Maison Amex event in Montreal: Exclusive American Express VIP lounge off-airport (F1 weekend 2026)

In 2024, Amex brought its series of exclusive events to Canada for the first time, and it’s back! So you can experience a cool VIP event this month if you have an American Express premium-level card (no F1 ticket required). There will probably be other Amex benefits for F1 in Montreal (we’ll update our post about those separate benefits once more info is available).

I absolutely adored my Amex Montreal F1 experience in 2024, as well as my many visits to the Amex House events in Miami over the past few years. These Amex events are so little known! It’s a great example of why to follow us to learn pro tips.

We’ll help you get the maximum value out of your cards. Flytrippers helps you travel for less with our free newsletter specifically about travel rewards, our ranking of the best current deals, our monthly live videos, and our infographic with all the basics.

Here are the details of the Maison Amex event in Montreal.

 

What is the Maison Amex event in Montreal?

These exclusive Amex House (or Maison Amex) events can best be described as a nice VIP airport lounge outside the airport, which is fitting given that the best benefit of these premium cards is free lounge access. Amex does these pop-ups during a few select events.

 

Here are the basics of the Maison Amex event in Montreal:

• Special event during the F1 Grand Prix weekend
  • But no F1 ticket is required
• Like a big Amex airport lounge
  • In the city
• Completely free to access
  • Space is limited (125), no reservations are possible
  • A bit smaller than the 2 previous years (175)
• Only open to those who have an Amex premium card
  • Eligible cards are listed right below
  • Supplementary cards (“joint” cards) work too
• 1 free guest is included as well
  • You cannot bring more, not even for a fee
  • Guest must be of legal drinking age
• Complimentary snacks are included
  • By chef Danny Smiles (Le Violon)
  • Ranked #1 Best New Restaurant
  • By Canada’s 100 Best in 2025
• No complimentary alcohol (sadly)
  • Unlike in airport lounges
  • Unlike in Amex Platinum events in Miami
• Event happening for 4 days (May 21-24)
  • From 2 PM to 10 PM

I give you more information about each aspect below.

I’ll certainly go this year once again. Our Flytrippers conference on travel rewards (in French) is on Saturday, so it will be 1 of the other 3 days. I’d love to meet you there! As soon as I decide which day, I’ll announce it in my Instagram stories and update this post.

Amex House events are really a fun exclusive experience, and I’ve always met such interesting people at them.

In fact, I’ve lived close to Montreal or in Montreal my entire life, and honestly, not even once have I ever wanted to be in town for the F1 weekend… and in 2024, I went just for this Maison Amex event, and it was a great time. I would’ve gone back in 2025, but I was in Montenegro.

 

Which Amex cards give me access to the Maison Amex event in Montreal?

Here are the 8 Amex premium cards that give you access to the Maison Amex event in Montreal:

• American Express Platinum Card (including U.S. or international versions)
• American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
• American Express Business Platinum Card 
• American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
• American Express Centurion Card
• American Express Air Canada Card
• American Express Corporate Platinum Card
• American Express Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card

 

If you want help with choosing the right one (you have time to get it; premium Amex cards ship really fast); I have added a more detailed section at the end of this guide.

Know that if you want to access similar events in the United States, the Amex Platinum Card is the one you need (because Aeroplan cards don’t give access to those). It’s the best for most travelers anyway.

And  they’re great cards to have anyway if you:

• Travel a lot
  • Lounge access is really great
• Travel in luxury
  • They have so many luxury benefits
• Want a lot of free travel
  • The cards have huge welcome bonuses
• Want a lot of points of the more lucrative type
  • The cards’ points have unlimited value

 

Where does the Montreal Maison Amex event take place?

The event will once again be held at a new location in 2026.

It’s at 2120 De La Montagne Street. It’s in the Golden Square Mile neighborhood, located between Sherbrooke Street and De Maisonneuve Street.

 

How is the experience at the Montreal Maison Amex event?

I’m really not a bougie kind of person and rarely splurge for anything luxurious, so I love that I can make a unique and fun day out of the exclusive VIP experience, for free.

And being in town with the festive Grand Prix atmosphere was undoubtedly an experience in itself.

I shared my detailed experience at the Maison Amex event, if you want to learn more about what it’s like!

I must say it’s not as nice as in Miami, because the Amex Platinum event in Miami is literally on the beach, and there’s some cool art-related programming. But it was still very nice.

 

How is the food at the Montreal Maison Amex event?

The complimentary food at the event is by Chef Danny Smiles. 

His restaurant Le Violon was recently ranked #1 Best New Restaurant by Canada’s 100 Best in 2025 (and it’s still on the list in 2026).

It was recently added to the many many high-end restaurants where you can get $200 for free every year with the Amex Platinum dining credit benefit.

The email had this image for the food, for what it’s worth.

 

The food at the Maison Amex Montreal event I attended was not his; it was from celebrity chef Antonio Park (I also shared my experience at his Montreal restaurant with one of my Amex Platinum $200 dining credits).

It was very good, albeit quite tiny. There were truffle fries and a few delicious bites: smoked salmon, mandu chicken, sando à la bazin, and kimchi gyoza.

 

There was also a table with complimentary snacks.

 

And the food at every edition of the Amex Platinum events in Miami was always amazing.

 

How are the beverages at the Montreal Maison Amex event?

As mentioned, alcohol is not complimentary, so it’s not as fun as in a VIP airport lounge.

This makes sense though, as people almost always spend a short amount of time in an airport lounge (not everyone purposely books 7-hour layovers to use lounges as an office with free food and drinks — that’s just us digital nomads and semi-nomads).

It’s also a logical continuation of what seems to be the Amex trend for these special pop-up events. My first Amex Platinum event in Miami had an unlimited open bar, then it went to just 2 free drink coupons, and then to just 1 free drink coupon the year after (for me, the new candy section made up for it though).

The Maison Amex event will have beverages for purchase, of course. The only payment method accepted is an Amex card.

The email had this drink image.

 

When I went, I tried a cocktail that was quite good (and prices were typical for this kind of event).

 

How to access the Montreal Maison Amex event?

To enter, you need to present your eligible Amex premium card and a piece of valid government ID. I’d bring the physical card to be sure, but showing the card in a digital wallet is supposed to work too.

 

You can only bring 1 guest. If your guest has a supplementary card on your account (“joint” card), that is eligible too, so you get 1 guest each.

It’s meant to be exclusive, so it is. It’s the literal definition of a priceless benefit: there’s really no money in the world that can replace having an eligible Amex premium card. You cannot pay to enter or add more guests.

There may be a bit of a wait if you visit during a popular hour.

In Miami, you need to sign a standard waiver on an iPad to enter, but in Montreal, just displaying it on the entrance wall was enough.

 

Americans are the only ones who love to sue everyone all the time.

 

Which card to choose to access the Montreal Maison Amex event?

I wanted to quickly share this guide so you can have time to apply for an eligible card if you’re interested.

Here’s a summary table of the 4 Amex premium cards you can actually apply for, and I give you an overview of all 8 cards that you can use to access the event right after.

 

American Express Platinum Card

This is by far the best premium card in Canada. It’s not even debatable. Anyone who tells you otherwise clearly has no clue what they’re talking about (respectfully), that card is really that great.

 

You’ll get unlimited passes for the world’s largest network of VIP airport lounges, with 1 guest for free (if you want more, supplementary cards you add to your account for $250 give that person and another guest access).

You’ll get automatic Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy (9,000+ hotels) and Hilton (6,000+ hotels). And so many other luxury benefits. 

The Amex Platinum Card‘s $799 fee seems steep, but it’s really just $599 since there’s a $200 annual travel credit that can be cashed out on Day 1 without actually spending anything.

Then there’s the annual $200 dining credit that most people will value at its full $200 value as we did in our Flytrippers Valuation of the offer. 

And of course, you get a huge welcome bonus if you can reach the minimum spend requirement that’s higher than most cards. We have tips to meet minimum spend requirements.

 

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

This is also a very good premium card, especially for frequent Air Canada fliers.

 

You’ll get unlimited passes for Canada’s largest network of VIP airport lounges, Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, with 1 guest for free (supplementary cards you add to your account for $199 give that person and another guest access). 

What is a bit different is that since it is an Air Canada card giving you access to Air Canada lounges, you need to be flying on Air Canada to use this benefit (or any Star Alliance partner airline). 

You also get many other Air Canada benefits, like free checked bags and full-size carry-ons for you and your travel companions, priority boarding, and even rollover benefits if you have elite status.

The Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card has a $599 fee, but the first year is a no-brainer at some point in your travel rewards journey, as you get a huge amount of very lucrative Aeroplan points.

 

American Express Business Platinum Card

Business version that doesn’t require having an incorporated business.

It gives you a 2^nd great Amex points welcome bonus and a 2^nd year of unlimited lounge access.

 

American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

Business version that doesn’t require having an incorporated business.

It gives you a 2^nd great Aeroplan points welcome bonus and a 2^nd year of unlimited lounge access.

 

American Express Centurion Card

This is the world-famous black card. You cannot apply for it; it’s an invitation-only card. It’s for the very select few who spend a lot of money. Like hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

In case you’re curious, the one-time initiation fee is rumored to be $10,000 while the annual fee is rumored to be $5,000. It doesn’t really have that many more perks than the Amex Platinum Card, but it’s quite the status symbol.

 

American Express Air Canada Card

Same principle as the previous card, but it’s the Air Canada version. 

This one is relatively new and does actually have amazing benefits, but it’s just as exclusive.

 

American Express Corporate Platinum Card

Some employers get special corporate versions of the Amex Platinum Card, but you can’t apply for it.

 

American Express Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card

Same principle as the previous card, but it’s the Air Canada version.

 

Other similar Amex events and benefits

The Amex Platinum Card has so many benefits that it can be hard to keep up. It doesn’t help that some are just not very well publicized, like the Amex pop-up events.

The ones I’ve seen in the past years have been in Miami, New York City, Las Vegas, Chicago, and the Coachella Valley. Montreal has joined a pretty exclusive club. They even created a new brand name for it to translate Amex House to Maison Amex, which is pretty neat.

But there are other lesser-known exclusive benefits, even in Canada, that I’ll tease here before a detailed post about them.

In Toronto, there’s an Amex Lounge at the Budweiser Stage, along with a special priority entrance. There’s a special priority concessions line at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre and The Royal Alexandra Theatre.

In Montreal, there’s a priority entrance at OSHEAGA, îLESONIQ, and LASSO festivals.

In the U.S., there are cool Amex lounges inside a few venues. In the NYC area, at the UBS arena (home of the NHL’s Islanders). In Los Angeles, at the Crypto.com Arena (NHL Kings and NBA Lakers). In Salt Lake City, at the Delta Center (NHL Mammoth).

There’s a special entrance at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (NHL Kraken), at the United Center in Chicago (NHL Blackhawks and NBA Bulls), at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (NBA Nets), and at the Dignity Health Sports Park (MLS Galaxy) and Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

A bunch of music venues in NYC and Boston also have discounts on concessions for Amex cardholders, as do all the arenas I just listed. There’s even a high-end Amex Centurion Lounge high up in a tower in Manhattan, but that one’s not free.

In Europe, there are similar benefits at O2 Arena and OVO Arena Wembley (London), Uber Arena and Uber Eats Music Hall (Berlin), and Accor Arena (Paris).

 

Learning how to travel for less

Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less — including thanks to the wonderful world of travel rewards!

 

Summary

The Maison Amex event in Montreal is a really fun development and one I certainly didn’t expect when it was announced in 2024. I liked the experience, and I would certainly have gone back again in 2025 if I hadn’t been outside the country. I’ll be there at some point this year.

 

What would you like to know about the Maison Amex event in Montreal? Tell us in the comments below.

 

See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights

Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards

Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks: Travel tips

 

Featured image: Maison Amex banner (photo credit: Amex)