Meet Pelicano, Downtown Montreal’s Newest Art-Déco Underground Bar

There’s a stylish new place to drink just a stone’s throw from Place-des-Arts, as swimming pool-themed bar Club Pelicano has opened on de Bleury, beneath Peruvian-Japanese restaurant Tiradito.

Despite the lack of natural light (Pelicano is in a basement), Pelicano will have summer vibes all year round: the bar is an “ode” to famed Parisian art deco pool Piscine Molitor, a highly fashionable spot in the 1930s and 40s before falling into disrepair (it was eventually reopened in recent years as part of a hotel). The space has a large, depressed rectangle that could have once functioned as a pool (the exact history of the space is unknown) — and it’s accompanied by a bright colour scheme, and plenty of aquatically-appropriate tiling.

The bar’s ownership overlaps with Tiradito upstairs (owner David Dumay and chef-owner Marcel Larrea are involved, alongside consultant Dave Schmidt (see also: Datcha, Bar Kabinet —he’s a part-owner of the bar), but it’s worth noting that the two are functioning together. Pelicano has a separate entrance, and the bar snacks on offer will lean Mediterranean, with Italian culinary pro Fabrizia Rollo (of Mile End’s Fabrizia) involved in crafting the menu.

As for alcohol, there’s plenty of top-level bar experience here: other partners include Alex Kinx (ex-Le Royal), Dimitri St-Louis (ex-Nacarat), and Sebastien Jacques (ex-Furco and Pullman Wine Bar). While the bar is self-describing as more of a neighbourhood haunt than a big-gun drinking destination, it’ll aim for quality all round with mineral, summery natural wines, beer from local microbreweries, and cocktails devised by the above mixers.

Club Pelicano/Supplied

Pelicano is now one of several establishments in town to make use of otherwise vacant space beneath a restaurant — just last week, Griffintown seafood restaurant Makro welcomed swanky bar King Crab beneath its Notre-Dame West premises.

STATUS — Club Pelicano is open at 1076 de Bleury (suite 001) from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday).

• Club Pelicano [Facebook]
• Dive Into This Swimming Pool-Esque Bar, Moving Into Downtown Montreal [EMTL]
• Swimming in luxury: an iconic pool is reborn in Paris [The Verge]