Reviews describe Mona Loa as a visually striking cavernous speakeasy with dim lighting, warm tones, and a unique decor that makes the space feel intimate yet elevated. The vibe is repeatedly praised as cozy and immersive, a great setting for dates or a night out with friends, and the cocktails are often highlighted for being creative and well balanced, with a standout Habibi cocktail frequently praised. Food receives mixed notes, with some dishes like seafood and sushi praised for freshness and flavor, while others arrive cold or fall short of expectations for the price. Service is generally friendly and attentive but inconsistent at times, and during busy periods some guests report slower pacing or seating and menu hiccups. The location and atmosphere are consistently cited as a major draw, including the sense of discovery and the overall aesthetic, sometimes described as a hidden gem on Crescent with a basement bar and lively music. Reservations are advised as the place fills up, and a few reviews caution about noise levels and the value for money. Overall Mona Loa is seen as a must visit for ambiance and drinks, with the experience varying by visit depending on service and kitchen execution.
It was okaay, food was underwhelming, decor was great, service too, music was hit & miss, often too loud for a place where I sit down, cocktails were hit & miss too.
Don't eat here.
Good atmosphere with a cool vibe & an impressive entrance. Without a reservation we had a 5-10 minute wait. I only got drinks. The service is a quite slow as we had to wait a while to get our orders in & they overcharged me as I got charged for three drinks & only received two due to having no staff to take my order someone else other than a waitress took it. The drinks themselves were pretty good. The DJ is live & music is decent. Overall an okay place to check out.
Mar 28, 2026
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Special place - feels like you are in a magical cave. Dimmed lights, nice music, great service. Japanese black cod was absolutely delicious. Cocktails looked nice but I didn't mine as it felt like alcohol quality wasn't at the highest standard. Nice place for a birthday party or to impress your date.
Doesn't respect reservations. Gave our table away for a group & sat us at a tiny cramped seat at the bar (we had to climb over our chairs just to get in). Music was blasting to loud to talk & there wasn't enough space to face each other. We left. Tacky & awful service. DO NOT MAKE A DINNER RESERVATION you will regret it.
Oct 5, 2025
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You won't get a table!!!
We had reservations for 3 at 9pm on a Saturday. First they made us wait in a table outside. Then we waited at the bar for 1h when we eventually figured we were not going to get a table because of the lack of organisation. The vibe, music & food is okay here. The service I wouldn't say as much. The owner was kind enough to offer us something to drink. It was shots & we didn't feel like drinking shots so we asked for'cocktails' instead, which were the shots with pineapple juice. I found that to be very cheap considering the prices on the menu. Overall me & my friends were disappointed with our experience here.
Mona Loa is Montreal's newest hidden gem. The cavernesque, intimate atmosphere creates the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable night. The staff is outstanding-warm, attentive, & clearly passionate about what they do. The cocktails are exceptional, with the standout being the Habibi, hand-delivered by the owner himself. The music, the vibe, & the energy make this speakeasy the city's new hot spot. A must-visit.
You're really just paying for the vibe here, not the quality or taste of the food.
The music was good & our server was nice, but everything else was disappointing. We had a reservation for 7 people at 9pm, & while eating, the restaurant slowly started letting people in to stand around & drink. It was super uncomfortable having people standing right next to our table while we were trying to have dinner.
On top of that, a lot of items on the menu weren't available, including sushi, which was one of the main reasons we came.
The food we did get was just mid at best, definitely not worth the price.
Great music, but not somewhere I'd come back to eat.
