Montreal takes its drinking seriously -- both coffee and alcohol. Bars stay open until 3 AM, later than almost anywhere else in North America, and the city's cafe culture owes as much to Paris as it does to the third-wave coffee movement.
Bars
Dieu du Ciel! (29 Avenue Laurier Ouest) is a Plateau brewpub that has been making some of Quebec's best craft beer since 1998. The Peche Mortel imperial stout is a classic. Arrive early on weekends -- it fills up fast.
Le Mal Necessaire (1106B Boulevard Saint-Laurent) is a Chinatown tiki bar hidden behind an unmarked door. The cocktails are serious, the decor is over the top, and the vibe is buzzy without being obnoxious.
Bar Palco (5618 Avenue du Parc) is a neighborhood wine bar in Mile End with a thoughtful natural wine list and small plates. Low-key and unpretentious.
Whisky Cafe (5800 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) serves a deep selection of whiskies, ports, cognacs, and grappas in a long, atmospheric room with a cigar lounge next door.
Big in Japan (4175 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) is another hidden-door bar, this one a sleek Japanese whisky bar. Ring the bell, head upstairs, and settle into one of the best cocktail experiences in the city.
Cafes
Cafe Olimpico (124 Rue Saint-Viateur Ouest) is a Mile End institution. Strong espresso, great people-watching, and no Wi-Fi -- just conversation.
Cafe Santropol (3990 Rue Saint-Urbain) has been a Plateau fixture for decades, serving creative sandwiches, house teas, and organic coffee in a rambling old house with a beautiful garden terrace in summer.
Crew Collective (360 Rue Saint-Jacques) occupies the stunning former banking hall of the Royal Bank in Old Montreal. The coffee is good, but the room -- with its soaring ceilings and marble columns -- is the real draw.
Pikolo Espresso Bar (3418B Avenue du Parc) is tiny, precise, and serves some of the best espresso in the city.