Montreal rolls out special nightlife permits for 21 venues, designates 3 cultural hubs

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada’s administration has announced new certification system for regulating the city’s nightlife.

On Friday, the City announced the “Nuits Montréal” program which it says will “restore Montreal’s reputation as a vibrant nightlife destination.”

The City also released a list of 21 cultural and nightlife venues, approved under the program, which will be allowed to stay open late on approved nights.

The locations were chosen after an application process based their status as a “major cultural destination,” according to the press release.

They also demonstrated “a willingness to integrate harmoniously into their local community” and “a concrete commitment to implementing responsible nightlife practices.”

The selected venues spread across different boroughs in the city:

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

• Bar Datcha
• Casa Del Popolo
• Le Livart
• Le Salon Daomé
• L’Escogriffe
• Quai des brumes

Le Sud-Ouest

• Théâtre Beanfield

Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie

• La Cale – Pub zéro déchet
• Le Système

Ville-Marie

• Bar Le Cocktail
• Club Unity
• ESC
• Fonderie Darling
• Le National
• Le Studio TD
• MTELUS
• Newspeak
• Place des Arts
• Société des arts technologiques [SAT]
• Stereo
• Vino Disco

Venues certified under the program will soon be identified with “Nuits Montréal” logos at their entrances.

The City also announced the creation of three “nightlife vitality hubs”

• Saint-Laurent Boulevard between Sherbrooke Street and Laurier Avenue.
• The Village (Sainte-Catherine Street East between Saint-Hubert and Cartier Streets).
• Quartier des spectacles

Sergio Da Silva, co-owner of Turbo Haüs and former Transition Montréal candidate in last fall’s municipal elections, ran on protecting Montreal’s nightlife as his main platform. He denounced the certification process announced by the City as more of the same.

“Montreal’s latest ‘nightlife support’ messaging is more of the same: more permits, more designated zones, and more talk about ‘cohabitation,'” Da Silva said.

“Culture doesn’t come from permits. It doesn’t come from zones. It exists where it has room to exist, where people can afford to take risks and build something.”

Former mayor Valérie Plante’s administration had announced a similar program in 2024 which would have allowed bars and venues to stay open all night, but it was never implemented.

Da Silva said the City’s designation of nightlife hubs without commercial lease protections would cause the demand for venues to be concentrated and increase the rents.

“The result is exactly what you’d expect: fewer independent venues, less diversity of ideas and offerings, and a slow shift toward bland, more corporate, more controlled spaces,” Da Silva said.