✨ Where to Go in Montréal - Week 39

Late September brings an extraordinary week of live music to Montreal, spanning pop-country, power metal, indie rock, and sublime piano compositions. From the genre-blurring hits of Shaboozey to the legendary anthems of Weezer, and from the thunderous power metal of Sabaton to the meditative piano of Ludovico Einaudi, there is truly something for every musical taste. Before the shows, discover one of the season’s most exciting new restaurants, where refined cuisine meets a warm, soulful setting.

⚠️ Important Travel Advisory: Please note that there will be significant traffic disruptions throughout Montreal due to the UCI Road World Championships (September 20–27, 2026). Plan your travel accordingly, allow extra time, and consider using public transit where possible.

👉 For more nightlife and dining picks, visit MontrealNightlife.com.

🍱 Restaurant of the Week: Routy

📍 Address: 5160 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R8 (formerly the home of Boxermans)

If you were a regular at the late Boxermans on Van Horne Avenue, won over by its kitchen, you are going to fall for the brand-new Routy, which has come to life within those same memory-laden walls. Under the ownership of Éric Berlin and the culinary direction of chef Grégoire Routy, this new address immediately establishes itself as one of the standout restaurants of the season in Montreal.

Atmosphere & Décor

Under the thoughtful guidance of designer Kyle Adams Goforth, the space has been reimagined with sure taste and a true sense of elegance. Wood dominates throughout, tables are beautifully dressed, and the walls are adorned with black-and-white photographs—family portraits of the chef, taken last century—lending the whole space a very particular soul.

The lighting is soft, the background music unobtrusive. At the centre of the room, a beautiful cabinet showcases the glassware from which the finest wines on the list will be served. The bar counter, which seats four, along with that central cabinet, are the work of cabinetmaker George Papas. The result is warm, refined, and welcoming.

🍽️ What to Order: A Short but Truly Enticing Menu

Chef Grégoire Routy and his brigade offer cooking worthy of the finest tables. The menu is concise and well-constructed—five starters, four mains, three desserts—and full of appealing dishes that whet the appetite from the very first read.

The chef’s past experiences are traceable in every plate: several Michelin-starred kitchens in France and England, as well as time spent at Raele in Copenhagen. From the former, one senses an inherited creativity and a certain culinary boldness; from the Danish experience, he took away “the minimalism in the plate and in the design, and also the fact that the cooks would always come out into the dining room.”

Starters (Entrées):

Asparagus with Honey Pollen and Hazelnuts: A delicate, spring-forward dish that balances sweetness and crunch.
Crudo of Newfoundland Scallops with Bergamot and Mint: Topped with very thinly sliced radish—bright, fresh, and elegant.
Pissaladière-Style Amuse-Bouche: Delicate and refined rolls with hints of onion, olive, and anchovy, served as a complimentary starter.

Mains (Plats):

Pan-Seared Sea Bream: A generous piece of fish, cooked to perfection. On its own, this dish justified the journey.
Trout with Carrots, Saffron, and Biquinhos: Understated on its own, but paired with the saffron and those mild Brazilian peppers, it comes together as a thoroughly satisfying main course.

Desserts:

Raspberry-Rhubarb Sorbet: Silky and adorned with fine ribbons of rhubarb, lifted by sprigs of tagetes—that fascinating aromatic herb that elevates any dessert to near-heavenly heights.
“Hot/Cold” Dark Chocolate: A bold pairing of chocolate and herbes de Provence—pure indulgence for dark chocolate lovers.

🍷 Drinks to Match

Routy has assembled a wine list that pairs beautifully with the chef’s cooking. A long selection of reds, a few sparkling wines, some rosés, and a carefully chosen range of whites. Among the reds, a Clos Marie Pic Saint-Loup 2023 brimming with the scents of the Languedoc garrigue is offered at a very reasonable price for the quality.

Why You Should Go

Because Routy is that rare address where everything comes together in perfect harmony. You come once for the food, and you return for everything else—the welcome, the atmosphere, the service, precise and gracious throughout, and that rare feeling of being exactly where you ought to be.

A table to add to your favourites without delay.

🎤 Performances of the Week

Presented by MontrealNightlife.com

🤠 Shaboozey at Place Bell

Presented by OSHEAGA, genre-blurring country artist Shaboozey brings his “Outlaws Never Die Tour” to Place Bell. Known for his viral smash hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”—which dominated charts and became a cultural phenomenon—Shaboozey blends country, hip-hop, and Americana into a sound that is entirely his own. With special guests BigXthaPlug and Noeline Hofmann.

📍 Venue: Place Bell, Laval

🗓️ Date & Time: Thursday, September 24, 2026 — 7:00 PM (Doors: 6:00 PM)