Visitors can travel back in time to this vinyl record bar brimming with Mad Man-era vibes. With a half-moon-shaped bar at the back, a cocktail list that focuses heavily on gin and bourbon, a small snack menu, and a collection of more than 2,500 records, it’ll satisfy most of the senses.

Housed in a former dive bar of the same name, this is perhaps the best spot to grab a strong drink in La Petite-Patrie. Expect stunning cocktails such as a peach mezcal sour and a choco-chip mint espresso martini alongside a long list of natural wines by the glass and a food menu far superior to most bars.

Found on the recently renovated Plaza Saint-Hubert, this neon-lit tiki bar adds an extra bit of sunshine into the lives of Montrealers, particularly in winter months. Cocktails are served in everything from repurposed salt shakers and coconut milk containers to fish bowls and various garden ornaments. A small snack menu of dumplings and sandwiches ensures a healthy salt intake alongside the sugary drinks.

Named after the small bites served in traditional Venetian bars, terracotta-hued Cicchetti is an expert at the deviled eggs, charcuterie platters, polenta fries, and crustless sandwiches that’ll efficiently pad an evening of drinking. Spritzes, bellinis, and other Italian aperitivo cocktails are the standard play here — and in the summer, available from a sunny terrasse.

Whether for indoor dining or rooftop lounging, Taverne Atlantic has a comprehensive beverage list and a solid food offering. For cocktails, expect Quebec booze like Menaud vodka, Cirka gin, and Kayak vermouth on a short but exciting list. Make sure to add hot dogs, poutine, or pizza to the order.

This Portuguese-influenced tavern replaced once-upon-a-time cocktail heavyweight Baldwin Barmacie in 2015, and it takes its drinks just as seriously. Consider ordering the Rosa, made with gin, honey vermouth, hibiscus, and lemon, or the Robert, with bourbon, grapefruit, Aperol, apple brandy, lemon, and bitters.

This gem inside the gates of Chinatown is a hipster hangout in a historic building, inspired by the neighbourhood. With ten cocktails on the menu – names like Baijiu Caîpirinha dans Chinatown, the Ville-Marie Ice Tea and Purple Haze might catch your attention – this second-storey spot featuring a rooftop patio is the perfect place to start (or end) the night.

Cold Room might be in Old Montreal, but minimal signage and an inconspicuous doorbell mean it’s often hidden from tourists. The drinks are exceptionally creative —the current menu contains a list of cocktails named after famous landmarks, neighbourhoods and parks around Montreal, all chosen by the staff. In case there’s a line, check out adjacent 9-seater establishment El Pequeño for Cuban cocktails in an itty bitty space.

Cloakroom serves speakeasy vibes and stone-cold stunning cocktails from an ultra-chic space hidden behind a menswear shop. Drinks are uniquely tailored to each customer’s liquor and taste preferences, meaning there’s no menu to pore over — instead, let the bartender be your guide.

Neon lighting and striking velours converge at this fashionable Pointe-Saint-Charles destination — a near-instant hit when it landed on the scene in 2019. Cocktails lean tropical and refreshing, setting the tone with its flagship El Original,  made with Hornitos Plata Tequila, Convite Esencial Mezcal, Pierre Ferrand dry curaçao, lime, blood orange, strawberry, vanilla, and chili. Bonus: patrons can bring a pizza up from sibling establishment Fugazzi, located downstairs.

Tucked in a back alley on the edge of Saint-Henri, Atwater Cocktail Club was a game-changing addition to the city’s cocktail scene when it first opened and has remained popular ever since, with a swank, dimly lit design. Cocktails look to the south with flavours like hibiscus, jalapeño, and agave, and have elaborate presentations.