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 is described as a stylish cocktail bar with a cozy, intimate vibe that can feel upscale depending on the room and night. Cocktails are frequently praised for creativity, balance, and strong flavors, with standout drinks like strong water, negroni, and pina fuego, though a few guests find prices high and portions small. Service is noted for being attentive and friendly, with staff offering knowledgeable recommendations and occasional courtesy substitutions that enhance the experience. The atmosphere and music receive mixed reviews, ranging from lively DJ nights and live acts to nights where the sound can be loud and conversation difficult. Food options are limited to small bites, and mocktails can be less exciting, but overall the experience is memorable and many would return.
Sipping on a cocktail in a trendy new downtown bar. If anyone needs me, I'll be busy pretending I'm a professional taste tester. #VacationLife #ResearchPurposes 🍹
Quel plaisir ce bar un peu caché & à l'ambiance parfaite. Peut être que le son est un peu trop fort, mais on a l'habitude à Montréal. L'un de mes endroits favoris de la ville.
Me & two friends only found this bar late on our last evening before heading home but I'm glad we did. You wouldn't know the bar is there to begin with. There are no signs & it is down a quiet street which I think adds to its speak easy vibe. It has a really chilled out cosy atmosphere with a DJ adding to it with some chilled out music. Our server Morgane was super attentive & helpful. Sat us at a table & we ordered some Old Fashioneds with her recommendation of bourbon. The drinks took a little longer to arrive but the bar was busy & we were happy just chatting. The Old Fashioned was really good! It's a shame we found this bar so late into our trip but I'm glad we found it eventually! Would absolutely return again next time we're in town.
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.
This was our first bar in a series that night - & it was the perfect choice! The fantastic interiors, the well-balanced cocktails, the lighting - everything is tailor-made to transport you to the prohibition era! Definitely a must visit.
We decided to try this bar out after seeing it on instagram & it was PHENOMENAL. We had so much fun the first night, we came back with more friends the following evening. We loved the ambiance, the music was not so loud that we couldn't have a conversation with each other & the staff were outstanding, they really put on a show! The drinks are on another level - I highly recommend the fruit loop shots. We loved hearing the back stories behind the drinks we ordered & how they came to fruition it was also a treat to get shown the back room that had elements from the former bar location (bar top & tile) under renovation. We will be hitting up mal every time we are in the city & you should too!
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.