Fun Things to Do After Work in Montreal
From improv and comedy to board games and karaoke — how to unwind after your 9-to-5
Long day at work? Boss riding your back like no one’s business? It can be difficult to find ways to properly unwind after a stressful day, which is why it’s important to find activities that help you disconnect from work and reconnect with being an actual human being again. If you’re looking for fun things to do after your 9-to-5 in Montreal, this guide is for you.
Improv
Improv is one of the best ways to let go and leave your problems at the door because it trains you to be present, playful, and unafraid of looking silly. Good improv is not about being the funniest person in the room; it is about reacting honestly to what someone gives you. It also makes awkwardness less scary because awkwardness becomes material.
Montreal Improv is one of the best places in the city to explore improv comedy. They offer beginner classes, trial classes, student grad shows, and more than 400 shows a year in both English and French. It’s also a surprisingly good way to meet people after work without the pressure of networking events.
Comedy
Sometimes, if you’re having a terrible day, comedy is the best possible option. Comedy on Mackay hosts two English stand-up comedy shows every Tuesday at 8 PM and 10 PM at N sur Mackay, featuring curated lineups of local Montreal comedians.
The 10 PM shows often include themed nights like Lost in Traduction, The Secret Comedy Show, and Only in Montreal. And honestly, if your workday was bad enough, we also host a monthly open mic where you can complain publicly about your job and somehow turn your suffering into entertainment.
Board Games
If you want something social without needing to scream over nightclub music, board game cafés are a great option. Randolph Pub Ludique and Le Colonel Moutarde are popular spots where groups can relax, play games, drink, and slowly forget they answered emails for eight hours straight.
Structured play makes socializing easier because it gives everyone something to focus on besides awkward small talk.
Creative Nights
Sometimes the best thing after work is making something with your hands instead of staring at another screen. Montreal has a lot of creative workshops and low-pressure art nights where people can paint, draw, sculpt, or experiment creatively without needing to be professional artists.
Art Chaos and Dr. Lemco’s Creative Club are great options if you want something playful, collaborative, and a little chaotic in a good way.
Karaoke
If your brain is completely fried after work, karaoke is honestly therapeutic. Pang Pang Karaoke is great for groups because private rooms let everyone relax and sing badly together without worrying about strangers judging them.
Usually, once one person commits fully to a terrible song choice, the entire room loosens up.
Walk Through Old Montreal
Not everything after work has to involve spending a lot of money. One of the nicest things you can do in Montreal is simply walk through Old Montreal or by the Old Port after work during the summer. Street performers, outdoor terraces, festivals, and the general chaos of the city make it easy to mentally clock out for the evening.
Late-Night Coffee Shops
Sometimes you do not want a loud activity at all. Montreal has plenty of cafés where you can sit with a friend, read, journal, decompress, or quietly recover from corporate trauma. Café Myriade, Café Olimpico, and Crew Collective & Café are all solid choices depending on the vibe you want.
At the end of the day, work is work, but Montreal is one of those cities where it is still possible to stumble into a weird little activity, meet people unexpectedly, and accidentally have a good night after a bad day.
