L'assommoir Notre-dame

I've been here quite a few times but I have to admit it was always for drinks. Food was very good, had the crab & avocado tartar and the Mahi Mahi both were excellent.

Great spot in the old port. Went here for brunch last Sunday and the food was absolutely fantastic (crepe with canard confit and blueberries...yuuuummy!!!) and the live band was amazing! Also an awesome place for after work drinks and delicious ceviches. Particularly refreshing in the midst of all the mediocre overpriced old port tourist traps.

Drinks galore!. This not-so-little reknown place is a perfect meeting spot for post Y2K yuppies (young urban professionals) who wish to enjoy truly mind (and palette) blowing drinks, shooters, and other home-made alcoholic delicacies. Their drinks menu reads like a a pre-WWW music label catalogue, with all drinks described in detail in their own categories, enabling one to spend more than their fair share of time enjoying all the possibilities of what this place's tasty drinks has to offer. The food also seems rather tantalizing, although somewhat "considerably" costly but then again it is well within the so-called usual price range for such places. Do note that if you do plan an evening at L'Assommoir that the chances are you are indeed going there for their unique drinks and not necessarly for the food.


A very young-adult professional look and interior design, obviously aimed at the "5 to 7" crowds and the younger "not quite hipster" crew who aren't into the over-decibeled dance club scene, the music is a mixture between classic 60s-ish crooner-esque and more recent modern loundge-like tunes. The whole is to create a couples and groups-friendly atmosphere which inspires the social interactions of what good drinks and socialization are all about. As stated, it is indeed perfect for a rather wide variety of crowds, although those looking for a beer-infested watering hole will find themselves slightly out of their league!


Prices are what would be considered moderate for such an establishement. For example, local beer is sold at $5 a bottle (or 2 for $8), whereas shooters are $4 or $5 each, some slightly more expensive depending on the exotic nature of their concoctions. They also have a rather impressive string of Mojito (which they spell Mohito) variants in their menu, including a few non-alcoholic drinks based on a handful of their more popular crowd-pleasers. Special note to their unique "pitcher" sized section, intended for sharing, which opens up a whole new level of indulgeance, as well as a wonderful alternative to ordering individual drinks. And yes, they do have an extensive wine selection as well...


As stated, this may not be the ideal place for anyone off the street, for their distinct ambiance and alcohol diversity (as well as the prices which comes from such exotic drinks!) does suggest a more "in" (whatever that means) crowd, but if you need a place to entertain work collegues, or just wish to sample truly out of this world alcoholic beverages, L'Assommoir is indeed highly recommended. The service is more than decent, and very friendly, relaxed, and open to discourse.

The Divas love a good swanky dinner, but anyone who reads our blog knows that we can’t say no to a good stiff drink. We were quite excited to attend the Calvados Event at L’Assommoir restaurant and bar on Notre-Dame in Old Montreal. We have eaten at L’Assommoir a few times, but we hadn’t been in at least a year so we were eager to return. Calvados is an apple brandy from France, the perfect heart-warming drink for a crisp fall September day.