Montréal’s hidden bars
Looking to explore Montréal’s hidden bar scene and visit the places that only those in the know, know ? Behind unmarked doors, down unexpected staircases or tucked inside well-known restaurants, Montréal is packed with speakeasies, underground lounges, and pop-up hideaways with serious personality. From downtown to Vieux-Montréal, through the creative streets of Plateau-Mont-Royal, the bright lights of the Quartier des spectacles, the indie energy of Mile End, and the industrial-chic vibe of the Quartiers du Canal, these secret bars serve up inventive cocktails, immersive décor and nights you won’t forget.
In this guide, explore the best hidden bars in the city—carefully chosen for their atmosphere, standout mixology, and just the right touch of mystery.
Downtown and Quartier des spectacles
Hiatus
The best view of the city
Perched on the 45th floor of Place Ville Marie, Sora 45 is a refined Japanese counter located just below the striking Hiatus restaurant, stands out for its precision-crafted sushi, elegant cocktails and impeccable wine list. The real showstopper? A sweeping view over Montréal that dazzles once night falls.
1, Place Ville Marie, 45th floor
A Japanese secret
Little brother to Escondite, Koa Lua, Habanera and Biiru, Le Gokudo is a hidden Japanese bar tucked inside Le Ryōshi—literally “a little fisherman’s hut”—where you can enjoy authentic Japanese specialties in an intimate setting. Sample a range of sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails that instantly whisk you away to the Land of the Rising Sun.
630 Cathcart Street
Underground pool
In the heart of the business district, a lively bar paying tribute to the Piscine Molitor in Paris and to Montréal’s abandoned public baths has taken over the basement of Tiradito. Designed in an Art Deco style, Club Pelicano offers a stylish, offbeat trip back in time. Private-import wines, house cocktails, well-crafted small plates and DJ sets invite guests to dive into the 1930s and 1940s, with soundtracks that shift from afrobeat to disco and even electro.
1076 Bleury Street
Creative cocktails in an electric atmosphere
Tucked away in a Chinatown basement, Bar Leonor offers premium cocktails until the wee hours, in a laid-back setting with a party vibe. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s the go-to spot for high-energy house and hip-hop nights.
1106B Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Clair-obscur
Chinatown is home to a growing number of hidden gems. Tucked beneath the beloved Japanese restaurant Fleurs & Cadeaux, Sans Soleil draws you downstairs for cocktails, wines, and sake, all enjoyed in a sharp, curated atmosphere where flawless music spins exclusively on vinyl.
1002 Saint-Urbain Street
Behind the screen
In true speakeasy fashion, this 4e mur is a well-kept secret. Step one: become a member to join the inner circle (and learn the exact location). Step two: put your brain to work to figure out which brick unlocks the door. Step three: head down the grand staircase to enjoy, year-round, a Parisian-inspired terrace and live jazz performances.
Secret address
Chic and ultra private
The real speakeasy, hidden inside a high-end bespoke tailoring shop in the heart of Montréal’s Golden Square Mile. Chic and discreet, Cloakroom Bar welcomes just 25 guests. Its private alcove offers even more intimacy and the cocktails are flawless. A refined, modern take on the Prohibition-era hidden bar.
2175 de la Montagne Street
Underground enchanted forest
Imagine a surf and turf dining experience before midnight, a terroir-driven bistro, a bar, and a nightclub all tucked inside an underground “forest,” open until 3 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday… With its lush, enchanting personality, Soubois keeps downtown’s pulse racing. And then there’s L’Orangerie, carefully hidden behind a bookcase… just waiting to be discovered.
1106, de Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Volcanic Hideaway
Step into a glowing, lava-lit cavern where Mona Loa serves daring cocktails alongside a polished menu inspired by ancestral Japan and the spirit of Hawaii. To get there, spot the Tuscolo restaurant and head downstairs: a secret passage reveals this hidden speakeasy on Crescent Street, in the heart of the Golden Square Mile.
1464 Crescent Street
Deep sea diving
Dive into the heart of downtown Montreal and uncover the hidden bar inside the restaurant SEA ME: the Beluga Lounge. Savour modern Italian coastal cuisine upstairs, then descend into the depths of this speakeasy, revealed like a warm, luxurious yacht cabin to enjoy signature cocktails an intimate setting.
1455 Peel Street
Old Montréal and the Old Port
Vandale et le Speakeasy
Nocturnal transformation
Le Speakeasy leads a double life: Vandale restaurant by day and elegant club by night. Once the red light goes on above the fridge at 6 p.m., a retro, gangster-chic vibe sets the tone for a memorable night.
120 McGill Street
Warmly recommended
A cold room from the 19th century, The Coldroom keeps its cool behind a black door at the corner of Saint-Vincent and Saint-Amable Streets. Want a hint? #followtheduck.
Secret address in Old Montréal
Blind tasting
Hidden behind the restaurant Capisco, Mezcla is an intimate, refined speakeasy with around twenty seats, offering a cozy atmosphere and an intriguing culinary experience. Its 10‑course tasting menu—discovered “blind” as the evening unfolds—features Franco‑Peruvian creations by chefs Marcel Larrea and Kolya Oliver.
85 Saint‑Paul Street East
Guilty pleasure
In the basement of Auberge Saint-Gabriel, a sleek, high-energy club draws a flashy, well-dressed crowd. Velvet is the spot for towering heels, daring outfits and nights that blur just enough by morning.
426 Saint-Gabriel Street
Asian charms and mysteries
Flyjin is a sophisticated Asian brasserie on one side, an electrifying nightclub on the other. Around 11 p.m., the dance floor fills up and the bar rolls out its extensive selection of Japanese whiskies, sake, beers and wines.
417 Saint-Pierre Street
Exhilaration redefined
A locked door in an alleyway, an industrial-inspired setting: Stillife, the speakeasy tucked inside the newly opened Omakase Sushi by Scratch, promises steamy nights where expertly crafted cocktails and irresistible bites keep coming until the early hours.
640 Saint-Paul Street West (through the alley)
Throwback to the Roaring 20s
Make sure to remember the exclusive access code you’re given once you step inside. Follow the red arrow, locate the hidden hatch, enter the code and unlock the brand-new Grotto Speakeasy. Inside: an intimate, low-lit hideaway with velvet banquettes, lantern glow, impeccable cocktails and tapas to share into the early hours—discreetly, of course.
54 Saint-Jacques Street
Mexico confidential
At Clandestino, hidden in Old Montréal’s Venice restaurant, guests sip tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails crafted from one of 100 privately imported bottles—quietly, discreetly, exactly as it should be. Caliente!
436 Saint François-Xavier Street
Opium den
Nhâu Bar is tucked away in the basement of Hà restaurant in Old Montréal. In an elegant setting softly lit by delicate paper lanterns, guests sip pan-Asian–inspired cocktails and enjoy exquisite Vietnamese small plates crafted by Hà.
600 William Street
Club d’élites
Beneath the Dorsia restaurant is where you’ll find Bowie, a hidden bar inspired by private clubs the world over. On the menu: a signature cocktail list complemented Asian-inspired fusion cuisine crafted with care for an unforgettable night. Stylish attire and reservations required.
457 Sainte-Hélène Street
Les Quartiers du Canal
Atwater Cocktail Club
Saint-Henri
Luxury at the end of the alley
Tucked at the end of an alley just steps from the trendy Foiegwa diner, this bar charms with its intimate, sensual atmosphere, lush greenery, inviting banquettes and mirrored ceilings. The Atwater Cocktail Club menu features 450 spirits and 16 house cocktails, all served in a vibrant, flamboyant setting.
512 Atwater Street
Griffintown
From Marrakech to Montréal
Hidden in the basement of the Bird Bar, HENDEN is another Kimberly Lallouz project. The impressive cocktail menu and the cozy, 1970s Morocco–inspired atmosphere make this hidden bar an irresistible spot for a drink before or after a meal.
1800 Notre-Dame Street West
In the deep
King Crab bar-lounge open Thursday to Saturday until 3 a.m., located in the heart of Makro restaurant, Grinder’s little sibling. Both intimate and flashy, with a confident jet-set vibe, it’s the perfect spot for late-night drinks after a boozy dinner.
1726 Notre-Dame Street West
Little Burgundy
Look for the green light
Tucked away in the basement of the HENI restaurant, the Salon Badin speakeasy serves up creative, seasonal cocktails highlighting daring flavours, including shitake or jalapeno, alongside a curated musical selection on vinyl. Look for the green light, go downstairs, then push the invisible door to find a relaxed, upscale atmosphere, designed like a hi-fi listening lounge.
2613 Notre Dame Street West
Pointe-Saint-Charles
Mysterious milky way
Barroco has struck again! In Pointe-Saint-Charles, just above the delicious Fugazzi pizzeria, lies the Milky Way Cocktail Bar, accessible via starry stairs straight out of the cosmos. Open seven days a week until 3 a.m., this well-hidden (always packed) gem welcomes you to an electric atmosphere where you can sip creative cocktails long into the early hours. A visit to this up-and-coming southwest neighbourhood is a must.
1886 Centre Street
Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End
Le Rouge Gorge
Bel oiseau discret
Elegant and soft on the eyes, Le Rouge Gorge in the Plateau-Mont-Royal offers a dual experience: a lively, open-air vibe upstairs, and a hidden, 1920s-inspired retreat downstairs. With music from local DJs, guests can enjoy delicious cocktails, sparkling wines, and champagnes in a stylish setting.
1234 Mont-Royal Avenue East
Up close and personal
Tucked behind a nondescript delivery door, Magpie Magique invites you from Thursday to Sunday into a plush, playfully whimsical setting. This new Plateau hotspot delights with inventive cocktails and flavourful Mediterranean dishes, making it the perfect spot to linger.
380 Gilford Street
Zen vibes
At the corner of Rachel Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard, behind an ordinary-looking door, you can sip delicious cocktails crafted with Japanese spirits in this stylish, softly lit hideaway. Big in Japan is a must, perfect for a low-key, intimate date.
4175 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Hideaway jazz
Cozy and inviting, Bootlegger L'Authentique sits on the second floor of a building on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. The bar specializes in whisky-based cocktails, boasting hundreds of bottles of scotch, Irish whiskey, rye, and bourbon. Live performances—from hip-hop, funk, jazz, blues, and soul musicians to stand-up comedians—add to its vibrant, intimate atmosphere.
3481 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, 2nd floor
Petite-Italie, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Villeray
Under the tropical sun
Located along Plaza St-Hubert, Snowbird Tiki Bar features a hidden terrace that bursts with a tropical vibe during the warmer months. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the sun with a small group, sipping fruity cocktails served in playful “Inca” or pineapple-shaped glasses.
6388 Saint-Hubert Street
Rosemont confidential
Le Petit Secret is the latest whisper on everyone’s lips in Rosemont. Accessible only with a secret code that changes monthly, you need to become a member of this new secret society to enjoy its exclusive, intimate evenings.
Secret address
Ready to keep exploring? Check out our guides to hidden patios, rooftop terraces, and dining spots high above the crowd in Montréal.
Laure Juilliard
Originally from Paris, Laure Juilliard made Montréal her home over 15 years ago and has never looked back. Won over by her new city's unique energy, cultural vibrancy and gastronomic effervescence, she loves exploring all the coolest spots. A writer and blogger specialising in lifestyle, culture, travel and gastronomy, she has lent her pen to Tourisme Montréal for more than 10 years, in addition to magazines such as ELLE Québec and Clin d'œil, as well as a variety of well-known companies and agencies. Always on the lookout for innovative concepts and the best addresses wherever she is in the world, she is also always planning her next trip.