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.
Great place for some drinks at night.
I wish they also had food menu, but that's ok.
All the drinks are described in detail on the menu. The DJ keeps the atmosphere very nice, would go back for a quick grab for a drink. It is a bit loud for a quiet talk.
Nous sommes allés à cet établissement, car il nous a été recommandé par des amis. Le staff était très agréable & ils nous ont très bien accomodés, le menu des boissons nous à bien été expliqué & nos drinks étaient délicieux. Merci à notre serveur Adam & a Nico pour le bel accueil. Nous avons adoré & nous allons retourne
Large enough place with plenty of comfortable couches & live music spinning. The menu had great cocktail variety, & it's designed like a zine with information about drinks & drink history in it. The atmosphere is on the darker side & it took a little time to get the drinks, but all the ones my table ordered were immaculate tasting.
Exceptionally well-done cocktail bar. Probably the most creative cocktail menu I've ever seen, resemblant of a passport to travel their world of flavours. This place puts a lot of energy & focus into it's creative drinks - which it should as a cocktail bar. Service was alright. Atmosphere is really cool. Expect to wait for a seat at peak times.
New location, 2025 Review:
Leaving a second review here as they have moved to a new location & have adapted the experience to the space, as well as changed the cocktail menu. Most notable change is their brilliant seating system that almost eliminates the lineup. They have a'lobby bar' that you wait at while waiting for seating in the main hall. This lobby bar serves simple mixed drinks at lower prices instead of the full cocktail menu. We weren't there for too long before our table was ready. The atmosphere at the new location has been tuned a bit more upscale, abandoning the more colourful, travel theme for a more refined nightlife experience. A few items on the cocktail menu have not changed but much of it has, & I have to admit I don't love the new additions as much as a few of the drinks that they removed. It's not an upgrade for me personally. Service was still as exceptional as my first experience however.
Jun 4, 2025
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One of the best cocktail spots in town! The drinks are creative, balanced, & beautifully presented. The staff is thoughtful & kind, especially Eddy. Perfect vibe for a chill night out or a date. Highly recommend!
Great place & atmosphere. Amazing drinks & menu. Be prepared to wait in the waiting room if there's a lot of people. It took about 45mins to get a table for a group of 4.
May 6, 2025
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First time visiting this bar. Rico made us great drinks & gave us recommendations for other bars & restaurants to visit. He was super welcoming & provided great service. Thank you Rico!
This is my go to bar when i want to grab a few drinks with friends, or for a lovely date night. I love that the place is spacious & has room for big groups or just one on one. They have so many fun drinks to try.
Le Mal Nécessaire is a great spot for a drink with friends. The cozy atmosphere & unique signature drinks put a fun twist on classic cocktails.
It can get quite loud, so you might have to raise your voice to chat with friends. But if you're looking for a cozy & fun ambiance with great drinks, it's definitely worth checking out!
I believe this is a new locayion for them. I didn't visit the previous one, but this one is effortlessly classy & cozy with expertly crafted drinks. We tried the Mal Nécessaire - the bar's signature cocktail - which was a bold & balanced creation, but the real standout was the Strong Water. Without a doubt, it's one of the best cocktails I've had this year - complex, smooth, & packed with flavor.
Can't wait to go back!
Perfect vibe for any occasion-date, friends, party. The drinks aged good (nothing too special in my opinion) but the atmosphere is just on point. We came in on Friday night around 7pm & were seated with no issues. I'd recommend.
