A gin and tonic is good, but sometimes a cucumber-rosemary gin and tonic is even better. Montreal offers an array of cool places that have dared to add some extra "oomph" to their cocktail menus to please clientele who – like us – like to drink well. Here are the Montreal cocktail bars you should be checking out!
Le LAB is a true scientific laboratory, where the art of the cocktail is being pushed to another level. With its impressive and extensive cocktail menu (including many mocktails), this mixology must-see will appeal to all, even the most resistant cocktail sceptic.
A black door. A long, mysterious hallway. At the end, a curtain hides a beautiful candle-lit bar. The atmosphere here is truly unique. The specialties of this speakeasy are classic cocktails and Japanese whiskey. You can purchase the latter by the bottle if you wish, and they’ll store any unused portion (by hanging the bottle from the ceiling!) for your next visit.
With three locations around town, there’s usually a Distillerie close at hand when you feel the need for a cocktail. Each location has the same warm atmosphere and serve their drinks in enormous Mason jars. The bartenders offer new cocktails to match the season. A bit of friendly advice: go early, it's always full.
Cocktails at the luxurious Pandore are made according to the age-old rules of the art of mixology, with breathtaking presentations. With a beautiful terrace overlooking downtown, you can enjoy punch, cocktails and a view, with the former available by the carafe or pitcher. Adding to the experience, Pandore also hosts shows of all kinds year-round.
No sign, just a neon green pineapple logo above a door in Chinatown. That’s enough to make us want to try this bar! The menu is a mixture of Asia and Polynesia. The result? A perfect tiki bar for a drink in a pineapple with a few Cantonese bites. Why not? Each month, they participate in the Drunken Masters competition that brings together the best bartenders in Montreal.
Mayfair is both a cocktail bar and an elegant tea room with very British accents. Why not marry the two ... into a drink? Their mixologists have taken up the challenge and offer several tea-based cocktails, THE new trend in mixology. Tea time has never been so enjoyable!
A must-see in Old Montreal, Flyjin offers its clients two concepts: a Japanese brewery for a gourmet dinner, or, from 11:00 pm on, a bar for dancing, sitting or talking. Flyjin offers cocktails inspired by Asia, including several that are sake-based, soju-based and even ... curry-based!
The Maison Sociale is a place where you quickly feel at home. Their cocktail menu takes inspiration from around the world, from Portugal to China, Greece, India and Italy. If you're feeling hungry, you can enjoy one of the many delicious dishes on the menu – perfect for those who like to eat while sipping on a cocktail.
Taverne Midway is the perfect place for a "5 à 7". This tavern, open since 1927, was recently renovated and the new decor is a nod to the golden years of the tavern, with black and white photographs covering the walls. Here you’ll find a bar menu that specializes in classic cocktails – a perfect place to sip a Martini, Negroni or Old-Fashioned.
Let's be honest, who doesn't love bubbles? To fuel this love, the first bar à bulles (bubbly bar) in Montreal, La Champagnerie, offers sparkling wine- and champagne-based cocktails. Located in Old Montreal, the location is magnificent, with its majestic brick walls. In the summer, you can also enjoy the small terrace on Saint Paul Street.