Underground yakuza themed speakeasy with a wide selection of Japanese-inspired cocktails. Busy, but we were able to get seated immediately. The Hojo makoso was a palate's dear friend, and the bunshin came with a whole smoke show but not as friendly. read more

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In Japan, the yakuza are a powerful, dangerous yet mysterious gangster subculture, and Gokudo does an excellent job of exploring and paying homage to them in a reverent, culturally respective way. This was one of my favorite speakeasies that I visited while I was in Montreal, and it wasn't super hard to find the unmarked Ryoshi sushi bar that it is hidden behind. Gokudo is a great spot to visit on a date or with a larger group of friends, with a chill, intimate vibe in a tastefully decorated, darkened exclusive lounge. I also enjoyed their cocktail menu, which features unique Japanese-inspired cocktails. My favorite was the Okame, which was a powerful, spirit-forward take on the lychee martini. Highly recommend checking out this unique speakeasy if you're in the downtown Montreal area! read more

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Checked out Gokudo for our second speakeasy of the night. It's a few steps away from Le Vieux Dublin. Busy on a Saturday evening (10:30pm) but no wait for a table. The inside is dark and sultry with plenty of The Weeknd songs. They have a small food menu, cocktails ($14.00 to $15.00) and sake but you can order off menu. First tipping option of 25% was wild. - Saké du moment ($18.00 carafe) - server didn't tell us what type of sake. Standard - Edamame ($6.00) - Chicken skewers ($9.00 for 2) - sauce was a touch too sweet - Beef udon ($16.00) - small portion but good flavours. First time seeing pastrami with udon Chill, loungy spot to have a few drinks. 3.5 stars. read more

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Japanese speakeasy. Dark and moody vibes behind the curtains. We were seated in the back area facing the bar. Party of two people on a Thursday evening. The place was full. Pros: - food menu options are solid. We ordered the wagyu shot $14 and two shrimp hand rolls $7/pp - cocktail drinks are well balanced - sake du jour carafe $18, nice balance and not to dry served cold Notes: - the music was exceptionally loud - the seating arrangements being so close to the seats next to us, can easily overhear their conversations - friendly service and quick to tend to our table once eye contact is established read more

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This is a really cool place. Nice vibe and very dark. There are two levels. The downstairs level has the bar and several tables and chairs. Totally the lounge type bar. We sat at a corner table. We came in at opening 7pm on Saturday. We had some specialty drinks that are offered. (Yamakase, yuzu honey sour, abe Abe, bunshin, hojo masako, gempei) Our bartender was attentive and checked on us often and he checked on the other customers too. The drinks we had were very interesting with definite Asian flair. This is a great experience for all. read more

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we were super intrigued by the asian flair of the drink menu at gokudo and were excited to visit. we arrived around 7 pm on a friday and waited a short time for a seat. we were eventually seated in the front room, which was comfortable and relaxing. we tried the okame and yamakase (which may not be on the menu anymore). both drinks were yummy and had a great mix of flavors. the food menu also looked intriguing but since we had dinner just before, we didn't get a chance to try anything. prices are super reasonable compared to the bars in nyc. overall a fun place to visit! read more

Gokudo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This is a dark and sultry Japanese bar. It's perfect for a date or tryst. The cocktail menu is interesting and there's a good selection of sakes and sojus. A bar menu has a few mediocre bites. Service is cute but forgetful. Most people will love Gokudo because it seems like a hidden discovery. read more

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We stopped by Gokudo briefly before our dinner reservation. We only had ~40 minutes but managed to squeeze in a quick visit. One of my friends had been in Montreal previously for work and said this was her favorite cocktail bar (a very reliable recommendation). The front entry is small and cozy - there's a small sushi sitting area for 4 although I suspect it's purely for decor. The host met us up there and we waited there for them to get our table ready. Once ready, they led us to the back. The decor was dark and upscale - a perfect date spot! We were seated and ordered right away with our time crunch. I had the Okame and also had a sip off of my friend's Gempei and Tokugama. All of these drinks were light, well balanced, and refreshing. If it contained a unique flavor like shiso or lychee I loved how you could taste it - it wasn't hidden or an aftertaste. The drinks were also not overly sweet, which I appreciated. Honestly, you'll get me at "egg white" in a cocktail every time - I love the frothiness it adds to the drink. I could have easily spent the whole night at Gokudo and we eyed some of the food that was coming out with envy. Unfortunately we had to run and was only able to squeeze in the one round. Next time we're back in Montreal, I'll have to come back to Gokudo and spend the time there it deserves. Check it out! read more

Gokudo has the most amazing drinks and the interior design is so captivating and truly takes you somewhere else. We came hungry and their dinner menu really isn't designed to be a full meal but that's our mistake. So instead we decided Friday night was the type of night to consume 90% of our calories in liquid form. We had a couple of rounds of cocktails and they were all perfect amount of sweet vs sour vs strength. Will definitely return read more

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One of the best bars I've ever been to! Shared a poke don - highly highly recommend, it's a tuna poke bowl with truffle and nori, so much flavor and it blended together so perfectly. Can't stop thinking about it. For drinks got the Okame and the Hojo Masako. I think Hojo Masako is one of my all time favorite cocktails, really really enjoyed it. Highly recommend coming! read more

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Soo good here def recommend coming early too can get busy. Try the drinks and great service read more

Gokudo - Soo good the drinks. And the vibe. Place is rather small tho so can get busy quick. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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If you want a unique speakeasy experience this is it! It was kinda hard to find because I did not expect the front to what looks like a closed run down Chinese takeout place. But once inside it transformed into a really cool high end bar! Drinks are amazing and the bartenders really show off their craft. Definitely a place to visit!! read more

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Love this spot! I was lucky to get a seat at the bar when I arrived; there were many others waiting. Drinking alone has its perks! The ambiance is truly special. I loved the noodle shop entrance, and the decor really transports you to another time and place. The drinks were fantastic! Truly excellent cocktails. This isn't one of those trendy places that sells a glass of weird ingredients just to be unique and instagrammable; this is the real deal! Everything I had was perfection in a glass. Service when I visited was extremely slow. I should probably remove a star from my review because I definitely waited 20 minutes to be served to begin with and then another 10 for my drink, but this was clearly due to there only being one bartender. But I wasn't in a hurry, and the drinks were so good that the waiting wasn't horrible. I tried to bring a friend the next night but they were closed (make sure to check their hours before venturing over). I'll be back for sure! read more

Gokudo - Delicious!!! Perfect balance of sweet, salty, and creamy. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Nice Japanese style pub with great drinks. It's kind of hidden but I'm glad I went and I would return. read more

Gokudo - Okame (top), Abe (bottom) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Gokudo is hidden behind a black curtain of what appears to be a small Japanese sushi bar. Behind the black curtain is very cool open area with lots of seating room. The decor was on point with the Japanese theme. Down the stairs you'll find the bar area and more seating. I am a fan of the ambiance. It's dark, swanky, and modern. With that being said, the prices reflect the theme and you're looking at an average of $15 per drink. I wouldn't get more than 2-3 drinks here. I'd recommend eating first. I was hungry so I had to order food. My partner and I got the Aburi Pressed Sushi and the Onigiri. I wasn't impressed with either. I actually LOVE onigiri but I didn't like this at all. I took one bite and just gave the rest to my bf. The Aburi Pressed Sushi was good, but not the best I've had. I would say 6/10 That should be saying a lot because everything usually tastes delicious when I'm hungry. I like fruity drinks so I ordered the Shiro which is normally made with a Japanese White Peach Liquor. They didn't have it in stock so it was made with a Grapefruit Liquor instead. It was still great but I would've loved to try the Japanese White Peach Liquor. It came beautifully presented, as were all their drinks. I'm told that the Saigo Takamori was also really good. We were a large group of ~10 people but I think this is also very suitable for small groups of 2-4 as well. It would be a great stop on a date night or if you're just catching up with friends over drinks. Classy night out. *pinky up* read more

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Gokudo was one of the best bars I've been to in Montreal! It was really dark inside, but it was super cool and classy vibes with good tunes and excellent service. It's truly a nice lounge that isn't too loud, and the decor's great! It's actually a pretty big space. The menu has a good listing, and I feel like you can't go wrong with any of their drinks. I honestly can't recall which cocktail I went with, but everything sounds so good that Gokudo's a frequent must if I'm back in town. I also really appreciated that they offer food, especially traditional Japanese snacks. read more

Gokudo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

The reviews have focused on the cocktails but honestly I was significantly more impressed with the food. Some of the best authentic Japanese we've gotten outside of Japan. Their chef is phenomenal and creates pure cuisine that allows you to truly enjoy the exquisite ingredients in each dish. Enjoy some small plates here before dinner for sure! read more

Such a great find. Dark speakeasy vibe. Emphasis on the fun and distinctive drinks, food is a yummy afterthought but not exactly a whole meal. For example, the "shot of wagyu" is literally a mouthful. Excellent, but not a meal. Also, who knew pastrami udon would be so good? We were downstairs, don't know about the upstairs. read more

Cool Japanese speakeasy bar hidden behind curtains. The drinks tasted good and we each had a salmon onigiri and shrimp temaki because we were not too hungry. It was tasty! However, menu is small than expected but atmosphere was great! read more

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Japanese theme bar with a cosy, intimate atmosphere and an average range of cocktails but ohhhh so delicious. We had one of the barman guide us as to what to choose and expect from the drinks we were interested into . His knowledge of the drinks did'nt dissapoint and service was top notch Overall it was a good experience read more

Gokudo - Cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Cocktails here are very good (I tried the szechuan peppercorn drink which was a perfectly smoked scotch base, the ambience is really interesting and the staff is great - it's all priced in to to the cocktails however (minus gratuity). For $14-15 a cocktail it's by no means cheap. Our bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly which made it an easy time to pick the perfect cocktail, even for my girlfriend who is not big on alcohol to begin with. We also got the edamame which was seasoned with red pepper. Only complaints are the chairs near the bars are relatively small, bolted to the ground and there fore can't be moved. They also always swivel to the same direction which is annoying when trying to talk to the person next to you. The bar can also get quite crowded as well. Cool spot, especially with the Japanese Kitchen in the front. read more

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This place is epic! When in Montreal, this place is a must if you are up for a nice lounge in the evening and want to enjoy some brilliant cocktails. The entrance has no name and is difficult to locate it. You have to look out for a Japanese sign (a lamp or a flag) to know that you have reached the location. When you enter, the area is small so people wait in the lobby area behind a curtain to be called in. We got seated within 5 Mins. There are shelves all over the lounge and it has an interesting decor. There are tufted couches all over and inside there is more room which is not seen from the entrance. There is also bar seating available. We got couple of cocktails and my mezcal one was one of the best and unique one I have ever had. It had a very refreshing taste. See pictures! I highly recommend this place if you want to enjoy a nice evening with a feel of Japan and cocktails! read more

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Rekindled with some friends in this hidden gem and it was a fantastic time. We went for the drinks and stayed for the vibe ~~ The drinks were strong and delicious and the service was more than exceptional. The hot sake really hit the spot and I highly recommend the hojo drink with the nori!! (It's the next day and I'm still thinking of it mmmm) read more

Gokudo - beautiful artwork - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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What a kool spot to cozy up for a drink Though not as speakeasy as one might think Though its actually 630 A, not just 630 It's a kyoot lil intimate spot to get flirty! I started with Gempei, a mezcal based cocktail Though mixed well for sure, for me, was a fail The drink Shiro came next and on that I was sold So delicious and refreshing I ordered it fourfold! My friend had ordered 2 kinds of sake One hot and one cold, just to be wacky They were ok by my taste, but im not a fan Though does go well with cocktail in other hand We wanted to try the eel, but they were out And the few other choices just made me pout We were hungry for snacking so still ordered the salad Broccoli based, great vinaigrette, though not worth a ballad We tried the spicy scallops too and that dish was not better The food here just isn't their number one seller The service, cocktails and atmosphere are top notch The prices quite high, but reasonable for the spot It is definitely not the most unique Montreal has to offer But I would come here again, especially on someone else's dollar! --------- Installment 41 poetry reviews Came here back in Nov? Dec? 2018 with one of my best friends, we initially had a cozy little booth near the entrance, but they moved us to the bar thinking they may need the place for a bigger group (which never ended up being the case). We ended up thoroughly enjoying chatting with the bar staff and watching the cocktail magic, so it worked out. The bar's/stool's height is not ideal for too short, nor too tall, people so both me (shorty) and Pat (supa tall) were mainly uncomfortable throughout our 2-3h stay. Harry our bartender from England newly moved to Montreal was fabulous and super fun! Great at mixing those cocktails! His colleagues Brandon and Julian were also really sweet, kool and fun to chat with. I wouldn't recommend it for the speakeasy aspect (fairly easy to find: it's just the bamboo door blends in with the bamboo storefront at 630 A). Nor for the food. Nor for someone with limited time/days to check out Montreal's treasures, but I do recommend it for a sexy lil local date night or a chill outing with excellent service, great cocktails and an impressive list of sake. P.S they will (or maybe have by this point) be opening a new place in the old port, another speakeasy japanese style concept. read more

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I'll say it's the best bar in Montreal. First, the whole environment is in Japanese style. I like the sofa style seating so u can really sit down and socialize with people. Second, nice cocktail. 13 dollars for a cocktail isn't really expansive. Tastes juicy, smooth and warm. Love it. Third, friendly staffs. read more

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I came here at around 6:30 pm with my boyfriend on a Thursday, and we were told that they were at maximum capacity and we had to wait a bit. We ended up waiting around 30-45 mins, but at least they did offer us water and the possibility to have drinks if you wanted to. The waiting area was designed like a typical Japanese bar, with everything being wooden where photos and writings were hung on the wall. It felt very cozy and authentic, which I appreciated. However, once the heavy curtains were lifted and we entered the main area, I was in awe. It was designed like a speakeasy, where it was modern, somber and yet very classy. The room was barely lit by candles, there were big velvet benches on the side, and huge walls of decorations and ornaments that fit perfectly the vibe. Honestly, the bar itself is spectacular enough to visit! We go seated right under the big tiger painted on the wall in the corner, so we had plenty of room and were very comfortable. The drink menu has many options, including a large selection of sake. We had to ask for the food menu, which once we saw, we were quite disappointed. Online showed a decent amount of dishes that we were excited to try, but the food menu had maybe 5-8 items. The service throughout the entire evening was quite slow. I got the shiro cocktail, which was good, but not worth the long wait. We then got our food a while later, which was the edamame (seasoned amazingly) and a tuna poke bowl which was a bit disappointing considering the rice was not cooked well. We ended up spending a total of 2.5 hours there, and we left paying about $70 still hungry. I guess I had high expectations for this place due to its food menu, but I realized that it's more of a bar where you try different drinks than it is a place to eat. Also with the long service, it just wasn't the greatest experience. However, I still think Gokudo is worth visiting for the beautiful decor! I give it a 3.5 stars. read more

Gokudo - Shiro cocktail (left) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Great ambiance if you like dark specialty bars. The name isn't even in English on the outside, so just get the address right and walk in at the Japanese lantern. The entrance looks like a full sushi bar but they actually only offer a limited food menu. I tried the edamame (steamed soybeans) and it has some kind of seaweed and seasoned sprinkle (okake) that is a little fishy. I lived in Japan and just salt is amazingly good, so I'd rather they stick to the standard. I think I tasted a little butter as well which would be an abomination if I were right. The kani-ebi temaki (crab and shrimp hand rolled) appetizer is tiny, about two bites and not really big enough to share but it was delicious. Make it a double order if you want to share with your date. They have an amazing full bar and quite a few unique cocktails. The Hojo Masako with Hendricks gin is good but don't eat the giant piece of nori. As a garnish it's too much. The Okame with tequila is drinkable but the orange blossom is overkill. It's one of those things you can easily be heavy handed with and then it tastes like soap. It overpowered the lychee flavor so there wasn't any sweetness and the lychee became a dull aftertaste. Honestly the atmosphere is nice though and even with how picky I can be I really enjoyed it and would go back in a second to try something else on the menu. read more

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This was on my to-try list. We came here to grab a drink before a birthday dinner. I really like the decoration and the feel of the place. Like it was described by an article, feels "den-like" with a giant tiger mural and some interesting pictures We ordered some cocktails: Hōjō Masako (hendrick's, nori syrup, kalamansi puree) and Mimitsuka San (gin, red grape, saint germain & cranberry) some sake and some edamame to snack on. Everything tastes great! The staff is very nice, courteous and attentive. I will definitely come back again soon read more

Gokudo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Great drinks, ideal location, food not impressive. The ambiance is everything! Service is amazing really good.

I thought this place was supposed to be hidden but it wasn't very hard to find. I had high expectations because i like biru and escondite. My best friend took me here for my birthday on a Thursday night. We sat at the bar and had a couple of drinks and shared the tuna bowl and the salmon bowl. The food was nothing special and I recommend just coming here for drinks. The food wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I had to add soya sauce to the tuna bowl to make it more flavourful. For drinks I had the gempei which was a mezcal based drink and the gotō cocktail which tasted similar to an old fashioned. My favorite cocktail was the hōjō masako which contained of Hendricks gin and sake and rimmed with pink Himalayan salt. They also have tons different kinds of sake. read more

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I enjoyed my visit to Gokudo mainly because of the atmosphere and decor. I had a Bunshin, which is a pretty good drink, however for some odd reason it came with some type of spice on top, something like clove, which was unpleasant to drink and totally spoiled it for me. The food was good, we tried every roll on the menu, but they weren't mind blowing. Think pretty good sushi rolls. After one drink and the rolls we kinda looked at each other like: "ok let's go somewhere slightly less pretentious with real food." That being said I would go back if I were on a dat. The vibe of the place is nice. I would definitely have a different drink though. I tasted the Hojo Masako and it was quite good. read more

Gokudo - The rolls - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This is a place I could blow my week's salary at buying drinks, they are that damn good. My boyfriend introduced me to this place as a surprise on my birthday before taking me out to dinner. It was a Thursday just after work, probably around 6 this summer and it was maybe 50% filled. Since I didn't know anything, I was rather surprised when he steered down a street and over to a dark entryway with no obvious markings. Gotta love the speakeasy style! When you first walk in, it looks like a small japanese restaurant but then you're ushered through a dark curtain into a classy, modern bar with glittering bottles of alcohol on the wall and Japanese decor. We sat in a little booth on a black couch and the waitress came to see us with seconds. We looked at the menu but I typically prefer speaking to the bar tending staff about my likes and having them surprise me for at least the 1st round. WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED! Hojo Masako (Gin, Sake, Nori, Lime, Salt aka ocean in a glass) and a Bunshin for my guy (a warming whiskey drink with a nice punch). We stayed for another round afterwards but those drinks are the two sticking in my memory. I can't say anything about the food since we were saving ourselves for dinner but we did smell some wonderful smells while there and will absolutely be trying some next time we go. Seriously great place for a good drink to catch up, go on a date, post work wind down with coworkers, or anything else that gets you craving a good craft cocktail! read more

Move over Cold room has competition Eclectic mood, classy speakeasy I absolutely loved this place- conveniently situated in the heart of Philip square next to neighbours like Escondite, Habenero and Jatoba. Surprise yourself if you can locate the cute bamboo doors and Chinese lantern in the entrance. After going in- I was kindly greeted by the staff - looked a lot like a Japanese styled take away place. I walked down a flight of stairs into the boroughs of the speakeasy- Decor on point, classy, personal and intimate. A cocktail only bar - prices ranged from 10-15$ for a drink. I got the Goto, a single malt drink with oolonng tea- a tad on the sweet side, but enjoyed it. Our waiter was great- Jonathan personable. After small talk - we found out that they plan on introducing Japanese styled tapas in a few weeks for finger food. Finally a quiet,casual classy place that is not overdone with noise. I'm looking forward to coming back for a whiskey. read more

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This is definitely a Goku-Do! :p too notch cocktails and a cool vibe. Highly recommend the the Gokudo Tonic read more

Gokudo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Ventured out for a drink here after dinner next door at Habanera, their other location, and was graciously greeted at the door. Walking in, I was thrown off at the stark black walls but noticed the couches and distinct seating areas which would be great for groups. Further in, the tall dark bar with teal velvet seating, looked inviting and comfortable. It was only then that I noticed the "Japanese" artistry in the back wall, if a picture of a tiger is your idea of Japanese, and a few additional couches. The bar menu offers a few signature cocktails including an old fashion but nothing really caught my attention. After chatting with the bartender, I opted for my favourite cocktail, dark and stormy. The drink was perfect, real ginger beer, which made my night! The venue was empty when our group arrived at 9 pm but people slowly trickled in thereafter. The music was soft and pleasant, which made for a perfect setting to hold a conversation. Overall, this cocktail bar is more of a speakeasy than a bar, and I didn't see the Japanese theme as predominantly as I expected, but would return for a nightcap and the great service. read more

Gokudo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I had anamazing cocktail here, dont remember the name, but it was smokey and lovely. They also do small plates of onigiri and such. It was a romantic vibe, but I went here with my friend read more

This speakeasy is very well decorated and so chic. I went with no expectations, as I had not heard about it. I had some trouble finding it, but walked in and was so surprised. The drinks are on another level of amazing and the food was really good too. Many places that serve artisanal cocktail usually tend to skimp on the alcohol, but that was not the case for this place. Had the salmon bowl to eat, which was very good and tasted fresh, not fishy- which is what we all like. For the drinks, I tried a few, but my favourite drink IN MONTREAL is pictured here. The left drink was great but the one on the right is amazing. Its honey syrup, lichee liquor, tromba, egg white and an orange blossom flower! A MUST! read more

Gokudo - Two amazing drinks, the one on the right being one of the best in Mtl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I'm not sure how we found this place; we had just arrived in Montreal on a Friday night and were looking for someplace to go. We stumbled across this place and took a chance. When we got inside we were very impressed with the decor and ambiance. It had a dark and sexy vibe and was not packed. There were only a handful of people inside so we got to sit right at the bar and talk to the bartender. I'm not a big drinker and don't really like the taste of alcohol but all the drinks that we had were amazing. I told the bartender that I prefer a sour type of drink and he had recommended a drink to me, I'm terrible and forgot the name, but it was amazing! My boyfriend I believe got the Shiro and I had a taste and it was also good. Everyone was very friendly and as it was our first time, the bartender was very helpful in giving us a list of places to check out. We had tried to come back after the Friday we got in but unfortunately, it was closed the times we tried to go. Definitely would go back and would recommend anyone going or in Montreal to come try this place! read more

The aesthetic in both Ryoshi and Gokudo is phenomenal. We instantly feel immersed in a tucked away corner somewhere in Japan. The bright red hues of Ryoshi starkly contrasts the darker yakuza-feel coolness of gokudo and they work so perfectly together. Every single detail is in point. And the food? The salmon Donburi was excellent, and the cocktail menu very varied and interesting. I was 100% satisfied with my order and I will definitely return, both for the food and the incredible ambiance. You have to see it for yourself! read more

My friend and I tried to go to this bar several times, and one night, we finally succeeded in gaining entrance. We went when there was a blizzard out, so it was pretty empty. Score! We each got a cool cocktail to begin with, and I got a large salmon rice bowl. There's a ton of interesting drinks I'd like to try next time. I didn't have high expectations for their food, but it was a great, flavourful bowl with generous chunks of fresh salmon. Then I remembered that the place was owned by the same guys as Biiru. I recommend their yuzu cocktail on their drinks menu. And I can't not comment on their decor. Like everyone else had mentioned, I felt like I had somehow transported to Japan (although I'm sure they wouldn't have high ceilings like Gokudo does haha). Definitely a must if you're looking for something a little different. read more