Philémon Bar is described as a lively Old Port spot where the vibe loosens after the early crowds, with a central bar, good music and DJs, friendly service, and drinks that are reasonably priced for the area, while reservations help beat the rush and the staff generally manages busy crowds well. The ambiance and energy are widely praised and make it feel like a fun nightlife destination, though some reviews note aging decor, a few maintenance issues such as dirty bathrooms or broken furniture, and that food options can be limited or unavailable at times. Language service can vary and hours can be inconsistent, but staff often go the extra mile to accommodate by finding nearby dining options or offering lounge access. Overall, it remains a popular choice for a night out, especially for dancing and socializing, with the caveat of crowding and occasional service or offering gaps.
This place was off the hook. Flexible venue, amazing DJ who accommodated our song requests & was bringing it with some deep house. Haven't danced that hard in ages. Would definitely return & try them for dinner sometime.
A special place that knows how to turn it up!!! Our work team was looking for a special place to celebrate our company, & we walked into Philemon bar & the turn up their venue in the most incredible way with an exciting vibrant night of music, amazing beverages, friendly staff, & everything you could ask for for a lively night in old Montreal! The Recharge team is extremely grateful for the vibe; the professional level of service that we got to share at Philemon! Big props to the staff!
Philemon est phenomenal! I cannot say enough good. Booked a dinner reservation on New Year's Eve; the meal was lovely & certainly worth the 35$. The wait staff was beyond kind, even after the place turned into nightclub form & became packed & chaotic. The bar gave us a free shot to start, which made my night, & had all my friends enamoured with my selection, so a massive thank you to whomever did that. By the midnight countdown, everyone was tipsy, dancing, & happy-I could not think of a better atmosphere to begin my 2024 with. So thank you, Philemon, merci beaucoup, & I hope to return someday if I'm ever in town again.
I came there with my wife we had a great time the two of us. The drinks were amazing. We had a great bartender named Julia that gave us some great suggestions for cocktails & she nailed them. Even my wife was very impressed which is very rare since she can only use 30% of her taste buds because of a childhood injury. The DJ was great & there is a nice smoking area too.
This will be a long-ish review but the summary is 100/10, would recommend to ANYONE. Got out of a long relationship & I can honestly say the thursdays at Philemon not only made my summer, but gave me the confidence to go back out there. Much can be said about the establishment, its beautiful design, convenient location, etc but the main aspect of Philemon is ITS PEOPLE. The staff is seriously the absolute best I have ever seen. I lost a camera for months & they kept it nice & safe in their office for half a year, they are trust worthy. The drinks are always amazing, the music is top notch, & again the vibe is simply impeccable. I also tried their cheese platter & it was divine, & the wine advice I received from the manager that day (Julia) was simply sublime. I cannot strees enough how great this place is, you just have to see by yourself. If you want a BUSY night with LOTS of people from any background, age, gender ? Then go on thursdays fridays & saturdays after 10PM. You want a quiet relaxed date where you can enjoy some amazing drinks & have some privacy ? Then go on weekdays or any day before 10pm. Either ways, Philémon is THE SPOT in Montreal & you have to visit at least once to understand why its such a well-known & trusted establishment.
I found this jewel of a bar a year ago on a late night walk in my neighborhood. I instantly felt welcome when I entered. Very friendly barmaid / bar staff. I love the crowd - A mix of Old Mtl residents & a couple tourists on weekdays. Weekends are lit with a younger crowd. Food is served until 9pm. I reccomend the charcuterie board... good quality of meats & cheese. Great whisky, great tequila, great music,great times! Love this place.
Oct 31, 2023
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I’m just not giving five stars cause the ambiance wasn’t so hyped. I can’t explain why cause everything here is amazing, the ambiance, the waitress (the sweetest girl ever) & the drink. I kid you not, the best cocktail of my life. It was a mixture of amaretto & coffee *kiss chef*
The first & last time I visited Philemon was actually a couple months ago & I had a very much below average experience. The cocktail menu doesn’t have many options so I selected something that sounded interesting but when I got it I couldn’t finish it, pretty sure it was Negroni. I came up to the bartender & asked if I could have it changed because I didn’t like it & he said I’d have to pay for a new drink even though my old one was untouched. Normally, if you don’t like your drink they change it for you without charging you twice but I ended up leaving with a $30 bill for 2 overpriced underwhelming drinks, one of which I didn’t even drink. The bartenders looked like they were barely 18, didn’t interact, couldn’t hold a conversation, & honestly looked high out of their minds. The atmosphere is nice, definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but overall it’s cozy besides the scratched up dirty floors.
