giddy feeling that they say kids get on Christmas morning? Hold on to that feeling for a moment. Now consider the titillating feeling that adolescents get when they first begin to indulge in adult enjoyments. Take that first feeling, meld it together with the second feeling, and what you have is the way that you should feel every night that you are getting ready to go out on the town in Gay Montreal. The city absolutely loves to have fun with the giddy exuberance and easy delight that a child has but spiced up to offer all of the pleasures of the flesh that make the adult's body buzz.

As a Canadian city which is dominated by the French culture, the gay nightlife in Montreal simply doesn't have the hang-ups of more conservative parts of the world. This means that there are a wealth of enjoyable opportunities to take advantage of in a setting which makes them feel sexy, not seedy, and which accepts the extraordinary as though it were commonplace. There are video bars, dance clubs and strippers galore so you can figure out what tickles your fancy and there should be a feather of the right style to keep you smiling.

For going bar-hopping, The Village is the spot to center yourself in. Circus After Hours is one of the newer Village clubs which is drawing in a lot of attention with its dance floor, late night DJ's and modern industrial design. Other nightlife hotspots in Montreal include Le Drugstore and Mystique for drinking, Le Parking for dancing, Bar Le Stud for leather fans and Club Bolo for those who want to dance in country western style. Fans of drag entertainment will find all their fantasies met at Cabaret Chez Mado.

Although the drinking and dancing of Montreal offer much to be enjoyed, one of the biggest draws of the city for many people is the area's gay strip clubs, where the men take it all off all the time. There are six different male strip clubs in the area, each offering a little bit of something different. Adonis, Taboo and West Side are all popular spots. Nirvana may be the most popular of the strip clubs, due in part to the fact that it is located within a larger venue, the Sky Club and Pub, where dancing, drinking and the strippers can all be enjoyed without leaving the building. And one of our favorites is Stock Bar - which features big beefy strippers, friendly bartenders - and of course discreet areas for private dances.

Letting loose and having a good time are activities which are consider par for the course in Montreal. Fun without holding back is practically a way of life in this city which celebrates living on a daily basis. Enjoy all that there is to offer in a place that supports your urge to do so!

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