Café Cleopatra

I’m always on the hunt for new experiences for my wife and I, whether that’s a concert, a restaurant, an art gallery, or something completely unexpected. That’s how I discovered the Carnival of Madness cabaret at Café Cléopatra. Carnival of Madness is an underground variety show blending burlesque, drag, comedy, music, and live performance. It looked fun, eccentric, and creative while supporting local artists and performers, which immediately appealed to me. Part of the draw, however, was the venue itself. Café Cléopatra is one of the last surviving landmarks connected to Montréal’s historic Red Light district and one of the few still operating for its original purpose: entertaining people. The ground floor operates as a strip club, which I didn’t have a chance to visit. The upstairs, where the show was held, is Montréal’s oldest surviving cabaret venue. Walking through the doors felt like stepping back in time. The stage, the lighting, the little round tables and booths… it all felt wonderfully untouched by modern trends. Exactly how a place like this should feel. We grabbed a drink, found our seats, and settled in. The room was already packed with a wonderfully diverse crowd. Many guests had embraced the theme and arrived in creative, edgy, and sometimes delightfully outrageous outfits. We didn’t dress up ourselves, but it was fun being surrounded by people who had. One of the things I appreciated most was how welcoming the environment felt. This is an artistic, LGBTQ+ inclusive space where people are encouraged to come exactly as they are. You could feel that positivity from the moment you walked in. Between the energy of the performers, the creativity of the acts, the glow of the old red lights, and the fascinating crowd around us, I was entertained from beginning to end. My only complaint is that the show lasted three hours and somehow I still wished it was longer. Montréal is lucky to have places like Café Cléopatra. When much of the surrounding area was redeveloped, the owner fought to save the building from demolition. It’s interesting that we often celebrate and preserve grand churches, monuments, and government buildings, while places dedicated to fun, entertainment, and everyday culture are more easily dismissed. Personally, I think places like this are every bit as important. They tell a different side of a city’s story. A more human side. A special thank you to Flame Fatale Productions, host Dom Sidian, and the talented performers and artists who made the evening memorable, including Flame Fatale, Luna Veronica, Moonshine Sunshine, Polymorphexxx, Steve Winchester, La Freak Du Show, Sinistrosa, SynchroSyn, Miss Behave, and Dagger. I’m grateful Café Cléopatra survived, and I look forward to returning.

Not good, the guy at the entrance doesn't know how to treat customers. We go there to have fun, and they don't care what the customer wants. Plus, they ask for your place in an intimidating way, otherwise you can't get in.

The bald guy at the entrance is terrible; he demands a mandatory tip. The atmosphere is just awful.

Had a great time. Girls were great. Prices were a throwback to the 90s. Highly recommend. For the whining about the Doorman, he was polite and direct about the rules and expectations which were not out of line for a strip club, lol. He said entry was simply a tip at the door. Buddy tipped $20 and he said it was good for the whole group. I would way rather have that then $10-$20 cover for each person. Doorman, bartenders, servers, and dancers were all friendly and low-pressure. I have no doubt the people complaining have either never been to a strip club, or just the type of people who look for a reason to be butt hurt about everything. Grow up, lol.

Last time,I went (±5 years ago), I asked the goon at the entrance, if a certain girl still worked there. He presured me to pay him $. After paying him ±10,he only gave me a vaguely "YES". 🥴 I have never wanted to return, ever since! 🤬 I ha