Let the Italian Wine Flow at This New Little Italy Enoteca

LITTLE ITALY — There’s a new Italian wine bar on St-Laurent, with Signorvino now open in the former space of Mexican restaurant Mercado. Owners Marco Romanelli and Roberto Cardillo have wine experience with importing company Vinitor. Romanelli calls it a relaxed, unpretentious spot; a slice of a classic Roman enoteca on the Main. They’re leaning towards smaller Italian producers (private imports, of course), and are aiming for a 200-strong cellar by later this year. Some other Italian classics (Aperol spritz, grappas) are on hand too. It’s not just a wine bar — a menu of Italian classics is on offer, from cold cuts, arancini, and focaccia on the snack side, to some meatballs, risottos, pastas, and a couple of meat and fish options on hand for bigger appetites — the space, decked out in calming green, seats 50 (bar seating included), with a terrasse fitting another 20.

Signorvino/Facebook

NDG/WESTMOUNT — A new pub has touched down right on the border of Westmount and NDG. Garrison House Pub comes from the same owners as nearby Nextdoor Pub, located in the former Liquid Lounge space. It looks a little fancy, with chandeliers and polished wood bars (but “trendy” elements feature too, like exposed brick) — but it’s also the kind of place that’s offering bottomless Caesars or mimosas for $25. Per DailyHive, Garrison House is set to get a kitchen in the fall, and for now is allowing customers to bring in outside food.

The Secret Garden by Veuve Clicquot/Facebook

OLD MONTREAL — Chichi champagne brand Veuve Clicquot is running a pop-up bar every Tuesday evening for the summer. Dubbed the Secret Garden, it‘s happening in the heart of Old Montreal at 139 St-Paul West, with dollar oysters between 5 and 8 p.m., and $100 Veuve bottles for the more moneyed readers. As the name suggests, it’s a rather Instagram-friendly garden party kind of setting.

OLD MONTREAL — There’s all sorts of special events for poutine, burgers, tartares, and more in this city — now there’s one for mixed drinks, too. Montreal Cocktailfest takes place Sunday July 8, with a range of bars setting up at the St-James Theatre on St-Jacques to serve their most interesting cocktails. It’s a coupon system, with tickets running from $25 (getting you two to four drinks, depending how you play it), through to the all-you-can-drink $80 option. Bars include Le Royal, Le Jockey, Mayfair, and Kampai Garden, although notably, many of the city’s big cocktail names are absent from the list.

• This popular Montreal bar has opened up a sister location [DailyHive]
• Montreal Cocktailfest [Official]