Montreal/Quartier Latin-Le Village

Quartier Latin

Le Village

Le Village gai (Gay Village, often shortened to Le Village) is the largest gay village in North America, mostly along rue Sainte-Catherine est from rue Saint-Hubert (near metro Berri-UQAM) to avenue Papineau (near metro Papineau). The metro station in the middle of the area, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Come to enjoy Montreal's pride celebration, Divers/Cité (last week of July, first week of August), which is the second largest in North America after Toronto's. Then the Montreal Pride Parade event follows in mid-August with more fabulous fun to be had by all attendees.
Canada's contributions to gay rights are widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions. Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec and across Canada; neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage license, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the license. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses.

Sainte-Marie

Sainte-Marie is a working-class neighborhood to the east of Le Village. It is notably the home of the Maison Radio-Canada, the radio and television broadcasting headquarters for Radio-Canada, the French language arm of the CBC.

By metro

The Orange, Green, and Yellow lines all intersect at the Berri-UQAM station, on the south edge of the Quartier. Sherbrooke station, at the north end of the Quartier and the edge of the Plateau (literallyit's a steep walk!) is on the Orange line. Other Green line stations of note are Beaudry (in the middle of the Village), Papineau (at the east end of the Village near Sainte-Marie), and Frontenac (in the middle of Sainte-Marie).

By bus

• Station Centrale d'autobus de Montréal (505 boulevard de Maisonneuve est) is the entry point to Montreal for those arriving by bus from out of the city.

Buses run east to west along Sherbrooke, Ontario, and Sainte-Catherine and north to south on Saint-Denis.

• Grande Bibliothèque du Québec

  phone: +1 514 873-1100
  address: 475 boul de Maisonneuve est
  The inviting, super-modern home to the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, a massive library housing four million works. The building itself is a contemporary style building integrating art and architecture including a glass mural, a kinetic luminous mural, a sculpture garden, and varying museum-style displays in the lower-level gallery. The tiles that cover the outside of the building are made to resemble a closed book. Architectural tours are offered.

• Centre de Design UQAM

  phone: +1 514 987-3395
  address: 1440 rue Sanguinet

• Galerie de l'UQAM

  address: 1400 rue Berri
  Contemporary art exhibits, workshops, lectures, and tours. Closed until Sep 1, 2015.

• Écomusée du fier monde

  address: 2050 rue Amherst
  A museum focused on the industrial and working-class history of Montreal (the name literally translates to Ecomuseum of the Proud People), particularly of the surrounding Centre-Sud district (basically the modern-day Le Village and Sainte-Marie neighborhoods). The museum is housed in the Bain Genereux, a 1920s art deco former indoor public pool. Note that unlike most Montreal museums, the exhibits here are only described in French.

• Cinémathèque québecoise

  phone: +1 514 842-9763
  address: 335 boul de Maisonneuve est
  Modern theater complex with 17-screens (most shows in French only), cafe, restaurant and bar.

• Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin

  phone: +1 514 849-2244
  address: 350 rue Émery
  Showcases mostly mainstream Hollywood films, all dubbed in French.

• Théâtre Saint-Denis

  phone: +1 514 849-4211
  address: 1594 rue Saint-Denis
  Performing arts centre with two halls.

• Maison de la culture Frontenac

  phone: +1 514 872-7882
  address: 2550 rue Ontario est
  Cultural centre in Sainte-Marie. Many free shows. Music, dance, cinema, theatre, etc.

• Chlorophylle Montréal

  phone: +1 514 845-1712
  address: 1567 rue Saint-Denis
  One of two flagship 'concept stores' for Quebec-based outdoor clothing company with shirts, coats, and pants for men, women and children. Their environmentalism even extends to their dressing room-- made out of recycled barn sheds from Northern Quebec.

• Boutique Woodstock

  phone: +1 514 842-9562
  address: 2080B rue Saint-Denis
  One of the many head-shops along Saint-Denis with all your 'smoking accessories' as well as hemp products including shirts, jeans, bags, and cosmetics.

The Latin Quartier is packed two and three stories deep with budget and mid-ranged restaurants catering to students and tourists. The quality can be all over the place, but the portions usually generous. Beer is more common than wine and be sure to check if the mid and high-end place you're dining at is BYOB (Apportez Votre Vins).

Budget

• Chez Gatsé

  phone: +1 514 985-2494
  address: 317 rue Ontario est
  Set just below eye level, one of Montreal's only Tibetan restaurants offers momos (Tibetan dumplings), butter-tea, as well as exotic vegetarian and meat dishes spiced with ginger, garlic, and peppers. In the summer there's a shady terrace in the back.

• Comptoir 21

  phone: +1 514 507-3474
  address: 1117 Saint Catherine East
  The fish and chips restaurant offers delicious fresh fishes. One can sit outisde on the street in the middle of the Gay Village.

• Juliette Et Chocolat

  phone: +1 514 287-3555
  address: 1615 rue Saint-Denis
  While the wafting scent of chocolate may be the main draw to this chocolateria-cum-bistro, they also offer a selection of savory buckwheat crepes, soups, and salads. Quiet during the day, things pick up in the evening when everyone stops by for coffee, fresh ice cream and coffee and, of course, gourmet chocolate to eat on the spot or take away.

• Villa Frontenac

  phone: +1 514 521-4233
  address: 2563 rue Ontario est
  Sainte-Marie diner with a large variety of plates (local, Italian, Greek, American, fast food, etc.).

• Restaurant Bercy

  phone: +1 514 525-9341
  address: 2600 rue Ontario est
  Cheap diner food in a strip mall in Sainte-Marie.

Mid-range

• Au Petit Extra

  phone: +1 514 527-5552
  address: 1690 rue Ontario est
  Exquisite French bistro cuisine at reasonable price, relaxed and friendly atmosphere that is very popular with locals. Excellent selection of wines.

• Brioche Lyonnaise

  phone: +1 514 842-7017
  address: 1593 rue Saint-Denis
  A popular, reasonably-priced eatery, it can get crowded at times. Sandwiches, crepes.

• Les 3 Brasseurs

  phone: +1 514 845-1660
  address: 1660 rue Saint-Denis
  Two terraces and four beers micro-brewed on site have made this upscale pub a popular place for dinner and lunch. Usual pub-fare with a European angle.

• Mikado

  phone: +1 514 844-5705
  address: 1731 rue Saint-Denis
  Sushi, tempura, and other Japanese favorites.

Splurge

Quartier Latin

• Pub Sainte-Élisabeth

  phone: +1 514 286-4302
  address: 1412 rue Sainte-Élisabeth
  Best terrasse for a drink. Feels like a greenhouse.

• Foufounes Électriques

  phone: +1 514 844-5539
  address: 87 rue Sainte-Catherine est
  The name is a never ending source of comedy for Montrealers and visitors alike, chiefly because of the stark difference in meaning between the French and French-Canadian interpretations of the term "foufounes." To locals, i.e. French-Canadians, the term is simply an endearing reference to one's posterior. However, to the French, the term is a rather explicit reference to female genitalia, which is always worth a few laughs, especially with the "electric" adjective attached. But "les Foufs," as it's called by locals, is more than just a funny name: it's ground zero for Montreal's rock-and-roll scene. The cavernous bar hosts shows from local bands as well as lots of touring shows from around the globe. Reasonable prices and a down-to-earth attitude make Foufounes popular with residents and visitors alike.

• Bar Le Saint-Sulpice

  phone: +1 514 844-9458
  address: 1680 rue Saint-Denis
  A large bar with three floors, each with a separate vibe. If the weather is nice, you should sit in the sprawling patio in the back.

• L'Amère à Boire

  phone: +1 514 282-7448
  address: 2049 rue Saint-Denis
  Fine brew pub in the Quartier Latin, the beer is consistently good. On the menu: lagers and ales inspired from Czech, German, and English styles. Nice decor with wooden tables.

• Le Cheval Blanc

  phone: +1 514 522-0211
  address: 809 rue Ontario est
  Good brewpub located a few blocks East of busy rue Saint-Denis.

• Cafe Hookah

  phone: +1 514 287-7266
  address: 1699 rue Saint-Denis
  Smoking fruit-flavoured tobacco in an Arabic water pipe, while sipping a Grand Marnier is a fine way to spend the evening. A pipe is $6.50, you can smoke it alone or share it with a few people. They won't replace the coal though, so a pipe doesn't last very long, but they justify this by saying it makes it (comparatively) cheap to sample lots of flavours from their extensive menu.

• Le Saint Bock

  phone: +1 514 680-8052
  address: 1749 rue Saint-Denis
  A brewpub having 20 beers on tap at all times: the pub's beers (usually 7 of them), plus beers from all around Quebec (usually 13 of them). Nice selection of privatelly imported beers from all around the world. Food is good with some nice touches of originality (have "the Graal") for reasonable prices. It may get loud during the night, and it is fully crowded on game nights --- don't even think about watching a play-off game there.

Le Village

• Unity

  phone: +1 514 523-2777
  address: 1171 rue Sainte-Catherine est
  The dance club in the village with a male erotic dancers downstairs.

• Sky

  phone: +1 514 529-6969
  address: 1474 rue Sainte-Catherine est
  Great roof bar with several floors to enjoy.

• Le Stud Bar

  phone: +1 514 598-8243
  address: 1812 rue Sainte-Catherine est
  Caters to leather and manly bear clientèle, though not exclusively leather.

• Aigle Noir

  phone: +1 514 529-0040
  address: 1315 rue Sainte-Catherine est
  Caters mostly to a male leather clientèle.

• Cabaret Mado

  phone: +1 514 525-7566
  address: 1115 rue Sainte-Catherine est
  A drag show with outrageous spectacles every night, run by the city's chief drag queen, Mado Lamotte.

The Latin Quarter has the highest density of budget and mid-ranged accommodations in the city.

Budget

• Auberge de Paris Youth Hostel

  phone: +1 514 522-6124
  address: 847 rue Sherbrooke est
  Mixed, male, and female dorms available. Private rooms also available. Female dorm rooms have private bathrooms for exclusive use. Note that the reception desk is at 901 rue Sherbrooke est, inside the Hotel de Paris (see below).

• Armor Manoir Sherbrooke

  phone: +1 514 845-0915
  address: 157 rue Sherbrooke est

• Auberge Montréal Espace Confort

  phone: +1 514 849-0505
  address: 2050 rue Saint-Denis
  Private room with bathroom and small kitchen.

• Hotel du Manoir St-Denis

  phone: +1 514 843-3670
  A clean, modern, comfortable room with color cable TV, telephone, air conditioning, hair dryer, fridge, private bathroom, continental breakfast, and high speed wireless internet.

• Hotel Viger Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 514 845-6058
  address: 1001 rue Saint-Hubert
  A clean modern, comfortable room with color cable-TV, telephone, air conditioning, hair dryer, fridge, private bathroom, continental breakfast and high speed wireless internet.

• Le Jazz St Denis Hotel

  phone: +1 514 448-4848
  address: 329 rue Ontario est
  Backpackers hostel in Montreal's Latin Quarter. Free wifi, free bagels, and free coffee all day. Has budget and deluxe private rooms as well as standard dormitories.

• Le Simone

  phone: +1 514 524-2002
  address: 1571 rue Saint-André
  Friendly Bed and Breakfast with great breakfast, especially on weekends.

• Addresse du Centre-Ville

  phone: +1 514 528-9516
  address: 1673 Saint-Christophe street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2L 3W7

Mid-range

• Atmosphère

  phone: +1 514 510-7976
  address: 1933 rue Panet
  Bed and breakfast offers private rooms with shared bathroom. Gourmet three course breakfast included.

• Hotel de Paris

  phone: +1 514 522-6861
  address: 901 rue Sherbrooke est
  Private bathrooms, cable TV, telephone, air-conditioning.

• Hotel Lord Berri

  phone: +1 514 845-9236
  address: 1199 rue Berri
  All rooms come with air conditioning, cable TV, and free wireless internet. Choice of rooms with shared bath in the hall or suites with private path.