Best Martini in Montreal?

[jenem001]

Alright Montreal Board Readers,
I've done my due diligence and don't think this has been been addressed as its own topic: Who makes the best martini in Montreal? My wife and I are coming up this weekend for a couple of nights and have reservations at two BYO's (P'tit Plateau and Le Quartier Général), but where should we go for a martini before or after?

BTW--Gin, of course.

Looking forward to the suggestions--and possible debates.

[EaterBob]

The Beaver Club in the Queen Elizabeth hotel. They've been my go to martini for the past 40 years. Absolutely and completely tradition bound.

[kevinfinlayson]

I haven’t had a great martini in Montreal since the Noilly Prat recipe was changed, but if Chien Fumant makes a good one, it’s worth noting that Quartier Generale is right across the street.

[stephlovestoeat]

The bartenders at Salle a Manger made us excellent drinks and that is pretty close to le P'tit Plateau. I liked the drinks at Chien Fumant also. Both those places made excellent no alcohol drinks for my pregnant wife (not just a bloody mary hold the vodka) and nice old school cocktails for me. I bet they would make the martini you're looking for.

[TheSnowpea]

:-) the thing is, Montreal's not really a cocktail town, more a wine and beer kind of place. Cocktail culture has yet to make a true inroads, esp. in restaurants.

[TheSnowpea]

[clambers atop soapbox] The tricky point is that the SAQ limits the kinds of gins available in the province and don't get me started on the deplorable selection of vermouths. So don't expect a martini made with say, Boodles and Lillet in town. [gets off soapbox]

Outside of martinis, there are some interesting cocktails happening at Dominion Square Tavern and Griffintown Café.

[bakersdelight]

bravo, Snowpea, you tell 'em, girl. Why do you suppose they do that, limit the yummy stuff?
for the OP, maybe some of your chic-er places in Old Montreal--hotel bars, 17th c. taverns by the water, etc.

[Maximilien]

"Why do you suppose they do that, limit the yummy stuff?"

Because traditionally, Quebecois are/were not into hard alcool and/or mix drinks.

but it's changing slowly.

M.

[shopgirl]

We go every year and last year, at suggestion on these boards, we went to Le Lab. Too young a crowd (for us) and I thought the "very young" bartender was going to say: "A mar--what?" So, we just ordered off the chalk board...some interesting, not very strong drink. It was a sort of fun place, but not a martini place, by any means.

[johnnyboy]

Baldwin Barmacie makes excellent cocktails, and if you go pre-dinner you'll avoid the crush of trendy youths who pack it sardine-style after 10PM.

-----
Baldwin Barmacie
115 Avenue Laurier Ouest, Montr, Montreal, QC , CA

[thebenc]

The bar Plan B makes a mean martini (among many other fantastic cocktails), has a very cool backyard terrasse and is just a block away from P'tit Plateau.

And with that... case closed, time for happy hour? ;P

[Maximilien]

I've had good Martinis at Lawrence and Chien Fumant (they are not actual bars ... so ... )

Around that area, you could try Le Lab, or for a different vibe altogether, go to "La Distillerie"

I was there last friday, and it was fun, ok, it's loud and a bit young-ish but the drinks are good and all made fresh; I'm certain you can get them to make you a straight martini.

M.

[davekry]

+1 for La Distillerie (if you can get a spot), their martini is more than decent, but nothing beats their spruce beer Mojito on a hot night.