A perfect Saturday night with: PONY

This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

Gabrielle Laïla Tittley makes art that hugs you back—but not before it slaps you with a little existential dread. Known widely by her moniker PONY, the Montreal artist has built a universe of cracked hearts, anxious yetis, and house-on-fire optimism that feels less like branding and more like a coping mechanism in plush form. Through murals, merch, and mood swings you can wear, she channels the big feelings so many of us are too burnt out to name.

Here’s what a perfect Saturday night looks like according to her.

The apéro

Messorem

2233 Pitt — Le Sud-Ouest

"The best open-air terrasse in Montreal? Easy: Messorem. Beers (and slushies) for every taste, a laid-back vibe, and close enough to the canal if you want to pretend you’re getting some cardio in before your Saturday spiral begins. A Montreal gem—a big backyard full of all kinds of people, a spitting image of the city itself."

The dinner

Marci

6600 Saint-Hubert — La Petit-Patrie

"I’ve got a big crush on Marci. It’s in the same neighbourhood as my shop, the legendary Plaza St-Hubert. Good wine, $10 martinis (!!!), affordable pizza, and plenty of veg options that don’t taste like a punishment. High chance of running into someone you know. Think Swiss chalet meets romantic-cozy vibes—my kind of scene."

The bar

Bruno Sport Bar

313 Beaubien East — Littly Italy

To digest (or keep drinking—let’s be honest), we head to Bruno. The best spot in town to watch any game, with a Negroni in one hand and your sports-fan heart in the other. It’s a family bar—bartenders bound by blood or by shots. Warm, communal, and 100% real.

The club

Le Système

7119 Saint-Hubert — La Petite-Patrie

"Not far from Marci and Bruno: Système. Hands down, the best club in the city. Killer DJs, drinks for every taste. It’s intimate, intense, open—everything a proper party spot should be. You roll in at midnight, and you don’t leave until the lights come on."

The midnight snack

Boustan

(Various addresses)

"Post-club classic: I stumble out of Système and realize I haven’t eaten in a century (read: since 8 p.m.). Next stop: Boustan, where the boys bless us with their late-night presence ‘til 4 a.m. on weekends. Option 1: garlic potato poutine. Option 2: the vegan plate. Best preemptive strike against a hangover."

The after-after

Le fleuve, un verre, le ciel

"If we’ve still got a bit of energy—and the weather’s on our side—we head down to the Old Port for one last drink. Quick pit stop to grab a bottle of something funky, then we’re off to find the river. We scope out a quiet spot and pour one final glass as the sky starts to lighten. Sunday might be toast, but we just locked in some core memories from an unforgettable Saturday in Montreal."

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