53 Best Bars in Montreal, Quebec

One of the city's treasured venues for indie rock, jazz, reggae, blues, folk, and hip-hop, this neighborhood bar is ideal for discovering up-and-coming local acts or forgotten international giants still touring. While you enjoy the music, take a look at the original art and sample some of the tasty vegetarian food.

Making its name through word of mouth alone, Furco is one of the trendiest Downtown bistro bars. Furco, short for Fur Company since it's housed in an old fur warehouse, is one of those places for which people make reservations—and for good reason. It's all about the industrial-chic interior, the warm amber lighting, and the relaxed, inviting vibe. And a great outdoor terrace. A nice mix of clientele, great food (the menu changes weekly), and good pours also help make this a popular after-work hangout for locals, and the perfect retreat from the Quartier des Spectacles, a stone's throw away.

This Czech-themed bar is a favorite hangout of Plateau locals. There's live jazz during the cocktail hour and a DJ or classical performances later in the evening. Try an absinthe-laced apple cocktail from the extensive alcohol menu as you nibble on a few tapas. Bily Kun gets packed, though the high ceilings help alleviate the feeling of claustrophobia.

For over four decades, this comedy club has been showering Montrealers with humor from some of the biggest names out there: Jim Carrey, Tim Allen, and Russell Peters included. For a mere C$6, Newbie Tuesdays and Comedy Lab Wednesdays, when novice comedians and local comics work out new material, are always good for a laugh and will also secure you one free ticket for a Thursday 8 pm or Friday late show. Arrive early to get a decent spot near the stage (or perhaps away from it if you don't want to be in the spotlight).

Owned by the same people behind Coldroom, El Pequeño Bar really lives up to its name: the bar seats only nine, it's that small. For all its diminutive size El Pequeño packs a big punch, having been named one of Canada's top 50 bars in early 2020, ranking at no. 4, in addition to placing 29th in North America's Top 50 in 2022. Adorned with an ornate glass chandelier, white marble countertops, and dozens of Caribbean rum bottles behind the bar, this pocket-sized spot is an homage to the 1920s Havana hotel lobby bar. Gifted cantineros (bartenders) specialize in mixing Cubanos and other rum-based cocktails while recounting tales of Ernest Hemingway in his Havana period. In summer, there's a good-sized terrace outside.

With its unappealing storefront, bric-a-brac décor, retro knickknacks, and sceney vibes, Majestique is a quirky wine bar that's open until the wee hours with an excellent selection of small plates. The snazzy surroundings only add to the charm of this fine-dining-meets-casual savoir faire; the salmon confit, foot-long hot dog, quinoa croquette, and rotating choice of fresh oysters are musts. Note that minors are not allowed on the premises.

At this sophisticated yet relaxed wine bar, let yourself be guided by the expertise of the sommeliers. The tapas-style cuisine is top-notch, and the green beans with truffle oil and roasted almonds are scrumptious. During cooler months things get going at 4:30 pm, but in summer don't arrive until the sun starts to set.

It's all about the beer at this friendly restaurant and bar, where it's all brewed right on the premises. Packed almost every night of the week, this bar has everything from India pale ales to German-inspired wheat beers. The upstairs patio is the ideal spot for watching locals stroll along the quaint brick-paved avenue.

Five nights a week, the cheerful Joel Giberovitch greets you personally near the entrance to his club, which despite the name is actually downstairs. Giberovitch loves what he does, and the constant stream of local and imported jazz musicians makes this the favored jazz hangout in the city. The eclectic food menu makes a nice accompaniment to the live music. Cover charge typically starts at C$10 and can go up to C$68, plus taxes, for big-ticket performers during Jazz Fest. The third set is free (usually around 11 pm), and other sets are also free if you sit on one of the cozy terraces.   Ask your server for a C$8 parking ticket.

Winner of a prestigious Spirited Award for top international bar by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and one of North America's 50 Best in 2025, this popular Little Burgundy cocktail club is located at the back end of the restaurant Foiegwa. You enter from the lane through a red-lit unmarked door, behind which lies a dimly lit speakeasy universe of shiny silver leather banquettes and bubble gum pink bar stools, a mirrored ceiling, and a gorgeous bar of malachite green marble peopled by thirty-something scenesters. Kitschy seating aside, the drinks, arranged in a paint-chip color palette, are all elegance. The Glitter Green, for instance, is a mix of blanco tequila, mezcal, lime, cucumber, jalapeño, and Tajín. The purple Smoke Show artfully blends three-star rum, blackberry liqueur, lemon, thyme, blackberry, and blueberry, while the yellow Mercury mixes pineapple, lime, ginger, orgeat, black walnut bitters, mint, and soda. For growling stomachs, the kitchen serves everything from appetizers such as oysters Rockefeller, fries, and tomato-onion tarts to mains like truffle spaghetti, cheeseburgers, and mushroom-and-lentil-stuffed cabbage.

The Dominion Square Tavern, which closed in 2020 much to the disappointment of Montréal epicureans, has been resurrected as Dominion Bar. The beautiful space carries with it a lot of Montréal history. Originally part of the Dominion Square Hotel, built in 1927, the bar was for many decades reserved exclusively for men, as was common in Québec with venues designated as taverns until the practice was outlawed in 1986. Today, the elegant locale is first and foremost a bar mixing classic and reimagined cocktails and stocking a good selection of beers and wines. However, Bar Dominion is also known for its raw bar, small plates meant to share, and mains such as cheeseburgers, duck confit, ribs, and steak frites (steak and fries).

Bar Henrietta, part wine bar, part Portuguese tavern, is one of Montréal's prettiest bars, inspired by the taverns of the 1960s. With its handpicked selection of privately imported wines, expertly mixed cocktails, and appetizing, Iberian-inspired small plates, Bar Henrietta is the ideal post-work, pre-dinner destination to enjoy Montréal's robust 5 à 7 scene. This is especially so in summer when its outdoor terrace is heaving with cheerful patrons.

Named for the street that epitomizes the Mile End, this neighborhood bar has a warm staff, friendly atmosphere, and a great selection of Scotch. Owners Richard Holder and Olivier Farley have been in the business for years, and it shows. Nightly DJs provide an edgier vibe, while huge floor-to-ceiling windows make it perfect for people-watching.

Fans of blues, punk, country, and bluegrass jam into this tiny hole-in-the-wall, which has some of the cheapest drink prices on boulevard St-Laurent. A very popular hangout for locals, Barfly is arguably the premier dive bar in the city.

Located in a former bank with 16-foot ceilings with gold leaf accents, Ionic columns, and arched windows draped in burgundy red curtains, this new (2025) cabaret-restaurant bills itself as Montréal’s most immersive burlesque experience. Guests enjoy dinner and a show in an intimate, candlelit setting, with a menu inspired by French and Asian cuisines and cabaret performances that feature dance, burlesque, drag and trapeze acts throughout the evening. Bernard Cabaret Gourmand also does a brunch cabaret experience on weekends. Tickets for the brunch show can be purchased at  scrambledlegs.eventbrite.ca, while those for the dinner experience can be bought at  foliesdunsoir.eventbrite.ca.

Barely noticeable from the outside, this discreet, dimly lit cocktail den has won awards for design and been lauded by critics as one of the most beautiful bars, if not the most beautiful, in the city. Heavy drapes and propane "candles" in small glasses that reflect the surface of the labyrinthine wraparound bar imbue this chic space with a subdued speakeasy feel. Unlike an izakaya, you don't come here to eat but to drink, so few snacks are available. The bar stocks a nice selection of sakes and sojus, as well as Suntory Toki, a Japanese whiskey. Beers, killer cocktails, and a handpicked list of wines round out the drinks menu.

House-brewed concoctions like Raspberry Blond Beer or Mango Session IPA attract locals and tourists alike, and lately the kitchen has been serving up tapas-style pub food, including some healthy vegetarian and vegan options. In addition to the unique brews, check out the sprawling outdoor seating and nightly live music. A typical crowd at Brutopia is under 30, but older folks shouldn't feel out of place. With live music ranging from traditional Irish folk to the occasional punk or psychedelic ’60s garage band, this pub serves as a refreshing alternative to the slightly more upscale, trendy bars and nightclubs that mark the Crescent Street strip.

This British pub in St-Henri serves food that's a notch above the usual. Scotch eggs and the ploughman's lunch are paired with an English take on Québec's beloved poutine—with Stilton cheese and caramelized onions—though it's the fish-and-chips that really shine. Be sure to grab a pint of the Burgundy Lion Ale, or any of the many other beers on draft. If you're a whisky aficionado, the Burgundy Lion stocks Québec's largest list of blends, single malts, Scotches, Irish whiskies, bourbons, ryes, and other whiskies from around the globe. Two patios are open in the summer for alfresco drinking. Note that it can get loud in the evenings. On alternate Sundays, high tea is served in the true English style in the four-season solarium—by reservation only. 

Makeup, glitter, and glamorous costumes abound at this nightclub with drag-queen entertainment. Mado herself is a Québec celebrity (so much so that she was immortalized in wax at the now-defunct Grévin museum inside Centre Eaton). During karaoke and improv evenings, even the clientele can get involved.

Ranked 31st in North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 list, Cloakroom, a classy cocktail bar, prides itself on its no-menu approach, mixing bespoke concoctions made to clients' tastes. The intimate bar, hidden at the back of a men's tailor shop within an elegant brownstone in Montréal's Golden Square Mile, exudes a secretive, speakeasy feel. To get there, walk into the building through the double wooden doors into a foyer area with rich wood paneling. Push through a partially open door and follow the dark corridor that leads into the bar. Once admitted, you'll find a dimly space with a long marble counter and red barstools that boasts an exquisite selection of rare and vintage spirits, with special emphasis on bourbon, vermouth, and amaro.

The granddaddy of the city's rock clubs has evolved into one of the dominant venues for jazz, reggae, techno, and rhythm and blues. Club Soda is a tall, narrow concert hall with high-tech design and 500 seats—all of them with great sight lines.

Small, semiprivate lounges are scattered throughout the three-story complex, and the beautiful rooftop terrace is one of the finest in the Village. Unity, open since 2002, is one of the longest-running, most inclusive dance clubs in town—although, despite some complaints, you'll often find as many straight women here as you will gay men. Open weekends from 10 pm to 3 am.

No advertised street number. A secret, nondescript steel door in the back. Imaginative, award-winning mixologists. A cocktail selection that changes with the seasons. Twists on old classics (think: an Old Fashioned with mezcal). Clear, no-nonsense house rules:

"Act your age, or you'll be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian."

"For all make out purposes, may we suggest our next door neighbour the William Gray hotel? Get a room."

And just for the men: "Know your alcohol limits. Stay classy."

"Erase the word 'slut' and 'gay' and any other abusive language from your vocabulary."

"Learn some dance moves. If you need help, ask our manager, Dan."

To be admitted, simply push the button and wait for the light to flicker red. What more could you want in a speakeasy?

A chalkboard scribbled with rotating craft beers and a convivial atmosphere set the scene for this neighborhood-favorite brewpub, freshly renovated and expanded in 2023. Small bites such as flatbreads can be ordered to accompany your IPAs and ales.

"Foufs," as it's affectionately known, has been going strong since 1983. Attracting a cult following of alternative rock and heavy metal fans, it gets packed on weekends. You can enjoy a cheap beer on one of two summer terraces under the playful eyes of skulls and spiders.

Few places in Montréal are more Quebecois than this lively microbrewery/gastropub, where the atmosphere is electrifying on hockey night if the local team, the Canadiens, is playing. With its own set of brews named after iconic Mile End streets and a terroir-inspired, locally sourced menu, HELM (which stands for barley, water, yeast, and malt in French) is in and of itself a vibrant homage to the city’s dynamic beer culture. Between the bitters, IPAs, and cream ales, there’s hardly any room left for the microbrewery’s nachos gourmands, poutine gourmande with smoked meat or popcorn chicken tacos--or their vegan version, cauliflower popcorn tacos. 

The food is good but the music is outstanding. For more than 30 years, this institution has been plying the city with the best in jazz, with a little blues and soul thrown in for good measure. A flashy, over-the-top interior that includes mirrored walls adds to the experience. Dress up and be prepared to pay a cover.

For over 30 years this pub has been serving up a bounty of whiskeys and brews (19 different beers on tap), with a healthy dose of Irish atmosphere on the side. Despite its cavernous size, the arrangement of seating areas, flanked by bars, makes it feel cozy, and there's a stage for live entertainment. It still fills up quickly, so unless you don't mind standing while you sip your Guinness, come early to snag a seat.

Lively but not obnoxious, this easygoing wine bar is a great place to meet up with friends. Arrive early (it opens at 4 pm but the kitchen only gets going at 5), because it's always busy and it doesn't take reservations. Many wines can be sipped by the glass, in 2- and 4-ounce pours, while you graze on appetizers and cheese/charcuterie boards. Dress is casual, though the after-work crowd ups the glam factor.

"Hint: Find the secret brick to open the door that will take you to le 4e Mur." That's part of the message patrons receive when they become a "member" of the speakeasy in order to get directions to Le 4e Mur (the Fourth Wall). Named one of Montréal's best hidden bars by Time Out, this dimly lit Prohibition-style bar mixes some of the city's best cocktails while encouraging customers to play detective to solve a murder mystery game with fun clues.