Opening Alert: Old Montreal's Taverne Royal Merchant Now Somwhr Liquor Lounge

"We took the old Royal Merchant and gutted it to the bricks and also removed the kitchen," reports Adamo Mariani of his new project in Old Montreal. Principals in Somwhr Liquor Lounge include Mariani, Alex Besnard, Patrick Hétu and Etienne Payette of A5 Management, Eric Petraglia and Angelo Capp of the bygone Macaroni Bar, and Mykl Zadourian. Mariani describes the space as "a lounge that opens at 9 p.m. Thursday to Sunday" and "gradually transforms into a VIP bottle service experience."

Serial mixologist Lawrence Picard (Nectar & Mixologie) designed the cocktail program for the new bar. Notable.ca writes that Somewhr holds "about 300 people" and is "all about the atmosphere." This photo of Somwhr's staff, sent by Mariani, suggests that it might be about more than that.

Status: Somwhr Liquor Lounge,  401A Notre-Dame Ouest, now open Thursday to Sunday, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.