Quebec City Nightlife

Within the Old Town, there are 'boites à chansons' (intimate and lively venues featuring solo singers or small groups of musicians), classy hotel lounge bars, pubs and more alternative bars, especially on and around rue Saint-Jean. West of Place D'Youville, rue Saint-Jean becomes more laid-back, attracting students to the friendly local bars and gay men and lesbians to the small but lively gay scene. Grande Allée Est has a few good nightspots, though the most interesting developments are happening in the Saint-Roch quarter.

For the latest on Quebec City's nightlife scene, check the listings in the free alternative weekly Voir (www.voir.ca) or the free, bilingual tourist publications Québec Scope (www.quebecscope.com) and Voilà Québec.

Le Boudoir
Hip lounge Le Boudoir is one of many popular bars located in the old downtown neighbourhood of Saint-Roch. Trendy Le Boudoir also hosts club nights from Thursday to Saturday with music varying from lounge to pop hits.

441 rue du Parvis
Tel: (418) 524 2777.
Website: www.boudoirlounge.com

Pub Saint-Alexandre
Pub Saint-Alexandre's attempt to recreate a British pub is helped by the selection of over 250 beers and 40 single malt scotches. The pub is accessible through Saint-John's Gate, inside the fortifications of Old Quebec City.

1087 rue Saint-Jean
Tel: (418) 694 0015.
Website: www.pubstalexandre.com

St-Laurent Bar & Lounge
At the other end of the spectrum - although not as pricey or stuffy as you might expect given the terrific view and prestigious location - is the St-Laurent Bar & Lounge, in the Château Frontenac.  It is the perfect setting to sample some tasty martinis, including the Winston Churchill, the FD Roosevelt and the Maurice Duplessis, named after three of the Château's most illustrious guests.

1 rue des Carrières
Tel: (418) 266 3919.
Website: www.fairmont.com/frontenac

Dagobert
Many of the city's bars have dance floors and an atmosphere that becomes more club-like later on in the evening. Dagobert has been around for years and is popular with young tourists.

600 Grande Allée Est
Tel: (418) 522 0393.
Website: www.dagobert.ca

Le Drague
Cabaret-bar Le Drague is Quebec City's main gay dance venue, featuring a front outdoor terrace with bar, a two-level disco where drag shows are held (Zone 1), a laid-back space set up like a tavern (Zone 2) and a men-only floor (Base 3).

815 rue Saint-Augustin
Tel: (418) 649 7212.
Website: www.ledrague.com

Maurice
Set up in a gutted château-like mansion, Maurice is still going strong after over a decade and is part of a complex of bars and restaurants that includes a lounge with salsa dancing and a swanky cigar lounge.

575 Grande Allée Est
Tel: (418) 647 2000.
Website: http://mauricenightclub.com

Agora
In the summer, the open-air Agora, situated in the Old Port, has all manner of acts from rock to classical, while the city comes alive with stages all over the place during the 11-day Summer Festival (www.infofestival.com), when many indoor venues also get into the act.

120 rue Dalhousie
Tel: (418) 266 0696.
Website: www.agoraportdequebec.ca

Impérial de Québec
Impérial de Québec offers music of all descriptions. The show could be a country band in a supper-club setting one night and a standing-room-only electronica concert the next.

252 rue Saint-Joseph Est
Tel: (418) 523 2227.
Website: www.imperialdequebec.com

L'Emprise
The best spot for jazz is in the art deco confines of L'Emprise in the Hôtel Clarendon.

57 rue Sainte-Anne
Tel: (418) 692 2480.
Website: www.dufour.ca

Maison de la Chanson
One of the more popular Boites à chansons (venues playing Celtic-tinged Québécois folk music) is Maison de la Chanson, below the Théâtre Petit Champlain in Lower Town.

78 rue du Petit-Champlain
Tel: (418) 692 2631.
Website: www.theatrepetitchamplain.com

Temps Partiel
For a mix of alternative, rock and punk, try Temps Partiel, in the Saint-Jean district, which also has DJ nights in almost every genre imaginable, from ska to trance.

698 rue D'Aiguillon
Tel: (418) 522 1001.
Website: www.letempspartiel.com