Plush Playboy Mansion Bar Henden Roosts in Griffintown Starting Tonight

Griffintown fried chicken newcomer Le Bird Bar expands tonight, with the addition of a full bar, Henden, in its basement.

Henden was always in the plans for the double-level space, but took an extra couple of months to come to fruition. Unlike the shinier, more open space of Le Bird Bar with its corner windows, Henden has more of an enclosed, cozier vibe, with a fully-draped ceiling and hand-woven Moroccan rug sprawling across the floor.

Design-wise, it’s a mix: the part seventies-themed room comes from the Gauley Brothers (who were also behind the quite-splendid Atwater Cocktail Club). It’s meant to have a nod to the Playboy Mansion (presumably not the more unsavoury parts of it), as well as having Moroccan accents, particularly on the décor front. Thankfully, it’s not an all-out Moroccan explosion, as that might not gell so well with the Playboy approach.

Henden’s furniture seems to evoke a pretty strong sense of plushness, leaning into boudoir territory — from an orange velvet couch, to black velvet and gold-tasselled ottomans. Similar to Le Bird Bar, there’s also some marble in there, too.

Bird Bar and Henden owner Kimberly Lallouz explains that a reduced version of the Bird Bar menu will be served, accompanied by a full bar and at times, DJs. It handily serves as an overflow for the restaurant upstairs, too.

Pictures of the interior are being kept under wraps until Henden’s launch tonight — we’ll update this post with some when they become available.

STATUS — Henden opens tonight (February 9) in the basement at 1800 Notre-Dame West. Open Thursday to Saturday from 5 p.m. until late.

• Bird Bar Hatches Fried Chicken Doused in Champagne in Griffintown [EMTL]
• Eight things you didn't know about the Playboy Mansion [The Telegraph]