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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    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

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed
    • Subscribe

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
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    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
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      --°C|Monday, March 16, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
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      |
      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.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      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
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      1. Articles
      2. Food & Drink

      Where and What Montreal's Writers and Photographers Loved to Drink in 2023

      A range of institutions in the making, speakeasies, and classic bars—even cafés—numbered among the best places to drink this past year.

      By J.P. KarwackiDecember 31, 2023 - Read time: 4 min
      Where and what Montreal's writers and photographers loved to drink in 2023
      Photograph: Bon Délire / @_bon_delire_, Instagram
      1. Articles
      2. Food & Drink

      Where and What Montreal's Writers and Photographers Loved to Drink in 2023

      A range of institutions in the making, speakeasies, and classic bars—even cafés—numbered among the best places to drink this past year.

      By J.P. KarwackiDecember 31, 2023 - Read time: 4 min
      Where and what Montreal's writers and photographers loved to drink in 2023
      Photograph: Bon Délire / @_bon_delire_, Instagram

      Bottom's up, Montreal: While the city's bar scene wasn't exactly bursting with as many openings as there were restaurants, there were still quite a few watering holes that made an impression on Montreal-based writers, bloggers, and photographers.


      Bar Bello (left) and Bar George (right) made big impressions this year. | Photograph: @barbellomtl & @bargeorgemtl / Instagram

      Where did you love to drink in 2023?

      Alison Slattery, photographer, @twofoodphotographers: I am not a big big drinker, but I did enjoy some stout at Bily Kun, delicious wines at Tinc Set, Salle Climatisée, and Bar Henrietta.

      Michael Grande and Alessandro Rea, food bloggers, @mangiabeneboys: Bar George has been one of our go-tos for drinks; the vibe and the cocktails are always great. Another mention is definitely Bar Bello; we love the atmosphere and their take on the Italian aperitivo bar.

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      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

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      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work

      A quietly confident Little Italy bistrot from Montreal restaurant alum puts chef Darcy Gervais-Wood front and centre.

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      Montreal's most exciting places to eat in 2023 according to the city's food writers and photographers

      Previous

      Montreal's Most Exciting Places to Eat in 2023 According to the City's Food Writers and Photographers

      Next

      Looking Back on 2023 and Forward to 2024 in Montreal's Dining Scene

      Looking back on 2023 and forward to 2024 in Montreal's dining scene

      Bottom's up, Montreal: While the city's bar scene wasn't exactly bursting with as many openings as there were restaurants, there were still quite a few watering holes that made an impression on Montreal-based writers, bloggers, and photographers.


      Bar Bello (left) and Bar George (right) made big impressions this year. | Photograph: @barbellomtl & @bargeorgemtl / Instagram

      Where did you love to drink in 2023?

      Alison Slattery, photographer, @twofoodphotographers: I am not a big big drinker, but I did enjoy some stout at Bily Kun, delicious wines at Tinc Set, Salle Climatisée, and Bar Henrietta.

      Michael Grande and Alessandro Rea, food bloggers, @mangiabeneboys: Bar George has been one of our go-tos for drinks; the vibe and the cocktails are always great. Another mention is definitely Bar Bello; we love the atmosphere and their take on the Italian aperitivo bar.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work

      A quietly confident Little Italy bistrot from Montreal restaurant alum puts chef Darcy Gervais-Wood front and centre.

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      Montreal's most exciting places to eat in 2023 according to the city's food writers and photographers

      Previous

      Montreal's Most Exciting Places to Eat in 2023 According to the City's Food Writers and Photographers

      Next

      Looking Back on 2023 and Forward to 2024 in Montreal's Dining Scene

      Looking back on 2023 and forward to 2024 in Montreal's dining scene

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      Where Montreal's food writers and photographers loved to drink in 2025 (and what they ordered)
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Where Montreal's Food Writers and Photographers Loved to Drink in 2025 (and What They Ordered)

      From cocktails 45 floors above the city streets to neighbourhood wine bars and timeless martinis, here's where the city's insiders raised a glass in 2025.

      Marchigiani became a Montreal institution by staying old school
      Food & Drink
      Jason Gisoo Kim

      Marchigiani Became a Montreal Institution by Staying Old School

      Three generations and 65 years later, this family business is having its busiest run yet.

      Montreal's most exciting openings and heartbreaking closures of 2025
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal's Most Exciting Openings and Heartbreaking Closures of 2025

      The restaurant and bar arrivals that thrilled Montreal writers, photographers, and influencers—and the beloved spots whose closures left lasting gaps.

      The steamie is an ugly and weird hot dog. It's also essential to Montreal food culture
      Food & Drink
      Mason Persaud

      The Steamie is an Ugly and Weird Hot Dog. It's Also Essential to Montreal Food Culture

      We built this city's culinary history and fuelled its nights out with this soggy, unphotogenic icon.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      Three cafés, three generations, and one new wave of Vietnamese coffee
      Food & Drink
      Olive Zeynep Kartal

      Three Cafés, Three Generations, and One New Wave of Vietnamese Coffee

      Three cafés redefining specialty Vietnamese coffee through heritage, fusion, and first-gen identity.

      Latest Stories

      History Lesson

      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture

      MAR 14
      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture
      Arts & Culture

      Our Predictions, Picks, and a Few Honest Upsets at the 98th Oscars

      MAR 13
      Our Predictions, Picks, and a Few Honest Upsets at the 98th Oscars
      Montreal, Inc.

      How Ciele Proves It's About More Than Just Running

      MAR 12
      How Ciele Proves It's About More Than Just Running
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      The Bulletin: Placing Bets on the Oscars, a Sugar Shack Street Fair, and Countryside Dining [Issue #172]

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Where Montreal's food writers and photographers loved to drink in 2025 (and what they ordered)
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Where Montreal's Food Writers and Photographers Loved to Drink in 2025 (and What They Ordered)

      From cocktails 45 floors above the city streets to neighbourhood wine bars and timeless martinis, here's where the city's insiders raised a glass in 2025.

      Marchigiani became a Montreal institution by staying old school
      Food & Drink
      Jason Gisoo Kim

      Marchigiani Became a Montreal Institution by Staying Old School

      Three generations and 65 years later, this family business is having its busiest run yet.

      Montreal's most exciting openings and heartbreaking closures of 2025
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal's Most Exciting Openings and Heartbreaking Closures of 2025

      The restaurant and bar arrivals that thrilled Montreal writers, photographers, and influencers—and the beloved spots whose closures left lasting gaps.

      The steamie is an ugly and weird hot dog. It's also essential to Montreal food culture
      Food & Drink
      Mason Persaud

      The Steamie is an Ugly and Weird Hot Dog. It's Also Essential to Montreal Food Culture

      We built this city's culinary history and fuelled its nights out with this soggy, unphotogenic icon.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      Three cafés, three generations, and one new wave of Vietnamese coffee
      Food & Drink
      Olive Zeynep Kartal

      Three Cafés, Three Generations, and One New Wave of Vietnamese Coffee

      Three cafés redefining specialty Vietnamese coffee through heritage, fusion, and first-gen identity.

      Latest Stories

      History Lesson

      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture

      MAR 14
      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture
      Arts & Culture

      Our Predictions, Picks, and a Few Honest Upsets at the 98th Oscars

      MAR 13
      Our Predictions, Picks, and a Few Honest Upsets at the 98th Oscars
      Montreal, Inc.

      How Ciele Proves It's About More Than Just Running

      MAR 12
      How Ciele Proves It's About More Than Just Running
      Newsletter

      The Bulletin: Placing Bets on the Oscars, a Sugar Shack Street Fair, and Countryside Dining [Issue #172]

      MAR 12
      The Bulletin: Placing Bets on the Oscars, a Sugar Shack Street Fair, and Countryside Dining [Issue #172]
      Arts & Culture

      What to Do This Weekend (03.12–03.15)

      MAR 11
      What to do this weekend (03.12–03.15)
      MAR 12
      The Bulletin: Placing Bets on the Oscars, a Sugar Shack Street Fair, and Countryside Dining [Issue #172]
      Arts & Culture

      What to Do This Weekend (03.12–03.15)

      MAR 11
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