Things to do in Montréal this week: July 26–August 1

This week splits cleanly: a warm, nearly dry Sunday into Monday, then a steady wet stretch that lasts until Friday's clearing. Plan accordingly—get outdoors while you can, then embrace the indoor stage nights when the drizzle sets in.

Cat Power takes the Beanfield Theatre on Monday, July 27 at 8 p.m. Chan Marshall's solo work—rooted in folk, indie rock, and indie folk—has carved a particular space between vulnerability and precision; this is a show worth the ticket if you value singers who can hold silence. The weather that day stays dry enough for a patio dinner before the show; Jacopo on the Plateau serves straightforward Italian cooking at a reasonable pitch, a solid pre-show meal.

If you want pure spectacle and comedy wrapped together, Lucy Darling performs at L'Olympia on Sunday, July 26 at 5 p.m., with a second show the same evening. Carisa Hendrix, the Canadian magician and fire eater behind the Lucy Darling persona, draws from Golden Age Hollywood wisecracking characters—think elaborate stage presence, actual fire, and deadpan humour. Sunday's overcast warmth (18 to 29 degrees) is ideal for an early show; the Als take on Hamilton Tiger-Cats that evening at Percival Molson if you want football after.

Tuesday and Wednesday turn wet—heavy drizzle Tuesday, rain showers Wednesday with temps dipping to 20 degrees. This is your window for theatre and sit-down venues. L'Express on Saint-Denis, the iconic Montreal bistro now in the 2026 Michelin Guide, feels built for exactly these nights: black-and-white tile, zinc bar, French classics without the transatlantic flight. The room has weight and history; it earns a reservation when the rain is heavy.

Thursday stays damp but drying toward Friday, which clears entirely (18 to 28 degrees, only 16 per cent rain). This is your move-outside day. If you have an afternoon free, the Mountain—Mont-Royal proper—rewards a walk; bring coffee from Café Saint-Henri, the specialty roaster's new location on the Notre-Dame Basilica courtyard. The 200-year-old stone wall they've exposed is worth seeing, and the custom blend is strong enough to justify the detour into Old Montreal.

For eating through the week, Maggie Oakes (bar and grill, upscale) handles the rainy-night craving for something more refined than comfort food but not precious; Pigeon Café & Bar does breakfast and lunch well if you want to start the day solid before catching a daytime show. Friday night, once the rain lifts, a patio opens the week properly again.

On the South Shore in Brossard (about 12 kilometres from downtown—a short drive if you're willing), Louis-José Houde, the French-Canadian actor and comedian, brings his stand-up to Theatre Manuvie on Friday and Saturday nights (three shows across July 31 and August 1). Houde's film work (Bon Cop, Bad Cop, Father and Guns, Compulsive Liar) has built a strong local following; if stand-up is your night, the drive is worth it.

If I had one night this week, I'd take Cat Power on Monday before the weather turns—a singer of real weight, a dry evening, and the week still open ahead.