Award winning cocktail bar tucked away in a Montreal Chinatown. Authentic Cantonese food available for clients who want to snack while enjoying an all-natural libation. Live DJ sets every night.
Bar Le Mal Nécessaire stands out as Montreal's cocktail destination, blending a refined lounge vibe with vibrant nightlife through creative, tropical-inspired cocktails that are often flawlessly executed. The service is consistently attentive, helping guests navigate crowds and a sometimes steep price tag, while the atmosphere remains intimate, stylish, and energized by nightly DJs. Some reviews note entry queues and variable experiences across visits, and a few nights can be loud or pricey, but the overall consensus is that the cocktails, presentation, and hospitality make Bar Le Mal Nécessaire a top pick for a memorable night out in Montreal.
Perfect bar spot to finish the evening. We went fairly & upon exit we realized there was a bouncer & a waiting line so it's a popular spot. The bar seats were nice & the bartenders know exactly when to come by & check on you. We also saw them climb the alcohol shelves to grab a bottle for us. The drink menu is so much fun & we wanted to try every glass. The pina colada was slushy & stayed cold for almost an hour. Everything was on the expensive side so this is a once-in-a-while-only-for-special-occasions ba
Had a great experience at Bar Le Mal Necessaire for our first night in Montreal. The service from start to finish was 100%. Bouncer was great at keeping everyone informed as to how long the wait would be to enter & let us wait inside for 10 minutes before out seats were ready. We sat at the bar & was served by Jess & Jackson. Both gave exceptional service, giving delicious recommendations of what cocktails to try based on our preferences - Jackson's recommendation of the housemate coconut cream (I believe) added to the espresso martini slush was delicious. Would definitely return on another trip to Montreal.
Apr 20, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I just left this cocktail bar with my sister, & I just have to say that this place is officially one of the highlights of our 29th birthday trip! The drinks were amazing, as well as the staff (met a fellow Georgian (US)), & funky, soulful music from a DJ who you can tell loves what he does. This place was an experience we won't forget! Will certainly be a return customer.
Jess & Adri were the bees knees of service Jackson was very attractive & also VERY skilled at his job (I actually enjoyed his service the most) Love the strong water also, definitely crowd pleaser. The pineapples were excellent I was there on a Friday & had the best time of my entire life. I would live there if I could. Bathrooms are incredible & very spacious.... I live life only with necessities & this bar is Mal Nécessaire.
Not quite understand the drink as much. It is instagramable. Service is overwhelmed by numbers of customers even weekday. Hard to get their attention. However, they are friendly & the drink was ok. Location: great, close to China town Ambience: amazing Service: Meh Taste: Average Price: $$$ 1 drinks could cost about $30-40 at least the one that I ordered. I do not know what in the mix as the server did not explain, copied order from others. Speakeasy? Not quite Just another cool bar. Worth to visit if you come in a group Oh yeah, live DJ
Hidden gem! This is a definite do not miss while in Montreal. We had the pleasure of stumbling upon this cocktail bar with amazing vibes, staff & cocktails. Jess the manager went above & beyond to make our experience top notch, so good we visited twice. Can't wait to get back to Montreal & our now fav spot, Le Mal Necessaire🥂
This place is fantastic with some of the best service in Montreal. I was in from Toronto & stopped in before heading out for the night. The DJ was spinning groovy vinyl & my server turned out to be the bar manager. Not only did she make recommendations based on my drink preferences but once she founded out I was looking to come back with friends she helped insure we could get a spot, then her & the bartender invented drinks for us based on our preferences & hand wrote us note to help us get into another hot spot. This place is a must stop for anyone coming from out of town & it puts most Toronto louges to shame.
Feb 20, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
We explored several cocktail bars in Montreal & though all were fantastic this one took the cake - 10/10 would recommend, today, tomorrow, & the next day.
Mise à jour: j'ai revisité le Mal Nécessaire dernièrement, durant une soirée fortement achalandée. Il semble effectivement, comme la direction l'a souligné après mon commentaire initial, que les changements qui s'imposaient ont été appliqué. C'est tout à leur honneur & une raison de plus pour y retourner. Excellents cocktails, excellent service, tout en français, & un professionnel de la sécurité qui accomplissait son travail tout en retenue & courtoisie. -- "Against the wall!" C'est de cette façon que la brute de la sécurité du Mal Nécessaire reçoit ses clients: en nous criant après comme si nous étions du bétail. Comme service à la clientèle, on a déjà vu mieux. C'est bien dommage car ce bar que je fréquente depuis l'année de son ouverture est par ailleurs toujours fidèle à lui même : excellents cocktails, bon DJs & une ambiance qu'on ne retrouve tout simplement pas ailleurs. Oui, c'est plus cher que d'autres endroits mais jusqu'à hier, samedi 25 février, je me suis toujours dit que ça vallait le coût. Après avoir lancé un "merci & bonne soirée" au mec de la sécurité pendant qu'il nous dévisageait comme si nous étions de purs criminels, il faut malheureusement en arriver à la conclusion que les belles années du Mal Nécessaire sont derrière nous. Après avoir eu affaire à l'approche grotesque & agressive de ce petit dictateur à la porte, je catégorise maintenant le Mal Nécessaire comme bar à éviter. Heureusement qu'il y a maintenant d'autres bons endroits dans le coin où on nous reçoit avec le sourire, en commençant par le Point Carré juste en face. PS: je m'interroge aussi sur la logique d'engager un agent de sécurité qui ne parle pas un traître mot de français. En cas d'urgence, il faut mieux parler la langue de Shakespeare j'imagine...
This is a lively cocktail bar in Chinatown. We had the miso juicy - a sweet salty blend of watermelon & caramel - & the espresso martini - it comes with delicious coconut crackers & tastes like a caffeinated, alcoholic slushie. Our bartender, Jess, was amazing & the atmosphere was very fun. I'd definitely recommend this place.
Dec 20, 2023
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Unique cocktail bar that's for sure! It stayed true to the tiki-bar. Its very, very cozy. I have an issue with keeping track of my limbs in space & a little clasterphobic for my liking but it was an experience. I HIGHLY recommend the tale of two chilis. It was really good. Also if you like tropical drinks, they have an unlimited amount of options.
Really chill bar, music was vibey, perfect volume to have a conversation yet not too low. The dj was chill & knows what he's doing. The bar is nice, not too small not too big, there's the main bar & another bar-ish in the middle & tables surrounding it. The lighting is nice. Drinks wise: so we ordered 4 drinks, & 4 shots total, tbh can't really remember the name of the drinks since i always ask the staff their recommendation, here i need to mention Chris, one the nicest guy ever, he asked me couple questions & surprised me with the drinks, & he doesn't miss, both drinks were amazing. Overall good experience, would go again on a Sunday evening. & Chris if you reading this thank you again.
Very good drinks & vibe. They have a DJ that was very good, but also made sure to limit the volume so you could still have a conversation. Drinks were great, twists on classic tiki drinks. Very good & great presentation. Prices are a bit higher than other bars. They seem to get full quickly, so expect to wait a bit to seat.
Nov 4, 2023
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Speakeasy for real 🍹Visited the bar as a late night find. Best decision! It was dim light with a great vibe, just like you expect a speakeasy to be like. We ordered a Champagne Papi (the Drake drink) & for the second drink I asked the bartender to surprise me with a coconut based drink. Sooo yumm! Totally recommend this place for chill, low key vibe with great cocktails. We got two more drinks & asked for surprises again. Every drink was delicious & impressive. Great experience!
A cozy & inviting spot, perfect for those looking to reconnect with a friend in a comfortable & welcoming vibe. Their drink selection is commendable, offering both classics & unique blends that cater to various tastes. While it might not make the list of Montreal's top ten bars, it stands out in its own right. The ambiance, paired with the attentive staff, makes it a must-visit for both locals & tourists alike.
An intriguing & highly welcoming bar nestled in the heart of Montreal's Chinatown, I can't recommend it enough! It's always a pleasure to come across unique & friendly places like this in the midst of a bustling neighborhood. Whether you're looking for a quiet corner to unwind or a vibrant spot to socialize, this bar seems to have it all. It's the kind of gem that adds to the richness of exploring the diverse & vibrant city of Montreal. Don't miss the opportunity to pay it a visit!
J'y suis aller avec un ami il y a moins de une semaine, entrée très difficile à trouver, mais le barman est très gentil, explique bien les ingrédients présent dans les cocktails qui sont assez complexe & joliment présente
