Bar Macao

This Chinatown dive, tucked away above Saint-Laurent Boulevard, is the kind of place where cheap drinks and gritty charm collide in equal measure. Cash-only and unapologetically unrefined, it offers supremely cheap bottles and mixed drinks at prices that haven’t felt inflation’s bite. Most patrons are glued to the lineup of VLT machines, giving the rest of the room a hushed vibe, perfect for low-key conversation and a few rounds with friends. The bar’s staff is a study in contrasts—a friendly regular will be all smiles, while another tougher one keeps things running with a no-nonsense edge. No kitchen, no frills, and a bathroom that’s seen better days, but if you’re looking to skip the refined spots nearby, this is as real as it gets.