Meet Loïc, Montreal's Most Interesting New Bar

Loïc is the newest addition to the growing restaurant and bar community on Notre-Dame Street in Saint-Henri. Officially open as of Sunday, August 9, in a formerly derelict heritage landmark, this ground floor bar and accompanying upstairs music venue, Turbo Haüs (which opened in May), are co-owned by a group of seven guys including Choice Harbour partners Max Ruiz Laing and Marley Sniatowsky, Honey Martin co-owner Mike Griffin, and Mike Niro, Pat Bennett, Sergio Da Silva and Jordan Brown, all former members of the band Trigger Effect.

"The concept was to open a bar that had higher quality products that your average bar in terms of wine, in terms of snacks, in terms of liquors. I think the idea came from us hanging out in our friend's restaurants and having a drink and staying there late. We thought it would be nice if there was a bar that you could go to like that," explains Griffin.

So that's exactly what they did. With no cocktail program, Loïc focuses on a really nice selection of spirits and a killer wine list put together by Sniatowsky's brother, Cassady (who's been working at Norman Hardie), and Nora Gray co-owner, Ryan Gray. "We're just trying to include wines that are easy to drink, that are fun, from winemakers that we know," says Cassady Sniatowsky.

Wine selection

As for the food, the concept is elevated bar snacks. "There's not going to be a ton of options but we'll have 4 or 5 things to choose from," says Laing. "One will be a smoked fish, one will be a charcuterie, one will be a crudité, one will be with fresh fruit while it's in season, and the other one will be like one cheese. We're working with Société-Orignal and couple other small producers but the menu will change depending on our moods. It's very pared down, but high quality."

Crudité plate

With the venue on the second floor, it allows Loïc to have it's own atmosphere, but if patrons are in the mood for something more upbeat or want to dance, they can just head right upstairs. "Instead of having a bar that has live music and setting a mood for the whole place, we just do that upstairs. It will be two really independent, but complementary vibes," explains Marley Sniatowsky.

Starting this Sunday, August 9, Loïc will be open from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., 7 days a week. For more information, check out their official site.

Loïc's front entrance