The Village Travel Guide

Montreal

Gay Village featuring outdoor eating, café scenes and street scenes
Gay Village showing outdoor eating, street scenes and signage
Gay Village which includes outdoor eating, street scenes and signage
The Village
Photo by Convex

Eat, drink and party in this lively center of Montréal’s cuisine and nightlife. See why the city’s gay district is thought to be one of the largest in the world.

Also known as the Gay Village, this area north of the Quartier Latin is so LGBT-friendly that even its metro station has rainbow pillars. Although the Village is the epicenter of Montreal’s gay scene, just about anyone would enjoy the festive atmosphere. Due to low rents, a young population and a high density of cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs, the Village is one of Montréal’s most exciting areas.

The Village is centred on St. Catherine Street. From June through September, this street is closed to traffic, so the whole neighbourhood feels like a vast plaza. Walk along St. Catherine Street and notice the professional street art lining the façades. On a sunny day, sit out on one of the many restaurant terraces for a cup of coffee and watch the fashionable crowds.

There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from in the Village, each of those varying in uniqueness and popularity. You can get anything from a cheap dinner, in a bistro with in-house DJ, to a pricier meal based on the nouveau-French cuisine in an elegant décor.

Most locals hit the bars at just before midnight, which is a good time to hop around between the many different nightlife options. Catch a cabaret show performed by the Village’s most flamboyant drag queens. If you rather have a chat over a cocktail, visit one of the many gay bars in the area. And, if you are enjoying yourself, party until the next morning at a late-night dance club.

The best time to visit the Village is during one of its famous week-long parties. Divers/Cité is the neighbourhood’s spectacular annual festival, which lasts a week between July and August. It culminates with the gay pride parade. Watch Mascara, the world’s largest drag show, which takes place during this festival. Black and Blue is a week-long series of big techno parties during Canadian Thanksgiving throughout various venues in both the Village and other parts of Montreal. Get tickets for these festivals in advance, because they are world-renowned, and fill up fast.


Popular places to visit


Top hotels in The Village

Hotel St André

Hotel St André

2.5 out of 5
1285 Rue St-Andre, Montreal, QC
Stay at this hotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, room service and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Old Port of Montreal and Notre Dame Basilica are ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,006 reviews)
"Very limited restaurants"

Reviewed on 16 Jul 2025

Hotel St André
Hotel Bonaventure Montreal

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal

4 out of 5
900 rue De La Gauchetiere West, Montreal, QC
The price is ₹14,886 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
₹14,886
₹19,133 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, hot springs on-site and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,481 reviews)
"Great hotel in good location, perhaps more downtown than old town but both close. Lovely pool area and the guy who wears a cap behind the bar is the hardest working, most cheerful person. Only down side is the pool gets too busy and there are lots of kids. Nice room and comfy bed with big tv, ..."

Reviewed on 19 Jul 2025

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal
Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa

Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa

3.5 out of 5
1240 Drummond Street, Montreal, QC
The price is ₹9,993 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
₹9,993
₹11,892 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,018 reviews)
"Great"

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa
Hotel Monville

Hotel Monville

4 out of 5
Montreal, QC
The price is ₹14,808 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
₹14,808
₹17,621 total
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star luxury aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,572 reviews)
"Really nice rooms, smaller but perfect for lone travelers or 2 people. Nice view. Very clean. 10-20 mins walk to Old Montreal, Rue St.Paul and port so pretty good location aswell."

Reviewed on 17 Jul 2025

Hotel Monville
Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

3.5 out of 5
1110, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC
The price is ₹12,761 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
₹12,761
₹15,186 total
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this eco-certified aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,379 reviews)
NOT a bargain
"Everything is small: the elevators, the pool and the room. It said « suite room » so we expectated a room at least a little bigger than a regular hotel room… It was actually smaller than most regular rooms we were in. We could feel they were understaffed: there was never enough towels at the pool. ..."

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites
Hotel Chrome Montreal

Hotel Chrome Montreal

3 out of 5
215 Boulevard René-Lévesque Est, Montreal, QC
The price is ₹7,067 per night from 23 Jul to 24 Jul
₹7,067
₹8,410 total
23 Jul - 24 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
6.8/10 (3,146 reviews)
"Excellent location, no breakfast included but I knew that. Very quiet"

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Hotel Chrome Montreal
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around The Village

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Ville-Marie

2/5(1 area review)

Known for its fascinating museums, stunning cathedral and great live music, there's plenty to explore in Ville-Marie. Top attractions like Old Port of Montreal and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are major draws. Catch the metro at Champ-de-Mars Station or Jean-Drapeau Station to see more of the city.

Ville-Marie
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Chinatown

4.5/5(10 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Chinatown, you might enjoy attractions like The Underground City and Saint Laurent Boulevard. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at Place d'Armes Station to see more of the city.

Chinatown
Latin Quarter featuring a city, street scenes and signage

Quartier des Spectacles

4/5(13 area reviews)

Cosy cafes, live music and vibrant jazz clubs are just a few top things to explore in Quartier des Spectacles. A visit to Complexe Desjardins or Place des Arts might round out your trip, and you can jump aboard the metro at Place des Arts Station or Saint Laurent Station to get around town.

Quartier des Spectacles
Plateau Mont Royal featuring a city, outdoor art and signage

Plateau Mont-Royal

4/5(10 area reviews)

Noted for its art galleries and cafes, there's plenty to explore in Plateau Mont-Royal. Top attractions like Saint Denis Street and Saint Laurent Boulevard are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Mont Royal Station or Laurier Station to see more of the city.

Plateau Mont-Royal
Notre Dame Basilica which includes religious aspects, a church or cathedral and interior views

Old Montreal

4.5/5(33 area reviews)

A bustling port renowned art and top sights from Old Port of Montreal to Montreal Science Centre – discover Old Montreal, a destination also famous for its historic sites.

Old Montreal
Downtown Montreal showing a monument, outdoor art and a city

Downtown Montreal

4/5(100 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums and great live music, there's plenty to explore in Downtown Montreal. Check out top attractions like Bell Centre and Christ Church Cathedral, and jump on the metro at McGill Station or Peel Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Montreal


The Village Travel Guide