The 16 (and a Half) Best Bars in Little Italy

Sometimes there’s not much to do at a bar besides stand around, sip on whatever drink’s in your hand, and engage in conversation—lively or not. Bar Notre-Dame-Des Quilles, though, integrates activity and interest into the evening. Namely, bowling. And weekly queer cabarets. With two lanes, a selection of craft cocktails and local beer, and a sprinkling of other fun shows (think comedy, drag shows, and more) among the regular cabarets, there’s no shortage of entertainment at NDQ.

The warm and retro-leaning Bar Bello greets its customers with amber lights lining the ceiling, checkered marble floors, and a Negroni vending machine—nodding to its identity as a well-loved Italian aperitivo bar. Specializing in amaro and vermouth, their offerings range robust to floral. Accompanying their focused drinks list is an equally curated food menu, with antipasti, pizzas, small plates, and two desserts. The perfect place for before, during, or after dinner.

On the edge of Little Italy, in Mile Ex, sits Bobby’s, a neighbourhood bar that’s homey and affordable, though it lacks the specific wear-and-tear of a dive bar. In short, it is the perfect mix. The menu is simple—$8 pints, basic cocktails, and snacks—complemented well by games of pool and biweekly trivia (that is, every other week). The bar equivalent of a friend's living room, Bobby’s is comfortable, unpretentious, and always good for the night.

Brasserie Beaubien is a dive through and through, evidenced by the twice-over graffitied bathrooms, sticky floors, and dated decorations. Of course, these attributes only add to the charm of this over 100-year-old bar (yes, it opened in 1924). Neon signs take up the wall behind the bar, providing some color in a generally dimly lit room. Drafts, bottles, and rail spirits are the name of the game—the perfect accompaniment to whatever programming is on that night.

Unlike its namesake, Taverne Cobra is anything but scary. Unless, that is, you get stage fright. The maximalist bar, complete with miscellaneous wall-hung paraphernalia, and a disco ball and string lights overhead, is unabashedly karaoke-obsessed. Beers starting at $8, fun cocktails and shooters, and a jumbo hot dog (also $8) are on the menu. Cheap enough to have a few rounds, let go of fear, and maybe end up singing “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” at the mic.

Open since 2025 in Little Italy, Numéro’s stainless steel, brown leather, and ambient lighting-filled cocktail bar is a sleek rendition of a classic thing. Bottles are hid from the bar, but the cocktails are anything but shy, with a matcha cookie-inspired drink made with rye and the “Presto!” (vodka, pesto, vermouth, and parmesan) taking up the number one and two spots on the menu. Classic cocktails and non-alcoholic versions are also available. This place rewards curiosity (and more than one round of cocktails).

Vices & Versa is a microbrewery dedicated to serving regional Quebec beers on tap. Its interior hints towards its relaxed disposition, with worn-in tables, a chalk board detailing their offerings, and green-wood-panelled walls. With over 40 options to choose from, it’s perfect for going with a group, and trying out a few different brews, though they also serve cider, wine, liquor, and an extensive menu of bar foods.

La Cale is a self-proclaimed gastronomic pub with a commitment to producing zero waste. The maritime themed establishment prioritizes local producers, with beers from nearby microbreweries and a food menu comprised of whatever’s in season. Beyond beer and food, they also have a selection of house-mixed cocktails, wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic options. Weekly programming also takes the stage, with Monday Quebec traditional music, Tuesday comedy, Wednesday karaoke, and more.

When you walk into Bar Mamie, it becomes clear the kind of environment their team is seeking to cultivate. With vintage plates and prints on the wall, light wood panelled walls and shelves of bottles lining the space, it’s almost as if you’ve entered your grandma’s kitchen—if your grandma was wine-obsessed, and insisted on shelving her collection in said kitchen. The wine bar-resto is a neighbourhood favourite for a reason—boards of house-made charcuterie and cheese, small plates, and lots of wine. There's plenty to love, and no real reason to leave.

WILLS is a beloved Mile End brewery and bar from cousins Ethan and Alex Wills. With a mix of beers, ciders, cocktails, and wine, in addition to offering some snacks (kimchi dumplings, chicken wings, etc.), WILLS draws you in, and in again. Their terrasse, marked by a yellow building extension, fills up fast in the summer. Luckily, the interior, a converted garage with industrial accents, is just as worth settling into.

$12 cocktails can be found at Crocodile. As can a mastering of the aperitif, several low-ABV options, and a thoughtfully curated menu that doesn’t take itself too seriously. First imagined as a pop-up, Crocodile has since held its own on Beaubien, thanks to Canadian bartender and the mind behind the establishment, Max Coubès. Mismatched chairs, a crocodile mural spanning the back wall, and craft cocktails without the markup. Crocodile is the kind of cozy you don't want to (and don’t have to) leave.

Ratafia isn’t technically a bar—it’s a restaurant with a cellar so good it’s got wine bar leanings. Situated on Saint-Laurent, the chic spot pairs an excellent, thoughtfully assembled wine cellar with a food menu, separated into “salty” and “sweet” that impresses. Dishes like leek & smoked mussel agnolotti, and a squash donut rest in the former, while the latter offers a decadent dark chocolate mousse and sweet mystery option, enticing you to (according to their website) “Be surprised by the bold flavor combinations.”

Bruno’s is the neighbourhood sports bar—laid back, good prices, and plenty of televisions so you can watch the game from every angle. Their menu is simple: $8.50 pints, $8 bottles, and classic dive bar-esque cocktails. Jerseys, a kitschy mural, big screens, and a slot machine in the corner—Bruno's is unapologetically itself. Catch a game, grab a beer, and let the night roll on.

In a lovely, dim lit venue, with a terracotta-filled terrasse, lives Bar Cicchetti. Elyse Leclerc, Gabriel Lavallée, and Mathieu Delisle’s ode to Venetian culture—cicchetti are small Venetian snacks—the bar carries a warm, social energy. Their drink menu ranges from cocktails (pantoufle, negroni) to beers and a rainbow of wines, while their food menu adds antipasto like arancini and gnocchi alla vodka to their list of cicchetti. Focused and assured, Bar Cicchetti knows exactly what it wants to be.

Buvette Beaubien is a masterclass in versatility, effortlessly flowing from lazy brunches to casual lunches, to evening small plates paired with an extensive wine list. With a seasonal menu, pulling from Italian, Spanish, and French influences, Buvette Beaubien’s co-owners, painter-turned-restauranteur Dominique Goupil, Maxime Tremblay, and Martin Lamirande, have created something that is both welcoming and well-executed. Between the charcuterie boards, natural wine, and a private room that fits up to 40, they’re equipped to handle everything from a solo glass to a full group dinner with ease.

Technically Mile Ex, but close enough to earn its place here. The team behind Bar Henrietta and Taverne Square Dominion converted a former agricultural machinery dealer into an Art Deco tavern that seats nearly a hundred, and the room shows that ambition—long bar, central tables, and a rooftop terrace for sixty when the weather is right. Sommelier Frédérique Fortin's wine list leans toward natural and private imports, while bartender Alexandre Taillon's cocktail menu is creative without being too showy. When hunger hits, the in-house Chez Eddy Snack Bar covers it with pizzas, hot dogs, and poutine.

The relaxed younger sibling of Parapluie, La Cave du Parapluie operates out of the neighbouring space with no reservations and a looser mandate. Chef Samuel Lamontagne—alumni of Montréal Plaza, Parcelles, and Parapluie itself—runs a concise, seafood-forward menu of small sharing plates that changes with whatever's fresh: oysters, half-cooked trout, a ranch salad dressed with poached oysters that sounds simple and lands somewhere more considered.

The food on offer may make this sound like it belongs among the restaurant rankings, but co-owner and sommelier Karelle Voyer's wine list is the main event: honest, well-chosen, and deep enough to reward the curious. A single cocktail of the moment rounds things out.

Come for a pre-dinner glass, stay for the full spread, or use it as a nightcap after eating next door. It handles all three equally well.