Laidback atmosphere, live jazz and a welcoming staff, makes Bily Kun my favourite bar. The taxidermied ostrich heads dotting the walls are an inspired touch to a room that must have been an old man's tavern in a different era. I was told that the heads come from an ostrich farm outside Montreal. Apparently, before Bily Kun first opened, a false ceiling hid the gorgeous mouldings that were only discovered during renovations. Today, you'll find a selection of Czechoslovakian drinks on the menu, as the owner has an affinity for everything Czech. Actually, Bily Kun means "white horse" in Czechoslovakian and is the name of a bar in Czechoslovakia that the owner enjoyed. I heard he also owns the similarly named downtown bar called the Cheval Blanc. Bily Kun makes a mean mixed drink, but if you're looking for something hard-core and traditionally Czech, try the chilled Slivovitz. read more

Bily Kun - people sitting at tables in a dimly lit restaurant - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Was a very cool bar, a nice place to have some good drinks. The waitresses were very nice and the service was quick. However, it was extremely loud and hard to have a conversation with my friends and my boyfriend. read more

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This bar is located on Mont Royale which is a pedestrian only street with lots of restaurants and bars. This place was open in front and had sidewalk seating too. Honestly I had no idea it was a Czech style bar serving a selection or Czech liquors and spirits. We only had beer and some cocktails. The draft list had some nice local IPAs which I personally enjoyed. read more

Bily Kun - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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This is a great place during the day and weeknights, and an okay place during the weekend nights (when they are BUMPIN' the club music while everyone is trying to chill and talk). Bily Kun, as far as I could tell with my rudimentary knowledge of French, is a Czech style pub that specializes in Becherovka drinks. Becherovka is a liqueur that I don't quite remember well enough to describe, so let's leave it at that and assume it'll get you proper wasted as needed. In any case, this bar is a beautiful space, has a pretty tasty snack menu, a solid beer selection for the area, and all those Becherovka drinks (which, unfortunately, they ran out of one of the nights I'd been there). The other cocktails are pretty standard. Come for the Becherovka. read more

This bar is a great place to sample the Montreal nightlife. My best friend and I agree that this is our favorite place to start or end the night. Pssssst...the cheapest bottle of wine is only 20$. That's a steal! If your date doesn't already know the place. They will be amazed by your coolness when they see the ostrich heads linning the western wall. I mean is that cool or what?! read more

Bily Kun - Ostrich heads - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

A little too loud? A little too dark? Service was slow... Until the 2nd waitress started her shift.. I just want a beer, a pre dinner drink?! The place kind of empty.. and still so hard to get a beer or 2? Maybe I should just fetch my own drink and ask my Yelp friend to tip me. Ostrich heads lining up the wall kind of neat... wondering where I can get some ostrich wings? Great to take your date here because you cannot really hear each other and everyone looks better in the dark.... read more

Bily Kun - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We live in the area but had never gotten the chance to try this bar! Finally got the chance and were glad we did. Loved the outdoor terrace!! Drinks were great!! Experience was made better by our server who told us the most interesting stories about his adventures. Will definitely be coming by again!! read more

Bily Kun - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We came to meet friends on a Sunday afternoon and found the bar empty. I assume it gets busy during the evening hours, but we enjoyed a pint (or two) in a mostly quiet space under the watchful gaze of several ostriches. They open the front windows during the summer, so it's a nice place to people watch or chat with friends. They serve a short list of beers of tap but was something for everyone around the table. I got whatever was on guest tap and an order of nachos and spicy sausages. The food wasn't anything amazing, but it was good for nibbles and a snack. I got the feeling they don't have a full kitchen because their whole food menu consists of snacks and small bites. read more

Bily Kun and its sister bar plan b (https://yelp.to/qTKq/mq1yfkLLTI) are the nicest bars a stones throw away from station Mont Royal. If you're in the area, give it a go! Bily Kun is a bit more of a "boys" spot, where as I would put Plan B as being more of a "date night." The vibe is a bit "dark" with ostrich heads on the wall (I was there during the holidays and all the ostriches had Santa hats on!). The crowd tends to be mid 20's, not a college bar on the whole. I went there for a week night 5 a 7 and had no issues finding a table, but be warned that Thursday, Friday, Saturday this place is very buzzy! Would not recommend for large groups. All week long they boast a 5 a 9 beer list (some pints for 5.75). This place is definitely a bit on the pricier end, but is a great spot none the less! read more

Bily Kun - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

A really laid back, chill kind of bar geared towards 30-somethings, not full of obnoxious younger 20-somethings and frat boys who can't hold their liquor, they have their own places to go to, thank God. Mostly professionals and artisitc types here, this is also one of the few places in Montreal that serves absinthe. I've seen the likes of French fashion designer legend Jean-Paul Gaultier here from time to time. The kind of place people like that can come to and no one even raises an eyebrow. Great drinks, great decor, great attitude, Bily Kun is a great Montreal spot. read more

Come for those taxidermied ostrich heads, stay for the drinks. We only stopped in for a quick drink on our way back to our Air bnb, but Bily Kun left quite an impression. We sat at the bar and were able to solicit some guidance from the bartender on the drinks menu, which was heavily laden with Czech beverages such as Becherovka, an herbal liquor. It was recommended that I try the Czech mule, which is essentially a Moscow Mule made with Becherovka instead of vodka. I expected the drink to be bitter but it actually had a refreshing cinnamon quality to it along with the ginger beer flavor. I loved it! My boyfriend ordered an absinthe-infused drink, which he enjoyed. Yes, the decor was cool. On a scale of 1-10, I would put the enjoyableness level of the ostrich heads on walls at a 9.5. Only minor downside was that the bartender seemed a bit miffed when I had trouble with the payment system, where the payer uses a handheld device to make the purchase. These are confusing for a newbie such as myself, especially as I don't read French. read more

Again, it makes no sense that I have not reviewed this bar. Perhaps we are in the Matrix. Anyway, I went back to Bily Kun this week after having spend countless hours here over the course of my life and then not popping in for quite a while. I was worried it would be less good than it had been, but surprise, it's better. Here's why! There is a nice sunny patio out in front the summer! They have added tons of local beers, cidres and wines to their already delicious cocktail menu. Coolest of all, there is the best list of non-alcoholic drink options I've yet to see in a bar. 0% local delicious IPA?!! 0% rosé??!! Just to name 2. So freaking sweet. The service is as kind as ever and the vibe chill and fun. The local rosé and bubbly are really not good, I cannot lie, my friends from out of town were polite but agast. But it's fine, Quebec beers are rad and we can't be the best at everything or Toronto's jealousy would get out of control ;) read more

Definitely the best bar by far in Montreal. Came here quite a few years ago to meet a friend. Early, it can be a great place for a nice pint or two while hanging out doing some writing. Later, it can get very boisterous. Mostly French is spoken here, but don't let that hold you back. Great beers-including my fave-St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout! MMMM...nice and dark to match the interior of this seductive bar. read more

If you have a fetish for ostrich heads, I've found your bar! The location is great. The alcohol list is extensive. It's full almost every night of the week. And last but not least, the decor is very cool. If you happen to be on a blind date, and you're running out of things to say, you can always look up at the walls and comments on the 15th ostrich heads mounted all around the place. It should buy you another 10 minutes, but after that you're on your own;) read more

I really liked this place, specially the cocktails. The sour and the litchi one were amazing. Food is not bad too. Prices are good too! read more

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Cool bar with nice vibes, nice small outside seating. Good selection of Czech products. Also a good selection of Gin and Whiskey.

Few things: --One of the only places in the St. Denis area that was packed on a cold Sunday night. --The ostriches on the wall are kinda creepy, in the very best way possible! --The only real drawback, as previous reviewers have mentioned, is that the music is way too loud. Having a conversation was difficult, as was ordering. --Try the mojito, it's yum. read more

This is a great bar in the Plateau with a cosy and relaxed ambiance. They have an extensive list of beers as well as the usual drinks for bars (wine, cocktails, etc). I also found the prices very reasonable given the area. They do have some finger food but I didn't try any so I don't have any comments on that front. My one complaint is that the music is too loud. We were forced to scream at each other to have any kind of conversation. Apart from that though I really enjoyed my experience here and would go back again. read more

This is a great bar. The lighting and live dj give it a nice atmosphere. We came here at about 10 pm on a Friday night, and this place can get pretty crowded. But there were seats available. We were from out of town, and it was great to go to a bar filled with locals. My girlfriend's cocktail wasn't amazing, but we only stayed for one drink. My pilsner was good. One last thing: there are ostrich heads on the wall. I think that's very important that you know that. I counted at least 7. Ostrich heads. On the wall. read more

Seven taxidermied ostrich heads, with full ostrich necks, hung like hunting trophies and protruding proudly along the longest wall. Where does one even hunt ostrich? Anyway, there was a live band (which I couldn't see) doing a variety of numbers, from old country & blues to Elvis songs. Sweet. Later in the evening, the music turned into standard club music. Overall, pretty loud, like you'd expect in a crowded, semi-trendy bar on a Friday night. I was hungry after my lychee martinis, so thank all my stars and garters, they had nachos, super hot, at the ready. Good service, seating and reasonable drink prices. About $8 or $9 for a cocktail, which I consider pretty decent. HUGE drink menu! When you're feeling clubby, this is a sure bet, for the whole evening. No bar-hopping required. read more

Location: On Mont-Royal. The closest subway is Mont-Royal (less than 10 minute walk from there). Street parking is available [metered] but good luck finding a spot amidst all the traffic and already parked cars. The place/goods: Dark and intimate setting that tells me it would be a perfect place for a date. Czech-inspired, these guys offer up some delicious cocktails and are one of the few (perhaps only) bars in town to offer Absinthe. They also have a good beer selection and offer stuff you won't typically find in other bars. I didn't have anything to eat this time around, so will report back once I've had a chance to go back. Service: Good. Price point: Pretty reasonable given they're a pretty popular place, and on the Plateau. read more

Bar Bily Kun is an OK place, though more for the crowd that regards cigarette smoking as an intellectual pursuit. If you prefer "hibiscus beer" to Molson Ex, you'll like it a lot more than I did. I'm giving an extra star for two things that made my visit great. One, a homeless guy systematically bummed nearly an entire pack of Export As off of an aging long-hair who was, apparently, eager to impress his companion by his spirit of generosity. The entire transaction took about 11 minutes and raised my hopes that I'd do well in Montreal should beggary ever become my lot. Second, the waitress was filled with the de Gaullist spirit, and resolutely ignored my butcher French malapropisms. read more

"Billy Kun c'est mon bar de jour favori." My Home away from home and a safe port in a storm! read more

Cool place. Dim lighting, unique cocktails, ostrich heads. Great place to go if you've just started to date someone and need a few cocktails and sexy ambiance to get him/her to want to jump you. Very loud though, so not the ideal place for having an actual conversation. But hey, that gets you to lean in closer, right? read more

Bily Kun - why ostrich heads? It is very possible that any other animal head peering down at you from above while you consume your delightful drink of choice would cause an entirely different feeling. Cow heads? Pig heads? No. No. Thankfully, the bar is dark and there are other things to attract your attention. Such as the young and old milling around, the drink in your hand, and the live music that you may have been lucky enough to catch before it abruptly ends. This Czech bar is a local hit and you will rarely find it on a slow night. The cocktail list is pretty unique, with booze from Holland, Mexico, Poland, and of course the Czech Republic. The next time I return to Bily Kun, I may just try something a little more adventurous than my blonde beer. Maybe some absinthe, or a fernet and tonic? It's sure to be a tough decision, but lucky for me, I have seven ostrich friends to help me decide. read more

Self and boyfriend stumbled upon this super cool bar .... and stumbled out I might add. The atmosphere was great - so chilled. Actually, the owner was at the doorway when we were poking our heads in and sold us on the notation that it was a tavern. And he was right. We loved it. Staff are uber friendly - our female server was so knowledgeable on Czech beers and liquors ... in fact we thought she must be Czech but she's a lovely local gal. My boyfriend is a Becherovka fan so he downed several. I tried and liked it, way too easy to knock back so I moved onto a recommendation from our server of Czech beer. We were there midweek - having been unable to return to NY due to Hurricane Sandy. What a bummer to have to stay in Montreal ..... NOT!! Mr Piano Man and Mr Bass Man were strutting their stuff in the background, nice addition. The bar at 9pm was very busy and the noise level was fine. We sat at the back in comfy couches. Should you pay a visit when in Montreal ..... absolutely! Not to be missed. read more

We just stopped in here for a day beer! I love this part of the town. It is very eclectic and "rock and roll." They have a great beer selection and free wifi!!! Get half and half... It's half cider and half sour!!! There are games bring your own company! read more

this place got awesome vibe to it... always happening.. lotsa different beers.. decent finger food... piano playing on the weekends i think.. also a lot of people do not know.. but they have live bands playing upstairs sometimes.. GO.. You will love it!! read more

All great places have the heads of endangered animals on their walls. In this case it's Ostriches. It's been a safe bet for years. The Czech-themed bar is run exceptionally well. Always busy, but never obnoxiously packed. You're not going to win any creativity awards coming here. But all will be happy. Hipster Cred Bonus. They have the original Czech budweiser. read more

Maybe 3 stars, but I'm knocking one off for the poor service. My wife and I went here on a Saturday night around 10pm for drinks and snacks. I got a local IPA and she got a rum and coke. My beer was overly-bitter and lacked any sweetness or brightness that a good IPA usually has. The rum and coke was balanced but nothing to write home about. Our food was the worst part: we got a mixed plate of salsa, sausage, and olives as well as the grilled cheese. It literally tasted like they found a handful of random things at a convenience store, threw them on a plate, and charged us $10. The grilled cheese was the least exciting thing I've tasted since the pretzels I was served on my flight here. The crowd is pretty hip, mostly white men in their 30s. Our server never gave us water which we explicitly asked for and then told me to hold on when I asked for the bill so she could talk to her co-worker. The whole experience was pretty forgettable, though the ostrich heads really are awesome. read more

Bily Kun is an interesting place to grab a drink with a date or some friends and get to know some taxidermied ostrich heads. They have a number of tables to acomodate different sized parties, so you won't have to worry about standing around, though the place does get very full on weekends, so you might be stalking tables waiting for them to finish their drinks. The prices are fairly moderate for the area and they have your typical beverage selection. Admittedly, I've only ever grabbed a blanche (around $6) with friends in here, so I can't comment on the food and, as WhiteFeather H. has said, it gets pretty loud in here, so I can't really comment on the music, either. read more

Really cool bar in Montreal. This was a convenient day-stop for a fresh pilsner. We loved the ostriches on the wall, and asked the bartender what the story was. He said there was no story, the owner lived next to an ostrich farm and.... he proceeded to tell us about the owner and the ostriches for 10 minutes. Sounds like a story to me! :) Returned at night to a huge crowd, apparently we're not the only ones who loved this bar. read more

Yep, I like it. I walk by this place every day on my way home from work. People inside look warm and happy. So finally this week I stepped in to see what Bily Kun was all about. Table at the window, good tunes playing though a little loud for a Monday night chat. Nice dim lighting, a long bar and a little lounge area near the back. The place is spacious which makes every table it's own little room. Lovely beverages (extra olives to fish for at the bottom of a martini) at peak price. Didn't try any snacks but for a neighborhood spot perfect for a 5 @ 7 I'll be back for sure. read more

We stumbled on this place after taking the bus down from Mont Royal on a Friday afternoon. The beer menu was very broad, the service was excellent, and the front window had been rolled back to let the warm air in on a very nice late September afternoon. It was a very pleasant stop. Obviously full of colorful locals. I know that we were not in the USA but didn't sense that this would be Red State if it were below the border.... read more

It was very cool and the ambiance was friendly! Yes it's plateau! The bear was very good and lots of choice with reasonable price!

I like their decor inside, pretty cool. The crowd is somewhat hipster, somewhat cool locals and few tourists. It can get pretty loud on the weekends, but the cocktails are strong and delicious and unlike so many bars, they accept cards, so it's not "cash only" place. The service is friendly and pretty quick if it's not super busy. read more

The decor and the drinks are incredible. I've never seen that many ostrich heads in one place. We had the Czech Mule, a Moscow mule but made with Becherovka. Have had their nibbles before and we enjoyed them. Not a dinner place really however it's unique cocktails offer something different for those who want it. read more

I missed this place on my last visit and figured I'd try it out last night. We were looking for some great cocktails, good music and nice vibe. The place was pretty crowded ( which i don't mind) and the drinks were a big disappointment. As a rule, I avoid bars that attach those electronic things to measure an exact shot. The mixers were extremely artificial which made the drinks taste super sweet. The D.J. was extremely loud, I guess he was mixing live but it was hard to tell because the music felt like riding in a 18 year old's car with a trunk full of subwoofers with loose windows. The Ostrich heads on the walls seem like the big attraction. I'd prefer good drinks and music. read more

Great location, attentive bar tenders, excellent ambiance. Romantic with the dark room and candle lights and quirky with the mounted taxidermy ostriches. Great music selection. The server put down my lychee martini and with a huge smile, named the drink and said, "smell it!" Freaking adorable :-) Drinks are delicious! We ordered olives and they serve pickles with it. Perfect accompaniment to our drinks :-) read more

I've only been here once but I really enjoyed it. The staff were pleasant and the atmosphere is calm and classy. The music was good and wasn't too loud to allow for conversation. I had the red sangria which was tasty and not too sweet. I didn't order any food so I can't comment on that. Great bar for a group of friends and perfect for a date. I'm looking forward to trying it again. read more