Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month

InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
|
Advertise
The Main Logo
Magazine
Categories
  • Arts & Culture

    Creativity, heritage, and expression.

  • Beyond Montreal

    Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

  • Design

    The best of Montreal design.

  • Food & Drink

    La bonne bouffe.

  • History

    Stories, lessons, and context.

  • Bulletin

    Our weekly newsletter.

  • See all original stories
City Guides
Popular Guides
  • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
  • Best NEW Restaurants
  • Best Cafés
  • Unique Boutiques
  • Romantic Restaurants
  • Best Bookstores
  • See all Guides
Directory
Neighbourhood
  • Downtown
  • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
  • Mile End
  • Mile-Ex
  • Saint-Henri
  • See All
Business Type
  • Restaurant
  • Café
  • Boutique / Store
  • Bar
  • Bakery
  • See All
Near the Metro
  • Peel
  • Mont-Royal
  • Place-Saint-Henri
  • Place-d'Armes
  • Jarry
  • View all
Shop
Subscribe
Subscribe

Montreal's Cultural Directory

Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

Leave feedback

For partnerships and collaborations:

partnerships@themain.com

Explore

  • About us
  • Shop
  • Advertise
  • Pitch us

Connect

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Tiktok
  • Linkedin

Resources

  • RSS Feed
  • Subscribe

Legal

  • Terms of service
  • Membership Terms
  • Privacy Policy

The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    1. Articles
    2. Food & Drink

    Bar Vivar: A Montreal take on a Spanish way of eating

    How a Montreal chef and sommelier's pintxos in the Plateau derive influences from Galicia, the Basque region, and Asturias—plus some flourishes from Andalusia or Valencia.

    By J.P. KarwackiJune 14, 2024 - Read time: 8 min
    Bar Vivar: A Montreal take on a Spanish way of eatingPhotograph: Rachel Holly Cheng / @rachelhollycheng

    Bar Vivar, two Montrealers’ take on a Spanish restaurant that opened in the winter of 2024, is in many ways a place that sets a record straight.

    Servers here will say a menu is ‘tapas-style’ to describe how it's shareable, something to encourage ordering a few plates and a few bites at most for everyone at the table. But spots true to a combination of Spain’s cuisine, portions and way of eating—closely knit dining rooms surrounding a bar and terrasse, drinking with truly smaller plates slowly eaten during conversation—are none too common in Montreal.

    Sommelier Patrick Oakes and chef Georges Greiche. | Photograph: Rachel Holly Cheng / @rachelhollycheng

    Bar Vivar breaks that trend: A 40-seat spot from chef Georges Greiche and sommelier Patrick Oakes designed with personal touches—decorated with flea market trips and 1970’s artwork—has a left-hand side of intimate banquettes and tables, while the right has the standing bar setup often found in casual spots of urban and rural Spain. A TV might be on in background, as well.

    Must be logged in

    Join The Main free and keep reading.

    Create a free account.

    Create a free account to unlock this story and get 3 articles a month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

    • 3 free articles per month
    • Save your favourite places & guides
    • Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
    • Stay connected to Montreal culture

    Become an Insider.

    Unlock unlimited access, exclusive guides, and member perks — and help support the independent Montreal stories we publish every week.

    Subscribe
    • Unlimited access to all stories
    • Exclusive features & local insights
    • Special offers and event invites
    • 10% off in our shop
    • Support local storytelling

    Already a member? Sign in

    Latest Stories

    Opinion

    Letter from the Editor: Our favourite stories from 2025

    JAN 1
    Letter from the Editor: Our favourite stories from 2025
    Newsletter

    The Bulletin: Welcome to a brand new year, Montreal [Issue #162]

    JAN 1
    The Bulletin: Welcome to a brand new year, Montreal [Issue #162]
    Arts & Culture

    The best things to do this weekend (Jan 1 to 4, 2026)

    DEC 31
    The best things to do this weekend (Jan 1 to 4, 2026)
    Food & Drink

    What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026

    DEC 30
    What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
    Food & Drink

    Montreal's most exciting openings and heartbreaking closures of 2025

    DEC 29
    Montreal's most exciting openings and heartbreaking closures of 2025
    The Bulletin: Live canalside shows, hot cross croissants, and memories of the Expos [Issue #81]

    Previous

    The Bulletin: Live canalside shows, hot cross croissants, and memories of the Expos [Issue #81]

    Next

    The Art Tour of Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth: A rare perspective on an iconic Montreal address

    The Art Tour of Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth: A rare perspective on an iconic Montreal address
    Le Dépanneur

    Shop The Main's Dépanneur. Open 24/7.

    Beau Type Vol. 1

    Beau Type Vol. 1

    $16.00

    Beau Type Vol. 2

    Beau Type Vol. 2

    $16.00

    The Reeds: A Novel [Stamped by Author]

    The Reeds: A Novel [Stamped by Author]

    $24.95

    Shop our Dép!

    See more