Popular amongst the north-side queer crowd (but not strictly an LGBTQ venue), Notre Dame des Quilles (best known as NDQ) is low on frills in the decor department, but cheap beer and a tight set of mostly classic cocktails makes up for it. There’s also a small bowling alley — due to arcane city rules, it’s the only way the venue could get itself a bar license. Stop by Sunday nights for karaoke.

For a casual glass of wine or two after work, Rouge Gorge has you covered with an almost overwhelmingly extensive selection to choose from. Drinking with friends? Go for any of the large format bottles to keep the party going.

Dim lighting and a warm, woody interior has helped Sparrow become a top destination for Tinder dates; an extensive and crowd-pleasing drink menu undoubtedly helps, too. There are late-night drink specials on many nights, too.

This Mile End microbrasserie has obtained a major following for its local brews and hyper-snackable nachos. With 20 different beers to choose from, there’s something for everyone from beer nerds to casual drinkers alike.

As far as live music bars go, Casa del Popolo is a Montreal staple, featuring local bands and artists every night of the week. What’s better than a drink out than a drink out that includes entertainment? Otherwise, skip the cover charge and enjoy St-Ambroise beers on tap on the bar side, or in a cozy back courtyard.

Having conquered Verdun, the people behind Verdun’s Bar Palco turned their attention to giving the Village a neighbourhood bar, and super-friendly Renard is the result. It’s a little heavier on the cocktail side — get an Aperol spritz and take in the pedestrian street life on the terrasse.

Perfect for 5 à 7 sips or date night drinks, Buvette Chez Simone keeps the fun flowing with a notable selection of by-the-glass pours, although stopping at just one can be difficult. The charcuterie and cheese plates are also solid for those looking to grab a bite.

As far as dive bars go, La Petite Idée Fixe is as authentic and grimy as it gets; and in the best of ways. The beers are cheap, there’s a (great) terrasse come summer, and the free jukebox keeps the tunes playing all night long.

It might be a beer bar, but Pamplemousse skips the standard masculine, woody pub trapping in favour of something peachy and fun. It has a seriously wide-ranging beer selection running from sours to milk stouts, and intriguing snacks that draw influences from the Caribbean and India. Despite the beer focus, cocktail and wine options here are certainly not neglected.

This wine bar at Parc and Sherbrooke was one of Montreal’s first and has been pouring wine for well over a decade. Prices can be steep, but bottles are half-price on Sunday, making them even more palatable for your taste buds and your wallet. 

Follow the duck to this Old Montreal speakeasy, where an illuminated duck is the only signage hinting to the location of the doorbell that lets customers in to this establishment. Once inside, saddle up at the bar for well-crafted cocktails with a menu that changes seasonally. Be warned: it can get very busy.

Tucked beneath Peruvian-Japanese restaurant Tiradito is Club Pelicano, which draws its inspiration from a French art déco swimming pool. Despite the historic reference point, it feels distinctly modern, with a fun crowd, solid cocktails, tasty snacks, and some of the most interesting decor in town.

Don’t be fooled; despite its location inside a massive chain hotel, Nacarat makes some of the most thoughtful, well-executed cocktails in the city. Bartenders spend months testing recipes before they make the menu, if they even make the cut at all, and the menu is arranged not by spirit, but by flavour profile.

Located on de la Montagne behind a menswear store of the same name, the Cloakroom serves up high-end cocktails without a menu. Bartenders will suss out your spirit or flavour preferences, and hand you a drink you didn’t even know you wanted until you taste it.

Little Burgundy is home to Burgundy Lion, the neighbourhood’s favourite British pub (and maybe the most popular in the whole city). Come for the signature Burgundy Lion ale and stay for the fish and chips. Plus, there’s always a football (read: soccer) match on the telly.

The Burgundy Lion just across the way may do a great job as a pub, but Drinkerie is Little Burgundy’s go-to all-rounder for beer, cocktails and beyond. As such, it’s often pretty busy.

Saint-Henri’s bar Löic is the neighbourhood hotspot for oenophiles looking to enjoy their natural, biodynamic offerings. The food is also on point, with local small plates and a concise selection of desserts — enjoy it all on the leafy terrasse in summer months.

This Irish pub in NDG features live music, cold beer, and a sense of community that’s difficult to find in many modern-day drinking establishments. So, for a knock-off drink with friends after a long day, Honey Martin is as close to Cheers as you’ll get.

For years, Verdun was a bar-free zone due to archaic liquor laws — those were finally lifted in recent times, allowing for some stellar neighbourhood drinking options like this eclectically-decorated venue. The owners of Little Burgundy’s Drinkerie Ste-Cunégonde are involved, meaning cocktails are a forte, but it’s just an all-round great hang spot, be it for a plate of roasted chicken, or occasional live music.