The bar & venue were great, great shows put on & a good price. Event bartender was super nice & friendly, but the short blonde haired bartender downstairs was very unfriendly & rude, a lot of customers there I talked to said the same thing about her. Asked what was on tap because half of them were in French & we were also on the side of the bar (the taps were in the front of the bar) & we couldn't read them. & she goes'whatever you can see is what we have' & we explained that we couldn't read them & she goes'Budweiser isn't French' & ignored what I said about the position that we were in. Rest of the night she gave us attitude & crappy service, we still did tip though.
What a cool & unique venue. Attended the Montreal Oi! Fest & it was a fabulous time. The downstairs is simple sprawling, thought the wait times for beers is a bit long. Maybe different if sitting & being waited on. But the upstairs was great they had 2 bars & a very large space the servers were bang on! My only complaint is $8 for a PBR can buy a 30 pack in the US for that much lol..! The room for the show was a decent size for what I was there to see & the sound was pretty decent too. All the staff were great as well. Can't say enough good about this place I will absolutely be back
Overall Impression:
An institution in Montréal's live music scene, authentic, inclusive, & unapologetically energetic.
What I liked:
Les Foufounes Électriques brings me right back to the alternative rock scene of the 1990s. I didn't grow up in Montréal or visit in my youth, but this is one of the few places that truly captures the spirit of that era in a way that still feels genuine today.
It somehow manages to honour that time while remaining relevant for both my generation & those discovering it now. You'll find punks, goths, metalheads, & music lovers of all kinds here… along with people of all identities & orientations. It's a place where everyone belongs.
Come solo, as a couple, or with a group… the space easily accommodates all.
Atmosphere & vibe:
Located in the Quartier des Spectacles, it's centrally positioned near theatres, restaurants, & other nightlife spots, including the nearby Village.
Expect it to be loud & lively. If you're looking for a quiet drink, this probably isn't the place. But if you want energy, live music, & a crowd that feels part of something shared, it delivers.
Keep an eye out for shows as well. While I haven't attended one yet, I've certainly heard them from downstairs while enjoying a drink.
Service:
Service is usually quick & friendly.
On one occasion, a new member of the security staff didn't allow us to sit on the patio with our small dog after we had already ordered drinks… despite having done so many times previously. It was a minor inconvenience & likely the result of someone new to the role, & not something that would deter us from returning.
Who this is good for:
Anyone looking for a high-energy, inclusive venue with a strong sense of identity & history in Montréal's alternative music scene.
Closing:
A genuinely unique space that continues to bring people together across generations.
Add-on (return visit)
While out on a stroll this evening, I heard the music spilling out onto the street, the kind of pull this place has… & decided to treat myself to a pint.
On my own this time, I sat at the bar instead of my usual spot, which gave me a different perspective.
It's not to say the place lacks identity… far from it. The round tables & chairs are fantastic, the patio is incredible on an early summer day, & the building itself, inside & out is a piece of art. There's a raw, authentic energy here that very few places manage to hold onto.
But behind the bar, it feels different.
Everything is there from a functional standpoint… bottles, glassware, stacked plastic cups, fridges, POS systems. It does exactly what it needs to do. But visually, it feels almost stripped back. In a place with this much history, you expect to see it reflected… old photos, memorabilia, something that tells the story of who's passed through.
There's even what looks like a wig stand sitting high on a shelf… but no wig. Which somehow says everything.
One last thought.. if the history isn't going to live there, there's a real opportunity to bring the outside in. Montréal has incredible graffiti artists, & carrying some of that raw, outdoor energy into the bar area could transform it.
The rest of the space feels curated & alive, this could too.
Just my two cents.
