Big in Japan has been around for ages but it was our first time visiting on a Friday evening. No wait at 7:30pm, small lineup when we left two hours later. The atmosphere is dark, moody, not too loud, but very warm inside. Cocktails are $12.00 to $20.00. - Saké sour ($16.00) - best of the drinks we ordered - Tokyo mule ($12.00) - El jimador ($18.00) read more

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Disappointed with Big in Japan Bar. We are visiting Montreal from outside Canada and specifically made the trip here because Google lists the bar as being open on Sundays. Unfortunately when we arrived, the bar was closed. It's frustrating to travel all this way, paying for a rideshare service, and make plans around the hours listed online, only to find out they aren't accurate. Please update your Google listing and other online information to reflect your actual hours so other visitors don't have the same experience. read more

Hands down, one of the most refined speakeasies in Montreal. This beautiful modern bar with a unique layout that could possibly sit up to 50 people is tucked behind a long hallway. Our server Sophie was very friendly and when I couldn't figure out what type of drink I should get, she made it her mission to brainstorm with the bartender to curate the perfect drink for me. read more

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I didn't get a chance to try anything to eat but you aren't here for a meal. You're having drinks here to lounge with old friends or make new ones. I strongly suggest sitting right in front watching the mixologist make your drinks. Great atmosphere with skilled bartenders and def plan to make this a repeated offendar. read more

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My husband and I had a great time at this speakeasy ! Cool vibe And great wait staff and drinks ! Thank you everyone Donancy read more

Great service and excellent environment, highly recommend! The speakeasy esthetic is perfect. read more

Big In Japan - Old Fashioned w/ Wild Turkey Whiskey - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Love the entrance, feels like a secret bar. If it wasn't for my friend I would have never guess there would be a bar. The inside is cosy, not to loud and with a nice candlelight vibe. It is quite easy to have a conversation with someone. The service was great and fast, the workers were friendly and helpful. The drinks were excellent! I had a Tokyo mule, a sour drink which I am not used to have and it was not bad at all! And the lemonade (no alcohol) that is fantastic. For food we only got a small bowl of chips, next time I will definitely try the dumplings I recommended this place if you are looking for a speakeasy bar with nice drinks! read more

Big In Japan - a glass of tea and a candle - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

A super cool secret bar! To say I love finding these and having a fine drink is and understatement. The entrance is a plain black unmarked door with nothing special pointing it out. Knock on it and a man comes out asking how many in your party. Give you a wait time and that it. Once inside the magic happens. This place is this dark room lit with candles along a U shaped bar. The walls are draped with white curtains from ceiling to floor and the ceiling has rows of whiskey bottles (Japanese and Chinese whiskey) hanging from the neck. The cocktails are ever changing and very well made. I absolutely loved coming here! Worth a stop for the amazing cocktail or, if you are a baller, for a stiff drink from your ceiling stored bottle. read more

Big In Japan - Ciel Noir (Tequila based cocktail) - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

One of the many must-go-to speakeasies in Montreal. So hidden that I almost missed the entrance when visiting for the first time. Located right beside Patati Patata, it's a black door that leads into the bar. Dimly lit and has a beautiful aesthetic to it. Service was also really great and drinks were even better. Thinking this would be a great first date spot. read more

Really cool bar in Montreal with a cool design space and yummy drinks! We came around 6:30pm after an early dinner at Au Pied de Cochon. I heard this bar gets packed later at night, but there were many open seats when we arrived. The whole place is dark, and mostly lit by candles EVERYWHERE! I loved the snake-like wrap around design of the tables and high top chairs (very comfy too). They have a cocktail menu, beers, liquors, and also snacks. I got the tokyo mule, which was a take on the moscow mule but with sake. Super refreshing! I'd definitely order again. The bf got an old fashioned, but didn't enjoy it because it was tooo sweet.. Overall, I'd recommend this bar to any visitors! read more

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Big in Japan is another Speakeasy bar we visited during my Weekend in Montreal. Coming on a weekday evening, there was no wait at all. But since it was not busy, one might argued it lack that hopping vibe for a night joint. Cocktails that offers here is more classical with simpler elements. I was hoping for more "Japanese" fusion twist. Their Japanese whisky selection though is excellent if you want to try out a few. We ordered a few drinks which were well crafted. Here the star is definitely that bar area which has this unconventional set up of a curving bar. read more

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Idk what to say? This place is just mind blowing to say the least. After waiting for sometime outside in the brutal cold, it's all worth it when entering. The moment you step inside, this Japanese man greets you and shows you to your seat. The music is like piano city jazz which is ALL FEELS! I got goosebumps just ordering and waiting for a drink because there's no place like it. It's a black door between a roti spot and some business. This place would be so hard to find if it wasn't for some people waiting outside. Me and my friend ordered two Japanese whiskeys which were delicious. The blocked cube was shaped and melted properly with the whiskey. Their service is on point, attentive, and informational. I have no more words to describe this place. The interior design, seating arrangement, and Japanese whiskey bottles lines above the bar is a sight to see. Go check for yourself. read more

3.5 STARS It breaks my heart to give this place a lower review than what it should get but sadly I have no choice. I'll explain my reason in a minute. First this bar is a bit hard to find - the outside it a graffiti door that looks like you might enter a murderer's lair. But fear not because when you open it and walk through you are transported to something that is magical. Dimly lit, candle lights all over the bar and whiskey bottles suspended from the ceiling give it that sexy and intimate vibe. Great for a date, or just chilling with a few friends. It's cool to be let in on the secret of this place :) The menu is simple with a few selections of whiskey, cocktails and drinks celebrating Japan. My friend and I each tried different whiskeys and then I also had the Pomme Cannelle. This was so light a fresh - absolutely delicious with just a hint of cinnamon. I was impressed. The vibe and the decor are really cool and I would love to come here again, and to be honest I probably would come back because I just feel so sophisticated and cool here. However here is my reason for the lower rating: Firstly I wanted to take some pictures of inside the bar. My phone automatically set to flash and it went off. The server immediately came over and informed me that I could take pictures but not with a flash. That's totally fine with me....except several other people inside the bar were taking pics and I saw their flash go off....but none of them were spoken to. Hmmmm Then I got a call so I had the phone to my ear listening to my VM. It was done discreetly. But then again the server came over and said that wasn't allowed and shook his finger at me (like no no no). Once again if you can't be on your phone in here that is fine if that is the rule... but once again I saw someone else on their phone and they weren't spoken to. At this point the server took away our menus....we felt a bit awkward...like we got drink blocked! We just paid and left after that. My friend and I felt that we weren't treated the same as the other patrons in the bar. We're fine with the rules but they need to apply to everyone. I totally understand that if they want this place to be more of a finer establishment with no flash/no phone rule I am fine with that. They want to cater to a more upscale experience. I get it. But perhaps they should have said something to the guy who came in wearing one of those baseball tshirts and sneakers because I am sure he brought down the classiness of the place far more than I did! read more

Big In Japan - Whiskey bottles hanging from the ceiling - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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As far as bars go, I think this is my favourite one yet. A friend was showing us around Montreal and had this bad boy up his sleeve as a 'surprise'. When we got to the black door with graffiti (may have been formerly red), I thought he was pulling my leg. I had ants in my pants walking down the short hallway and was amazed when he pulled back the curtain! This is the most chic bar I've ever been to. Use it to impress the girl you like... or even her mother! This place isn't what it seems and stuns the eye when you enter. I love the candles lining the table tops. The whiskey hanging from the ceiling is a nice touch. Also, take a peak at the back if you can cause you might be able to see the server shaking up your drinks - it's quite cool. Their drink menu is good. As a person who doesn't drink I appreciated the non-alcohol menu. The pricing was apt because you're mostly paying for the atmosphere. read more

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Wow wow wow. You come here to impress someone. Love the allure of trying to find this cocktail lounge (this place is NOT a bar) behind an unmarked black door. When you walk in, you are transformed into another world. There are candles everywhere which sets the mood for a date. I love the decor, the vibe, the drinks and the fact you can buy an expensive exclusive Japanese whiskey that hangs from the ceiling. Super cool. The service is excellent here. They know what they are talking about. You should know what you are talking about when you come here because they will ask you very specific questions about your cocktail order. Very impressive cocktail lounge and I would recommend it to anyone. read more

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tl;dr An exquisitely beautiful bar nestled in Montreal. --- We absolutely love this bar - can't remember when we first heard about it but this is a mandatory stop every time we return to Montreal. After drawing the curtain back, you are transported to another time and place, illuminated by candlelight bouncing off whiskey bottles. This is one of the most beautiful bars I have been to, and it's always such a pleasure to spend an hour or two at the curved bar with a drink and watching the warm light bounce off the faces of other bar patrons. I am quite particular with their gold rush which is a fantastic drink. Otherwise, it seems like they have all the classics - negroni, manhattan, martini, kir royal. Actually, I feel they tack closely to the bars in Japan - cocktail bars in Japan generally follow tradition and recreate a lot of classic cocktails and as a result the drinks are more constrained compared to those of modern American speakeasies. Love it!! There's not much else to say. It is interesting that a lot of the other reviews reference a wait or standing around. Perhaps we've always ever been on weekdays, but I have never seen this bar crowded and it's always a very pleasurable experience. read more

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Something about a hidden bar makes it all that much more special. You can't see it from the outside and when you do get to the door you'll only see one guy who either Lets you in or not. We arrived 3 of us at first there wasn't any good spots but I noticed a couple leaving and they told me I was able to take their spot by the back which was fantastic. Comfy chairs intimate and u don't have to swivel around to see someone beside you lol. All the candles are fantastic I'm obsessed with candles so it's the best place to be. The owner is awesome and a real gem. I can't wait To return and get myself a bottle that hangs from the ceiling. read more

Big In Japan - Old fashion - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This place was the first speakeasy I went to during my Montréal trip and I can say that I was definitely impressed by the atmosphere and drinks. First of all, the place is beautiful and looked like a high-end Japanese restaurant. The crowd is also a good mix of working professionals and students. The service here was good - nothing to complain about. We were seated at the other end of the bar in a smaller area and we asked to be moved to the maze-like area instead. They initially said there was no room but eventually let us move. I had a Tokyo Mule (tasted delicious) while my boyfriend had an Asahi. There aren't many food items (only chips, olives, nuts, etc.) Overall a good place to talk and classy vibes. read more

Big In Japan - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Hubs and I went here after dinner. What a nice vibe! Plus the drinks were great. Highly recommend for late night drink!! read more

Seriously one of my fav bar in town if not my fav of all time! Good cocktails and delicious appetizers. Bartenders are very nice too! Will always go back there. read more

So, it took us a couple minutes to find the discreet black door with very tiny letters reading 'BAR' but once we did, we felt like we had uncovered a mystery which made walking down the curtained hallway even more enjoyable. My boyfriend and I stopped by for a drink on a Thursday night and it wasn't too busy. The bartender wasn't overly friendly but she was informative and timely. My boyfriend got a Manhattan which was very strong (but good!) and I got a Tokyo Mule. I knew I loved Moscow Mules so I was interested in trying it and it did not disappoint. I would go back there specifically for that drink, honestly. The bar felt really cozy, romantic and exclusive which turned out to be a great combination. I would caution visitors against going with a big group--probably 4 people MAX. The seats are dispersed along the curving bar so it might be difficult finding a spot where you are together comfortably. But I would strongly recommend it for a date night! read more

Big In Japan - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We found this speakeasy while searching on yelp and were definitely not disappointed. Not too hard to find for a speakeasy. The ambience was amazing and seating was very interesting. It was like a maze which made it hard to get back to your seat after using the restroom after a few drinks. I'm sure the servers find it entertaining. Cocktails were pretty good and it was pricey but you definitely get what you pay for with the cool atmosphere! Love the hanging whiskey bottles and just had to ask about them. Apparently it's like renting a parking space for your car but with a whiskey bottle. read more

Big In Japan - two cocktails on a bar - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I came to the new location (when I was wanting to try out the original location). A speakeasy with mazing my through the seating. This is a great date spot not so much for food but drinks. Lavish and expensive styled cocktails that fit the environment. The tuna tataki which was the only true "meal" kind of food was of good quality and taste. The prices of food and drinks are on the steep side-but that's what you get for a bar on St. Laurent street! I can't compare this location to Anthony Bourdain's layover episode so I will have to make a trip to the original Big In Japan- until this I will skip the second location unless I am in the area. read more

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Big in Japan Bar is an excellent cocktail spot. It's not exactly a speakeasy, but it's easy to miss the nondescript Japanese lettering on the door. Once you get inside, there are these plexiglass dividers all along the bar, to help you wayfind to a table. We were a large group so we actually sat at the back bar, where we had the bartender's semi-undivided attention. He was a super cool guy and gave us good drink recommendations. I was a big fan of the Gold Rush, which had bourbon and honey. Great combo. Didn't try any of the food as this was just our precursor to dinner. But note that this is NOT Big in Japan Restaurant (which has dismal health ratings). Would definitely recommend Big in Japan Bar for a nice lowkey semi-fancy cocktail. Seems like a great date spot as well. read more

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I WISH I COULD GIVE THEM ZERO STARS! Absolute worst experience I have ever had at any bar. To celebrate my cousin getting married, my family and I decided to have drinks here. We came to this bar expecting to have some great cocktails and enjoy our time together. From the moment our party stood at the bar, the bartender and "manager" were exceptionally rude. It was as if they were trying to find reasons to make us leave. LET ME PREFACE THIS BY saying we had NOT ONE drink before entering this bar and that everyone in my family is extremely polite and respectful. Now with that said, they were met with a hostile bartender who was snarky, condescending and disrespectful- even rolling her eyes and questioning my cousin for asking if she may have a straw for her drink. When my husband and I arrived at the bar we were told that where we were standing was not okay and that we could not be near the backs of guests........ HOWEVER, it was no problem for them to have us can stand behind our group. They did not respect us as patrons who should have been given the same respect and level of service. As a result, we decided we did not want to waste our money on drinks in their establishment and to wait to order drinks at the next location instead. When the bartender returned to take our order, we said we would not like anything and she responded to us by telling us we had to leave. At which point we decided our group had had enough disrespect and horrible service and treatment from this establishment and decided to leave. This is the absolutely WORST establishment I have been to and I CANNOT stress enough that you should NOT enter this HORRIBLE and RUDE establishment. read more

I dig this spot. Very hidden, intimate, private, and classy drinks. The food menu is small and pricy, so come here for a drink. I love the simple, yet intricate details in the seating..glass...and bar top here. Its all about being able to sip a drink and enjoy a convo here. Bartenders are classy, and over all serve you great. Id come back for sure, i just loved the atmosphere. Also, any speakeasy that has cards for their business is an interesting place in my book. i grabbed about 3. read more

I love a good cocktail bar and am glad I found this gem -- it'll be my new go-to place for drinks in Montreal. It's a perfect place for a date or catching up with friends. Intimate and cozy -- not the best for a large group, mind you. I was a bit put off by having to line up, but it was ~10pm on a Saturday night. My party of 3 ended up waiting for 15-20 minutes in the little hallway behind the velvet curtain. We didn't mind too much. It did seem a bit odd that there was a dude in a tuxedo manning the entrance. He was very strict about letting people poke their heads in to see what the bar looked like (since there are no windows and it's just a tiny unassuming red door). He would let people in based on his own discretion -- it didn't make a whole lot of sense because he would sometimes let a bunch of people in, yet no one had exited in a while. Whatever. Once you're in, it's a beautiful, elegant place. You feel worlds away from the busy Rue St. Laurent... It's got that speakeasy vibe. The hanging bottles of Japanese whisky, candlelit tables, soft jazz, and bow-tie-wearing servers create a cool atmosphere. The crowd is eclectic -- everything from university students to hipsters to middle aged couples. The drinks are good and reasonably priced. I really enjoyed my champagne cocktail (made with cava, $10). I also had a negroni, which was good but super-strong so I had to sip that one very slowly. The servers are very knowledgeable about booze. My DC had a manhattan and the server went into great detail about the different whisky options and what would work best for the cocktail. Saw some people order the bourbon lemonade ($25). It comes in a little glass bowl and you can serve yourself with a ladel. Cute. They also have some snack items like edamame, veggies and dip, etc. We didn't try those though. Okay, Big in Japan is a little bit scene-y, but it offers a cool experience, great service and very few tourists. I will be back. read more

Big In Japan - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I've been wanting to visit this place for quite some time. When my friend and I were searching for a quiet and yet classy place to have some drinks and gossip, we went here. There are no visible signs that you have entered the correct place, which I love. It feels almost exclusive and private, the entrance was a narrow walkway which opens into the beautiful space. I really enjoyed the décor of this place such as the style of seating. My friend and I sat next to eachother with the option of facing away or towards other patrons. The seats are designed like an on-going bar. The lights are dim with candles everywhere. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and gin and tonics. The service was great, our glasses were always full. There was some nice house music which was not overly loud or annoying. The prices are reasonable as well. There was an option to eat near the rear of the bar. I would love to return in a larger group soon. read more

Big In Japan - Prosecco kinda night. Loved this bar as it is unique and intimate. Staff was very attentive and friendly. - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Very cool little bar, it has that old feel to it, like an old school speak easy. The entrance is just a red door, so you have to know where your going and the interior is a mix or run down cement wall with cement re-bar sticking out of the wall as a coat rack mixed with elegant decor, lighting and a very interesting seating arrangement. You want to come here for the atmosphere and the experience, I had a few Sake's to tie in the whole experience, and will definitely make this a stop in future outings. PS don't confuse this place with "Big in Japan" which is a restaurant.. totally different place, but same owner from what I understand. read more

Big In Japan - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Came here this past weekend to celebrate a friends birthday. The ambiance is really great but that's about it. The drinks were terrible and overpriced. The staff was unfriendly and the manager was incredibly rude. To top it off, there was a cold breeze going through the bar as if they had left a back door open. So we were shivering the whole time as we drank our horrible $17 dollar drinks. Avoid this pretentious bar at all costs. Spend your money and time elsewhere. read more

Cool bar, nice and quiet. Love the secret door thing, it's very NYC secret dive bar feel. Very nice ambiance, and the drinks are nice. Wish the selection was more extensive both for the cocktails and snacks. My one caveat was I had the same drink three times, and it never tasted the same all three times. So for drinks consistency, it's a complete FAIL. However the drinks were still drinkable, but making the same drink differently every time just really turns me off. Had a great time there last night with my coworkers. Perfect place for a 5 a 7 during the weekdays since it's not packed at all. read more

If you can get your head around the mild level of pretentiousness, this is a pretty nice bar. Rising from the ashes of what was once Main Street, Big in Japan has given new life to that old red door on St. Laurent Boulevard. Once you get inside you're greeted by 1000 Candles. The decor is very nouveau trendy. The whole place is a giant bar. It slightly resembles Pullman in the layouts of the bar and bartenders area. It's very easy to strike up a conversation with the people around you. I went on a casual Tuesday evening. I would recommend it myself. Yet I have no idea what to expect on a Friday or Saturday. It certainly has the potential to be a madhouse in there. read more

Big In Japan - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Tip: this bar is behind a red door at 4175 St Laurent, it's NOT located at 3723 St Laurent (which is the sister restaurant). Anyway, we were in search of an exceptional Montreal bar/speakeasy.....and sadly we did not find it here. Inside is a very unique layout that, personally, I was not a fan of. The whole room is one winding bar (i didn't take a picture but I'm sure you can find one on Yelp) with interesting lighting and whiskeys hanging down from the ceiling. Since we were seated at the far end of the winding bar, and since there only appeared to be one bartender, the service was way too slow. But the Manhattans we ordered (with fancy whiskeys, natch) were pretty good I guess. All in all, underwhelming. read more

Big in Japan is a perfect representation of a classy Japanese whiskey bar. I love the hanging whiskey bottles that you can save if you are a regular here and the design of it all is sexy, romantic, and just makes you want to have a good time. They do have limited small bites to accompany your cocktails and whiskeys. Great for small groups or dates only. Don't expect a night of debauchery here. The speakeasy feel in seeing why there is a line in front of an unmarked door just makes everything that much more exciting. (especially if you are bringing a date!) Definitely recommended! read more

Really cool place inside. Just didn't have the crowd. Bartender didn't help to make it an enjoyable experience. read more

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Big in Japan is an overrated ultra-pretentious bar. Come here if: - You want to be scolded for its many unwritten rules; - You get off on it's lilliputian owner berating both bartenders and patrons alike; and - You want to be served underwhelming, overpriced mixed drinks by rude staff cosplaying as the victorian servant-class. I have been twice. The first time we waited in the cold for 15 minutes to finally be let into a half-empty bar. As other reviewers have noted your first interaction with the staff when you walk in is "you can't stand here". Then spent the rest of the night trying desperately to get a drink while being harassed by an 80-year-old drunk from Belarus. The second time I went was with a group of friends (who insisted on visiting it) and we were ushered into an area with 3 seats for the 7 of us and told the rest could stand. Honestly, just don't. read more

Can I give you no stars? So we were a group of seven, we all ordered drinks except two people, our designated drivers of the night. One our server, extremely rude. My friend stated the drink was so bitter he couldn't taste it; she stated she'd have to charge anyways for another one. So sure no worries. All our drinks were poorly made, then she gave us a little cup of syrup to mix in and sweeten it ourselves. Sure. Then we're about to leave, we're drinking our drinks and the server goes are you done your drink? We go back to ask her why she's rude, she says she's not paid to smile and doesn't care. We ask to speak manager, he goes quote on quote: I instructed her to behave that way with your guys because we usually don't serve people where everyone doesn't order. Rushed to clear our drinks and pushed us out. Great job guys: no line outside but yes feel free to push us out. Never again. Just for the service. read more

Good ambiance, horrible staff and management! AVOID!!!! We will not be returning to this place. I would rate zero stars if I could! Tried to give feedback to the manager, he was defensive, rude and walked away. AVOID!! Check out Coldroom instead! Friendlier staff! read more

Warmth. It's probably the strongest word I can give to this bar. Going through a nondescript door into a small hallway and introduced to a cozy room blanketed with soft lights and impressive counters. Here is a place to bring a date and speak softly while getting closer. Unfortunately though I stumbled in here 4 drinks deep and with my friends all we wanted was another excuse to keep drinking. It was our stop along St. Laurent's many bars and this bar certainly helped. The design and decor of the place allowed us to mellow out and begin to relax and enjoy the bottle of Sake we ordered. Nothing crazy to do here but to sit back and enjoy a wonderful time with your friends and be a little classy. If only we had dressed up a bit more that would've been good to get the overall feeling they might have wanted. It looks like when we went they no longer had a focus on food which is a shame seeing the pictures looks like they do a wonderful job. Otherwise it's still noteworthy place. read more

Big In Japan - Bottles on the ceiling and bottles on the table - Speakeasies Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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This is a great place for late night eats and drinks. We came here after a night of hanging out with friends and before going out again. The place is tucked away and when I was there it wasn't very busy. So it feels like you found this neat little gem. The service was very friendly and the menu is delicious. They were out of a few things but the server gave some great recommendations for what to eat. The atmosphere was great. They played old French music which in contrast to the Asian themed restaurant was funny. We were seated by the large open window so there's a lot of great people watching that you can do while you're there. We had a steamed bun, the gyoza, and we split a stirfry. They are well-known for their cocktails but I was in the mood for beer so I ordered one of the light ones they have on tap. read more

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