The 6 Best Bars in Verdun

Church St. Pub is a neighbourhood bar at the heart of Verdun—an eclectic, warmly lit space with Moroccan-style lanterns hanging from the ceiling and a cozy brick wall behind the bar. Inheriting the tiki-style terrasse bar from the spot’s previous inhabitant, Chez Anas, Church St. Pub balances laid-back and lively energies. And their menu full of funky pub classics (think a grilled cheese with bacon and brie, jalapeno poppers, and deep fried oreos) does nothing to dispel that. They also regularly host events, including board game nights, sports games viewing parties, trivia, and free pool days.

At Bar Social, vines hang from the ceiling, liquor bottles rest in suspended racks, and dim lighting sets the mood at all times of day. True to its name, this Verdun bar is a hotspot for community events—hosting quiz nights, DJ sets, sports game nights, and more—in addition to their ability to cultivate an atmosphere that’s halfway between dive and upscale. On the menu are cocktails, beers, and more, as well as typical bar food like nachos, burgers, and poutine.

Benelux is Wellington’s resident brewery, serving locally brewed beers with an array of small snacks. Their offerings change on blackboards, depending on what they’re brewing at the moment, though they also have other drinks like wine, scotch, whiskey, and bourbon on the menu. For food, you can create your own charcuterie tray, tuck into a hot dog (vegetarian option available), or enjoy a panini. It was the first bar to open in Verdun post-prohibition, catering to a wide range of tastes despite its seemingly narrow, beer-oriented scope.

This charming Irish pub, with its dark wooden walls and floors, copper bar, and antique sensibility needs not do much to transport you to a quaint tavern in Ireland. With a total of 32 taps—12 of which rotate regularly—they simultaneously import European beers and showcase Quebec microbreweries. Whiskey, too, is on the menu, as is a selection of bar food catering to a range of diets including steak frites, fish & chips, vegan poutine, nachos, and more.

Part concert and event venue, part bar, Le Billy is a Verdun fixture that prioritizes drinks and music equally. The stage is a pillar of the space, situated underneath a white wrought iron railing, and their cocktail list and short food menu (burrata, arancini, mini burgers, to name a few) pair perfectly with an evening listening to local bands and emerging artists. Grab a drink before the headliner or settle in for the full night in one of their more than 150 seats.

Named for the nearby strip of sand on the Saint Lawrence River, Verdun Beach is a natural wine bar and restaurant on Wellington, serving artisanal wine, cocktails, and beers with small sharing plates. Using seasonal ingredients, the menu changes up, with dishes like butternut squash agnolotti, beef carpaccio, and sea bream on the menu one week, but not the next. Imitating a French guinguette, the space offers dining, drinking, and dancing for a well-rounded night of fun.