I found myself at Else's with my brother for a late lunch. He had been here before when he last visited Montreal and had good things to say, and since he was open to checking this place out again we thought it would be a good place to go. We were already exploring the area so it seemed like a natural fit, so off we went. My general assessment of Else's is that it is more of a neighborhood spot than a destination eatery, which is totally fine because usually those are some of the best spots. Upon entry, we were greeted by a large open dining area with tables scattered throughout and a bar along one of the back walls. The decor is casual, with a dark color scheme to match the bar setting. Their drink menu is larger than their food menu, but despite that they have a nice variety. I didn't see any pattern with the food - there was a mix of plate sizes and types of cuisines. The pulled pork sliders looked good so I went with those; the dish came with two sliders and a side of coleslaw. I really enjoyed this - there was a generous helping of pork in each slider and the sauce had a nice tang to it. I'm normally not a fan of slaw since it is usually cream-based, but this one wasn't so it was quite refreshing and a good contrast to the pork. Service was great, the entire team was friendly. Overall, this was a really good find in Montreal - if you're looking for something low-key with solid food then this would be ideal. I'm interested how the vibe changes at night, so I would be open to returning in the evening for a drink and to explore more of their menu. read more

See all

A hopping neighborhood joint with a full bar and a great vibe. We had walked past this place a few times while strolling, and it really just begs you to enter. The kind of place you wish you had in your neighborhood, so people would call your neighborhood "vibrant" too. The menu is small and eclectic (tacos, butter chicken, Mac 'n' cheese). I had a giant Moscow Mule to start, and ordered Butter Tofu, one of several vegetarian options. The rice was perfect and the sauce was good, though the large cubes of tofu were a bit bland themselves. Wifething had the fancy mac 'n' cheese, which was creamy and smooth. Endlessly busy on a Saturday night, but a good mix of two-tops and larger (8-10) groups. Great service and friendly staff! read more

Else's - Local joint ambiance at Else's on a Saturday night - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Else has a funny story on the back of the menu. Read my photo! Lol we enjoyed the wings and beers here. Good, weird ambiance and vibes. Friendly service. Highly recommend a visit if you're in the neighborhood! read more

See all

First time in Canada from NY. My girlfriend went ice skating and I went here, since it was not far from my hotel. I had a few beers and the pulled pork sliders. They were super tasty and flavorful. There was something special about the flavor and I recommend giving these a shot. I truly loved the vibe in here as well. The bartender Pat was super friendly, welcoming and attentive. I came in a stranger/tourist and left feeling like a local. Had a fantastic conversation with a local sitting next to me at the bar. Check this spot out for pretty much good vibes across the board. read more

Very cool local spot in Mile End neighborhood. My airbnb host took me here (lol) and told me about the history his this bar -- how it's evolved over time from a punk bar to now. Very lovely green and sophisticated atmosphere. The waiters are no frills and they don't bother you but they are still attentive. Orange wine was good! Probably the best local hot-spot I've been too. It was bumpin on a Wednesday night. Would highly recommend for a first date! read more

Else's - Bar area - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I always love stopping by this gem in the plateau! The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with people of all ages sharing the space for after-work drinks. The lighting is moody and the music is fun but not too loud. A perfect date spot! While all the food and beers taste fantastic, I do wish there was a larger selection of local beers on tap and that the food portions were slightly larger. Although... the in-house blonde lager might be all you need! Note that this space is best for small, intimate gatherings and it's best to get there early to snag a table. There isn't too much space for large groups! read more

Else's - Fish tacos, Else's blonde lager (front), and IPA (back). - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

After a little exploring of our Montreal neighborhood, we discovered this small gem of a restaurant nearby. It's essentially a hole in the wall, but one with so much personality and charm that it feels like a classic bistro. We snagged a comfortable table right in the center of the restaurant, and began perusing the promising menu. We decided to share a few things: Shrimp Tacos ("with jalapenos, shallots, cabbage, pickled red onions, avocado sauce and chipotle"), Mini Bison Burgers ("with beets, blue cheese and chipotle sauce"), and Mac N' Cheese. While nothing we ate blew us away, the food was all quite tasty and fresh, and we certainly ate every last bite that was in front of us. Else's is more about the comfortable vibe than anything else, and on that level, it's definitely the kind of place I wish I had in my neighborhood. read more

A nice, casual neighborhood place. We came here looking for a decently hearty lunch and were not disappointed. I got a flammand rose cocktail which had gin, sparkling wine, cassis and grapefruit juice. It was perfect and light for me. Not super sweet which I enjoy. My husband got a pint that he liked and our friend got a cream ale that he did not like, but who really likes cream ales anyway. I had the butter chicken which was made with chicken breast pieces and came with rice and naan. It was simple, but good for a non-Indian restaurant. My husband had the quesadilla with sausage which was great. Very large portion and the tortilla was almost flaky like roti. I would order that again. Our friend had bbq pork slideres which he enjoyed (although he wished they were a bit bigger.) Service was very nice and quick! read more

See all

Amazing find! We were getting heavily rained on & luckily came across this place, so we popped inside. We wanted a nice snack & a beer. Else's did not disappoint. Great, intimate coffee shop vibe, friendly staff & good food. We loved their vegan tacos, brussel sprout salad and especially the homemade hot sauce! read more

The soup was rly good and big it was chili I labeled it wrong but my friend got the pork sliders and they were so small only two and expensive drinks were good except I got charged for an extra and didn't notice till after I left and I was too scared to say ambiance was nice too I wish I got the quesadilla the people beside me had it and it looked so good read more

Else's - French onion soup - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I wish I would've found out about this place earlier! It's a very interesting bar, not a lot of young people frequent this space which makes it a lot less rowdy than the bars on St. Laurent. I love to come here for an intimate date night, or an afternoon drink with a friend, especially during the summer. The drinks are CHEAP (most expensive cocktail is $10.50 WOW), and they have an extensive list of domestic and international brews of beer. My only complaint about this place is that the waitress/ bartender that served my friend and I did not tell us about their happy hour specials listed on the wall. Given the extensive decorations on the wall it's pretty easy to miss the board with the price lists, and it's not listed on the menu. They have two simple cocktails for $11, $27 for a large sangria, and other specials that I can't remember off the top of my head. I personally do not think the food looked amazing; the portion sizes are very small and pretty expensive. There's no way I'm ever going to pay $11 for two pulled pork BBQ sliders... Overall it's a great bar to hang out at, and I can only hope that the rowdy St. Laurent crowd never finds out about this hidden gem. read more

Else's - Fin du monde... a 9% brew yum - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Went for late night casual drinks. Nice atmosphere and vibe. Nice neighbourhood with other small and interesting little bars. Fairly standard drink list (good enough for me). Had a very pleasant - low key - time. Late night bar menu: only tried one thing w my group... quesadillas. Definitely wouldn't try that again fpoor quality recipe and execution). Not sure if their regular menu is better. Thus, my overall 3 stars rating reflects 4 stars on late night drink experience and 2 stars on food experience. read more

Else's feels like that coffee shop we all loved in college, but grown up and with a French flair. You can come and enjoy a book by yourself or hang out and chat with friends for hours. The staff is friendly and chill. Sit by the windows for good people watching. If you're lucky you can snag a seat at their tiny bar. I used to come here because it was down the street. Now it's a bit of a trek, but I still do it. read more

I've been here twice and it always seems like my friends are more impressed by Else's than I am. This by no means lessens my affection for this place (There is this cured fish and cucumber salad dish that makes me feel like I got punched in the mouth with a pack full of flavour! Though I do wish the portion size was MUCH bigger...), but my friends always seem to pick the dish that's a decent portion and delicious (Fish&Chips, Calamari). This one friend said the calamari at their place was the BEST calamari he's ever tasted. Quite the praise if you ask me. Nonetheless, if you're in Montreal and you want to bring your friends to a chill and cozy place with great ambiance, I think Else's would be a great choice. They have quite a selection of drinks and great food. I'm the type of person where if I happen to recommend a restaurant that my friends like, I always feel like I take full responsibility of the meal as though I'm the chef. Therefore, Else's would probably be my best bet for a great recommendation. read more

See all

Great neighbourhood pub. Reasonable prices. Perfect for lunch, a 5a7, or a quiet date. Else's has gone through a lot of changes over the last decade because they only have a restaurant license and periodically re-invent the menu. The current menu, however, is at the best of its been in years. Serving sizes and presentation range anywhere from a solid, comfort food lunch to perfect for sharing. A few of things worth trying include: - the Bison Sliders (2 per serving) - the Shrimp or Pibil Tacos (4 per serving) - or the Philly Cheese Steak (comes with side salad The place is also a solid bet for a quiet sunday afternoon or pints and cocktails late into the night. The music is never too loud, and even when it's busy, it doesn't seem to crowded (despite its size). If you're in the 'hood and looking for a satisfying bite or just to catch up with friends or that book you've been working through, you should definitely consider Else's. read more

Nice, dark, slightly dive-y room, with warm, almost Christmaslike light. Good selection of whiskies. Topnotch chocolate cheesecake. Decent espresso. A hint of street life visible from the bar. Talkative, happy, grown-up crowd, all seemingly there to converse with their friends rather than to bang tequila slammers down their hatches. Well-mannered, easygoing staff who'll treat you kindly. They've got a restaurant licence only and they'll ask you to order food with your glass of Bushmills, but what's a drink without a nosh? The only real problem I have with this place is getting a decent chair on a cold autumn or winter afternoon. Usable restroom. I always peek in when I'm in the area on an errand, just to see if there's anywhere I'd want to sit for a quick drink. It's too cozy a place to walk past without checking. read more

Else's - View from the bar. - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Else's has a great atmosphere and was a very enjoyable experience. I ordered the vegetarian tacos which were delicious, and finished things off with the chocolate brownie ice cream sandwich. Not to be missed! The staff were very courteous, friendly, and helpful. I really enjoyed the experience and I look forward to coming back! read more

We stopped for a quick drink at Else's around noon. As such, there weren't many people there, and we didn't grab any food, so my opinion will be brief. The bartenders were cool guys, with good conversation. The bar itself has a traditional vibe, with a sparing number of old ball decorations. I grabbed myself a Brume Suisse (i.e. Swiss Fog), which is a delightfully warm Goldschlager and cinnamon drink. If you're walking by the bar on a cold day, with a hankering for a bit of a buzz, this drink is perfection. It's the sort of thing an irresponsible parent would give to their kid to put them to sleep. Cool bar. Try it out. read more

See all

A chill atmosphere, full of creatives. In the afternoon, definitely a place where it's okay to fly solo, have a coffee or scotch and food, and focus on your writing, design, or other work. In the evening, it fills with interesting people. Reasonable prices, friendly staff, artsy ambiance. read more

Else's - Wednesday 4pm americano and design. - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

Else's- Montreal. Nice place out style. The shrimp tacos were good. It can get crowded. read more

Else's - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Else's is one of those small neighbourhood gems, tucked in on roy, slightly off St. Laurent. The vibe is of a quieter bar, dimly lit with candles on each table - another great date place. The food is great for the price you are paying and is definitely a notch higher than your average bar food. They have great tacos on real taco shells (corn based soft taco shells) and their serving of wings is very very generous. We had their mulled cider (with cinnamon and lemon), not quite as good as ones you get in Europe but paired with the cozy environment, it was definitely beyond pleasant. read more

Else's - Mulled cider and tacos - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Oh Else's, how much have I missed you...Now that I see you again, lots!! Haven't been in over a year, until last night. What a cool place! Love the energy, we could have stayed for another 3 hours just talking away, sipping our beers, enjoying our table surrounded by a crowd of tightly packed tables of diverse fauna. A microcosm of Montreal, that was it. Yes, that is what it was. E.G. Montreal at its best. Yup, we also ordered food with our Asahi and Czechvar beers. Tacos Pibil (delish); Grilled Polenta (very surprisingly good. One does not expect it so good from a pub, but this is no ordinary pub!!); Butter Chicken (fair. More British style butter chicken than Indian). Please keep this place friendly, with good staff and service. It is paramount. We shall be back in a few weeks for certain. Never again shall we be apart for so long. read more

Else's - Perfect snacks @ Else's (butter chicken was on the way) to couple our beers...especially the polenta!! Bravo. - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

Many pubs have good food, fewer have good deals (Happy Hour pints 5.75), even fewer have a story and charm such as Else's. It feels like a cosy hole-in-the-wall with charm and friendly staff that are sure to delight. Great selection of beers and devour inside is unique and eccentric read more

wonderful service, staff was super friendly and Nice ! food was delicious and cocktails were even better!! I highly recommend for anyone!

Cozy bar, attentive service, delicious food! We shared the bison burger and the salad and both were exceptional. The roasted veggies in the salad resembled kimchi and I could not get enough of them. Great variety of beers on draft! read more

In short: Noisy, Repellently packed, Slightly expensive food, Just normal drinks, . . . Sorry to say it was just a two-star place! read more

I loooooove bars like these. It's a place where, as Johnson said, anyone can be here. I visited after work, I visited after school. I can look like a bum wearing my puffy winter jacket and eating, because it was so cold. It really doesn't matter. Other customers of this bar are fantastic. I see all sorts of people. Everyone is friendly. The troublemakers and the clumsy patrons are friendly. The staff are friendly. Love the beers and only $6-7 for a pint! I couldn't help but stay 2 hours longer than expected, even though a long night of assignments awaited me. Food was delicious. $10 for 2 sliders. The lights at the back of the bar is extremely bright. Way too bright!! Sitting near the front is ideal for me. Else's is like a dive bar, but very clean. It's almost undiscoverable if it wasn't for Yelp. read more

Else's is always chill and cozy, dark, yummy and badass in a punk mamma full of community love kind of way. It's at its best in the winter right after a big snow. The small corner it sits on is the perfect place to watch the coordinated massive machine ballet of Montreal snow removal. Nice scotch collection and beers on tap, tasty samosas and nachos and other little snacks - you have to order the eats to get the booze so they are not crazy spectacular but they are delicious, unpretentious and cool just like everyone who works and drinks and writes tucked into this friendly local institution. read more

Went for dinner with a party of 6 and were seated immediately. We ordered the pulled pork sliders, shrimp tacos, roasted veggie salad, and bison sliders. All were outstanding! This was not your typical bar food. The space was snug, but provided a cozy, warm environment. The service was exceptionally attentive and they had a fine selection of drinks and draft beers. We would definitely go back! read more

Else's - Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Anyone who's ever had a crush on someone else in Montreal has suggested that they go for drinks at Else's. It's cozy, unpretentious and at the comfortable intersection of St Denis East Plateau franco cool, St Laurent hipsterdom and a quick saunter away from the McGill student ghetto. That means that Else's is pure Montreal where you can switch back and forth between eng and fr. It's kindova jam-packed place with the tables tucked in pretty close so if you're bilingual, you can get in some choice eavesdropping while you're having yourself a nice drink. They've got cider on tap as well as a pretty respectable selection of Quebec microbrews and hard liker. Food-wise, I like: the samosas. They're nice and greasy though the Indian platter feels a bit sparse. The chilli's where the money's at, in my book. You get a nice full bowl of thick red-bean tomato stew with some nice cumin and chili highlights and a plate full of corn chips to go with it. Cheese and no cheese options are available. read more

I love it here! The atmosphere is chill, the staff is amazing, and the food is to die for! You won't get food this good at such great prices anywhere else. In particular, the shepard's pie is next level! I actually don't even like shepard's pie, but this is like nothing I've ever had. Cheesy, bacon-y, and oh so yummy! My boyfriend and I have literally tried every single thing on the menu with only one thumbs down, the nachos. They were just ok. Everything else about this place is great though! And they have an awesome extended 5-7. read more

A very cool place where you can find all walks of life. I have lived around the corner for the last 10 years and have had met both friends, colleagues (realtors) and clients here. What I like about this place and why I recommend it, lets start with the story, Elses namesake a way cool chick who decided to open up a bar in the Plateau at a time when the plateau was filled with one of two categories, either Portuguese families, or all the bohemians living on the plateau back when it was really cheap, she was part of the founders of the plateau in my mind . I first moved to the plateau over 20 years ago, when you could find an apartment at the rate of 100$ per room, so if you had a 4,5 it would cost 450$, needless to say that at the price the people living there were able to move from one place to another easily, there were tonnes of these cheap rentals and the vibe was all about moving every year, vs having to paint (not kidding it was too easy). No one had money but everyone lived for dirt cheap and went out all the time to neghborhood places that sprang up randomely like elses, the vibe was about doing whatever you wanted (which is why she is considered a rebel, see this is restaurant according to the permit, so she must sell food, but let's be real, it's a pub where you buy chilly. Just so you know this place can drop some serious names, I have seen poiltiicans, high end business execs, and once even someone like Will Ferrel they are mingling in the casual place with other regulars who simply spend their entire lived there The place it around for reason it just too cool a place to not try sometime. Elses is great anytime of the day, night or and yearound have fun read more

I wish I could stay in Montreal longer...just to visit Else's! Honestly, it has 100% been the best part of my trip. By Day 3 of this visit, I had basically resigned myself to being treated like sh*t everywhere I went, because I'm American AND I don't speak French. I came upon these reviews and went to check it out. What a relief from all the nose-in-the-air attitude! Everyone was friendly, helpful, and kind. The house cider was so lovely on a rainy day, and the plates are perfectly sized. If you miss real coffee shops from the 90's, this place will take you back--in the very best way. Not to sound corny, but...you can really feel the spirit of the proprietor and the relationships she developed, in the way that locals make themselves at home and interact with one another here. I wish I could have met Else...I want to be just like her, when I grow up. p.s. This is also apparently where the hottest silver foxes in Montreal go to hang out. Wish I'd had a little more courage on that front...maybe I can squeeze in one more visit before I go! read more

One of my favourite bars in Montreal. It's cozy, dark, friendly, and just plain gives me the warm fuzzies. As everyone notes, they have a restaurant license so you are requested to order food so that you can also order drinks. It used to be that they had super cheap options like olives or samosas for less than $5. That's increased in the last several years and now most of the options are around $10 or more. In my personal experience, we've always been able to share dishes. In the dozens of times I've been here, we have not been asked to order individual plates. But other people's experience differs, so I don't really know of it's something we say or do or just luck. Beer menu is not huge, but sufficient for most tastes. They've also got cocktails, cider, hot drinks. If you sit near the back of the bar, there are large notebooks leaning on the piano. They are filled with the notes and doodles of past patrons over the years. They're good for a browse when you're a few drinks in. I don't really come here for the food, Else's is just that special that I'm willing to put up with this little inconvenient charade of ordering food just so I can keep drinking here. Sometimes, I think this charade is part of the charm. read more

One of the better "bars" in Montreal. Very intimate (read: small and dark). Candles on the tables add to the ambiance. Usually good music playing. Tasty food and good drink selection. If you have a big group get there early to secure tables. This is a favorite spot of McGill Geology grad students. Also a good spot for working during the day. read more

I went there yesterday with my cousin, the decor is great, the food is great(although the wings were a bit too salty for my liking), the drinks were good as well. I asked the waitress what drink she would recommend and she said the Kir Royal but my cousin's Mojito was by far better than that. The prices are cheap, and the atmosphere is very friendly and not too loud. Would definitely go back! read more

See all

I've been to Else's multiple times and it never disappoints. Affordable, decent food and drink, this is a great spot for a date or a meet-up with a few friends. It's cozy, dark and candlelit (so everyone looks good), low key atmosphere, and the music isn't too loud so you can have a conversation over your meal (the establishment requires you to order food if you are drinking alcohol). My favorite dish would be the fish tacos or the veggie tacos. I also like their simple beer selection and I've never had a cocktail I didn't like here. The wait staff are all very polite and knowledgable. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a cute, local place to grab a few drinks and have a bite to eat. read more

Plateau essential! Great vibes - candlelit date at night, and green edgy lunch spot at day. The food is really good too. My go to is to always split the vegetarian sliders and shrimp tacos with someone, although I've also tried the salad and it's very rich and delicious. Don't go for the cocktails, they're nothing special, except maybe for their bourbon lemonade (I don't like bourbon but my bf loves it). It's all about their beers. read more

My heart is at Else's! What a fun, funky, original Franco-Norwegian creation, brought to us by a lady who left us way too soon but whose spirit lives on in this artsy, mischievous bar. The beer is good, the decor whimsical, the music Americana, and the waitstaff friendly and knowledgable. Huge windows and vines and flowers produce an open feeling, as if you're half in nature and half in a service establishment. The food looked terrific and is veg-friendly. We'd be back all the time if we lived in the area. read more

Our original plans had to be changed due to the holiday, so we asked at the front desk of our hotel for a relaxing place with affordable drinks and good food. He mentioned Else's and gave us the history of the place and it sounded up our alley. I noticed someone mentioned "coffee shop" in their review and it almost feels like a coffee shop where people realized the coffee just wasn't doing it for them anymore and they just evolved into drinking alcohol. Atmosphere is great and has a bit of a pub feel. Totally non-pretentious. The servers were delightful and tolerated our massacring of the French language. Drinking beer in Quebec is a treat. You don't need to know all of the breweries... just pick a style of beer you like and try it. I've never been disappointed (and I'm a bit of a beer snob). We tried the Fried Spinach & Mushroom Pierogis (the server recommended them fried) and they were fabulous! We were sharing so we did Fish & Chips as well, which was plenty good, but I was craving more Pierogis! All in all, it was a nice evening. Service was great and the drinks and food were delicious. The bill wasn't too damaging (this is Montreal, after all) and we left happy. If we were locals, I could see us frequenting this place quite a bit. read more