Montreal is home to 5 of North America's best bars and one doesn't even have a sign

Montreal speakeasies reign supreme.

A fancy cocktail being poured. Right: A man working behind a bar in Montreal.

The World's 50 Best just dropped its 2025 ranking of the top bars in North America.

Senior Writer

Montreal's cocktail scene is getting some serious international love.

The World's 50 Best just dropped its 2025 ranking of the top bars in North America, and five Montreal spots have made the cut, with two securing their place in the prestigious top 50.

Topping the Montreal list is Cloakroom at #31. The swanky, dimly lit speakeasy near Peel and Sherbrooke known for its moody ambiance offers bespoke cocktails tailored to each guest's taste. While it's far from impossible to find, you'll need to get past a secret door to make your way into this 25-seat hotspot.

Montreal's other top-50 entry is Atwater Cocktail Club, which ranks #36. Known for its creative cocktails, this underground Little Burgundy hotspot is also easy to miss, as there is no signage. Nevertheless, those who know its charms have done a great job of spreading the word.

Meanwhile, Bar Bisou Bisou, a stylish newcomer in the Old Port landed at #75 on the list of 100.

Rounding out the Montreal mentions are Bar Bello, a playful Saint-Henri spot at #84, and The Coldroom, a speakeasy near Place d’Armes that slipped into the list at #91.

This year's top spot overall went to Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, with other frontrunners from New York, Chicago, and Toronto dominating the top half of the list. Toronto's Bar Pompette also cracked the top 10, coming in at #7.

In total, 23 Canadian bars were recognized among North America's finest:

  • Bar Pompette (Toronto) — #7
  • Civil Liberties (Toronto) — #21
  • Botanist Bar (Vancouver) — #26
  • The Keefer Bar (Vancouver) — #28
  • Cloakroom (Montreal) — #31
  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal) — #36
  • Bar Mordecai (Toronto) — #37
  • Mother (Toronto) — #44
  • Library Bar (Toronto) — #51
  • Missy's (Calgary) — #52
  • Prophecy (Vancouver) — #53
  • Civil Works (Toronto) — #55
  • Proof (Calgary) — #58
  • Laowai (Vancouver) — #67
  • Cry Baby Gallery (Toronto) — #68
  • Humboldt Bar (Victoria) — #69
  • Bar Bisou Bisou (Montreal) — #75
  • Bar Bello (Montreal) — #84
  • The Coldroom (Montreal) — #91
  • Meo (Vancouver) — #92
  • Slice of Life (Toronto) — #96
  • Shelter (Calgary) — #99

Cheers to that.

  • Al Sciola
  • Born and raised in Montreal, Al Sciola is a Senior Writer for MTL Blog. With a background in covering sports and local events, he has a knack for finding stories that capture the city’s spirit. A lifelong Canadiens fan and trivia enthusiast, Al spends his downtime sipping espresso and trying out new recipes in the kitchen.

A new Canac store is opening near Montreal this week — and it's absolutely massive

The 450,000-square-foot site includes a 50,000-square-foot main building. 😮

Montreal's mayor got 2 flat tires from potholes & locals had a lot to say

"She talks about potholes, and she fell into potholes."

February's Canada Child Benefit payment is on its way — Here's how much parents can get

The CRA plans to boost payment amounts when the new benefit year kicks off.