The Best New Bars in Montreal [May 2025]

These are strange times for the best new bars in Montreal. The bar scene in this city, if you haven't heard, is facing a lot of flux and shifts in trends. But opening a spot to enjoy some beers, a fine glass of wine, or a thoughtful cocktail isn't beyond Montreal. In a nutshell, it's all about quality over quantity right now, and those that do open a new bar do it right.

Here, you'll find the names that are no doubt on track to being counted among the best bars in Montreal. Their skills in mixology, guidance on exciting wines to try, or just providing a great place to enjoy a crispy beer with friends is worth the trip. The spots on this list range from subterranean cocktail lounges and wine-fuelled listening rooms to high-design aperitivo bars and no-signage holes-in-the-wall. Whether you’re craving a crisp pint, a wild-fermented Gamay, or a clarified punch served over a single rock, these are the places doing it right.

Much like our list of best new restaurants in Montreal, we aim to always keep this list as fresh as possible, with few to no names being older than a year when possible.

Take a deeper dive into our picks with our resident restaurant and bar critic Bottomless Pete.

Bar Limone

5050 De la Côte-de-Liesse Road

Conceived as an aperitivo bar beneath Siamo Noi in Royalmount, Bar Limone was originally meant to serve as a pre-dinner pit stop. But once the team realized what they had—a sharply designed, 34-seat room with serious cocktail ambitions—it became clear this was more than a holding zone.

Now, Bar Limone stands on its own: part of the Novantuno hospitality group, yes, but with its own rhythm and clientele. The drinks nod to Italian classics but lean modern, with housemade sorbet, basil vodka, and a tiramisu-inspired espresso martini on the menu. There’s even a low-ABV cocktail disguised as beer, roasted almond foam and all. The energy is dialled-in: stylish without being stiff, intimate but not exclusive, and tailored for those who prefer conversation over chaos. Think of it as your living room—if your living room came with better lighting, custom playlists, and a mixologist behind the counter.

Canons!

1500 Av. des Lumières #5 (Brossard)

The second outpost of Canons! from sommelier-owner Pascal Paradis brings the same laid-back ethos from Beloeil to Quartier DIX30, pairing a rotating menu of seasonal, globally inspired dishes with a wine list that leans natural without being dogmatic. Chef Jérôme Trouvé builds the menu around fresh, local ingredients—think red curry shrimp, gochujang-glazed Brussels sprouts, or classic comfort plates done right—while the room itself balances clean lines with playful black-and-white illustrations that trace the bar’s connection to farmers, winemakers, and guests.

Wines are served with context over jargon, spotlighting the people behind the bottles more than the grapes inside. It’s a place that invites repeat visits, whether you’re here for a full meal, a glass and a snack, or just a slower pace.

NINI

1155 Sherbrooke Street West

Inside the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, NINI is a hotel bar, yes, but it's also more than that. Named after Nini Lopez, a 19th-century muse of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the space channels her spirit through artful cocktails and a moody, rose-gold interior that shifts with the sun. Designed by 2pirdesign, the bar wraps around a central island, with soft lighting, warm palettes, and a floor plan that invites both hushed tête-à-têtes and animated gatherings.

The drinks lean playful and precise: think raspberry-rhubarb spritzes with local gin, low-ABV French classics, or mocktails made with the same attention to detail. Chef Olivier Perret’s bar menu is no afterthought either—duck pâté en croûte, tartare with lemon cream, and a truffled club sandwich elevate the experience beyond the usual bar fare. Whether you come for a nightcap or stay for the full spread, NINI offers a refined pause from the downtown rush.

Bowie

457 Sainte Hélène St

Found beneath Dorsia and crafted by WITH Hospitality, Bowie's a subterranean enclave channelling the spirit of the world’s elite private clubs. Its dim lighting, plush surroundings, and unwavering dress code set the stage for a late-night menu that pairs upscaled bites with classic and signature cocktails, all for a refined way to cap off a night.

Éléonore

2804 Ontario Street East

Following the opening of Junco, its sister operation Éléonore blends French charm with a laid-back edge, making it the go-to spot in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve for indulgences in the evening. The menu leans into the classics with a modern twist, serving up dishes that comfort and impress in equal measure.

Whether it’s the honeyed depth of a Lune de Miel cocktail or a bottle of natural wine selected to complement your mood, the space is meant for intimate evenings with soft lighting and a welcoming vibe that encourages lingering.

La Courtepointe

220 Rue Villeray

La Courtepointe steps into the heart of Villeray with big shoes to fill, taking over the beloved Miss Villeray spot and transforming it into a warm, unpretentious hub for the neighbourhood. The space, now a vibrant bar and bistro, blends the old and new, keeping the iconic Miss Villeray sign while introducing a fresh identity rooted in community and conviviality.

Helmed by a group of friends—Simon Bilodeau, Cédric Drouillard, Gabriel Marcouillier, Maxime d’Amore Fongaro, and Maxime Duquette—the concept focuses on affordable microbrews, natural wines, and a seasonal menu crafted by Maxime acting as chef. Plates like miso-glazed mushrooms or fennel salad showcase local ingredients with finesse, pairing beautifully with house-brewed collaborations and thoughtfully selected wines.

Bar Leonor

1106B Saint Laurent Boulevard

Leonor carries the afterglow of its space's previous tenant, Le Mal Nécessaire (which moved to a new space), into a new era—same underground address, entirely new direction. Run by nightlife veterans Mickey and Tino Rizk (Mal Nécessaire, Bar Pamplemousse) and Grégoire Merlot, Leonor is Chinatown’s latest cocktail bar–meets–party spot hybrid. Weeknights lean into crafted cocktails and intimate conversation; weekends shift gears into a full-on dancefloor with DJs spinning house on Fridays and throwback R&B on Saturdays.

The space, redesigned by Phil Nadeau (a former Mal bartender turned designer), wraps mid-century lines in glossy black tile, terrazzo, lime wash, and terracotta—equal parts sleek and grounded. The central bar anchors the room, doubling as both performance stage and service hub. Drinks follow suit: high-concept but approachable. Its opening menu included the likes of a bourbon-and-soy twist on a highball, a rice-washed pisco number, and a pino mugo-infused tequila sour are among the signatures. No pretension, no bloat—just sharp drinks, solid tunes, and a new reason to go out in Chinatown.

Star Bar

4671 Saint-Laurent Boulevard

The result of a 15-year-old pact between co-owners André Thériault and David Evans, Star Bar on Saint-Laurent brings together a crew of longtime friends and collaborators, all with deep roots in food, nightlife, and DIY culture. The result is a place that feels immediately familiar: all wood and stained glass, personal mementos tucked into the bar back, and a vibe that splits the difference between classic dive and new-school neighbourhood hangout.

Pizza Bouquet’s New York-style pies anchor the menu, backed by a sharp, unfussy drink list and a rotating calendar of events. Trivia and charity bingo nights—run by bartender and artist Lenore Claire Herrem—have made it a magnet for a broad, loyal crowd. It’s not branded as a queer space, but the team behind the bar makes it feel that way naturally. In short: great food, good drinks, and better people.

Polari

375A Rue de Castelnau Est

There’s no sign outside, just a garage door on de Castelnau. But what’s behind it is one of the most thoughtful, quietly radical wine bars to open in Montreal in recent memory. Polari is the work of Keaton Ritchie (Larrys, Salle Climatisée, Vin Flor), artist Émile Foucher, and designer-builder Asa Perlman—three friends whose shared sensibility shows in every detail. The name, borrowed from a secret queer dialect once spoken in 18th-century England, signals the bar’s ethos: inclusive, unpretentious, and deeply personal.

With eight bar stools and five communal tables, it runs on a cave-à-manger model—order at the counter, open a tab, and settle in. Ritchie’s wine list skews natural and organic, heavy on winemakers he knows and respects, while the food stays light, seasonal, and low-intervention: local vegetables with tahini, tinned fish, Quebec cheeses, and excellent bread. The space is raw but artful—reclaimed furniture, friend-made art, and a bar built from an old bowling lane. It’s Villeray through and through, in the best possible way.

Crocodile

10 Rue Beaubien Ouest

Behind Alambika’s cocktail supply boutique at Saint-Laurent and Beaubien, Le Crocodile operates quietly in the back, blending bar culture with a dose of expert-level mixology. Created by Max Coubès—author of L’Apéro au Québec and a two-time Lauriers nominee—the space was originally intended as a temporary project. It’s now open indefinitely, offering a sharp list of aperitif-style cocktails made with local ingredients and an unusually strong non-alcoholic menu. The room seats about 30, its wood-accented design centred around a surreal crocodile-and-cocktail mural by artist Sarah Fatmi. Prices range from $12 to $18, with a separate “independent menu” featuring rare, small-batch spirits for those looking to experiment. There’s no pretense here—just a focus on quality drinks, warm service, and a quieter kind of bar experience.

Chez Miller

1840 Rue Atateken

Opened by the team behind Midway, Marion, and Moqueur, Chez Miller is a Atateken Street hangout that ditches the cocktail bar polish in favour of something looser, louder, and full of Expos-era nostalgia. The long, narrow room mixes dive bar bones (flags, trophies, hockey jerseys) with some unexpected design flair: a reflective ceiling, dark wood finishes, and a bench that runs the length of the space. With about 70 seats, it’s built for groups who want to actually see the game and hear each other.

The food is cheap, fast, and comforting—think jalapeño poppers, spaghetti, and chili dogs—while the drinks menu hits every base, from a $10 Negroni to a $30 cocktail pitcher. They even lean into retro kitsch with Jello shots and Blue Lagoons. Karaoke, bingo, and other chaos is announced on Instagram. You’ll want to follow along.

French Line

677 Saint-Catherine Street West

Set on the ninth floor of Place Ville Marie, Le French Line's 35-seat bar borrows its name and spirit from the French ocean liner Île de France, drawing deep from the glamour and ritual of early 20th-century travel. Run by the same team behind the restaurant Île de France—Jeff Baikowitz, Marco Gucciardi, Andrew Whibley, and chefs Derek Dammann and Liam Hopkins—it’s equal parts history lesson and high-end hangout.

The room itself is anchored by furniture modeled after the ship’s grand salon, with original tables, custom banquettes, and corner windows that flood the space by day and shimmer by night. The bar’s raw menu (oysters, caviar, crab cakes) is executed by Daniel Notkins, while Whibley’s cocktail list modernizes 1920s and ’30s recipes with coconut milk punches, eggy flips, and sharp technique.

Mlle Rosa

1233 Mont-Royal Avenue East

Opened by the Sandhu family (the team behind India Rosa and, more recently, Guru), Mlle Rosa on Mont-Royal Avenue trades the breezy terrace life for a lush, indoor garden vibe, complete with velvet booths, moody lighting, and DJ nights from Thursday to Saturday. The 60-seat cocktail bar feels like a speakeasy with a Bollywood twist.

At the centre of it all is Kevin Ramos, whose cocktail list is as theatrical as it is well-crafted. One standout is the jasmine tea–inspired “Rêve de Jasmine,” a mix of Japanese whisky, chartreuse, and amaretto served in a steaming teapot. The menu leans Indian but leaves room for detours: dahi puri, cumin-roasted ceviche, lamb chops, fried calamari, and a daily fish dish that changes with the chef’s mood. Nothing here is subtle—and that’s exactly the point. Mlle Rosa is bold, fragrant, and hard to forget.

Badin

2613 Notre-Dame Street West

Below the restaurant HENI in Little Burgundy, Badin offers a very different kind of nightlife: quiet, close, and vibrating with intention. This 24-seat cocktail and listening lounge—designed like an audiophile’s living room—pairs precise drinks with a tightly curated vinyl-only soundtrack, played on a high-fidelity system anchored by McIntosh amps and vintage JBL speakers. Soundproofed with layers of cork and stone, the space is an insulated capsule where every note and every pour registers.

Run by Soufian Mamlouk with cocktails by Émile Archambault (Île Flottante, Le Petit Mousso), Badin’s bar program mirrors its musical approach: refined, layered, and built for transformation. Clarified punches, fermented reductions, unexpected ingredients—it’s not about being flashy, but about tuning into subtler frequencies. Designed by Studio Circa, the room draws from SWANA textures and tones, with velour, wood, and warm curves making it feel like something both ancient and new. It’s an atmosphere you have to lean into.

Maison Close

4043 Ontario Street East

Set in the former Le Flamant space on Ontario Street, Maison Close is the latest project from Pascal Bolduc and David Hibon, two seasoned industry vets who cut their teeth at Au Pied de Cochon, Prince, and Chien Fumant. With a name that nods to Montreal’s Red Light history, the bar leans into a moody, provocative aesthetic—think dim lights, sultry soundtrack, and illustrated menus that don’t shy away from the risqué.

The menu blends Montreal and Italian sensibilities: handmade pastas, house-cured mortadella, and shareable plates that shift with the season and the chefs’ whims. The wine list, curated by Bolduc, is broad and personal, ranging from approachable natural bottles to bigger, bolder picks from private importers. There’s also the occasional burlesque act, reinforcing the bar’s commitment to indulgence without pretense. It’s a place where the mood matters as much as the menu—and both deliver.

Copilote

4263 Ontario Street East

Copilote is the kind of bar you only find if you know where to look—and that’s exactly the point. Opened in March 2024 by the team behind Hélicoptère and Hélico, this 25-seat wine and cocktail bar operates out of a former dépanneur next door to its sibling restaurant on Ontario Street. It completes the Hélico family’s trifecta: café, dining room, and now a dim, thoughtfully designed drinking den.

The mood is chic without the stiffness, all soft light and low chatter. On the plate, the focus is on seasonal, shareable snacks—raw bar staples, tartare, crudo—made for eating with your hands. Hélicoptère’s signature chicken liver financier even makes an appearance. The wine list, curated by Samuel Fisher, rotates six by-the-glass options weekly, while Benjamin Gauthier’s cocktail menu is built around a central ingredient—coffee, yuzu, or otherwise—with local spirits and fine-tuned balance.