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.
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.
J'y suis allée en pensant que c'était un speakeasy. En arrivant devant on se rends compte que ce n'en est pas un pantoute mais nous y étions alors nous sommes entrés pareil (pas du tout caché) ! L'ambiance est vraiment nice à l'intérieur. Le bar est superbe. Le service est au top. Adam a su vraiment bien nous recommandé & le barman a créer un mocktail spécial pour mon ami qui n'était pas sur la carte. Pas un speakeasy certes, mais j'y retournerais !
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.
Pretty mid honestly. I guess if you forget what it was & see it as a new thing… it's fine. But it's not even a shadow of its former self. Felt super sterile, cut with the cookie cutter mold of every hotel bar ever. Staff seemed uninterested & not at all experienced. The mal necessaire cocktail - what used to be a staple - was poorly made, served with half melted ice & definitely canned pineapple juice. The espresso martini was surprisingly amazing . Also no food was a let down
Le Mal Nécessaire is a very good bar, though I must admit I more liked the vibes of the old location as compared to this on. Its brighter & more vibrant, but the vibes of the old one were just better inmy opinion, also didn't feel as well taken care of as before, not bad by any stretch! Just not quite 5 stars. Can't fault the cocktails at all though.
J'ai était hier soir une Ambiance avec la musique à fond le barman sympathique mais quand j'ai attendu la queue je me suis cru au boîte de nuit mais ça était je retournerais un jour ici
We came here on a Friday night between 10 & 11 PM & managed to get a seat however it's quite full. It's a very mixed crowd. We really enjoyed the cocktails. There was a DJ too. Overall, a really great bar.
Nous avons été transporté dans un monde parallèle ! Nos yeux en ont pris pour leur grade. Notre soirée fut endiablée grace à l'humour tout terrain de notre chef d'orchestre Adam. Nous tenons à remercier l'ensemble de l'équipe de sécurité qui a su nous maintenir sur le droit chemin en nous ouvrant la porte d'entrée. J'ai particulièrement apprécié l'effort collectif vers une immersion culturelle totale. J'en ressors changée. Mes deux amis se sont inscrits sur la liste événementiel n'hésitez pas à les tenir au courant le plus régulièrement possible leur sociabilité en dépend.
Ps: Nous avons été particulièrement touché par le contact téléphonique qui a instauré un climat de confiance instantané & nous a fait sentir en sécurité dans ce lieu légendaire.
Jul 6, 2025
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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.
Great place to have a great time celebrating a birthday in complete privacy... the only downside was that it was really cold inside! Thanks Adam for your service ☺?
Petit arrêt suite au Festival de Jazz; dès notre arrivée, le staff était souriant avec une atmosphère décontractée. Notre serveur Oli avait un sourire contagieux & nous a très bien conseillé. Le service était à la hauteur du début jusqu'à la fin. Cela nous a permis de conclure une belle soirée festive à Montréal. Merci beaucoup Oli!
