23 Best Things to Do in Montreal

"Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill is hailed as one of the finest live-music jazz venues in Montreal—you'll find pros dropping in to listen as well as perform. The space is a small and intimate club downtown, so there really isn't a bad seat in the house. But the seats at the bar are the most comfortable. You'll see a lot of local legends, such as renowned drummer Jim Doxas, blues queen Dawn Tyler Watson, and singer Ranee Lee. But international musicians often headline at Upstairs too, which was also the first off-site jazz club to be a part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Upstairs, which has been selected by Downbeat Magazine as one of the world’s 150 most important jazz clubs, is a great place to bring a date, hang out with friends, or simply enjoy an evening of live music. Also worth noting: the pretty dinner menu includes a good steak." - Todd Plummer