Where Montreal's food writers and photographers loved to drink in 2025 (and what they ordered)

Much like what we heard about dining and restaurants, Montreal's bar scene in 2025 was all about knowing your spot, trusting your bartender, and settling into places that deliver good drinks in spaces that feel right. The trends? Not so much.

How do we know? We asked local food writers, photographers, and critics about the bars and cocktails that defined their year. Whether it was a perfectly executed martini enjoyed with a 45th-floor view over the city, or a neighbourhood wine bar where everyone knows your name, these are the spots that made Montreal's nights worth remembering.

The past year's favourites prove Montreal's bar culture was at its best in 2025 when it focused on craft, hospitality, and places you naturally want to return to—be it for a mezcal drink that's "just fire," a cocoa-infused Negroni at Limousine, or the simple pleasure of a cold, salty, iconic dirty martini.