Don't be fooled by the bleak exterior which hints at this bar's past life as a garage, Le Ritz (formerly Il Motore) is a veritable cultural hub. It's not officially a gay bar by any stretch, but is the go-to venue for a number of queer dance parties, and neighbourhood queers show up en masse for other shows and movie screenings on site. There'll be a cover charge if something is going on, but it operates as a regular (and cheap) bar on off nights.

This cafe, recently displaced from Mile End to Little Italy, is a long-time hub for north-side queers. Closer to a coffee shop than a bar (although it serves alcohol), expect a ramshackle interior decorated with knick-knacks and great vibes.

In its early days, NDQ was the de-facto bar for queer women in Montreal; its clientele is pretty broad nowadays, with its cheap drinks and bowling alley drawing all sorts. But the queer vibes are still there, especially at their weekend dance parties, special events such as LSD (Lesbian Speed Dating), and at Sunday night karaoke staple Lipster.

Just a reliable ol’ gay bar at the east end of the Village, spread across two levels, with plenty of red lights, moderately-priced drinks, and drag shows on a regular basis.

Opening up a gay bar at a time when many others are shutting down might seem like a bold move, but District Video Lounge has made it work, with affordable drinks, an open-to-all attitude, screenings of Drag Race, and a tidy, relaxed space.

Probably the nicest bar in the Village on a range of measures, from quality of drinks to lovely staff, Renard was an extraordinarily welcome addition to the Village strip upon opening a couple of years back.

An old-style piano bar that resembles a saloon on the inside, Club Date has dispensed with the keyboard instruments and replaced them with a karaoke machine, drawing a mixed crowd to the heart of the Village.

Once known as the go-to club for university-age gays, it’s not clear whether Unity even counts as a gay club anymore (although party nights with names like “Ménage à Trois” suggest it still might be). I any case, it’s very much open to everybody, and has a solid rooftop terrasse to boot.

Burlesque is the name of the game at The Wiggle Room, hidden on a part of St-Laurent that's otherwise short on queer-leaning venues. It's best to check online before coming as show nights and cover charges can vary quite a bit.