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Les Foufounes électriques
Categories: Nightlife Bars Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Bars, Music Venues [Edit]
87 St. Catherine EMontreal, QC H2X 1K5
(514) 844-5539
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 3 pm - 3 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- DJ, Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
22 reviews for Les Foufounes électriques
Review Highlights
"...find a slice of the metal / punk scene, north of the border."
(in 7 reviews)
"...and one day I hope to grace it with my rock-n-roll styles."
(in 2 reviews)
"There's a downstairs which is cool- this place really is..."
(in 5 reviews)
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20 reviews in English
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Review from Yelper Y.
Ottawa, ON
10/12/2011
Awesome place!
Looks like somewhere hardcore people go to headbang, and while this might be true, it's definitely just as much fun for those of us who are more "boring"! There was a special on Coors Light for $2.50 before 8 o'clock, so me and my party of two loaded up. They had quite the extensive drink list, including coolers, cocktails, and all your regular beer. There was a fenced area outside near the sidewalk which seemed to be most popular, but a lot of seating inside beside the (very cool) paintings next to the bar and out at the back as well. The lighting was super dim and made for a seductive atmosphere.
No dance floor, but the music was loud and the crowd seemed fun (looked pretty much full of 20-40 year olds that night, so kind of perfect for pretty much all ages). No cover charge at street-level, though I hear there's an upstairs you do have to pay some money to go to (though I was very happy on the first floor and probably wouldn't have had more fun elsewhere!)
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to have a fun night out! -
Review from Clare L.
8/14/2011 1 photo
The giant spider is gone!!!!! (but the hippo head remains!) I haven't been here since 2006 and for my friend she hadn't been there for 7 years. We were checking out the scene at Under Pressure, when we saw the new mural going up, so we decided it could be a good time to chill have a beer and watch the artists at work.
All the memories started rolling back, when my friend recognized the bouncer and was like "omg same guy has been working here for like 10 years." I guess they must be doing something right for their staff to keep em happy.
We loved the $2.50 happy hour, and we loved the wide mix of people that were there. Miraculously ran into a few people that I have seen in ages too! Overall friendly and great atmosphere with people ranging from kids age (with their parents) to 60s. We chilled here for about 4 hours watching the mural transform, and chatting with people around us. Good times! -
Review from Tracey L.
Montréal, QC
7/26/2011
I've been going to Foufounes Electriques for the past 10 years, and it definitely accommodates itsaging patrons. In my youth, I used to pay the cover and go Fridays or Saturdays for the cheap drinks upstairs and stay til last call. Ten years later, I go for the early evening beers downstairs.
Foufs is a central hangout in Montreal for people who enjoy punk, metal and alternative music in general. The drinks are relatively cheap and they've got a decent variety of beer (though the cheapest is Molson... blech).
The upstairs is where the stage is, if there's a show going on. When there's no show, it's just filled with people who like to headbang to "Ace of Spades" and mosh to recorded music. There are loads of stupid haircuts up here.
The downstairs crowd often runs a bit older than the upstairs crowd, so I hang out downstairs (unless there's a show going on). There's a 4-8 p.m. happy hour every day, a big terrasse, a couple waitresses, a DJ and a fully-stocked bar. There's also a few cheap eats around for the drunk munchies! -
Review from Stella T.
12/25/2010
One of my favorite bars in Montreal by far. Everyone that I had met/hung out in Montreal were pretty cool and resembled a lot of my American friends, but only differed in that they spoke French and English with a cute accent and pursed lips.
I'm not much of a club or rave person, so I was really excited when all my friends decided that we would go barhopping. And after we pregamed a little in other bars, we happened to stumble upon this bar. I immediately liked the scene. Finally, it was DIFFERENT. Yeah, the poutine was a cultural shock, but I wanted something distinctly different from what I did on the daily in home sweet California.
The bar serves to a more alternative crowd -- punks and the like -- and so the drinking was different from most of the other bars we visited. We drank until everyone was beautiful and went upstairs to hang out and watch people dance. There was a mosh pit, swear to god.
Anyways, I def recommend if you're in Montreal. Good vibes and it really is just a cool place. -
Review from Bobby A.
4/6/2010
Montreal's answer to NY's CBGB's or Max's Kansas City (if you don't know those two places then you're not old enough to read this review)
Foufounes heyday was definitely the late 1980's-early 90's, I remember seeing the likes of k.d lang, nitzer ebb, KMFDM and 808 State here. Going now, it's almost a let-down and you get the feeling they're just trying a little too hard to re-create the magic of those early days. Now it's all these affluent suburban kids "rebelling" and trying to come across as "hardcore" when you know in less than a couple of years from now, they'll be climbing those corporate ladders they so profess to hate right now.
Wasn't always like that. Back in the day, things were grittier, the attitudes were fiercer, the music was much more authentic and so was the audience. Were we back in 1988, I'd give it a full 5 stars, but it's always sad to see a place live largely on it's reputation and not what it offers now so I'll have to give 2 stars. -
Review from Joey H.
3/26/2009 1 photo
French for "Electric Ass", Les Foufounes Electriques is nothing short of a high-voltage den of misfits that serves Montreal's punk, metal, and hardcore scene with booze, live music and an atmosphere unlike anything I've ever seen. Foufs has been referred to as Canada's answer to CBGBs. It is in this native New Yorker's opinion that Montreal has shown us how it's properly done. (Awaits hate mail from angry NYCers. Bring it!)
Our tour bus inches down Rue St-Dominique's elegantly narrow pavement and ducks into an alley, behind a few residences opposite a high, chain-linked fence. I get off to have a smoke and admire the art that is literally exploding out of this alley. A few stage hands come out of Foufs back door and take us to the stage. It's fantastic, runnable and high enough to bust something, should you land incorrectly. After doing a sound check, myself and a few other guys head out the front entrance of the performance room...and thats when I noticed the twisted interior of Foufs.
It's two floors of twisted metal with an evil, furry tarantula guarding the patio. Smoke billows in and out of every crevice of this place and the music can be heard from anywhere. It was a while ago, but I remember a whole string of great places to grab food to fuel up before the gig. I remember picking up a few slices of pizza across the street and some smokes down the block, then resigning to the patio, with a beer, to stare at this wicked creature hanging above the gate.
The room and house system were better than I had expected. A really great crew can really add to the experience of any performing artist. The entire venue is professionally staffed and our night went off on schedule, which is very rare in this business. At each turn of Foufs, you're beckoned and pulled by the art that bleeds out of the wall. It's almost as if this place is alive and breathing; it sends a shock through your whole body; even the restrooms were masterfully crafted to grunge-like, industrial beauty.
A strong recommendation for anyone looking to find a slice of the metal / punk scene, north of the border. I'd call this place home, if it didn't require a passport.Listed in: North American Club Tour
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Review from Evilyn T.
5/20/2010 5 photos
Hell yes! Can I uproot this place and bring it back to Vancouver? This is one of the biggest alternative pubs I have been to, and one of the best. I was surprised that an establishment this big could exist without a kitchen, as I know the bylaws in Vancouver are VERY different when it comes to drinking. The cool thing about Montreal people is that they just like to drink and party, it doesn't matter that the place is "alternative" and attracts punks, goths, and alterna-jocks. We actually can all live together in one place! Hurray!
I came here last time I was in Montreal, and we came back today for a mid-afternoon drink, and by the time we left, the place was overloaded with Habs fans, who are probably still getting shit-faced because the Habs won game 7! Woohoo!
I started with a cesar and ended with a pitcher of sangria, and both were decent. At FouFounes, you will find yourself surrounded by photographic art, tables that have been decorated with band posters, and gates decorated with really cool iron sculptures. The DJ booth is especially rad, and one day I hope to grace it with my rock-n-roll styles. The bathrooms downstairs are spray painted with graffiti, and look super punk rock, and the men's room is great for a photo op - empty or not! J'adore Foufounes! -
Review from Perci N.
8/12/2008 1 photo
Whoever classified Foufs as a Comedy Club and Shopping has obviously never been here...
Les Foufounes Electriques translates into "The Electric Buttcheeks", seriously. XD Above the entrance on perpetual party street Rue Catherine hangs a giant spider easily ten feet wide. It's not just a punk bar. It's *the* punk bar in Montreal. They've been around for over twenty years -- It's the CBGB's of Canada.
Generally there's a line going out the door on weekend nights -- make sure to bring an ID. They're one of the few places that actually card -- though you would doubt those cards are always valid, as I would bet my life I've seen far more than a few high school/junior high school girls in here waiting in line for the upstairs. (Montreal's definitely liberal on their drinking policy -- God bless a Protestant-influence-free Quebec.)
Fouf's a two-story joint: chill downstairs, or watch the live bands upstairs. It's loud either way. There's an outdoor patio area on both floors for smoking or when you just need some breathing room. I stay below when I go. Go with a bunch of friends. Order some poutines or grab a one-pound burger from next doors (absolutely the best burger I've ever had in my life, seriously), order some of the local blonds -- the beers, not the ladies -- and you've got the foundations for a memorable night.
Ladies night (Thursdays) is always a popular night from what I hear. Free drinks. (Aren't they always, ladies?)
I lurve this place. It's not a Montreal terrasse, but it's still quintessential Montreal. -
Review from Rebecca S.
11/28/2010
La Fin du Mondes. :)
I wouldn't have known about this place, much less have gone here if it weren't for my wonderful traveling companion's distaste for the club scene and everything hip-hop/pop. We were on yelp trying to find a bar that wasn't moonlighting as a club... and we found this place. It's not as rock-centric as we were expecting.. perhaps more punky than anything, but that suited us just fine.
There's a downstairs which is cool- this place really is awesome looking- the art, lights, people... but-
go upstairs. Pay the $8 at the coat check and do it... it's a maze (well, for someone like me who's somewhat directionally challenged, it is.) of people, bars, music, mosh pits... lots going on. We were on a bit of a budget (did you know that many (if not all??) ATMs in Canada don't take Visa??- we didn't.) and it was go up & watch or stay down & drink. We stayed down & drank (and I watched tennis... lol). I was curious though, about where all these people were going. I went up to the bouncer and asked him what was up there. He told me, and then I asked him if I could go up & look around, and he said YES! Are bouncers supposed to be nice??? So, I came back to my friend and reported basically what I reported to you. Next time we come back we're going upstairs! -
Review from Whitney S.
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool bathrooms!
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Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2009
So this place is definitely unique and a great place when you really want to go out hardcore. Friday night they have great techno upstairs...it's $5 cover and the alcohol is dirt cheap.
The only thing bad about this place is the lack of carding means there are quite a bit of under-agers, but it's still a good time. -
Review from Alex S.
10/23/2008
100% awesome. I was thrilled to find that this place was only two blocks from where I was staying. Awesome music, reasonably priced pitchers of beer, a helpful staff, an absolutely gigantic spider out front, loads of awesome graffiti to read while you go to the bathroom, and a name that translates to "the electric buttcheeks"...I mean, what more could you want?
The space is incredibly large, which was a welcome surprise (I am used to being stuffed into small, hot--albeit wonderful--dive bars). I can only imagine how fantastic the live music is here. If I didn't live six hours away, I'd totally be a regular. If you're just visiting, make sure to come hang out here on your first night because you'll definitely want to come back. It's the bomb. I freakin' love Montreal. -
Review from Mathieu B.
Roxboro, QC
2/22/2009
I was born and raised in Montreal and Fouf is one of the most important «alternative» (Punk, Metalhead, Industrial, Goth, Ska and even back in the day Skinhead) bar-club scene. I've been there 3-4 times and there two points of view on that place; An absolute fan that goes there every week-end or even the barfly living 30-40 hours a week there. And the other kind: the one that went a couple of time, had fun but wouldn't go there. If you'r a girl watch your drink and if you guy, watch out the next fight. There is a large ammount of staff to cover the large 2 floors places.
Some of the best time I had there was on a Metal-Punk night, a 5$ cover and 1.25$ the freakin beer! CHAWING! Imagine! 40$ of alcohol can kill you! :P The ambiance was over the edge, really loud. Some random anglo spoke with me when i was pissing and another guy (before i was dressed like a wall-street booker) was pissed at me and wanted to fight. I ignored him, and i think somebody eslse wanted that fight too.
It reminds me of a Modern Punk-Destroy version of a John Ford Western Bar fight.
The other time that it was so fun was at a Show of Reverend Horton Heat who absolutely ROCK THE PLACE! some Rockabilly, young punkish-pin up, Punk and casual dudes were on a mush pit on that tiny little place where you can hardly understand why they're selling so much ticket. This place has pretty much EVERY GOOD UNDERGROUND Scene coming there. the show was intimate and pretty much 20$. a bit expensive BUT 1.25$ per Beer deal was there to make me forgot I've paid 20$ for a show in a place like 50 ft. by 30 ft. -
Review from tamara j.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2010
no very impressed. Bar tenders were beond rude, and inisting you tip, hounding you to tip. Really not cool.
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Review from Wally C.
7/31/2009
I've been here four times. First time was cool, second was cool, third was apparently filled with white supremicists (I didn't notice, but my friends pointed this out to me), and the fourth, I just left because the barmaid saw me and passed me up five times for drinks. I didn't buy anything and just left. This place is for kids. It's huge, which is nice, but just thinking of it makes me pretty angry. Per Joey H's comment, really? The CBGB of Canada? This place is huge, CBGB's tiny...And the bathrooms at Foufs was a lot clearner than CBGB. I probably will never go here again.
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Review from Brinda J.
8/11/2009
Yes this place is really nice. Has a great atmosphere, good drinks, and the music was good. I'd come here again if I come back to Montreal.
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Review from Jeremie D.
12/13/2009
This place is huge. It's a bar (street level) and a night club (upstairs, 5$ cover). The music was mainly rock, hard rock, electro rock et hip hop when I was there. The smoking areas outside have heaters, which is perfect during the cold winter days. The drinks are cheap. The people there are mainly in their early 20's.
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Review from veanne c.
3/26/2009
took a roadtrip to montréal last weekend and stopped by this joint for some beers. it's right off st. laurent street, where all the excitement happens, so you can't miss the massive neon sign.
downstairs was chill, pool tables, tons of places to kick it with your friends.
upstairs, $9CAD cover. loud, but great crowd, early to mid-20's (though they didn't card us, so i'm sure a few underaged kiddies were roaming about).
great if you're into rock and metal. and if you've ever wondered where all the good-looking people are, this is the place.
also, i'm marking this as inexpensive, because coming from new york, a $4CAD beer is good isht. -
Review from nate C.
5/2/2009
We went to montreal for 2 nights not really knowing where to go. we went to foufounes electriques and spent both nights drinking there.
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Review from Carolyn C.
8/11/2009
when I was living in Montreal, this was definitely the funnest place to be -
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