Campus dancers David, Matthew, & Richard with Gary, the boss

If a city's wealth is measured in her people, then Montreal is a rich place. If you've never been to this sexy paradise, come. And if you already came, you already know how sexy Montrealers are! The pervasive bi-lingualism only adds to the excitement of Montreal-- the capital of French-speaking Canada.

You may be astounded by the richness of the gay life here, where international bad boys and girls from the Bad Boys Club Montreal make the scene throughout the circuit party year.

Visit the Hotel Bourbon complex (1574 Ste-Catherine est), a maze of bars, restaurants and cafes comprising an entire block on lower Ste-Catherine Street, including the famous bar La Track (1584 Ste-Catherine est), where they've been dancing and cruising for years, Bar Cajun, upstairs in the hotel, the attached Sauna Bourbon (open 24 hours, and free for registered guests), and the bustling, 24-hour diner, Club Sandwich, downstairs. Also part of the scene are the L'Orient Express restaurant and the newly-established Café Européen (1560 Ste-Catherine), on the corner, with its outdoor terrace - so popular in season. During the summer months there's even an ice cream parlor and a popular outdoor terrace (on the other end of the block) which draw a young crowd and their chasers. A drive around The Block (defined by Ste-Catherine, Champlain, Rene Levesque, and Alexandre-de-Seve) reveals the locus of the gay street trade in Montreal.

The fun crowd which frequented the popular-for-years Sky Pub (1474 Ste-Catherine est, now closed for renovations) has migrated to the exquisite Unity Pub (1171 Ste-Catherine, corner Montcalm) with its pleasing-to-the-eye style immediately reminiscent of Sky. The pub opened last summer and was an instant success, part of its appeal undoubtedly due to its open-air design with views onto Ste-Catherine Street. Their rockin' Club Unity, upstairs, is open Thursday-Sunday.

There's lot's of action, too, at Le Stud (1812 Ste-Catherine est), another of Montreal's heavily cruised locations, where there's a smallish dance floor, tunes that will make you feel like dancing, and two pool tables that see plenty of action. Watch for frequent leather events here.

There's a nice thing happening, too, at the Black Eagle (1315 Ste-Catherine est), also known as L'Aigle Noir. Their wet underwear parties are a popular series. As at Le Stud, the low light and the fuck videos add to the ambiance.

The new Le Parking (1296 Amherst, corner Ste-Catherine) is making a serious play to the leather-jeans-rubber crowd, and the boys like the place! There's a main floor cruising bar and dance floor (DJ Mario Bros, for years the music man at the famous Max, K.O.X., and more recently of Buddy's, now spins the tunes at Le Parking) and a huge downstairs. The ambiance reminds one of the original K.O.X. (on Montcalm), right down to the emphasis on large, open toilette areas (on both floors). Hmmmm!

Le Drugstore complex (1360, rue Ste-Catherine est, formerly La Taverne du Village) is a multi-level space featuring bars, restaurants, cafes, shops, and plenty of other amusements (including a rooftop terrace during the good weather months) within this cavernous space. The main bar fills in the late afternoon, when folks gather to drink beer and munch on peanuts.

There are other bars in Montreal's Gay Village (roughly defined as the several block area on either side of Ste-Catherine Street, from St-Hubert to Dorion). Club Date (1218, Ste-Catherine est) opens early, and features karaoke in the evening throughout the week with various hosts. In season they open the front windows to create an instant terrace. The nearby Cabaret L'Entre-Peau (1115 Ste-Catherine est) is Montreal's drag-show bar par excellence. Sisters (1333 Ste-Catherine est) is the women's bar with weekend hours. The neighborhood Vox Pub (1295 Amherst) offers the quiet, cozy ambiance typical of Montreal's tavernes.

On the lower end of Ste-Catherine Street Bar Meteor (1661, Ste-Catherine est) and the attached Resto Meteorite are fun for local flavor. Meteor features inexpensive fixed-menu suppers, and frequent live entertainment, when they push back the tables for la danse sociale. Nearby, Bar Rocky (1673, Ste-Catherine est) offers up hard core videos and live entertainment Wednesdays and weekends. It's a neighborhood men's bar.

Check out the hustling and other sexy action along Ontario, and pop in to Citibar (1603 Ontario Est), the neighborhood bar where, sometimes, the boys look like girls.

There's gay action in downtown Montreal, too, where several bars and two saunas vie for your attention. Pop in for a frosty at the grand daddy, Le Mystique (1424 rue Stanley), Montreal's longest-running gay establishment. The crowd's super friendly, and there's a pool table and video poker machines in the back, plus photos from over the decades on the walls and ceiling. The classy Agora (1160 Mackay) attracts a West End mix, from business-men to students, plus party-goers from the nearby Aux Berges (1070 Mackay-- more about this place later.) There's a pool table and more intimate space upstairs. The intriguing Club Q Zone (1401 Mackay, corner Ste-Catherine) attracts a predominantly English-speaking, west-side-of-Montreal crowd, though as with so many Montrealers, most customers turn out to be bi-lingual. Club Q Zone just celebrated one year.

Nude dancer bars

For many people Montreal is synonymous with stripper bars, and things got more interesting last year when the city's decided to tolerate les danses a dix (ten dollar dances) which take place in semi-private booths or secluded back areas where touching is allowed. (Note: bars are obligated to enforce a no sucking-no penetration-no masturbation policy.) If you're shy you may want to just enjoy the stage show, where dancers do a first dance on stage, and then return to do their "slow" dance, or complete strip. Or you may opt for the more traditional table dance, during which the dancer performs on a small platform placed between the customer's open legs, right at your table. These dances are generally priced at $6 per dance. At the famous Campus (1111 Ste-Catherine est) the dancers tend to be the most muscular of the city's gay strippers. There's a secluded area at the back of the bar for private dances, and Sunday night is Campus' super popular Ladies' Night, when the clientele is mixed. Campus opens daily at 3pm.

There's a warm feeling and a friendly greeting at Le Stock (1278 rue St-Andre) where the stage show includes shower dances. There's also plenty of opportunity to mix it up with the dancers-- they hang out near the bar and pool table here. This bar offers plenty of secluded seating for those wishing to get intimate with the boys.

On the lower end of Ste-Catherine Street, check out the hot crowded action at both Bar Adonis (1681 Ste-Catherine est) and Taboo (1950 deMaisonneuve). Both places feature young guys, though Taboo seems to feature the youngest guys, and both have excellent viewing and secluded private dance areas. The newly-remodeled Adonis does its Ladies Nights on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and the popular Saturday cocktail hour auditions-- standing-room-only New Year's weekend.

The West Side Bar (1071 Beaver Hall), downtown, opens at 4pm during the week and at 7pm on Saturday (6pm on Sunday). Dancers start at 4pm during the week, and 8pm on the weekend. West Side does nightly auditions, a Wednesday Ladies' Night, and a weekly Sunday evening buffet at 6pm. They, too, have a large "V.I.P." section.

Saunas

Montreal's saunas are active throughout the year.

There are five in the Village, in the middle of the mix. The always-warm and quiet Sauna Centre-ville (1465 Ste-Catherine est) offers 60 rooms, plus the usual steam and sauna works, on two floors. On the adjacent corner L'Oasis (1390 Ste-Catherine est) features everything, including steam, whirlpool, 110 rooms, and great prices. It's one of the originals in Montreal, and I hear stories all the time about folks' success there!

Another original, Sauna St. Marc (1168 Ste-Catherine est) has catered to leathermen and their friends for years, while the year-old Millenium (downstairs from the St Marc) competes on price.

The smaller Sauna Bourbon, previously mentioned, is part of the Sauna Bourbon complex.

Other popular saunas outside of the Village include the highly recommended 456 (456 la Gauchetière west, downtown), just down and around the corner from the West Side Bar. It's "Canada's largest," with 130 rooms. In addition to its sauna, whirlpool, steam, and snack bar, there's a swimming pool on the main floor, and a full gym downstairs. This sauna always draws a crowd, and it's busiest in the late afternoon and early evening.

Aux Berges (1070 Mackay) is a cruisy hotel with sauna and steam room action, and short time rooms and lockers. There's a bar, too.

On the Plateau check out Sauna 5018 (5018 Boulevard St-Laurent), Sauna Du Plateau (961, rue Rachel), and the Bain Colonial (3963 Colonial Avenue). The 5018 is great, with attractive facilities, and a nice staff. There's a two-level dry sauna, a whirlpool, massage, a sun deck, and a snack bar doing home-made stuff. At the huge Sauna du Plateau, or SDP, people are friendly and there's lots to do! Their large rooftop terrace is crowded in the summer, and their recently-opened several story darkened labyrinth should be fun. SDP also offers several hotel-style rooms. The Bain Colonial, established in 1914, is old school. They use hot rocks to heat their steam, and the cedar branch massage technique.

Sauna lovers may wish to peruse the pages of Fugues Magazine or RG Magazine, free in the city's gay establishments, or log onto www.directiongayquebec.com for other sauna references. Several others can be found in greater Montreal.

Eating out

I always like the relaxed feeling at Restaurant Chablis (1639 rue St-Hubert) where they feature French and Spanish cuisine. There's an intimately-divided main dining room, a streetside outdoor terrace, and a glass-enclosed terrace with a hanging garden in back where people like to linger. The team's friendly. 

For fine French cuisine, reserve a table at La Colombe (554 Duluth est, corner St-Hubert), where the very fine Mustafa and his team practice their art.

At Le St. Charles (1799 Amherst), long-popular with Montrealers for its international menu, there's a new team and a new chef - as of New Year's. The new guys plan to pep up the ambiance.

Amongst the cool cafes on Ste Catherine, try the always-crowded Presse Cafe (1263, Ste-Catherine est). It's open 24 hours and the crowd is cute. The nearby Ogato (1301 Ste-Catherine est) is where to go for coffee, breakfast, and light fare all day long. The beautiful Queen (1329 Ste-Catherine est, formerly Pizzadelic) is for delicate, create-your-own pizzas and salads, while Saloon Cafe (1333 Ste-Catherine est), the original, serves coffees, cocktails, and light fare throughout the day, and is famous for its handsome crowd. Piccolo Diavolo (1336 Ste-Catherine est), just across the street from Saloon and Queen, serves fine Italian cuisine.

I also like Le Planete (1451 Ste-Catherine est) for its big, diverse menu, its wine selection, and the great views onto Ste-Catherine.

The nearby Kilo Cafe (1495 Ste-Catherine est) does great coffees and desserts.

At Le Club Sandwich (1570 Ste-Catherine est), in the Hotel Bourbon complex, they serve huge club sandwiches with heaps of frites, soups, breakfasts, cakes, etc.-- 24 hours a day.

The waiters make it fun at Le Vagabond (1393 Rene Levesque est, corner Plessis), a gay place with a good following and a fun, young team. The fireplace makes it cozy, and the outdoor terrace is always busy in season.

Chez La Mere Berteau (1237 de Champlain) features French home cooking where the specialty of the house is wild game.

The simple, friendly L' Exception (1200 St-Hubert) is the place to go for hamburgers.

I like the sunny feeling at Restaurant Christopher (1800 Ste-Catherine est, corner Papineau), where they feature salads, crepes, omelets, and other light fare.

The aforementioned Fugues Magazine and RG Magazine list other restaurants, too.

Shopping and other divertissements

If you're into shopping don't miss the action at Priape (1311 Ste-Catherine est), for videos, toys, lubes, videos, etceteras, plus sports wear, and a whole downstairs devoted to leather. Priape is an institution in Montreal, and the fun team will treat you right!

Just around the corner, Joe Blo (1412, de la Visitation) does high- end fashion leather.

For rubber and other fetish gear go to U-Bahn (1285 Amherst) where the sex gear always gets me thinking. They also do leather, and there's a shop tailor.

The stocked Il Bolero (6842 St-Hubert, in the Marche St-Hubert) is the other place for fetish wear.

For porn viewing the re-styled Wega Complex (930 Ste-Catherine est) is the place. You can screen the action in a booth, or in the cinema. They've added a boutique near the front entrance this year.

If you've always wanted to star in your own XXX video, contact the folks at HDC Productions (514-928-1648). They'll tailor things according to your wishes, and they'll provide actors and a camera crew to help you fulfill that fantasy.

For relaxing and preening before the shoot, visit the guys at Physotech Plus (1657 Amherst). They offer massage, haircutting, bronzage, and related services, while Island Massage (514-526-9776) offers Swedish and California technique massage. Call for Bryan or Ted.

For books, mags, calendars, erotica, and more!, visit Androgyne Bookstore (3636 Boulevard St-Laurent), where there's always great selection. It's a nice stop, and a nice chat.

If you've got a need for theater space, the new people at the historic Theatre National (1220 Ste-Catherine) are promoting the space for special events, rehearsal time, CD launches, etc. See their ad at the end of the article for details.

If you're making it in Montreal, the community organization Omega Cohort (855, de Maisonneuve est) is recruiting guys who have sex in Montreal for an ongoing study which began several years ago.

Accommodations

Travelers preferring guest houses will find ample choice in the Village.

Accommodations International (gaybed.ca) offers rooms at one of the lowest prices in Montreal..
room double bed starting at only $49/night(USD) breakfast included! TV-VCR-VIDEO XXX-TELEPHONE-INTERCOM-AIR CONDITIONED IN ALL OUR ROOMS! Wi-Fi! Free Parking!
telephone (514)596-2317 toll free Canada/Usa 1-888-334-0348
visit our new picture page 1380 Ontario E/ corner Plessis.
 

Accommodations International host Stephane (l.) and Marco

Camp Canada!

If you'd like to continue your Canadian frolic, consider a visit to one of the gay campgrounds in the region. If you're not an experienced campeur, don't worry because these places can outfit you, with everything from tents to camping trailers-- for all the comforts of home, but in the great outdoors!

Camping Plein Bois (450-459-4646) has a huge following, including a large Montreal contingent, owing to it proximity to Montreal. It's located in Rigaud, located about 45 minutes by car west of the city (toward Ottawa). In addition to a pool and snack bar, there's a bar and show hall on the premises, as well as sports fields and a large naked area with its own separate above-ground pool.

Domaine Gay Luron (450-568-3634) is celebrating 25 years this season. It's run by the openly gay mayor of the village of St-Francois-du-Lac, located about an hour by car east of Montreal. Domaine Gay Luron is smaller than Camping Plein Bois, but like the latter it features a pool, a snack bar and a reception hall for special events, plus cabins and a naturist island one reaches by traversing a cable suspension bridge.

Domaine Vagabond (418-728-5522) turned one this year! It seems to be developing a following. You can see the restaurant and offices from the highway (it's located in Joly, Quebec, about a half hour west of Quebec City on Autoroute 20, as you head toward Montreal), but you can't see the large swimming pool, or the extensive grounds. There's a nice feeling here, a kind of sexual anticipation brought on by being out in the woods.

Other places I know of include Camping de la Fierte (450-834-2888), near Rawdon, Quebec, open year round, and the seasonal Camping l'Oasis des Pins (450-754-3819) in Saint-Paul-de-Joliette, Quebec, and Le Grand Boise (514)823-1190 in Chertsey, Quebec.