The best wine bars in Montreal

The Burgundy Lion is an urban British pub located in Saint-Henri and claims status as a Montreal institution. Built on the gastropub concept, it offers revisited British cuisine with cocktails and attentive service in a laid-back atmosphere. The venue has built an impressive reputation around its whisky program: the largest collection in the province, public and private tastings, and single malt whiskies served in abundance. Each week, the pub hosts regular events — quiz night on Mondays, comedy night on Wednesdays featuring local comedians — while Sundays welcome a traditional afternoon tea (on alternate weeks) and a Sunday Roast in family-style format. The setting blends British authenticity with a Montreal vibe without pretension, where groups and whisky enthusiasts mingle.

The glassed-in corner of Fairmount and Jeanne-Mance, once held by Kesté, serves coffee in the morning and wine at night. Nicolas Urli and Jean-François Gervais, of BarBara, opened the place with Mathieu Keyser and chef Julien Navarro.

Gervais drew the room: warm wood, salvaged pieces, an open kitchen, fridges in plain view. Navarro builds his pizzas on sourdough, from margherita to blue cheese and sausage, and sets focaccia, stracciatella, anchovies and salads around them.

Florence Pelland-Goyer runs the cellar, picking low-intervention bottles made for drinking rather than admiring. At night, lasagna al flame, pastina in brodo and roast chicken hold the table. Walk in without booking, unless you come as a group.

A 1960s Portuguese tavern at 115 avenue Laurier Ouest: wood panelling, tufted banquettes, unapologetic pink and green washrooms. The name comes from the Portuguese side of Alexandre Baldwin's family; he designed the room with Claudie Dussault.

Open since 2015, the bar works on two levels: the counter downstairs, the upper floor open onto the kitchen. The list leans toward private imports, magnums and sparkling, with classic cocktails and Quebec beers on tap.

David Le Gloahec sends out the small plates: manchego popcorn, egg mimosa with bottarga, piri-piri pork bifana, octopus, pastéis de nata. The back terrace is one of the finest on the avenue. No reservations.

A magazine seller held 1111 rue Cypress before Bar Edicola opened there in August 2025. Andreas Vecchio, of Caffettiera, his cousin Diego Lovino and Pablo Rojas came here as kids for their Italian magazines. A few are still pinned to the wall.

Guillaume Ménard, of Ménard Dworkind, stretched one long counter down the length of the room. There are almost no tables: you sit at the bar, or drink your espresso standing.

Mornings mean cappuccino and cornetti salati with pancetta. The afternoon tips into aperitivo, a bite offered with every drink: negronis, spritz, bruschetta, fried artichokes, pecorino with honey. A Teetz mural marks the front.

Annette holds the ground floor of a glass building in the Shops Angus, across from Hoogan et Beaufort, whose relaxed younger sister it is. Its name nods to dill, a staple of the Ukrainian cooking Mila Rishkova, co-founder with chef Marc-André Jetté, grew up with.

Hugo Duchesne runs the wine program and pours classified growths alongside bottles from growers worth discovering, much of it by the glass. Seasonal plates are meant for sharing, tapas style, under an open kitchen.

The room takes eighteen and over only, seats tables of up to eight à la carte and switches to a set menu beyond that. The MICHELIN Guide gives it a Bib Gourmand.