Meet some friends, have some food and drinks, see some music. No big deal.
Find out why I love it…
One explanation for Sala’s popularity is that it’s a perfect example of the neighbourhood that houses it: the Mile End. Just north of the trendy Plateau district, this area feels a bit like its cool older brother or sister – it’s almost as packed with great bars, restaurants, coffee shops and shopping spots, but seems a little more relaxed about it all.
The ground-floor is a great Spanish tapas restaurant (try and eat just one of their chevre honey balls) that works as the perfect start to a night out. Bring your friends to eat, drink and get merrier and merrier.
Upstairs is the venue itself, one of Montrealers’ favorite places to see live music. For local musicians, it’s a coveted career notch. For out-of-town bands (a list of whom reads like a music critic’s wish-list), it’s a venue with an international reputation for great sound, atmosphere and a knowledgeable, wallflower-free crowd.
The Sala proprietors have spread their vision across the city. Across the street is Casa del Popolo, a compact and slightly quieter version of Sala. Further north is their new live music venue, Il Motore. And, if you really want the full experience, they’ve recently opened Pensione Popolo, a small hotel infused with the spirit of all the above. Perhaps the rub is that though it’s one of the neighbourhood’s most important assets, it does it all in a very laidback, Montreal way. Meet some friends, have some food and drinks, see some music. No big deal.
THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: MAY...
