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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
    • Leaderboard
    • Editor's Picks
    • New Places

    About

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

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Monday, May 4, 2026|
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      Food & Drink

      Willie's Clubhouse Brings an Elevated Billiards, Darts, and Cocktail Lounge to Downtown Montreal

      This swish take on the 'bar ludique' creates a new recreational hub inside the Montreal Forum.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      April 15, 2025 · 5 min read

      Willie's Clubhouse brings an elevated billiards, darts, and cocktail lounge to downtown Montreal
      Photography by Aidan Matthews / @aidanc.m

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      Willie's ClubhouseMontreal Forum

      The recreational landscape continues to evolve beyond the traditional bar scene, and activity-based venues are gaining momentum thanks to home teams focused on offering up alternatives.

      First there was the revived relic of Montreal Bowling, then the indoor driving ranges of the alt-country club Muni, and now? The latest entrant, Willie's Clubhouse, transforms a mothballed, 3,230-square-foot space in the Montreal Forum into a refined space that combines classic billiards, darts, and cocktail culture.

      Stepping down into the pool hall.
      The smoky backroom with dartboards.

      In development since last summer, what started as aspirations for "just another pub" evolved into something more ambitious: a trendy English-style pool hall connected to a sophisticated dart room with distinct personalities.

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

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      Comments

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

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      Follow on Google
      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026

      Eight Montreal bars cracked the top 50. One took the whole thing.

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer
      Food + drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer

      China's food culture never stopped evolving. Montreal's did. These are the chefs closing the gap.

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries
      Food + drink
      Christopher DeWolf

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries

      On the international growth of Messorem, from local can drops, streetwear-style branding, and Brooklyn vibes to an international events and fans.

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown

      A nightlife operator known for late-night destinations pivots to an all-day café, bringing a flexible menu and a few unexpected draws to a quiet stretch near the Bell Centre.

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End

      The team signed off this week with a note of gratitude to their regulars.

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall

      After decades in Quebec, Abdul and his family built a restaurant where traditional Afghan cooking has earned a following that extends well beyond the South Shore.

      Food & Drink

      Willie's Clubhouse Brings an Elevated Billiards, Darts, and Cocktail Lounge to Downtown Montreal

      This swish take on the 'bar ludique' creates a new recreational hub inside the Montreal Forum.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      April 15, 2025 · 5 min read

      Willie's Clubhouse brings an elevated billiards, darts, and cocktail lounge to downtown Montreal
      Photography by Aidan Matthews / @aidanc.m

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      Willie's ClubhouseMontreal Forum

      The recreational landscape continues to evolve beyond the traditional bar scene, and activity-based venues are gaining momentum thanks to home teams focused on offering up alternatives.

      First there was the revived relic of Montreal Bowling, then the indoor driving ranges of the alt-country club Muni, and now? The latest entrant, Willie's Clubhouse, transforms a mothballed, 3,230-square-foot space in the Montreal Forum into a refined space that combines classic billiards, darts, and cocktail culture.

      Stepping down into the pool hall.
      The smoky backroom with dartboards.

      In development since last summer, what started as aspirations for "just another pub" evolved into something more ambitious: a trendy English-style pool hall connected to a sophisticated dart room with distinct personalities.

      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

      Comments

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      No comments yet. Be the first!

      Follow on Google
      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026

      Eight Montreal bars cracked the top 50. One took the whole thing.

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer
      Food + drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer

      China's food culture never stopped evolving. Montreal's did. These are the chefs closing the gap.

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries
      Food + drink
      Christopher DeWolf

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries

      On the international growth of Messorem, from local can drops, streetwear-style branding, and Brooklyn vibes to an international events and fans.

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown

      A nightlife operator known for late-night destinations pivots to an all-day café, bringing a flexible menu and a few unexpected draws to a quiet stretch near the Bell Centre.

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End

      The team signed off this week with a note of gratitude to their regulars.

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall

      After decades in Quebec, Abdul and his family built a restaurant where traditional Afghan cooking has earned a following that extends well beyond the South Shore.

      The Main

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      Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
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      J.P. Karwacki

      Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

      The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

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

      North America's Only Malagasy Restaurant Is a 20-Seat Room in the Plateau
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      North America's Only Malagasy Restaurant Is a 20-Seat Room in the Plateau

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      What's taken shape on Montreal's Sainte-Catherine West is something entirely distinct from the old Chinatown.

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?
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      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?

      As a new wave of restaurants has revived the neighbourhood’s energy, questions remain about who gets to shape (and belong to) the scene now taking hold.

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      More Food & Drink

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

      The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

      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).

      North America's Only Malagasy Restaurant Is a 20-Seat Room in the Plateau
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      North America's Only Malagasy Restaurant Is a 20-Seat Room in the Plateau

      At 325 F, Bryan Rajarison cooks from memory, family, and a cuisine that rarely travels this far.

      Montreal's Best Bars Think About Design First
      Food & Drink
      Elle Magni

      Montreal's Best Bars Think About Design First

      Inside the obsession with light, sound, and atmosphere that separates Montreal's best bars from the rest.

      The New Chinatown Doesn't Call Itself That
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      The New Chinatown Doesn't Call Itself That

      What's taken shape on Montreal's Sainte-Catherine West is something entirely distinct from the old Chinatown.

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?

      As a new wave of restaurants has revived the neighbourhood’s energy, questions remain about who gets to shape (and belong to) the scene now taking hold.

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureThings to Do in Montreal This MayArts & CultureA Local's Guide to the PlateauArts & CultureMontreal’s Indie Drag Scene Is Breaking the Rules and Reclaiming the StageNewsletterThe Bulletin: Gore and Comedy at the Cinema, Go Habs Go, and Pizza with Your Pint [Issue #179]Arts & CultureWhat To Do This Weekend (04.30–05.03)
      Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

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      Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

      Next

      GOODEE's Flagship Westmount Space Combines Curated Global Design with Montreal Roots

      GOODEE's flagship Westmount space combines curated global design with Montreal roots
      Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

      Previous

      Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

      Next

      GOODEE's Flagship Westmount Space Combines Curated Global Design with Montreal Roots

      GOODEE's flagship Westmount space combines curated global design with Montreal roots