Quebec Bars & Nightlife

It’s only fifty seats, and there’s no sign out front, but that’s kind of the point. Despite the name, Big in Japan isn’t meant for a big crowd. Behind an unmarked door at the corner of Boul Saint-Laurent and Rue Rachel, though, it is one of the best spots for late-night cocktails in Montreal. If you’re feeling adventurous, the specialties are amazing prune wine, sake, and Japanese whisky.

A vast, industrial-looking space on Saint-Vallier Street, this beer-hall-style restaurant is the place to come for, well, beer. And the menu is full of great options, especially for local brands like Jakob and Prospero that can be difficult to find outside of Quebec. If you’re hungry, there are burgers and fish and chips that pair well with what’s on tap.

An expertly curated natural wine list, hearty comfort food, and vintage wooden tables and chairs make this cozy wine bar on Rue Saint-Jean an ideal year-round option. Don’t be shy in engaging the servers, as this is the most fun part of a night here. You tell them (sometimes in very broad terms) what it is you’d like in a wine, and they’ll generously bring out a few bottles from which to taste. There’s food, too—and the oysters, charcuterie, terrines, and ratatouille are all excellent.

It’s not every day you find a Corsican bar and restaurant, let alone a great one. Run by a husband-and-wife team originally from the French island, Petits Creux & Grands Crus offers a big selection of imported Corsican wines and small dishes—they’re similar to those found in Italy and include fish croquettes and lobster risotto. A huge blackboard with the day’s special dominates the elegantly simple dining room.

Open all day, Tommy does a particularly good aperitivo hour. The small but very pretty space—with mirrored walls and beautiful nineteenth-century-looking stucco moldings combined with modern leather bench seating and wooden floors—is so inviting. While we recommend Tommy's for a drink, we have to mention the breakfast menu, which includes acai bowls, grilled cheese, avo toast, and especially good coffee. Stop in for a predinner glass of champagne and find yourself staying for a few glasses more. A really charming spot at any time of the day whether you’re flying solo, with a crowd, or with a significant other.

A cozy, low-key spot for a drink, Sparrow has a pub-meets-café look with lots of wood and exposed brick. The décor is unfussy and distinctly casual, but the cocktails hold their own—all the classics make an appearance on the carefully curated menu: Go old-school and try a French 75 for bubbles, or a Negroni for a strong predinner kick.

A thoroughly unique concept, Maison Cloakroom has taken the idea of a secret speakeasy to the next level with its tailor/barber/bar space. After an appointment with the tailor or a treatment with the barber, the option for a stiff drink or craft cocktail is right on-site. However, weekends see guests bypassing the suits and shaves and heading straight for the Mad Men–style bar. All beverages are made to suit the tastes of the drinker and many of the tinctures and tonics are made right behind the bar. All of the above lends to an elevated drinking experience in one of the city’s most beautiful spaces, an ideal spot for an intimate one-on-one drink with a friend or lover.

Le Rouge Gorge is a roomy space with beautiful decorative touches that feel decidedly Parisian. A mix of marble-topped bar and table seating, black tile, exposed brick, and plenty of natural light by day and reflected light by night (from the many windows) contributes to the lively, brasserie-like vibe. The wine list is extensive with bottles ranging from average-priced to the more special, celebratory bottles for a splurge. The by-the-glass selection changes daily and the cocktails—mostly based on classics—have all been upgraded with Rouge George’s signature out-of-the-box touch.

Montreal excels in the casual watering holes and restaurants department—this is the city of unfussy and dressed-down socializing, where the focus is on the produce, not the people. Henrietta is a pared-back bar with white tile walls and cozy round tables for close conversation; the wine list is extensive and leans heavily on European producers. The food menu features dishes perfectly suited to a few glasses of wine—manchego popcorn, grilled cheese, and oysters—the kind of food that goes down easy and shares well among friends.

A throwback in the best way possible, Bar Dominion turns out all the classic cocktails topped up with a range of homemade tonics. The tavern space is pure old-school nostalgia—dating back to 1927—with wood-beamed ceilings, tile floors, and plenty of decorative flourishes like leather stools, chandelier lighting, and mirrored walls. While the classic bar food is good, it’s the drinks that take center stage: mint julep, Tom Collins, or a royal gin fizz—mixed to perfection by bartenders who really know what they’re doing.