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.
Wife & I visited Montreal from Houston TX for a few days. Anytime we travel to a big city, our goal is to find the best food & drinks. We went to Bar Le Mal Nécessaire our first night there & loved it. The drinks were great but our favorite part of the experience was having Erick as our bartender.
We went to about 10 other bars/lounges in Montreal but Bar Le Mal Nécessaire was definitely our favorite. We ended up going back for another drink on our last night there & got to hang out at the bar with Erick one more time.
If we travel to Montreal again anytime soon, Bar Le Mal Nécessaire will be our first stop again.
Le bar était incroyable, le bartender Nico il étais super gentil & professionnel! Ils nous a suggéré des très bons cocktails comme le strong water & le mal nécessaire! S/O to him
From the doorman to the bartenders & the waitresses tous ont très amigables & gentils. Loved the ambiance & the service. Try as many cocktails as you can we'll definitely come back
the drinks were delicious, vibes were great on a rainy night, music was good & our bartender niko was excellent. the queueing system was really odd though, they escorted us to a back room bar where you can order a drink while waiting for an actual table. back room bar menu & main bar menu is different. we waited for around 30 min on a sat night before getting a table.
This is such a cute spot for a cocktail. My friend & I sat at the bar & the bartender Nico was amazing. He was so friendly, answered all of our questions about the menu, & made us feel so welcome.
Amazing vibes & music; The Champagne Papi was really good & i enjoyed the vibe all around, bartenders & service was actual legends. Thank you Jay & the others for a great time :)
Amazing cocktail bar that you need to check out. A lot of great tiki & rum cocktails. They can also make you anything you'd like based on your taste & pallet. They're very friendly & talkative & one what they do. They're two bartenders that made our night special tonight are Audrey & Adri.
More a vibe than a quality cocktail bar. It's a cool looking space with a house DJ in the
middle of a beautiful room. The bar seating is an elevated experience while the liquor bottles are back lit. Frankly this is a fairly standard look & feel for any cocktail bar trying to be good. The sad part is the actual cocktails & bartenders…they can produce someone's recipe for 10 pretty basic cocktails with a slight twist but aren't actually mixologist & can't make a cocktail that's interesting on their own. It all just came across as a high end DJ cocktail bar over charging for basic cocktails. There are better options for cocktails, vibe, DJ's & all things combined. Pass.
Aug 6, 2025
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Mal Nécessaire is an absolute gem in the world of high-end cocktail bars. As soon as you step through the door, you're transported to a luxurious tropical oasis that masterfully blends the fun, carefree vibes of a tiki bar with the sophistication of a premium cocktail experience. The cocktails are nothing short of art. Yes, they may take a little time, but they're absolutely worth the wait! Each drink is a perfectly balanced blend of creativity & craftsmanship, showcasing an impressive understanding of flavors & techniques. Let me just say-it's hands-down the best Jungle Bird in the city! What truly sets Mal Nécessaire apart, though, is the incredible staff & their respect for their craft, from the care they pour into each drink to their commitment to using natural ingredients. From the moment you arrive, you're treated like family, making every visit feel special. Insider tip: Bring an apple for the bouncer-it's a secret gesture that adds a playful, memorable touch to the experience. The bartenders are a breath of fresh air. No pretentious attitudes here-just passionate, approachable artists who love what they do & make you feel right at home. Their recommendations? Always spot-on. Whether you're celebrating, taking someone special on a date, or just looking to unwind, Mal Nécessaire is the perfect spot. They deserve all the love-this is the kind of place that reminds you why nights out matter: to laugh, make new friends, & experience something truly unique.
Decent drinks in a beautiful new venue. The biggest problem was there weren't enough bartenders to provide adequate service, & we waited too long between orders & to receive the bill. The pina colada was surprisingly just okay. We found the venue got very loud as it's a fairly cavernous space.
We only went for a few drinks before going out for dinner but what a great experience at the bar with the bartender, he was wonderful & engaging at explaining the various cocktails. We enjoyed the conversation about drinks & spirits. I would definitely go back at a time when it's not to busy to enjoy that time again. I highly recommend to anyone looking for imaginative cocktails both avec & sans alcohol.
Le Mal Nécessaire is an absolute gem! My experience last night was nothing short of amazing. The bartenders here are incredibly passionate about their craft, & it's evident in every drink they prepare. A special shoutout to the bartender Jess, who made our night unforgettable with her humor, kindness, & exceptional service. She really knows how to make guests feel special. The lively environment, complete with a DJ spinning vinyl added to the vibe. This bar has definitely earned a spot in our regular rotation. Highly recommend.
Cool place that you wouldn't know it existed from the outside of the building as there are no signs. Great cocktails, cool detailed drink menu with lots of explanations to help choose, great music as there was a dj playing, cool vibe. Service seemed to be slow as I only noticed two servers. We sat down at the bar as there were no tables available, enjoyed the drinks while seeing all the bartender magic happening right in front of us. Bartender is great, but someone should be looking over cleaning the bar as the person beside me has spilled his drink, made bar dirty & nobody cleaned it while we were there. Overall good experience & would love to come back.
So I was just wandering around old port Montreal & I stumbled upon this cute hidden cocktail bar & I could not have been more welcomed by the Jess the bartender. Her knowledge of the menu & warmness made me feel right at home & part of the family here. Highly recommend
The drinks are interesting but for the price seemed just okay. The interior design of the bar is amazing & ambiance is fantastic. Service, just not good at all. You wait outside for a spot, then when you get inside realize it's not even full but they had you wait outside to make it appear it's a waitlist only. Inside, the waiters & bartenders are chaotic. 30 minutes to get first drink when other patrons that arrived after us get theirs. & then try to pay the bill & no one is around (waitress disappeared). It could be a lot better place if they got more attentive staff.
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
