The Best New Bars in Montreal [October 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. It's all about fewer gimmicks, more precision, and the 10 names on this list prove the point. Some lean into mixology, others into natural wine or simply pouring a great pint—but all of them bring something worth leaving the house for.

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 Caribbean restobars and secret chapel lounges to aperitivo counters and owl-inspired cocktail dens.

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. That said, consider this your last chance to check out Copilote, Maison Close, La Courtepointe, Leonor, Star Bar, Polari, Crocodile, Chez Miller, Mlle Rosa, Badin, Le French Line, and Éléonore.

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

Le Rodman

5550 St Laurent Blvd

Le Rodman's Caribbean-inspired restobar in the Mile End skips the usual tropes and goes for something grittier: big flavours, loud music, and a bar program with zero interest in being polite. It runs on late-night energy and the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly what it wants to be. The kitchen stays open until 2 a.m., firing off island-style plates with smoke, spice, and a bit of swagger, while the bar pours cocktails alongside steadily flowing draft lines. The vibe leans more block party than bistro. Instead of trying to fit into the neighbourhood, it’s trying to wake it up.

Capella

3 De la Commune Ouest

Cappella doesn’t advertise itself (sort of). Found behind a fridge door inside the Old Montreal restaurant Benedetta, it’s more than easy to miss. Once inside, though, the tone shifts: low lighting, rough stone walls, and a DJ booth driving the room. The room borrows its name and mood from Italian chapels, but the rituals here lean more toward sound, smoke, and late-night confessions. With a tight guest list, rotating performers, and cocktails built for pacing the night, it's certainly got a secretive feel to it. Make sure to DM them on Instagram for the password.

Bar Edicola

1111 Rue Cypress

What used to be a neighbourhood magazine shop is now a café by day, aperitivo bar by night—run by the team behind Caffettiera, Cloakroom, and Provisions. Mornings at Bar Edicola are espresso and cornetti at the counter; evenings stretch out into Negronis, marinated zucchini, and plates of fresh pasta. The name nods to old-school edicole (newsstands), and the space itself keeps the memory alive with Italian magazines tacked to the wall. It’s a quiet rejection of downtown’s more generic rhythms—equal parts nostalgia and hospitality, with a layout that shifts as the day does. The bar runs the full length of the room, the soundtrack leans lively, and the welcome starts with a proper “ciao.” It’s a versatile, soulful hangout that feels like a piece of Italy has been reinserted into a downtown that desperately needed something personal.

Bobby's

129 Rue Beaubien Ouest

Bobby’s brings back what Montreal was missing. Opened by a team that remembers the city’s gone-but-not-forgotten haunts, this Mile-Ex spot leans into old-school tavern comfort with a wink. Think wood panelling, a back room with skylights over the pool table, and a bar lined with the kind of bottles you actually want to drink. Beer is cheap, cocktails are familiar, and the snacks are stripped down to the essentials: chips, cornichons, pepperettes. No menu gymnastics, no $25 martinis—you just walk in twice and the staff already knows your order.

Named in honour of a co-owner’s late father, Bobby’s folds memory and community into every detail. Less hype, more cowbell.

Fukurō

2000 Mont-Royal Ave Est

Named after the Japanese word for owl, Fukurō is built for the night. The Mont-Royal East lounge leans pan-Asian in flavour, but it’s more personal than that—drawing from Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Cambodian dishes the team grew up on, then spinning them through a tapas-style format made for sharing. Most plates fall between $15 and $30, ranging from bright and balanced (scallop ceviche, papaya salad, grilled eggplant) to full-on comfort: sticky-sweet wings, fried octopus balls, pizzas topped with bò kho or kimchi. The cocktail list keeps pace—playful, precise, and not afraid to go off-script. There’s a pandan colada, a jasmine old fashioned, and a bloody tom yum that tastes like a meal and comes with a shrimp skewer just to make the point. Kissa-style DJ sets round out the atmosphere, more mood than volume, but always with a pulse.

Bar Le Ber

103 Rue Jacques-le Ber

Located in the same Nun's Island address as the Japanese restaurant Nagomi, Bar le Ber (or B.B. for short) flips the script once the sun sets. What begins as dinner—karaage, curry steak, a surprisingly good unagidon—shifts into cocktails and conversation under soft light and low beats. The bar quietly launched in 2024 as a weekend-only escape, run out of the same kitchen but with a distinct identity: pared-back drinks, seasonal infusions, Japanese barware, and the occasional popup that blends local fashion, pottery, and music. It’s one of the only spots on Nuns’ Island where you can actually get a proper drink past 9 p.m.

Ava MTL

1764 Centre Street

Ava plays both sides. By day, it’s all espresso and quiet focus, anchored by a gleaming Elektra machine that feels more industrial art piece than café gear. By night, it slips into cocktail mode—dim lights, cold martinis, and a few well-placed twists on the classics. Housed inside Clubhaus, a boutique hotel and event space in Pointe-Saint-Charles, the room keeps things sharp without trying too hard. The drinks are thoughtful, the vibe unfussy. Good for both posting up with a laptop or catching the tail end of happy hour.

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.