Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill

Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill has been a home for live jazz in downtown Montreal since 1995. Despite its name, the club sits a few steps below street level on rue Mackay, just south of Sainte-Catherine Street, and it has become a dependable place to hear live jazz every night of the week.

The programme mixes established names with up-and-coming players. In late October 2026, for example, the calendar included the McGill Jazz Combos, with students from the Schulich School of Music, a free Concordia Student Jazz Jam, a jam session hosted by Jim Doxas with Paul Shrofel, the Taurey Butler Trio and Yoel Diaz Cubarteto. Headline acts often play two shows a night, at 7pm and 9.30pm, and ticket prices are set per event, with some student nights free. On Wednesdays, for instance, the free student jam ran from 5pm to 7pm before the main jam session began at 7.30pm, so an early arrival can mean two different sets for little outlay.

Food is part of the evening. The club describes its menu as casual fare, and you can eat before or during the music, which makes it easy to combine dinner and a show in one place. The menu is available as a PDF on the website.

Reservations are made online through the club's booking system, and booking is wise for weekend shows with well-known performers. The club's phone number is 514 931 6808.

It suits jazz lovers, couples and solo travellers looking for an easy night out in the city centre. Free student nights are a good-value way to hear young talent, while the ticketed weekend sets show off more experienced bands. Allow two to three hours for dinner and a full set.

The nearest metro station is Guy-Concordia. Rue Mackay is a downtown side street, so the club is also convenient for guests at Auberge Saintlo Montréal, which is on the same street, and Café Myriade's original café is nearby for a coffee earlier in the day. Check the online calendar before you go, as line-ups change daily and the website is the most reliable guide to who is playing and when.