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

Complete with a swimming pool theme

Club Pelicano/Facebook

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.

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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

1076 Rue de Bleury, Ville-Marie, QC H2Z 1N2 (514) 861-1515 Visit Website