Hotel bars are one of the best parts of travelling, but even for locals, they hold a dear place in a tippler's heart. They're usually centrally located, making them super convenient for after-work and pre-dinner meet-ups. They're great for dates or for bar hops. They're often internationally influenced, representing the best of Montreal while catering to tastes from all over the globe. And some have fantastic terrasses! Here's a selection of our favourite Montreal spots.
1440 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, H3G 1Z5
Marcus (the restaurant) is well known both near and far, but our preferred place to go in the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal is actually just next to it, tucked away behind the 4th floor lobby. The Marcus Lounge + Bar is a moody, purple tinted world that gives off an instant feeling of glamorous repose. Any after-work drink is a treat here, and as the night goes on, the vibe turns up. Catch some live music as you nibble bites and sip cocktails like their take on the espresso martini, the Kapali Çarşi (with hints of cardamom), or some of the monthly new offerings.
Read also:
The Best Speakeasies in Montreal: Hidden Bars You Have to Experience
340 Rue de la Gauchetière O, Montreal, H2Z 0B9
The Humaniti Hotel Montréal was always a nice place to hang out, especially in the summer when the beautiful rooftop Terrasse Alizée is open and popping off in the evenings. But with the opening of Hiba Bar, on the fourth floor, the party is all year round. The Japanese influenced finger foods are delicious, but the cocktails are what keep us coming back. The ingredients include unexpected delights like nori, red pepper syrup, duck fat wash, toasted sesame oil and rice pudding (not all in the same drink, of course).
355 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montreal, H3A 1L6
Enter the enclave of the HONEYROSE Hotel, a gorgeous setting where the Roaring 20s meets 1990s opulence, and you'll be happy to find a bistro bar that espouses that unique tone. Whether it's a glass of red or a Clandestin cocktail, the drinks are best enjoyed sitting around the stunning polished wood-and-brass U bar, where you can also settle in for a meal of foie gras on brioche and roasted duck breast. Or or you can take your drink out to the lobby and squish into comfy couches to sip at your leisure. In the summer, head to the 4th floor for an outdoor tipple at Muze Lounge & Terrasse.
355 Rue McGill, Montreal, H2Y 2E8
On the ground floor of the Hôtel Saint-Paul, right on McGill, you'll find one of these most indulgent isakayas in Montreal. Wagyu beef and torched salmon belly star prominently here, and the house specialty, maki with ingredients like mango and jalapeno, are a treat. Take a seat in one of those plush circular banquettes and settle in for the evening, starting with a round or two of house cocktails: maybe the Kumo, a frothy delight featuring aquavit, Galliano, red pepper and purple shiso?
900 Boulevard René-Lévesque O, Montreal, H3B 4A5
Fun at night, and an amazingly central location for after work drinks anytime you're downtown, the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel's Rosélys bar is also a fantastic place for the weekend brunch buffet. The mimosa is only the beginning: the wine list is seemingly endless, and includes over 10 choices of champagne. Come here any afternoon, too, for an after-work drink; they make a mean gin martini.
900 Boulevard René-Lévesque O, Montreal, H3B 4A5
Also nestled in the Queen E, Bar Nacarat is a lively nighttime hangout; it opens at 4 pm, just when you're starting to feel like letting loose and living it up. Easily one of the most stylish hotel bars, it's a glitz-and-glam kind of spot where style meets substance in the glass: the cocktails have won accolades for their inventiveness, precision and flawless beauty. Try the signature Tequila Moonlight (a bright and fruity concoction featuring Greek yogurt), and pair it with the Korean chicken crisp for a snack and a view of the Ring from the Nacarat Terrasse upstairs (season permitting).
1228 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montreal, H3G 1H6
You've got a choice of settings at the Ritz-Carlton Montréal: you can either enjoy drinks with a stellar meal, courtesy of Daniel Boulud's Maison Boulud, or start with a little day drinking in the Palm Court and its Dom Pérignon champagne bar. Start with a glass of bubbly, and why not keep it going with an afternoon tea? You could even swap out the actual tea for a bit more of an exciting tipple, like a Grande Dame de la rue Sherbrooke cocktail (boasting a mix of ube syrup and lychee juice) or a crisp white wine, which would go great with those picture-perfect mini sandwiches.
1440 Rue Drummond, Montreal, H3G 1V9
"Stately" doesn't even begin to describe Bar George, but happily this tall-ceilinged, wood-panelled eatery within the Mount Stephen Hotel, an ex private club, has a very approachable menu. The elevated British pub food includes specials like beef Wellington and chicken roulade with creamy sauce Périgueux, as well as a strong cocktail game with some great hits, including one of the best negronis in town. For brunch, lunch, dinner or cocktail hour, this place is always a luxurious spot to whet your whistle.
Henri Brasserie Française + Lounge
1240 Square Phillips, Montreal, H3B 3H4
Soak up a bit of history as you clink glasses in this 1894 building, completely renovated, but with original columns, woodwork and cornices. Named after Henry Birks, the famous Montreal jeweller, the Birks Hotel is a draw for this eatery, packed full at lunchtime with the downtown business set. The bistro food is awesome, but in the evening it's also a great place for one of their signature cocktails or mocktails, like the Passion de la Blanche (white beer with rum and passionfruit) or the pineapple French martini, which you can enjoy either in the main restaurant space of the casual little anteroom as you enter.
901 Rue du Square-Victoria, Montreal, H2Z 1R1
The W Hotel has a cozy and chill lobby to stop into for a drink to wait for your reservation at one of old Montreal's many restaurants, or as the first stop on a stylish cocktail crawl. The Living Room serves tapas like Parm-sprinkled truffle fries and fried Brussel sprouts salad (if you're hungrier for more head to Tbsp. next door), and some great drinks. We really loved the Les Paul Martini on our last visit there, with its spicy garlic bitters. Wednesday and Thursday nights come alive with live DJ sets.
106 Rue St-Paul O, 5e étage, Montreal, H2Y 1Z3
Hotel Nelligan's terrasse has topped the best terrasse lists of pretty much every Montreal media at one point or another, because it's just that good: endless views on two sides, city-wise and towards the river, plus a huge space with a lively atmosphere, truly scrumptious food and a famous white sangria that turns after-work friend gangs into regulars. In the colder months, the mood in the ground-floor resto Méchant Boeuf is very different and cozy; great for a more intimate date.
421 Rue St-Vincent, Montreal, H2Y 3A6
On the eighth floor of the lovely Greystone hotel, the William Gray, this terrasse is open 12 months a year thanks to the heated domes that can accommodate up to 8 of your fave people for a meal and a drink. In the summer, say cheers to the toasty weather as you gaze down at the Grande Roue with a Coolcumber or a Cherry No. 5, and in winter let the buzz of an espresso martini warm your heart. Each season brings its own selection of signature cocktails.
