Things to do in Montréal this week: July 19–25

This week splits clean: a dry Sunday and Monday bookend a sodden Tuesday and Wednesday that'll keep you under a roof, then Friday clears just enough for weekend plans. The headline is unmissable—Jerry Seinfeld plays two shows Thursday at Place des Arts, his observational comedy that defined a generation of television landing live at 6:30 PM. Tickets are steep but the room is massive and the draw is real; this is the kind of night locals actually plan around.

Before that, Goldfinger—the ska-punk crew who've been at it for three decades—opens the week Sunday at Théâtre Beanfield at 8:00 PM. It's the kind of high-energy set that works on an overcast July night when you're not fighting heat. If you need dinner before, Jacopo on the Plateau does unpretentious Italian that lands fast; you'll make the 8 o'clock.

Wednesday through Thursday is comedy central. Mark Watson, an English comedian and novelist, plays Cafe Cleopatra Wednesday at 8:30 PM, the same night Sibling Rivalry with Bob The Drag Queen takes L'Olympia at 9:30 PM. Rain is forecast heavy both days—89 percent Wednesday, hanging into Thursday morning—so indoor entertainment is not a concession, it's the plan. Jordan Jensen also performs Wednesday at L'Olympia starting at 7:00 PM if you want an earlier set.

Thursday evening, after Seinfeld wraps at Place des Arts, Joel Kim Booster—the writer and actor behind Fire Island and Loot—performs at Le Studio TD at 7:00 PM. Booster's earned two Emmy nominations for his work; this is sharper material than the comedy-club circuit, and Thursday's weather clears to overcast with just 16 percent rain, so the night feels open.

Friday and Saturday bring Mike Birbiglia and Ashley Gavin, both at Place des Arts and Club Soda respectively. Birbiglia, an Emmy-nominated writer and director of award-winning solo shows, takes Place des Arts Friday at 6:30 PM. Gavin, known for her TikTok crowd work and her podcast, plays Club Soda the same evening at 7:00 PM—a smaller room, looser energy. Friday carries drizzle but nothing that stops you; aim for Maggie Oakes, a proper bar and grill in the Quartier des Spectacles, for a post-show drink and proper food. The Babe Rainbow, an Australian psychedelic rock band from Byron Bay, closes Friday at Théâtre Fairmount at 8:00 PM, their 1960s throwback sound a solid late-week wind-down.

Beyond the stages, L'Express on Saint-Denis earned a spot in the 2026 Michelin Guide—it's the Parisian bistro experience without the flight, all black-and-white tile and a zinc bar. The pho scene remains vital this season, with Le Bay Cà Phê holding top honours from readers, and ramen continues its reign: Yokato Yokabai, Tsukuyomi Ramen, and Kinton Ramen are where the city's noodle hunger actually lands. Rooftop patios across the city—Bivouac in the Quartier des Spectacles, Terrasse Alizé on the ninth floor of Hotel Humaniti—stay open through drizzle if you're willing; they're where to be if Friday clears as forecast suggests.

If you have one night, make it Thursday: Seinfeld is the cultural event of the week, and the weather holds enough to plan around it. Book early.