Ambiance is a crucial ingredient for a cathartic cry. This bar has it all: the smell of stale beer, the pallid glow of video poker machines, and the mournful crooning of drunk patrons on the karaoke mic. Cue up “Nothing Compares 2U” and let the waterworks begin!

The sheer variety of entertainment at this bar makes it a perfect place to cry for just about anyone—just make sure you’ve pre-planned. On any given night you’ll find metal bands, cult classic movie screenings, drag shows, or Britney Spears-themed DJ and dance nights. Pick a mood, show up, and break down! (Note that Le Ritz only opens on evenings where it has scheduled events.)

If you’re queer and have spent more than 72 hours in Montreal, chances are you already have cried in this bar. Remember that time that you walked in to find your ex on a date with your roommate’s ex’s ex and immediately got jealous of how cute they looked in their matching chokers? That was a rough night. But the cheap cocktails, great pizza, and lovely staff made up for it. 

Sometimes people cry because they feel empty. One way to fill that emptiness is by going to therapy or developing healthy habits such as waking up at 6:30 a.m. to go for a run or volunteer at the puppy shelter. But one much simpler way is by accessing a spread of bottomless free snacks — and this bar has an entire table filled with just that. If that’s not enough to convince you that this is the perfect place to weep, please refer back to the name (literally Snack’n Blues), which seems to imply that it’s a good place to show up hungry and sad. (The “blues” part also refers to the live music on-site, which can drown out those sobs.)

Head here for the Porter Airlines of emotional breakdowns: it’s crying, refined. With crisp cocktails and vintage décor straight out of a high-end furniture catalogue from 1976, this bar is the perfect location to sit alone and quietly shed a single, restrained tear while you ponder your deepest regrets. 

Most of the drinks at this cocktail bar already include an elaborate six or seven ingredients. That doesn’t mean you can’t add your own twist by letting your tears act as an extra layer of seasoning. They also come in large mason jars to catch those tears.

If a public cry is not self-indulgent enough, pull the ultimate treat-yourself move and order Jiao’s $100 dumpling infused with cognac.

Crying in a bar can certainly look pathetic, but if you choose the right backdrop it can also look mysterious and possibly even sexy. With sleek furniture, signature cocktails, and a dome ceiling, this bar has everything you need to feel like the star of a TV drama about rich New York teens with emotional problems. If you prefer an anonymous cry, this is your spot: you’re unlikely to run into anyone you know. Most patrons will be passing-through hotel guests, and you know that none of your friends can really afford to drink at the Ritz-Carlton anyway.