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Bar Big In Japan
Bar/Pub Top Pick

Bar Big In Japan

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
4.5$$ & $$$
OPEN5 pm - 3 amValentine's Day: hours might differ
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Bar Big In Japan Montreal Restaurant: Menu, Reviews & Reserve (2026)
Snacks & TreatsGreat selection of cocktails

Amenities, services & more

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Reviews for Bar Big In Japan

Food
Service
on Google4.3 (1300+)
*as of 2026-02-01
5★
69%
4★
19%
3★
4%
2★
8%
1★
0%

Review Summary

Bar Big In Japan is described as a dark, moody, intimate hideaway with candlelit tables and bottles hanging from the ceiling, a vibe many reviews call ideal for dates and quiet conversations. The drinks are frequently praised for balance, creativity, and quality ingredients, with favorites like Fleur de Sureau and the Tokyo Mule highlighted, though a few cocktails can be overly sweet or lack the expected kick. The venue is mostly a drinks destination rather than a food stop, and while some patrons enjoy snack plates or dumplings, the emphasis remains on the cocktails and atmosphere. Service is generally described as attentive and professional, but a few reports mention unfriendly exchanges with the host or variability in knowledge. Peak periods can bring longer waits and a warmer interior, sometimes due to HVAC issues, but the space still earns praise for its intimate setting and refined program. Prices are sometimes high, though many feel the experience justifies it given the vibe, the quality of drinks, and the overall experience.
Page 1 of 1 - 7 Reviews

Above all, in my opinion, the place is best for it's atmosphere. Truly great for dates. Easy to have intimate conversation with one other guest, but the volume made it difficult for coverings of 3+ guests.

Entered through unsuspecting black door to the right of patita, proceeded down the very dark hallway with an obsolete payphone toward the dimly lit area behind the curtains.

Worth noting the interesting design of the majority of seating was effectively at counters served similarly to a traditional U-Shaped bar instead of service from over the shoulder.

Our primaryserver Lawson was a treat although there appeared to be a team of 4 working together.

Unfortunately, to no fault if the te1m on hand, the HVAC was out making the entire establishment very hot in early September. Service staff was visibly challenged by this with bowties tied & sleeves rolled up. One sole individual kept his black tux coat on through service.

Given the unforseen circumstances, it appeared that most parties stayed for only one round & left quickly. Itt us unclear if this is the normal standard of the enviroment & service style. If the establishment wanted to keep guests hour more than one round,I would expect that glasses of water would not be so difficult to acquire upon request.

Drinks themselves were clever in inspiration & design. Execution was questionable as garnished fruit & herb were found fully submerged defeating any sense of purpose or intentionality behind what aromas & visuals the garnishes might bring to the cocktails. Nevertheless, the menu was written well albeit difficult to see in the dim light.

I would highly recommend for a stop on a date night.

Sep 6, 2025
on Google

The cocktails are precise, balanced, & executed with perfection. Great sound levels, you can hold a conversation without raising your voice. Love it!

Jun 19, 2025
on Google

Un très beau speakeasy pas trop achalandé en debut de soirée. Les drinks sont bons & le plateau apéro nous a bien plu ! Notre serveuse a été de très bon conseil. L'ambiance tamisée & bougies.... j'adore ! Vraiment un bel endroit.

Le seul regret c'est qu'on a eu 2 groupes très bruillants & donc pas très agréable de participer à leur conversation même à 3 tables d'écart. Mais ce n'est pas vraiment la faute du bar.

Feb 21, 2025
on Google
5.0

One of my favorite bars in the world. Great atmosphere, ideal for date nights. The drinks are fantastic & the owner/staff are friendly. Don't expect a party, but it's the perfect bar for conversations. Not cheap but well worth it.

Oct 24, 2024
on Google

amazing hidden gem a must see, you can actually have a conversation & chill while listening to some great Jazz

Oct 18, 2024
on Google

I was looking for a bar where I can actually talk to the person next to me without having to scream over loud music or others. This place kept coming up so I decided to give it a shot. It was quite pleasant to be able to have a conversation over a drink. The drinks were also quite good, I had a rum sour & I quite enjoyed it, it was original. The others also liked their drinks (there isn't really much food, just a few things to nibble on & dumplings). I would say that the chairs are not very comfortable. The whole place is like one giant bar where you sit around on stools with no backs & they pull out & can spin in different directions. However, it's not really the most comfortable way to talk to the people next to you, notably if you are more than two or stay for more than an hour. The hooks under the table for your personal items was nice. The service was also very good. & once again another bar that removes the 15% tip option & tries to force a higher tip, probably the main reason why I don't go back to bars & restaurants as I really hate this practice.

Jul 5, 2024
on Google

Really nice inside - maybe waited like 10 mins to be seated. (Came around 11:30pm). It took a while to get our order in but the espresso martini saved it. The seating was interesting - if you weren't at the bar, you were seated at an odd section & the seats were a little too far apart, so it was hard to have a conversation.

Jun 14, 2024
on Google