Occult Bar Idole Is Open and Is the Place for Haute Devil Worship

Plaza St-Hubert has a new watering hole as Idole stages its official opening today (July 31).

It’s first and foremost a cocktail bar, but in an excellent example of using what a space offers, it has a cult-like theme to it — the dungeon-meets-castle space (which most recently housed Le Félix) has faux-stone fixtures covering its interior. Owner Anthoni Jodoin (see also: tiki bar Snowbird and Taverne Cobra) previously said that the satanic ritual scene from Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut also served as inspiration for the aesthetic.

Classic cocktails will be the main focus — think negronis, or a Vieux-Carré. Jean-Max Giguère of Ahuntsic cocktail spot Bar Vintage 132 is behind the menu, and also a partner on the project. Jodoin says the permanent menu will have a solid number of signature offerings, although the Monday opening party will have a smaller number of options to keep service smooth.

Perhaps the most notable menu item is the boozy, sacrilicious Saint Graal, or “Holy Grail”. Served in a chalice-like vessel (can you say câlisse?), and with a colour evocative of communion wine (those raised Christian will recall that church wine is meant to evoke Jesus’ blood), it has vodka, Pimm’s, Italian liqueur Bitter di Torino, Punt E Mes (an Italian red vermouth), and grenadine in it. Then it’s garnished with a communion wafer — a symbol of Jesus Christ’s body, pegged to the glass.

Sacriligious, perhaps, but you can’t deny that the imagery fits with Quebec’s staunchly Catholic past — and it fits with the Opus Dei vibe inside the bar, too (take a look).

STATUS — Idole is open at 6388 St-Hubert from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.

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