How to plan your Montreal bachelorette party

Are you thinking of throwing a memorable, festive bachelorette party in Montreal? If indeed you are – perhaps even after spending a romantic weekend in the metropolis with your other half – then perhaps these tips and suggestions from a local will come in handy, whether you’re planning an epic night out on the town or a sophisticated R&R session with your bridesmaids.

Here’s everything you need to know about your special weekend in Montreal. May it be memorable and special as the wedding itself!

Start your Friday on a rooftop bar

Mingle with fellow Montrealers celebrating the end of the work week at what is commonly known as “5 à 7” over here, which is basically an excuse to drink unspeakable amounts of wine between 5 and 7PM (or even later in most cases) in bars all over downtown Montreal. Join the party at these lively, sceney bars with lovely views of the old part of town:

Note that most of them are closed in winter for obvious reasons; you don’t want to be on an outdoor rooftop in the middle of January if you don’t have to, trust me.

• Perché Vieux-Montréal
• Terrasse Carla
• Poincarré Chinatown
• Nelligan Terrasse
• Terrasse de l’Auberge
• Terrasse William Gray

Take the Old Montreal food tour

A visit to Montreal wouldn’t be complete without one (or two, or three…) gourmet indulgences. After all, my hometown is nothing if not a foodie destination but it can be hard to fully comprehend the extent of our culinary heritage without a knowledgeable guide.

Local Montreal Food Tours offers three-hour long fascinating and well-priced expeditions across the Old Montreal Food Tour that include five food stops with wine & poutine pairings.

Enjoy a late night at the spa

If you’re more of the quiet laid-back type, head over to one of the many spas scattered over the city that are open late at night for the ultimate R&R weekend.

Bota Bota

Housed in a converted boat in the Old Port and lulled by the rhythm of the St. Lawrence River, Bota Bota is the perfect urban retreat for fully recharge your group’s batteries ahead of the celebrations.

Le Scandinave

A beautiful Nordic spa open until 9PM in the heart of Old Montreal for the ultimate relaxation before the big day.

Strom Spa

This spa’s location outside downtown Montreal shouldn’t scare away future brides as it’s only a quick taxi ride away; with its Friday Under The Stars weekly programme, it’s the ideal place to bathe, drink champagne Louis Roederer and listen to lounge music in a beautiful rural setting.

Drink at these speakeasy bars

As the ultimate party city in Canada, Montreal has no shortage of cool places to grab a drink pre or post dinner, as well as late into the night. Remember that drinking age in the province of Quebec is 18 years old, definitely something to keep in mind if you’re a young bride or travelling with bridesmaids under the age of 21.

• ColdRoom
• Le Mal Nécessaire
• Henden
• Atwater Cocktail Club
• Big in Japan Bar
• Milky Way Cocktail Bar
• Nhâu Bar
• Club Pelicano
• Gokudo

Eat at these cool restaurants

(Photo credit: Cindy Boyce)

Montreal is famous all over the world for its inventive, robust food scene and it would truly be a shame to miss out on a great meal for fear of not fitting in your dream dress. These restaurants not only serve some of the most highly regarded fare in the city but also do so in a festive setting that make for the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable bachelorette.

• Escondite
• Jatoba
• Grinder
• Stem bar
• Makro
• Perles & Paddock
• Richmond
• Le Blossom

Go on a festive bike ride (and get a drink!)

Looking for a fun way to show off the bride and enjoy the city’s unique heritage? Jump on a 3-hour bike tour of Montreal with locally-owned Fitz Montréal Bike Tours to discover its food, architecture, history as well as its best photo spots for some memorable times in the hip Plateau and Jean-Talon market area.

One of the stops on this Montreal bike & drinks tour includes a well-deserved drink (you can pick between a handpicked selection of natural wine or a carefully crafted cocktail) at a very exclusive bar with an amazing patio!

Dance the night away in these night clubs

Girls just want to have fun, and by having fun, I mean dancing. Montreal has no shortage of clubs for ladies to dance the night away to electro or groovy beats. Wear your shiniest outfit and shake what yo’ mama gave ya’!

• La Voûte
• Flyjin
• École Privée
• New City Gas
• Bord’elle Boutique Bar & Eatery
• Velvet Speakeasy Nightclub
• Terrasses Bonsecours
• Don B Comber

Nurse your hangover at these brunch hotspots

There’s a fairly good chance you will have inevitably overindulged in alcohol of all kinds on your big night out (that one drink/one water rule went out the window early on, right?), so why not wash it all down with a hearty hangover brunch?

As luck would have it, the breakfast selection in Montreal certainly matches that of bars for the sake of everyone’s stomach. Bon appétit!

• Lov
• Beauty’s
• Vieux-Vélo
• Sparrow
• Mélisse
• And if all else fails, just grab a Montreal bagel!

Get our your comfort zone at a drag club

Montreal is a famously LGBTQ+ friendly city and the nightlife offering is a testament to that. Why not plan for an evening of laughs and fun at Cabaret Chez Mado, a notoriously funny drag-queen bar in Montreal’s Gay Village. Cis and straight visitors are more than welcome. Most of the shows are in French, but plan ahead by taking a look at the English program.

Consider a craft beer tour

If, on the contrary, you’re more of the “let’s have another beer to nurse this fierce hangover” school of thought, firstly, kudos to your indestructible liver, and secondly, this 3-hour craft beer tour of Montreal should definitely be right up your alley. Expand your craft beer knowledge, visit three exceptional brewpubs, participate in a crash-course on how to expertly taste craft beers, savour a grand total of six different beers and food pairings and explore Montreal with a crisp, bubbly new perspective.

Shop for your honeymoon outfits

There’s only one place in Montreal to properly shop for local labels and fashionable brands: the Mile End. This is where the cool boutiques (not to mention the visionary artists that made them cool in the first place) are located and where you’ll find some of the nicest clothing and accessories in the city.

Acquire a few new items for your honeymoon at these loved-by-locals shops:

• Betina Lou
• Frank and Oak
• Boutique Unicorn
• Citizen Vintage
• Maguire

Further afield, Marigold and Silk Laundry are worth a detour.

Take a dance lesson

And last but not least, for something a little different that you and your bridesmaids will undoubtedly remember for a very long time: take a dance lesson! While you could stick to run-of-the-mill ballroom classics, I suggest you try your hand at perhaps mermaid dancing or even ballet!

• Aquamermaid
• Ballet Hop!
• Cat’s Corner
• Studios Accento
• Latin Groove
• Milan Pole Dance
• Arabesque Burlesque

Get a makeover or test your makeup for the Big Day

What better way to celebrate your bachelorette party in Montreal than with a cheeky makeover session with your bridesmaids? Whether you’re after a fancy blowout or elegant chignons in order to prepare for the wedding day, or if a simple mani-pedi is more your thing, treat both yourself and your bridesmaids to a cheeky wellness session!

• Blome Dry Bar
• Le Manoir
• LOFT Nail Bar
• Beauties Lab

Sing your heart out at these karaoke bars

If you’d rather steer clear of the club scene with outrageous cover charges and would much rather make a fool out of yourself singing Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart (that would, personally, be my preferred option too), consider these three classic karaoke spots scattered across Montreal.

The worse your singing is, the more fun you’ll have!

• Pang Pang
• L’Astral 2000
• La remise

Treat your bridesmaids to afternoon tea

Celebrate your bachelorette party in Montreal in style than with an afternoon tea! Wear your Sunday dress and keep your pinkie finger up throughout (and never let go of that saucer, take your tea the Royal way!) at one of these beautiful spaces. The first two are some of Montreal’s finest hotels and require, by definition, rather fancy; the two others are more relaxed yet equally enjoyable.

• Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
• Ritz-Carlton
• Salon de thé Cardinal

If you’re very much into sweets but would prefer something more low-key and more hands-on, why not consider a bachelorette baking lesson in Montreal? Lincoln Apartment Bakery offers just that.

Find your dream dress

A brand new boutique in Old Montreal is pretty much paradise on Earth for future brides, with its bohemian-chic vibe and feminine showroom. The Dream It Yourself boutique/workshop specialises in Canadian-made wedding gowns for the ultimate “contemporary, unconventional and creative wedding”.