Big In Japan

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!

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.

On a very cold Montreal night we walked all the way here because it said open on Yelp and sadly it was closed. It's Monday 8:30 pm. Sad.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.