Crescent: The ultimate bar-hop experience

Happy Hour everyday. Yes, that’s right, Sir Winston’s (or Churchill’s or Winnie’s) has their wicked two-for-one drinks special everyday from 5pm to 8pm. Walk-in on $2.50 Tuesdays and you’re sure to stumble out later on that night, as your drink of choice costs pocket change from nine to three all night long. Sir Winston’s is the kind of place that fits into a sentence such as: “Yeah man, I met her at Sir Winston’s and we went straight to …” Well known to be a pickup hotspot with their steady flow of cougars and university crowds, Churchill’s a must for anyone on Crescent.

“Funny enough, we met on a ________ at ________ on Crescent Street in Montreal,” said the lovely couple. You fill in the blanks and make it for one night or for a lifetime. Thursday’s front this hotspot as a Montreal bar at its best. The nightclub is downstairs, with the bar on the elevated ground level extending out onto the terrace. Advice to all: success rates are just as high during the day at Thursday’s, with the terrace sitting just above the frequented sidewalk.

Grab your green hats and enjoy the Celtic music at Pub Claddagh on Crescent just above Ste-Catherine. With tons of beers on tap, Claddagh also has a selection of 30 available kinds of scotch and whiskey. Claddagh is in a great location including great window-seating and definitely a different vibe from the neighboring bars and nightclubs next door.

Bachelor party or not, Stogies Cigar Lounge is one of the few places in Montreal that opens their doors to smokers. With 27 brands of cigars and 101 martinis to boast, walk up Crescent Street (prime location on the corner of Crescent and De Maisonneuve) and catch a fire with the lovely staff and their endless list of available drinks. They have a large terrace for the summer days and don’t forget to check out their hand-rolled Cuban cigars, as they are a HABANOS™ certified dealer.

Travel south of Ste-Catherine and stop by Brutopia on Crescent for a pint of freshly brewed English ales and imported beers. Open seven days a week, Brutopia has a small patio out front on Crescent and a larger, shaded terrace in the back. With live music on selected nights including local bands and traveling musicians, the entertainment along with the Brutapas menu compliment their friendly staff who allow you to taste the beers before you buy a pint. They don’t serve bottled beer and happy hour is everyday from opening until 8 pm where pints are a dollar cheaper. Try out their India Pale Ale and Honey Brown for the boys while Raspberry Blonde and Extra Blonde for the ladies.

Bill Hurley and his staff expertise to make you feel at home when walking into Hurley’s Irish Pub. With 18 classic beers on tap and 16 bottled beers also available, Hurley’s has all the goodies to give that authentic Irish Pub experience. Two floors including a game room, a quiet room (with no music) and terraces make Hurley’s a fan-favorite. Open seven days a week with live music, Hurley’s menu has a very large selection including meats, fish and other great dishes. And oh, did somebody say whiskey? The Scotch section includes 40 single malts from various regions of Scotland while the Irish whiskeys includes Bushmills, Jamesons and Midleton.

With quite the history on its website, Mad Hatter Saloon maintains their self-proclaimed “Best Dive in Town” ambiance in their newest location at 1220 Crescent Street. The vast menu consists of: In a Bowl (salad and soups), Charbroiled Burgers and Dogs, The Veggie Corner, Hatter’s Platters, Pub Grub, Sandwiches and Desserts. The best Crescent rooftop terrace below Ste-Catherine, Mad Hatter’s has 17 beers on tap and has hosted hilarious events such as the Golf for Booze and the infamous All You Can Eat Chilli and Beer.