Paying homage to the owner's grandmother's pharmacy, Baldwin Barmacie has a remedy for what ails you: a menu of beer, wine, Champagne, and other sparklers from Italy, France, and Portugal, plus an endless formulary of cocktails. Located in the Mile End neighborhood, the crowd is snappily dressed and intellectual—and often engaged in loud debate under clusters of bubbly orange lights that recall vitamin E capsules. Arrive before midnight if you want a seat, but you'll probably end up shaking it anyway, to funk, electro, or top 40 and alternative dance hits, depending on the night.

A minimalist wine bar in the happening Mile End neighborhood, Bu benefits from having a young and easygoing staff with a no-snobbery approach to wine connoisseurship. As a result, Bu is an inviting stop for both newcomers and aficionados. Twenty-five vintages are available weekly by the glass, and the bottle list is 500 strong. A bonus for the thirtysomething crowd: It's open late and also serves small Italian dishes, such as vitello tonnato or Caprese salad.

Montréal's gay clubbers are young, sexy, and plugged in. Leading the party cry is Le Parking, where dancers of all orientations pulse to a different genre each night—save Fridays and Saturdays, which are reserved for les garçons. DJ Frigid has a hot-blooded following, making his Sunday night Electruck party a fun and sweaty romp for both sexes. Le Parking is located just off St. Catherine Street, the main artery for gay life (1296 Amherst St.; www.parkingbar.com; Thurs.–Sun. 10 p.m.–3 a.m.). For those who don't like to dance, or who prefer to just relax in style, there's Le Drugstore, a gay-friendly entertainment complex with eight bars and a few pool tables. The city's lesbian population frequents this place on Friday nights (1366 St. Catherine St. E.; 514-524-1960; daily, 8 a.m.–3 a.m.). Cabaret Mado is a straight-up drag bar with live performances and dancing, and a happy hour between 4 and 9 (1115 St. Catherine St. E.; 514-525-7566; www.mado.qc.ca; daily, 11 a.m.–3 a.m.). After the clubs close, head to Stereo, an enormous after-hours affair for shirtless Tom of Finland types as well as straight dancers who want to keep on beyond the break of dawn. The lineup is studded with star DJs like Austin Leeds and Steve Porter (858 St. Catherine St. E.; 514-286-0325; www.stereo-nightclub.com; Fri.–Sat., 2 a.m.–11 a.m.).

Montréal is famous for its summer Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, held in late June through early July. The free shows are great, but check out the website well in advance to pick up tickets to the gala events; they sell out briskly. The programming includes a very broad definition of jazz: Bob Dylan, Angélique Kidjo, and Harry Connick, Jr. are all part of the 2007 lineup (www.montrealjazzfest.com). Of course, fans can get their fix year-round at the House of Jazz, an elegant Louisiana-inspired restaurant and entertainment venue downtown. Expect to hear the finest in live Canadian jazz from performers such as Oscar Peterson (2060 Aylmer St.; 514-842-8656; www.houseofjazz.ca). Nearby, Upstairs jazz bar hosts a revolving roster of young Montréal and Toronto jazz singers and musicians—check out the jam sessions here during the Jazz Fest (1254 Mackay St.; 514-931-6808; www.upstairsjazz.com).

Montréal is a haven for live music. Most established indie acts play at Sala Rossa, a Spanish social center on St. Laurent Boulevard, where the grubbiness of the concert hall is offset by an old-fashioned chandelier (4848 St. Laurent Blvd.; 514-284-0122; www.casadelpopolo.com/salaconcert/home.shtml). Across the street is sister establishment Casa Del Popolo, a little sandwich joint where up-and-coming bands play to squished audiences—arrive early (4873 St. Laurent Blvd.; 514-284-3804; www.casadelpopolo.com/casa/home.html). Up in the almost-suburban St. Hubert shopping district, cavelike Zoo Bizarre showcases the next-big-things on the Francophone indie-rock circuit, like Duchess Says and Call Me Poupée. Shows get primal and go till the wee hours (6388 St. Hubert St.; www.zoobizarre.org). Located in the Plateau, Le Divan Orange is more restrained, with an upright piano, cozy couches, and a menu of gourmet salads. The music is usually less trendy, with a focus on rock, jazz, and world beat (4234 St. Laurent Blvd.; 514-840-9090; www.ledivanorange.org).

This dance club in Old Montréal has everything you'd expect from an exclusive spot: bottle service, VIP areas, and menacing bouncers who won't let you in without a wait and a frisk for weapons. The crowd is a mix of party boys, mini-skirted Montréal molls, and gregarious gangsters (both real and wannabe) knocking back snifters of Louis XIII cognac as the DJs spin house, techno, and club music. The lasers on the pounding dance floor make you feel like you're in Tron.

Open Thursdays through Saturdays.