Montreal’s officially entered its “let’s do something” season, and the city’s waking up in layers: museum galleries are turning into dance floors, coffee nerds are going head-to-head in latte art battles, and courtyard readings are being paired with BYOB wine.

Maynard is back with a new plant-based deli, Bar Mamie is firing up kebabs for the season, Crèmerie Meetha is scooping again—plenty of things to make you feel alive. That includes a mega jam along the canal, a juried art show hitting its 130th edition, and a new mini putt setup in the Old Port—with views, no less.

From art to food to full-on community energy, this week feels like a turning point.

Activities, parties, points of interest, art exhibitions, you name it: These are the weekend events you don't want to miss.

Thursday

💡 You need to see the PHI’s new spring exhibitions: Explore Nico Williams’ Bingo, featuring over 30 beadwork pieces, and Lap-See Lam’s Shadow Play, an immersive video installation blending memory and migration.

🎨 The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts hosts its final Buvette event inspired by Joyce Wieland’s vibrant work, featuring a DJ set by Hua Li—spots are limited, so reserve now.

🍇 Pastiche celebrates the launch of its second edition with an evening of readings and wine in the Livart Courtyard—bring a bottle and toast the season.

🖼️ The Women’s Art Society of Montreal celebrates its 130th annual juried exhibition at the Montreal Arts Council—a vernissage with artists, wine, and live music is on May 8, FYI.

🌸 Japan Week takes over Montreal with 40+ businesses offering special menus, pop-ups, and workshops, plus highlights like the CHIBI Japanese Market (May 3–4) and a Shiba parade with kimono stroll (May 10).

🍷 Join editors and featured authors for the launch of A Literary Harvest: Canadian Writing About Wine and Other Libations at Librairie Paragraphe.

🪩 Ausgang Plaza hosts a free live session with Montreal alt-rap force Original Gros Bonnet, presented by CISM 89.3 FM, no RSVP required—just bring your friends, lovers, or coworkers and catch OGB performing their latest project Le Vide, La Peur live on stage and on air.

Friday

😡 Anger, a group exhibition by the Concordia Photo Collective, opens at Galerie 2112 to explore photography as a medium for processing and expressing the complex emotional, cultural, and political dimensions of anger.

⛳️ Check out Mini Putt Montréal, a new outdoor urban mini-golf experience featuring two 9-hole courses with views of the Old Port and downtown open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Quai des Convoyeurs.

Saturday

☕️ The 2025 edition of Café Collectif kicks off with tastings, workshops, panels, a latte art throwdown, and a gourmet coffee market—all celebrating Quebec’s specialty coffee scene.

🎸 Join a mega (and we mean mega; 1.1K people expressed interest on Facebook) springtime jam session along the Lachine Canal on May 3—bring your instruments, your voice, and your vibe (rain date is May 10).

🛍️ The fourth edition of Total Market takes place at Église Saint-Jean Berchmans, with over 45 thrift shops, artisans, and creators. Bonus: Free entry.

📰 Ic3y Mag launches The Archive Issue—its debut print edition exploring music, design, and tech from 2023–2025—at Foil Gallery with DJ sets by Baillat Studio and Martyn Bootyspoon, free drinks, and limited copies available on-site.

Sunday

🇵🇭 Star Bar is hosting a fundraising bingo night on May 4 at 8 p.m. to support a member of Vancouver’s Filipino community affected by the April 25 tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Festival.

📸 A sweeping exhibition of over 400 photographs, Pounding the Pavement at McCord Stewart explores Montreal’s streets as sites of protest, identity, architecture, and everyday life through more than a century of street photography.

📽️ The 14th edition of the South Asian Film Festival of Montréal is on now, showcasing independent films from South Asia and its diaspora that explore diverse themes and foster dialogue through cinema.

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WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN AND AROUND MONTREAL

Scope the latest restaurant openings, recommendations on where to eat, plus new menus, old classics, and everything in between.

After a long pause, it’s official—Maynard is reopening on May 1st, now with the addition of Deli Prince Arthur, a brand-new plant-based deli and grocery store.

Papito celebrates its first anniversary on May 1 with a new terrasse, a complimentary glass of bubbles, and live mariachi at 7 p.m.—reservations recommended!

Riccardo Rossi of Rome’s legendary Freni e Frizioni takes over Bar Bello in Little Italy for a one-night cocktail guestshift straight out of Trastevere on May 1.

Rain or shine, Crèmerie Meetha is open for another season and is scooping starting at 2pm—check their site for flavours and stop by for a cone.

From May 1 to 11, cider gets its moment with La semaine du cidre. Quebec’s orchards, bars, and restaurants are all in on it with free tastings and more.

Montreal’s pizza scene throws down from May 1 to 10 with La Pizza Week.

West Coast chef Mark Singson is still in town, and he'll be at Bistro La Franquette to serve up 5 courses for $75 for a pop-up on May 4.

Moccione hosts Lasagna e Bombolone—a celebration of fresh pasta, sweets, music, and sun—running until the last slice is gone, with takeout available and kids welcome on May 4 starting at 11:45 a.m.

Bar Mamie is serving up kebabs all summer long starting this Friday, with service every Friday and Saturday from noon until sold out, and Sundays from noon to 9 PM.

Chai-Yo is firing up the charcoal for a special mushroom satay collab with Champignons Full Pin on Sunday, May 4 at noon—expect cold beer, great wine, and good friends.

Mellön Brasserie turns 4 on May 3 with 10 new beers (including 7 big collabs), slices by Pizza Toni, fresh merch, Spritz on tap, and a DJ party that’ll go late—frothy foam guaranteed. 🍕🍻🎉

Names On The Way throws its annual Kentucky Derby bash on May 4 with a $45 brunch menu, welcome cocktails, a race replay, and an all-day DJ lineup.

“Hope Takes Action” gathers Burgundy Lion and Lord William Pub for a culinary showdown, cocktail reception, and food bank tour on May 5—where every $1 donated provides $5 worth of food to the community.

🌮 Le 132-Bar Vintage throws a Cinco de Mayo party with tacos and Don Julio cocktails—come celebrate with food, drinks, and good vibes.

Go check out Asteur and its seasonal, story-driven culinary experience in Boisbriand that's been open since late March.

🍜 Japan Week 2025 is here

From May 1 to 11, over 40 restaurants, cafés, shops, and cultural spaces across Montreal are taking part in Japan Week—a city-wide celebration of Japanese food, craft, and culture.

We’ve mapped out everything worth eating, sipping, shopping, and seeing: from ramen runs and saké tastings to matcha cafés, kimono pop-ups, and one very photogenic Shiba parade.

👉 Read the full guide and start planning your week.

Here, you'll find a weekly round-up of the latest local news, from entertainment to current affairs and more.

50 years past, 50 years forward, we caught up with Milton Park's The Word Bookstore after they celebrated their semicentennial. Read more.

Meet the artist behind Montreal's most therapeutic street art, MAKENOIZE. Maybe you don't know the name, but you definitely know their work. Read more.

A new, solar-powered hangout is arriving in Montreal's East End in the form of Espace solaire, Aire commune's first permanent public space. Read more.

Tipping rules are officially changing at Quebec restaurants, where percentages must now be based on the pre-tax total, not after taxes (QST and GST). Read more.

Good news for anglo universities, for now: A Quebec judge has invalidated the dreaded tuition hike and French requirements for out-of-province university students. Read more.

Been a while since we've seen the OQLF do that: 'Go! Habs Go!' was momentarily deemed out of line before the government backtracked. Read more.

Transport companies, such as exo and the STM, are now developing real estate in partnership with developers to begin generating new revenue within a few years—and the demand is there. Read more.

Montreal is facing a $215 million shortfall in its 2026 budget, due in part to recent salary increases and expanded investments, and is considering a 2% property tax hike to compensate. Read more.

Bay bay, baby: Hudson's Bay Company is closing its Montreal downtown flagship store, which is located in a 655,000-square-foot heritage building. Read more.

See what's in store at this year's Francos de Montréal festival. Read more.

Meow. Cat election posters showed a tight race between Pistache and Théodore, with Charli, Basil and Luzerne trailing behind in the polls. Read more.

Daytime parties continue to turn heads as Le Devoir looks into the phenomenon of DJs and dance parties in cafés. Read more.

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And that wraps yet another weekly bulletin. We’ll be back with more curiosities, local stories, and events to discover next week.

If ever you catch something we should know, don't hesitate to reach out to us on Instagram.

👋 Masthead: Philip Tabah, Founder & Head of Creative / Daniel Bromberg, Co-Founder & Head of Operations / Jean-Philippe Lauzon, Co-Founder & Head of Tech / JP Karwacki, Managing Editor / Amber Spector, Social Media Manager