Drink
Where to drink in Montreal. Third-wave coffee, natural wine, craft beer, cocktail bars, rooftops, and speakeasies. Five picks per category plus a local favourite.
Montreal takes its drinks seriously. Third-wave cafés have been the default for more than a decade, the cocktail scene has gone from stiff French classics to genuinely creative programs, and Quebec's craft brewery output per capita is among the highest in North America. Natural wine arrived early here and never left.
These guides cover where to actually go. Whether that's a morning espresso, a Tuesday bottle of something orange, or a proper nightcap after dinner in the Old Port. Each list is five spots we drink at ourselves, nothing more.
Bars
DrinkThe best bars in Montreal. Neighbourhood watering holes, dive classics, dimly-lit lounges, and local rooms that earn a regular's loyalty without needing a gimmick.
Cocktail Bars
DrinkThe best cocktail bars in Montreal. Serious bartenders, original drink programs, classic execution, and rooms where the cocktails justify every minute of attention.
Coffee
DrinkThe best coffee in Montreal. Third-wave cafés, single-origin pour-over bars, and honest espresso counters across the Plateau, Mile End, downtown, and beyond.
Local Beer
DrinkThe best craft beer in Montreal. Local Quebec breweries, taprooms with rotating taps, and bottle shops carrying the province's best. One of North America's strongest scenes.
Rooftop Bars
DrinkThe best rooftop bars in Montreal. Elevated terraces with skyline views, summer cocktail programs, and the spots worth booking for golden hour from May through September.
Speakeasies & Hidden Bars
DrinkThe best speakeasies and hidden bars in Montreal. Unmarked doors, password rooms, after-hours cocktail programs, and serious bartenders working without the signage out front.
Terrasses
DrinkThe best terrasses in Montreal. Tree-lined patios, riverside drinks, Plateau backyards, and the spots worth claiming a table on from May through September. Summer mode on.
Wine Bars
DrinkThe best wine bars in Montreal. Natural wine pioneers, deep cellars of orange and skin contact, knowledgeable somms, and rooms where the list and the atmosphere both deliver.