Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill

Make sure to make a reservation for an hour before the show is meant to start so you have time to order and eat your food (we got there for 06:30pm for a 7:30pm jazz show on Wednesday night). The seating is very close and cozy and you are able to chat before the show starts but won't be able to (and shouldn't!) once the show starts. The jazz was up close and personal and VERY GOOD! If you are looking for a cozy and authentic night of jazz in Montreal you won't be disappointed with Upstairs. The food was really amazing! It is VERY reasonably priced, a fairly large serving, and surprisingly fancy! Like I said the place is very cozy so the serving staff are side stepping quite gracefully between the tables, and never stop moving, but expect a bit of a wait for your food if it is a full house.

Went to listen to the tribute to Buena Vista Social Club by Andy Rubal, and had a wonderful time with my 20yo daughter. The place is small and pretty crowded, you’re best to have a reservation, but the atmosphere is great, the food is delicious, and the service very quick. There’s paid parking right across the street if you’re (most probably) out of luck finding a place on the street. Highly recommend if you like some authentic musical accompaniment to your meal!

If you’re looking for a cozy spot to hear jazz then you have to visit Upstairs. Make sure to make a reservation which was easy online. And then get ready for a very intimate jazz club with great food. And of course great drinks. I sat at the bar and had a great time with the server while listening to a really good jazz sextet playing mostly original music. Music almost every night a week I think….and always changing. A very satisfying jazz club evening!

Outstanding venue! The ambience, food and music were beyond our expectation. It’s smaller, which makes for lovely sound. Service is friendly and prompt. Don’t miss a chance to experience Jazz as it should be heard, in such an intimate setting. We will return!

The Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill was a highlight during my trip to Montreal. We got to see Kevin Burt x Big Medicine perform some Bill Withers. All the guests were so in-tune with the music and it was one of those places you could truly listen to the music cause everybody else was too! Great venue with good food too. I'd come again in my next visit!

A must visit Jazz Bar. I was there two out of the three nights I spent in Montreal. Very nice ambience that you would expect in a nice Jazz Bar, friendly service and reasonably priced drinks.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The music was fabulous. Bringing in guests artists was a good idea. It was absolute value for money. We spent just over $100 pp but that also included the cover. Charge of $15/- pp

I only took a salad but it was divine. Great portions. Ambiance is great, although I wish they had a great selection of music on their own because once the band was done performing it was pretty boring. 8/10?

Intimate spot with great history. If you are seeking a old style Jazz spot this is the perfect location. Nice prices with a great staff.

Food was decent. It took a long time to get it. Ambiance was fine. Small and quaint! Jazz was more of the older original jazz. Staff was friendly.

I walked into this bar advertised as a jazz venue, but it felt more like a mediocre instrumental rock show. The pianist played an instrument that looked like a child's toy, and it was so bad that I had to leave. The food was equally disappointing--every burger was sold out, and the fries looked stale. Fish and chips in a dive bar? Seriously? The fish smell lingered all night. I ordered a vodka martini, but after a ten-minute wait, I received a gin martini that was barely half full. Overall, a thoroughly frustrating experience.

Super, classy place for jazz. A small entrance fee, maybe $8. I didn't eat, just had a few cocktails.

The music was awesome, very talented musicians. The service and drinks were great, the dinner was mediocre- not bad just not the best the city has to offer. Highly recommend going if you find yourself craving a nice night with live music.

Had such a lovely time at the show! Tiny spot with lots of character. Lotta drink and food options. Really enjoyed our visit

This place was a fun time! Greg's brother made reservations here just a day before coming, we wanted to listen to some jazz music and have dinner. An opportunity to break from the ordinary and do something different. I am giving it 4 stars because the service and music deserve it. The food not so much, but we gotta give it a little break. When have you ever had good food at a jazz bar?! You can't do everything well. We paid $15 per person to enjoy the concert and were asked to arrive by 7pm as it is when the band was set to start playing. We were seated really close to the stage, which was a surprise given how last minute our reservation was. We got to be really close to the action and enjoy the music and all the jazz! The band was amazing! It was an Afro-Cuban Jazz Band working with a piano, clarinet, cajon (Peruvian drum), and a xylophone. All playing improv, but very harmoniously in a latin rhythm. A one point along the performance, it made me a little sentimental as I got to remember my grandmother and how much she liked that type of music and flare. Service was gracious, attentive and very respectful. Kudos to maintaining the packed room tamed during such lively event. I wont go into detail about the food for this review, but don't expect the best food here. The music is really what sets this place apart! Lovely atmosphere, you get to feel in a real deal jazz bar.

Jazz music was alright, it didn't peak my interest. Environment was pretty crowded however, our waiter was great. The chips and guac were pretty bland.

Good food. Good service. Great music. Enjoyed my night. I was able to be seated without a reservation several times, even when the room was full they seated me on the patio where I could still listen to the music and had like of site to the stage.

Great spot had an enjoyable impromptu evening great live music and the best time!!!!!

Great jazz bar nestled in a small neighborhood street, was packed with people who love jazz music . Good drinks and food too

Cute bar but would recommend on the weekends for hopefully better jazz. It seemed during the week it's rookie college nite. We were there wed. Dec. 06. p.M. The 1st gal, sorry but not a good voice. The 2nd gal was good. It was packed as the younger crowd was there for support, which is encouraging for these performers.

Great music, friendly service with good drinks and dessert. We were only in town for the wknd but it was definitely a highlight of the trip.

Cool jazz. great service.. good food! The apps were really nice wish there was more cheese options but still good. wife loved the Mussels and I went with Nachos. Took an uber so Sangria was the choice of drink for the evening, really nice and fruity! plave os a dive but great Jazz ambiance. Upstairs is really downstairs

Fun underground pub to enjoy music. I'd skip the food. Our server was attentive without being overbearing.

We did pre reservations for the jazz show. We were told to get there 30 mins before. We got there maybe 15 mins before but got a great seat. It's first come first serve if you have reservations. So that's a plus if you get there early you can be closer to the stage if you wanted. The band that night were really good. They did some solo's which is great because you can hear out that individual and gives them the spotlight too. We tried the rose sangria which was really good, and decently priced for a pitcher at $25 We shared an antipasta plate which was a nice snack but kept me full during the show! Great service as well. I would definitely recommend this place

The food is not good at all, unfortunately. I got a Caesar salad and my husband got a Spanish style steak dish that was not very good. The fries that came with the dish were good though. The staff are friendly and accommodating and they refill water regularly. I wish that we liked the trio that were playing, but the seemed to all be playing apart from one another and didn't have a good rhythm. We left at their first break. I'm happy to support live music. I just wish that we had a better experience overall.

We'd found a club playing House Music the last time we visited Montréal in the Fall during a long weekend. And this time around, we came right in the middle of a Holiday week and wanted to do the music scene here all over again. Except places we noticed, were either closed or had a teeny bopper crowd. Negative. One spot I called, sounded real shady when I asked about cover charge. Now unless the dude who answered was in his office or something, there was no sign of House Music playing and all I heard were crickets. F*ck that! A few more searches, my husband found "Upstairs" on Google- while I did my own Yelp search- and Upstairs was a keeper. Given its long history, Upstairs, prides itself as the most popular spot for live Jazz in Montréal- featuring local bands that'll make you bop in your seat or grab a corner and do your thing. The place is dark and old-fashioned with an energetic vibe. It's "The" place to be!!!! And boy....It was popping on a Wednesday night. No cover charge, just come in a bit early to either grab a table or sit at the Bar- if possible. We lucked out and grabbed the last 2 seats at the Bar then settled in real good with a nice center view. Menu seems nice, but we'd just finished dinner about 2 hours prior- so we skipped food entirely and enjoyed cocktails- which were nice. Thank you Ms. Bartendress! I don't recall the band's name, but the kid who sang that night, was awesome and got everybody in a jazz groove. I love music but I have my own preferences. And after that, I can jive to anything. There's Beauty and Soul in any type of music- whether it's Merengue, Hip-Hop, Bollywood, Salsa, Soca...I could go on. But listen...I didn't bust a move with House Music the way I wanted, but Upstairs Jazz Bar, came through real nice. Because in the end, just like the Hamilton Brothers once sang, "Music Makes The World Go 'Round".

I had a really negative experience tonight. i've been to jazz clubs thoughout North America and Europe and never had less hospitable treatment. This place only accepts reservations by the phone a few hours a day, and I was unable to reach them before today. The woman I spoke to said the 7:00 show was sold out but normally people leave after the 7 o'clock show is finished, so if I showed up after 830 I should be able to get a seat. I showed up a little after nine, and since there was no one at the door I walked in and asked a server at the bar if they sold Coke zero. The guy looked at me with a very unfriendly expression and said "are you asking if we sell coke zero?" and I said yes. He then asked if I had a reservation, and I said "no, I just walked in." The guy beside him chimed in to say I needed to know there's a $10 cover charge, as if that were a big sum of money. They said no seats were available. Three of them conferred and decided they would allow me to sit outdoors in the front or in their dungeon-like room in the back and wait for someone to leave at which point they would be able to seat me. the band was planning to stop in 45 minutes so I just decided to leave. Not planning to go back. very cramped seating and lots of other good venues in town.

Sigh. By the time I got inside Upstairs the band was just finishing up so we missed the show. Sad. There's a line to get in and the place is small and cramped, so come early, very early. We sat down around 10pm and it was all over. The five minutes of jazz I happened to catch were good, though.

If you are a Jazz aficionado, you need to stop by Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill ! Cozy, intimate spot, where they have a different band every night. I didn't know what to do on a Monday night in Montreal and this was perfect. I attended a Jam session: several bands playing all night, one after another. If you're hungry and don't want to eat too much, They also offer a good menu of food and drinks ! I had the gambas al ajillo, a plate of French fries and to finish the salmon salad with balsamic vinaigrette. I ended up my meal with a crème brûlée (it was good but the consistency looked more like a warm Flan...) you have lots of options as well. Service was okay but music was DOPE ! I'd go back really for the music, the musicians playing there were excellent !!!

Parisian Fanny Leeb (The Voice, France 2013) sang tonight at Upstairs Jazz. Ironically it's downstairs, or I had tee many martoonies. Late start but a good set with a local following. Her lower register sounds like Adele. But Fanny's sweet spot is a little higher, especially when covering or rearranging Etta James (At Last) or Amy Winehouse (Valerie). The place is small and intimate. Beer was good. Not really impressed with the food.

So glad to see Upstairs Jazz hosting live events again after a 3+ month drought. Their dedication and commitment to the live art scene in Montreal, and all of Canada for that matter, is unparalleled. The updated calendar is posted on their [newly revamped] website and you can make reservations by phone. Kudos to the ownership team and the staff for doing a fantastic job for safely and happily welcoming us all back to live jazz again this past weekend. If you're aching to catch a live set you couldn't pick a better spot, especially now that most live music venues remain closed and/or are struggling to reopen. Oh, and the papas fritas are still amazing!

We were so excited to visit this place as it is recommended to us by our city tour guide. The food is southern cuisine. We ordered their best-seller burger with fries and chicken burger. But we were so disappointed. They were not appeticing :( I think this spot is only for jazz lovers and drinkers, but not for foodies. We are a jazz fan, but we did not like the group of musicians who performed on that particular evening. In the end, I felt like I was robbed $100 for a meal of two and a boring music. Definitely we won't be back at this place. That's for sure!

Come here for the Smalls reincarnated vibe (NYers remember that special place). Food is forgettable. Missed opportunity. Not a foodie spot, just good live music. I return every visit.

Upstairs is Montreal's finest jazz venue and one of the city's local gems. Its a small and intimate, a perfect spot for any date and a fun way to spend an evening sipping on drinks, grabbing a bite, and listening to some of the best live music in the area. Joel Giberovitch opened this neat little jazz joint nearly 20 years ago, which has gained a notable amount of popularity, especially in the last decade. His inspirations from his past trips to legendary New York jazz are an obvious influence in the makeup of his decor, which include wooden panels, brick walls, a lengthy yet cozy bar, and classy linens draping each table. If that doesn't establish the mood, I don't know what does. Seating is tight of course, but group dining is very possible here; I would highly recommend reservations. Though it's been touted as a fun lunch spot, I'm more of a fan during their showcase nights which happen every Friday and Saturday. There is usually a cover charge before midnight, which was about $5 last time I checked. Groups of 4 or more are almost guaranteed a wait, but if you don't listen to jazz often, then take it like a champ and wait it out. If the music isn't worth it (but of course it is), then consider the food and the drinks. Much of the menu is distinctly American, with quite few dishes named after notable states in the South, the birth place of jazz. Another portion of the menu is tapas, which is more bar food (nachos, quesadillas, fries, etc.) than they are classic Spanish small plates. I've enjoyed their food overall, as I've had good results with their pappardelle verona, their New Orleans filet mignon, and their array of tasty burgers. Try any of their martinis or get a wine to be paired with the food. Then of course there's the music. Live jazz doesn't have to be during Montreal Jazz Festival, it can be had here on a much more casual level. The music has always taken precedence and has been a treat every time. I could probably not even eat anything and just sit to enjoy the performances, which vary from a wide range of local and visiting musicians. I think very highly of this place and hope it continues to do well. I haven't gone to Montreal as often lately and want Upstairs to keep the drinks flowing and the music going. If only I could write their name upside down (see pics for reference).

Wow, great performance and dinner! I have never been to a jazz bar and this place was awesome. I had the Verona pasta. It was pretty good except for the many pieces of chicken that tasted burnt. I also felt like the heat element was missing. The performer was great and so talented. Service was great as well. Our waiter was very helpful in choosing what we should eat. The place itself was clean, good bathrooms, and no distractions during the performance. It's a rule not to speak while the performance goes on. I would recommend this place for anyone wanting to experience a jazz club!

Yes! I haven't been here in years, and the place hasn't changed an iota! Still great musicians, same soul, same brick walls and same great food. I hope that you can bring back the lychee martini - I used to order it every time I was here. Such a great Montreal jazz institution. Tip: Make a reservation! They were packed on a Sunday night. They are quite popular, especially with tourists.

Went Upstairs on a Saturday night, I was really looking forward to it. I love live music, specially jazz. I had read the reviews and most people talked about how great the food and performance were. But unfortunately I was really disappointed. The food deserves 1 star, we asked the waiter what was good and popular on the menu, he suggested the steak and fries and the verona pasta, so that is exactly what we ordered. We also opted for the fried calamari as appetizer. All dishes lacked salt, the pasta verona was suppose to have chicken, it was the smallest slices of of shaved chicken I have ever seen. We also had 8oz steak, OMG cardboard would taste better than that. It was hard to cut and even harder to eat. No seasoning, no sauce, dry. Just thinking about it makes me want to gag. The ambiance is cozy, tables are small and very close together. The music was okay for me. Maybe it was just not a good night. I don't know, that is why I am actually giving a 3 star, just because I am hoping that they were having a bad night. I will not be going back, and will search for other jazz dinner restaurants. Oh by the way, the place is in a basement, hence why upstairs is written upside-down!

A lot of my colleagues have performed shows here - I can't speak much to the drinks (pricing or variety), since it's been awhile since I drank here. The atmosphere is amazing! Really cute little jazz bar with a great ambiance and feel, and the music isn't too loud but is clearly the centerpiece of the venue. The fries are delicious and quite cheap, so they make a good snack (get the mayo with them). I'd definitely recommend this place if there's a live show that's happening and you need a nice place to bring a date, or some jazz enthusiasts.

My favorite no-nonsense jazz club. Intimate seating close to the stage, cheap pints of St-Ambroise, and a varied lineup of live music every night. Iconic bands and local music student jam sessions share the stage. The cover charge is variable and indeed quite a bargain (3rd set is always free). You can hear the music from outside and there are often curious people who enter. Don't go to jazz clubs for the food, but the Cajun bacon burger here was surprisingly decent. I love how the atmosphere at Upstairs makes the music experience so authentic and approachable.

I always wanted to try this bar, each time I walked near it I promised myself to visit it. Finally I decided to go there, I checked their website, they have a busy calendar with live performers. I reserved a table for two, and went there on a Saturday night. I wasn't disappointed at all all! This place was a good surprise. It's cozy, packed with jazz lovers. The waitress was really nice. And on the top of it, the artists were amazing, the band played excellent music and the lead singer had a great voice. It was their final tour and this night was the last one. Guess we were lucky!

Nice bar , good music. Had the seafood linguini and Spanish steak. The food was great but wasn't asked how I'd like my steak cooked (I would have wanted it to be more rare) Otherwise, great service and experience!

Knowing that Montreal is infamous for jazz, we couldn't come here and not take in a jazz club. We went here for dinner last night and we were very pleased. The house jazz band played their set from 8pm -9pm before taking a brief break and opening up for a jam session with other musicians at 9:30 pm. I enjoyed a French martini and my boyfriend had his typical Macallan. While in Canada we were surprised to learn that Macallan is changing their classifications from years to color. Long story short he had the Macallan Gold and enjoyed it. For our meals, it was rather eclectic. I had a taste for Mexican so I had a small salad and the nachos pollo, and he, of course a more sophisticated palate than mine, had the Pulpo a La Parrilla (marinated and grilled octopus) for an appetizer and for his entree, he feasted on the Zarzuela (tiger shrimp in a cream sauce with fresh julienned vegetables and wild rice). Of course I tried it and everything was delicious. There was only two servers who also served as the bar tenders throughout the night, Howard and Issa (I know I probably butchered the spelling of her name), and they worked their tales off. It was a small club, but the house was packed. They did a great job keeping everyone happy! No complaints here.

I was visiting Montreal, Upstairs Jazz Bar appeared on many recommendation lists. My friend and I came for music and dinner. We ordered a cobb salad and a pasta to share. Both were delicious. The musicians were amazing. Highly recommend jazz fans to check this place out.

Amazing little place. Very intimate and cozy. Spent few days in Montreal and found this little gem. Undercover Quartet was playing that night. Great band. Didn't have dinner. Went for drinks. There is a cover charge when a band is playing.

Great vibe! We checked this place out on Boxing Day as there wasn't much else going on. The musicians were amazing and the drinks were very well done! I had the vodka with ginger beer and my friend had the ginger martini.. both were delish! There is a cover charge of $8 per person.. plus drinks and house fries - came up to $50 but we had a great evening! Definitely recommend it!

We had bar seating; enjoyed St. Ambroise draft and a boy in while enjoying a Chet Baker tribute by local skilled musicians. Very relaxed setting and $10 cover seemed fair.

Pros: the live music was AMAZING!! I was so impressed that next time I just want to come and listen to them play. It was obviously the highlight of it all. Cons: I ended getting food poisoning from the pappardelle dish that had chicken in it. The chicken definitely went bad as it put a bad taste in my mouth. I ended up getting quite sick from this fish which was too bad because I enjoyed the venue so much. Cons: The wait times to be sat, get food, took us an actual hour. We had already made reservations before and they did know that there were allergies within the group (of 6). The table next to us for sat after us but they had their order taken and delivered before us which was a bummer. Overall this is a place for music and not so much for the food. The dishes were small and didn't fill any of us. But listening to them play their set made all of it worth it. I was so amazed by them. P.s. don't forget that there's actual live musicians playing and they charge a cover fee of $15 on top of whatever drink/food you get.

The Upstairs in Montreal is a must-see venue. We had a Great time enjoying live Latin Jazz. I believe we were the only ones from the "States." Loved the diversity and the many different interracial groups/couples that joined us. Met some nice "Brit's" seated next to us. I, also recommend getting a Manhattan there, it was delicious.

Great music, with different prices depending on when you enter. Place has food and drinks that are reasonably priced. FYI Sometimes there are rests between sets, so even if you enter the last song of the second last set, you still have to pay for the second set. The music was excellent.

Coolest venue in downtown. Saw a local blues harmonica player and his band and they crushed it!! Then several musicians in the audience got up and played with them. Really fun place with a ton of history. Had the mussels and their namesake burger, both were very good. Can't wait to go back!

My boyfriend and I were visiting Montreal and we saw that this place had amazing reviews so we decided to check it out...and boyy was everyone right! Not only was the music incredible, the food and drinks were delicious. The cozy feel of the place made us feel welcomed and we bobbed our heads to some amazing musicians playing. I will definitely go back again!

Overall if you are looking for a place to catch some jazz in Montreal that is within walking distance of most of the business hotels you can't beat this place. With ample bar seating it is easy to go solo and not feel out of place at all. The drink prices were reasonable (well as reasonable as one can find in Montreal) and the good acoustics make this a club worth visiting for jazz. Only had an appetizer, but what I had was better than I expected. The only complaint I have and there isn't much the ownership can do about it is there was one table near me that made me wish, well I knew how to say STFU SVP totally in French (instead of just SVP) . They got the hint a left, so it wasn't that much of a problem.

I went here for live jazz on the last night of my last Montreal trip. It was early on a Thursday night. Next to the door is a calendar of the month's events and their respective cover charges. Convenient if you're too cheap to pay for an international smartphone plan, too far from your hotel's WiFi, or don't want to suck up your pride to ask. Only the first two apply to me. They don't have happy hour specials. ("Everything here is special!") After my work in Africa, I learned it never hurts to ask. Even in a joint this cool. I had a "sangria rouge" that I assumed would be a red wine sangria, but it was more orange and weak. The Guinness my partner had seemed much better. Everyone around us received complementary bread/butter except us. Our food was good/average - my Tijuana hamburger was well done and had sour cream and guac. My partner's tofu burger was delicious. Both burgers came with a green salad - again, love the salads in Montreal - and fries. Portion sizes perfect, not too much food. We had the restaurant's tiramisu which was average. Then we enjoyed the night's act, The Kandinsky Effect. The leader and saxophonist was from California so we understood him completely. Cover charge $6 each added to our bill. It was good stuff, even if half the audience as the place filled up seemed to be friends of the band. Overall, a great, intimate place to hear jazz. There seemed to be performances almost every night. Covers vary. Accept credit cards. And the place is actually located downstairs at almost basement level, hence the logo of the resto-jazz-club is upside down. Oh the irony. Stars for the jazz; don't expect much from the food or drinks.

The name may say upstairs, but you take a few steps downward. Hence why the sign for the word upstairs is upside down. Pretty tasty dishes; I had the ribeye (delicious by itself) with chimichurri sauce on top and one broccoli and one orange bell pepper. (Those were the seasonal vegetables) And I chose wild rice as the second side. It was ok, a little bland. The service was ok, but the English to French language translation was an issue. I attempted to order the smaller beer sizes and yet were given and charged the larger sizes. And there's great live jazz music playing. It's a small narrow place, so you will be most likely be bumping into chairs when walking to the bathroom in the back. Overall, I would return here.

Jazz: check Montreal: check Dark atmosphere: check Beer: check With my honey enjoying great music: check I'm in love with Montreal. We have met some fabulous people. To all Canadiens thanks. Let's see after the Ranger vs. Canadiens tomorrow night. Can't wait!! Let's go Rangers.

This was our first trip to Montreal and the Upstairs Jazz Bar had a great rating so we popped in for dinner, drinks, and Jazz. We had a fantastic experience. The music was wonderful and the food was fine. The experience makes me want to return to experience the annual jazz festival.

I did not enjoy my time at Upstairs Jazz. I made a reservation a while back and came 30 minutes prior before most people arrived. I'm my family and I were seated behind a pole so you couldn't even see the musicians. There were tvs, but I prefer to see them when they're only a few feet away. The food selection was horrible, so I ordered the burger which was too dry. To top it off the guys next to our table chatted loudly the entire night so I couldn't even enjoy the music. I am so upset I wasted me and my family's evening/dinner here during my limited time in Montreal. I will obviously never return, and I recommend no one else, especially if your visiting, to go here.