Guide: 18 fun ways to meet people & make friends in Montreal

I’ve visited Montreal multiple times over the years, and it’s one of my favorite cities in the world…

Ian Chew, MHFA

Written by: Ian Chew, MHFA

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Ian Chew, MHFA
Ian Chew, MHFA
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I’ve visited Montreal multiple times over the years, and it’s one of my favorite cities in the world. Canadian manners, European charm — what else can you ask for?

My friend AK has been to Montreal even more often than I have, and here’s her impression of the city:

“Montreal is a place where if you are sitting on a patio having a drink and start talking to people at a neighboring table, they will chat back…”

Now, as friendly as Montreal might be, where do you meet new people and make new friends?

Based on my experience — as well as my interviews with Montrealers, Sophie Doyle and Meghan Emcee  — here are 18 ways to do so. 

Sophie Rose
Meghan Emcee

And before I jump into the list of ideas I have, let’s address the elephant in the room…

The real challenge of new friendships isn’t where… it’s how 

Most other articles on meeting new people are almost exclusively focused on social venues and activities. The writers assume that the problem is where… when that’s only half the equation. 

The other half of the puzzle is actually way more important: the how, i.e. mindset, of sparking new friendships as an adult. This is especially critical if you have social anxiety. You might be at the perfect spot to strike up conversations, but if you’re too anxious, the location won’t make any difference. 

That’s why I put together a “social anxiety starter pack” for you — a list of articles that address social anxiety before, during, and after conversations. Check them out below:  

Now that’s covered, let’s jump into the list of the best places to find new friends: 

Learn how to speak French 

While you can absolutely get by with English, I highly recommend learning French: it’s the official city language, and 58% of people speak French as their first language (as of 2022).  

You could get a private tutor on Superprof, or attend one of the French language schools below: 

(As a multilingual speaker, my advice is to speak the local language as soon as possible. Knowing even a few words and phrases can make a huge difference.)

I recommend joining meetup groups like French English MEETUP de conversation Français-Anglais, Montreal Social Conversation Meetup, or Mundo Lingo Montreal. 

Hop on the bike 

Montreal is the only Canadian city to rank on the 2022 Global Bicycle Cities Index. In fact, more and more Montrealers are biking through the winter — that’s pretty hardcore if you ask this cold wimp!

But what’s the connection between cycling and meeting new people? 

Just like how having a pet will attract other pet owners to you, being a cyclist helps you befriend other cyclists too. By simply saying “Oh, you cycle around the city too?”, you will very likely spark a friendly conversation.  

Here are a few ways to get to know fellow bikers: 

“But Ian, where do I get a bike!?” I gotchu — Montreal has an awesome bike-sharing system called BIXI and its bicycle stations are spread throughout the city. 

Volunteer at Canada’s oldest art museum 

Credit: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Another way to meet like-minded folks — one that’s less challenging than talking up strangers — is volunteering. A study shows that volunteers have more social connections than non-volunteers.  

You could volunteer at a museum, a nonprofit, or even a festival. So many opportunities, so little time! 

My recommendation? Volunteer at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. As the oldest art museum in Canada, it’s an absolutely gorgeous piece of architecture, and it has all-year-round exhibitions and events.  

If you love the arts, here’s a list of art volunteering opportunities.

Volunteer at other museums  

Volunteer at The Yellow Door  

I adore the mission of The Yellow Door: they help reduce social isolation and nurture intergenerational relationships, which is similar to what I do with Deeper Conversations. 

And when it comes to making friends as a volunteer, their executive director, Katilin Fahey, shared the following advice with me: 

“Attend as many of the trainings, volunteer appreciation events, and other gatherings as you can! Also, seeking out opportunities — like what we offer via our Generations program (where youth volunteers are paired with a senior for friendly visits) — is a great way to make a new friend!”

Here are a few other nonprofits that you could consider:

You can also search for the latest nonprofit volunteer opportunities here.

Volunteer at the Pop Montreal Festival 

Credit: POP Montreal

Festival volunteering typically takes less commitment, since it’s either once-a-year or a one-time thing. And, the merrymaking nature of festivals can certainly help foster new friendships! 

22 years and running, POP Montreal is an international art & music festival. Other festivals that accept volunteers include: 

Note: I will do my best to update this list from time to time, but if it gets outdated, email me at ianchew.x @ gmail.com or just Google “montreal festival volunteer“

Attend the Tams Tams in the summer 


Thanks to Meghan Emcee, a Montrealer, for the recommendation! 

From May 1st to July 31st, the Tams Tams is a weekly free festival in Mont Royal where people hang out, eat and drink, and dance to the beat of drums. You will also find a variety of artisans selling their handmade crafts.

Credit: Hussein Abdallah

As you can see, it’s quite the turnout! To have more fun and less stress at the Tams Tams, here’s what you need. 

Learn a useful life skill at Les Affutés

One of my favorite ways to make new friends is learning something together. Not only will you share the same experience — which gives you a wealth of things to talk about — you’ll more likely find someone who’s aligned with your interests. 

The good news is… you don’t have to go back to school if you want to pick up a new skill or hobby 🙂 

I’m a fan of Les Affutés, as their mission to teach manual skills — from carpentry to sewing — is so important in an increasingly digital world. I mean, when was the last time you created something cool with your hands? (No, instant ramen does NOT count.) 

To find other classes that you might be interested in, check out the following links: 

(If you still prefer a school environment, check out short programs at McGill University or Concordia University.)

Trade ideas with fellow hobbyists

As I mentioned, having a common interest makes conversations a lot easier. 

This isn’t a complete list by any means, but I picked out popular hobby groups that are still active i.e. organized events in the last month or so. 

👉 Recommended article: 29 hobbies conversation starters to spark meaningful conversations 

Now, if you can’t find a hobby group that you’re interested in — and you’re particularly ambitious — not start a Meetup group of your own? By being in a leadership position — as intimidating as that might be — you will become a conversation magnet. 

An easier alternative is joining a local social group. For example: 

Join the Montréal Social Network

Want to skyrocket your chances of making new friends 🚀? Find people who are ready to mingle. In other words, join social groups. 

To find the best social groups in Montreal, I made sure to find those that have had events in the last month and have 1k+ members (a group can die if it doesn’t have enough members, especially as old members leave).

Attend a Montreal Improv class 

Credit: Aude Vanlathem

Want to learn, laugh, and make new friends all at the same time? Try improv comedy! Here’s what my friend Sophie said: 

“I know people from out of town who have made friends through joining the vibrant improv comedy scene, as one example of getting involved in activities as an adult.” 

Specifically, she recommended Impro Montréal / Montreal Improv. The one I went to, Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, is another great option.

Sweat it out at U.N.I Training


Working out together helps you bond better (see research here). But where should you work out in Montreal?

Find one that has group classes like U.N.I Training, which gives you a lot more opportunities to chat up fellow gym-goers. In a conventional gym, talking with other people might be harder, especially when they are wearing sports earbuds.

👉 Recommended article: 8 easy ways to talk to people at a gym (without being creepy)

If you aren’t sure about U.N.I. training, you could get a ClassPass subscription and sample various gyms in the city. Or, check out the list I curated:

Other group fitness classes

If you aren’t a gym person, here’s an alternative: 

Join a sports/fitness group 

Shake your butt at Universal Dance Studio

If you love dancing, Montreal might be the city for you. Well, if you have folks mass-protesting to open up the dance floors during COVID, isn’t that saying something? 

Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

And when it comes to making new friends, dancing infuses playfulness into your interactions, which can make things less stressful for you. (Now, if you have two left feet, no worries! Just join a beginner class or get a private tutor.) 

Four minutes of walking from the lovely Marché Atwater — my favorite market in the city — Universal Dance Studio teaches various dance styles, from ballroom dance to East Coast Swing to salsa.  

For studios that specialize in a specific dance style, check out the list below: 

Work out of Maison Notman and meet fellow professionals

Given the open office nature of coworking spaces, I’ve found it much easier to strike up conversations — even while soaping my hands in the public washroom! 

Located in one of Montreal’s most historic buildings, Maison Notman (Notman House) is a coworking space that I recommend. Memberships start at $80/month. 

Here are a few other coworking spaces that others have rated highly: 

👉 Recommended article: 10 easy ways to start a conversation with a coworking space member (without being awkward)  

Join a Montreal-based professional association

This is a low-hanging fruit if you would like to meet other people in the same field. To give you an idea, here are a few associations in the city:

Join an online community 

If joining a coworking space or a professional association feels too much at first, try online communities. Here are a few that I would recommend (still active, relatively spam-free):

Attend a business conference or networking event 

One of the biggest reasons why people attend business events is to make professional connections — whether it’s meeting industry peers, finding potential collaborators or partners, or learning from top experts.

Here are a few helpful resources for you: 

Visit one of Montreal’s beautiful religious buildings 

Montreal’s architecture. Mmhmm. Yummy. I mean… check this out:


Anyway, the point isn’t about ogling pretty buildings. It’s about how religious attendance is proven to lead to more relationships. So, here’s a list of Montreal’s top-rated places of worship: 

The key is regular attendance so that you become a familiar (read: friendly) face (I talked about why that’s so underrated in this article).  

👉 Recommended article: 5 church conversation starters to make new friends

Now, if you are an atheist or agnostic, there’s CFI Montreal: Skeptics, Atheists, and Secular Humanists.

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