If it feels like the whole city is doing the most this weekend, you’re not wrong.

There’s a Cambodian cultural fest at Place des Arts, reggaeton under the open sky, DJs in domes, backyard wine takeovers, and a vintage sale inside a drained swimming pool.

You can get tattooed in Chinatown, bid on denim-as-art, or cry over saké and Mahjong at Marché ASIASIE. And if that’s not enough: Mile End is turning into a pedestrian playground, Café SAT has a brand-new terrasse party, and someone’s handing out donuts with your sunglasses. Good luck out there.

Oh, and the Michelin Guide finally landed, so we rounded up the stars, the snubs, and the drama. That’s all in the news section, along with ghost stories from Montreal’s theatre scene, a new plaza for the city’s women, and a surprising number of headlines about falling buildings.

Let's get into it.

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

Thursday

🎥 Celebrate opening night of the 2025 Korean Film Festival Canada this evening at Cinéma du Musée! Register online for screenings by celebrated directors like Bong Joon Ho.

🤩 Café SAT inaguarates their brand-new terrasse with a vibrant block party including a live DJ set, natural wine tasting, and exclusive coffee by Jungle x Café SAT.

🌸 Marché ASIASIE is on at Time Out Market this weekend, transforming the space into a vibrant pan-Asian cultural market with over 40 vendors selling food and goods from across the diaspora.

🪕 Le P’tit Ours kicks off their opening weekend with a Western-inspired DJ set and folksy live band–programming will continue through Sunday for a full long weekend of shows.

🔥 Aire Commune presents Soirée Fuego Fuego, a latin dance party setting Esplanade Louvain aflame with open-air reggaeton by DJs Jashim and EP The Latino.

🪗 Celebrate 10 years of la Chasse-Balcon, an artistic collective which performs traditional music from Montreal balconies, with a weekend festival of free performances across the city.

Friday

🛍️ Kapara Vintage celebrates 10 years with a three day giant thrift sale held in an emptied swimming pool–stop by to browse one-of-a-kind vintage clothes and handmade jewelry, plus tooth gems and tattoos.

💥 Dance until sunrise at a two-floor, all-night techno takeover at the SAT, with electrifying sets in both the Satosphere and Espace SAT raging until 6 a.m.

🧘‍♂️ Recharge with Le Beau Weekend’s Spring program, a three-day wellness experience featuring yoga, fitness, and mindfulness sessions to promote wellbeing and connection.

🌌 AUBE #3 lights up Le Livart for a night of pulsating beats and immersive sound with both international and local talents on until 5 a.m.

🎨 Step into unifffffform, a one-night-only exhibition in which designers reimagine a plain white denim set into a collection of wearable art pieces to be auctioned off in support of a local charity.

Saturday

🎊 Join the party at Mile End en Fête, the annual street festival bringing together open-air concerts, art installations, and all-ages programming for a weekend of family-friendly fun.

🇰🇭 Festival Saison du Cambodge transforms Place des Arts into a celebration of Cambodian culture with music, dance, gastronomy, and a powerful orchestral performance.

❤️‍🔥 Afrotonik takes over the iconic Satosphere dome for a high energy Afrobeat dance party featuring a six DJ lineup backed by immersive 360° visuals.

👛 For reworked vintage, street photography prints, leather goods, and more by visiting brands, drop by Marché Floh’s patio pop-up.

🕶️ Stop by Boutique Archive to browse the full RAEN sunglass collection while enjoying café refreshments (and a complimentary donut!), plus background beats by DJ AVIJICII.

Sunday

🚲 Enjoy a drink while waiting for affordable, on-the-spot bike tune ups at a pop-up Bikes and Beers event near Bar de Courcelle’s terrasse.

🌿 Chimie’s Scent Stories event with New Room transforms scent into a powerful exploration of memory and identity through guided meditation, storytelling, and community sharing.

☎️ The “Art Hotline” opens at Céline Bureau as two industry speakers unpack hot takes on fame, money, politics, gossip, and survival in the art world.

🏴‍☠️ Sunday Service brings together over 25 tattoo artists for “Big Trouble in Little China,” an intershop tattoo event in Chinatown offering flash, walk-ins, custom designs, and even merch.

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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.

Disco Mayo made its debut in Little Italy with warm, retro interiors and a crave-worthy lineup of elevated sandwiches—the trendy dinette and épicerie is a must-try new spot.

Enjoy a cozy evening of summer cocktails, vodka flights, and a Slavic-inspired menu set to a live DJ at Nevski’s terrasse takeoff event on May 23.

Taglio marks a successful (re)opening on May 24 with New Kids on the Block–a soft opening block party serving up fresh dishes from the newly revived butcher and deli.

Sae Low invites you to kick off summer with a sunny DJ set, coffee, drinks, bao, and good company at their afternoon block party on May 24.

Sip, taste, and toast to the season on May 24 as La Courtepointe celebrates its very first terrasse with a special summer menu and wine takeover by Lieux Communs, including on-site winemakers.

La Lune welcomes Oakland, CA’s Sun Moon Studio on May 24 for an intimate, one-night-only collab dinner with chefs Alan Hsu and Sarah Cooper: 18 seats, one communal table, and a deeply personal menu crafted specially for the occasion.

Double's is turning 2 and throwing a full-court birthday bash in the courtyard—think Elena slices, your favourite burger, wild sets from Last Waltzon, wines by Pooks, beers, Zam Colas, and even a Toronto slang battle, all starting at 1PM on May 25.

La Cave de Mamie joins forces with Primavin, À Boire Debout, and Ward on May 25 for a mosel wine tasting, riesling bar, and all-day Berlin-style kebabs on the corner of Beaubien and Drolet, complete with a sunny DJ set.

Share a farewell feast at Buboy on May 25 to commemorate the Filipino joint’s second anniversary and final service before shifting to a new address in Chinatown.

🎎 Marché ASIASIE is back

From May 22 to 25, Montreal’s premier pan-Asian market returns to Time Out Market Montréal with over 40 vendors and four days of food, culture, and craft.

Explore everything from Japanese calligraphy and Indian dance to Cambodian street snacks, saké, K-beauty, and one very stacked Mahjong table. Don’t miss Thursday’s opening night or the weekend roundtables on appropriation, identity, and creative collaboration.

👉 Read the full guide and plan your visit.

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

The ultimate block party for Mile End: Here's a guide to Mile End en Fête and its activities, from local art exhibits and pop-up markets to live music and food stalls. Read more.

🎶 Where everybody knows your name! Bobby’s brings back the no-frills, all-heart neighbourhood bar Montreal’s been missing—cheap pints, warm vibes, and zero pretension. Read more.

Fast Noodle Hero! Anita Feng returns with Nouilles Sauvette, a Chinese takeout noodle project born from resilience, family, and her signature Sichuan flavours. Read more.

3 Pierres 1 Feu is freshly opened in Marché Jean Talon, serving up smoky, soulful Afro-Carribean-Texan barbeque with a Quebecois twist under Montreal culinary mainstay Chef Paul Toussaint and Texas native Chef Damien M. Brockway. Read more.

Montreal has officially earned its first Michelin stars, with Europea, Mastard, and Sabayon leading the city’s debut in Quebec’s inaugural guide. Read more.

ALSO: Some feel Montreal was snubbed in Quebec’s first Michelin Guide, prompting backlash over how little the stars reflect the city’s true dining culture. Read more.

ALSO ALSO: Michelin defends its controversial picks in Quebec’s first guide, urging local chefs to embrace their culinary identity and change global perceptions. Read more.

ALSO ALSO ALSO: Montreal chefs cautiously welcome their Michelin stars with pride—but also voiced disappointment over the city’s underrepresentation and notable omissions. Read more.

Montreal has unveiled Place des Montréalaises, a $100M public space honouring the city’s women and their contributions to its history. Read more.

Can actors in Quebec make a living from theatre alone? Barely—and only with side gigs, luck, or sacrifice. Read more.

So which one is which? While graffiti removals are up 40% in central Montreal, the city is also investing more than ever in murals and public art. Read more.

The monumental photo archives of 19th-century Montrealer William Notman—400,000 prints and 200,000 glass negatives—have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. Read more.

Archeologists uncovered stone tools over 6,000 years old at a future skating rink site in Sorel-Tracy, offering rare insight into Quebec’s prehistoric past. Read more.

Not the noodle factory! A historic building in Montreal’s Chinatown is fenced off after chunks of its façade began falling—just ahead of its 200th anniversary. Read more.

A no-photos-allowed supper club hidden beneath Old Montreal, Bowie channels glam-era opulence with velvet, marble, and a mirror-backed bar. Read more.

Quebec’s new Bill 109 would require streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify to boost the visibility of French-language content—or face penalties. Read more.

Ten 2SLGBTQ+ groups have cut ties with Fierté Montréal, accusing the Pride organization of prioritizing corporate interests over community needs. 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 / Anahi Pellathy, Editorial Intern