255 Best Bars in Canada

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. 

Hemingway's is a homey bastion in a sea of Yorkville swank. The three-story complex, with indoor and outdoor spaces (including a heated rooftop patio), is a mishmash of booths, tables, several bars, mirrors, artsy posters, and books. The pub grub menu, which covers everything from brunch to late night, is a big draw for the regular-heavy crowd, too. A different kind of sports bar, it's also a good place to watch international events like soccer, rugby, and cricket.

Dinner, dancing, and live jazz, blues, and Dixie are on the menu at this venerable Downtown restaurant and jazz club. Arrive on time for special acts as doors often close once the show is underway.

With more than 1,000 board and card games in the library, this unique and popular café is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon or cold winter evening. The menu is average, but there's a full bar, and, anyway, you come for the games, which are $4.50 an hour per person.

In three small rooms of a historic building, with bare brick walls and subdued lighting, you'll find a massive selection of the finest whiskeys in the world. The focus is mainly on Scotch, with all the famous (and some lesser-known) Scottish distilleries represented, but there's also an interesting selection from other parts of the world, including Ireland, Japan, France, the United States, and—of course—Canada. Currently, there are two from Atlantic Canada distilleries (Signal Hill from Newfoundland and Gin Thuya from New Brunswick), with plans to bring in more as their whiskeys mature sufficiently. If whiskey isn't your thing, there are other options, including a lengthy selection of cocktails.

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.

The Hummingbird Pub is a friendly local hangout, with live music on summer weekends, plus a family-friendly restaurant and a lawn with a play area for kids. Also in summer, the pub runs a free daily shuttle bus to the Montague Harbour, stopping at both the marina and the campsite.

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.

An Annex fave since the 1990s, this brick-walled spot makes good on its name by serving from morning 'til late. Hearty bar bites are a draw, as are the DJs that spin most evenings and the wide-ranging drinks menu (including martini specials on Thursdays). Head right back the next morning for a tasty brunch.

Expect a mixed crowd of local hipsters and out-of-towners enjoying properly poured pints of Guinness, mixed beer drinks (try a shandy, which is lager and lemonade), wine, and live Irish music some nights. The food menu focuses on pub favorites.

Tourists and locals flock here for the stout on tap, live music nightly, the summertime patio, and a menu of traditional (think Irish stew) and modern pub fare. Located inside a former bank building on Victoria's main shopping strip adds grandeur to the fun, and very Irish, setting.

The Ironwood is a 140-seat restaurant and lounge that has been the heart of Calgary’s live music scene for decades, and hosts live music every night of the year. Located just east of Downtown in the Inglewood district, it’s an easy walk or a short drive, and there’s plenty of public parking nearby.

Owned by Irish immigrants, this classic Irish pub is where you can have Guinness stout served at three different temperatures at the long antique bar, along with some traditional Irish fare. The patio on Stephen’s Avenue Walk provides great people-watching.

If you are looking for a prime spot in the heart of downtown Toronto to relax and enjoy live music, this venue, east of Sankofa Square, hosts nightly performances across genres including jazz, blues, Latin, and world music. The sound system is state-of-the-art, and its signature red Steinway piano is affectionately known by regulars as Red Pops.

Good food, great patio, friendly staff, and 72 draught beers on tap—what more could you ask from a pub? There are food and drink specials every day, including cheap wings on Mondays. Drop in for breakfast on the weekends.

It’s not often you find dinner theater in a shopping mall, and this one is a winner. Diner-watchers usually use superlatives like “magical” or “amazing” to describe their experiences. The prime rib is delicious and the three-act comedies will leave you smiling until the next morning.

Just across the Gare du Palais, Justine is a classic speakeasy that's just mysterious enough, with a décor that takes us back to the days of Prohibition, with thick black velvet curtains and no visible sign outside. A hushed atmosphere and emblematic cocktails from the 1920s are on the menu, alongside nice platters of gourmet charcuterie and cheeses.

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.

A popular after-work spot with the locals, this brewery crafts high-quality beer and tapas-inspired pub fare. A friendly vibe and ample seating make Korrigane the ideal spot for a cinq à sept or a low-key night out. In addition to the house brews, there's a good selection of other local options.

Last Best Brewing and Distilling is widely recognized as one of Calgary's best brewpubs. They have their own craft beers on tap—try the Tokyo Drift IPA—and make delicious cocktails with the three kinds of gin they distill in-house. On top of that, they serve the best pub food in the greater Downtown area in an upscale but casual atmosphere anchored by a beautiful rectangular bar in the center of it all.

"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.

Opened in 2019, this is Montréal’s first meat-free pub. In addition to plant-based comfort foods, Le Bowhead sources beers, wines, and spirits that are 100% vegan, meaning that no animal-based fining agents have been used in the filtration process. The decor is fuss-free, with white walls and marine blue faux wood-paneling, utilitarian tables, and diner-style chairs. The only ornamentation is a series of small, old-fashioned copper diving helmets on one wall—a sort of nautical theme, sans fish. The menu features old-school pub fare like sliders, popcorn "chicken," Frito pie, and even ANML fries and po' boy sandwiches. Neither the meatless dishes nor menu descriptions give away that it's a vegan pub; the only telltale sign of this fact is the small print in the bottom righthand corner of the menu stating that all ingredients are "100% plant-based." 

Unchanged for more than four decades and showing its age, this hole-in-the-wall-with-atmosphere was Montréal's first artisanal brewpub. It's a lively spot, where music blends with the buzz of arty and political dialogue. There is outdoor seating, and it often hosts art exhibits.

This popular English-style pub offers dozens of single-malt Scotch options and more than 200 kinds of beer, 30 of which are on tap, and many of which are exclusive imports. There is also live music on most nights.

After more than two decades this two-story venue on the corner of boul. St-Laurent and rue Prince-Arthur is still a fixture on the Montréal club scene. The 25-35 crowd loves it for its electric energy, excellent service, on-point drinks, and DJs who play a great mix of original artists and the best hits that keeps the party going late into the night. Dress code: no ripped jeans, no tracksuits or sweats, no shorts, no basketball shoes. Be sure to secure your spot on the guest list for priority access, via the website.

In between the Quartier des Spectacles (the local performing arts district) and the Quartier Latin, this European pub is popular in part because of its friendly service and good selection of domestic and imported beers, as well as whiskey and cognac. With one of the city's prettiest backyard patios, this is a great place to enjoy the fall colors.

Once a men-only establishment, Le Stud has been known to let in some women. A small dance floor and trance music have brought in a whole different crowd. It's packed most nights.

Some of the most exciting bands in rock, indie, and punk play at this grungy-yet-venerable club with a psychedelic graffiti facade on the edge of the University of Toronto campus. Between sets, you can grab a Toronto-style roti (Indian curry wrapped Caribbean-style in flatbread) from the take-out counter in front. Upstairs is the Dance Cave, a no-frills dance club and student hangout that also hosts smaller shows.