Bar Minou

Bar Minou is the kind of place that feels improvised yet deeply considered, born from the partnership of Yailén “Yaya” Díaz and Phil, two cooks chasing the spark of creativity more than the trappings of fine dining. Tucked into Montreal’s nightlife fabric, the bar runs on curiosity and a willingness to play—whether that’s a riff on a margarita spiked with Aperol and jalapeño, a negroni dressed with rhubarb from the neighbour’s garden, or skewers of pork belly and octopus that take days of braising before hitting the grill.

Specials shift with the mood of the team, but the through-line is a love for off-cuts, ferments, and Mediterranean flavours refracted through Cuban and Nova Scotian memories. Yaya’s own path—from Havana to Berlin’s natural wine bars to Montreal’s kitchens—anchors the menu with a restless sense of exploration. At Minou, cocktails, small plates, and storytelling converge in a room that’s less about polish than about personality.