11 best places to eat and drink before Montreal Canadiens games
If you’re heading out to watch the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, it’s important to get your pre-game warms up in too.
Before spending $12 dollars on a beer in a plastic cup, it’s important to have a solid place to go to “stretch” before the game. Luckily, there are a bunch of gems around the city that are only a puck toss away from the Bell Centre.
Those days of chugging Four Loko in the parking lot before the game are over. Here are the 11 best places to eat and/or drink before a Habs game.
1. Mckibbin’s Irish Pub
Mckibbin’s is a cozy pub with a fun atmosphere. They boast over 20 imported beers on tap and have solid happy hour deals ever day from 4 to 8 pm, perfectly timed for your pre-game. Their food menu is big and tasty – you can’t go wrong with their Irish nachos, fish n’ chips, or the bison burger.
Chase that down with a $5 happy hour pint and you’ll have a couple bucks to spare on that Bell Centre pretzel during intermission. Hold on to your ticket after the game and they’ll exchange it for a free shot of Jameson.
Address: 1426 Bishop Street, Montreal (9-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @mckibbinsirishpub
2. London Pub
If you’re looking for a smaller, quieter place to balance the gigantic and loud Bell Centre, London Pub is your spot.
Though they don’t offer food, their in-house jukebox lets you play whatever music you want to get your toes tapping before the game. They have a good selection of beer and spirits to choose from, not to mention a free dartboard.
The staff is very friendly and has been known to dish out a free shot or two. You can’t go wrong.
Address: 1337 Maisonneuve BLVD Ouest, Montreal (9-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
3. Ziggy’s Pub
Ziggy’s Pub is a Montreal landmark.
It’s a beautifully designed basement watering hole that is oozing with Canadiens’ memorabilia and pictures of famous customers, past and present. Seeing old Polaroids of Canadiens players sitting in the same bar you’re in is the perfect tune-up for game time.
Ziggy’s may not offer food, but neighbouring restaurants deliver to them, for real. It’s a hot spot for visiting coaches too – keep your head up.
Address: 1470 Crescent Street, Montreal (8-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
4. Irish Embassy Pub & Grill
Irish Embassy is spacious and lively.
They offer an extensive food menu and over 30 beers on tap ranging from domestic to premium to imported, All of which are priced cheaper before 7 pm – conveniently just in time for hockey.
Their Irish lamb stew will warm you up on your cold walk to the Bell Centre, almost as much as their “Rocket Richard Deal” – a beer and a Jameson shot for $9.
Address: 1234 Bishop Street, Montreal (7-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @irishembassymtl
5. Burger Bar Crescent
Located in the heart of the always happening Crescent Street, Burger Bar is the perfect spot to head to before the game if you’re hungry and don’t want to eat for the foreseeable future.
BB offers fantastic, majestic burgers at a reasonable price. Their “Hangover Burger” is an award winner but their mac n’ cheese is good enough to consider changing their name. Their full bar menu is also impressive, but not as much as their homemade cheese sticks.
Address: 1465 Crescent Street, Montreal (8-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @burgerbarmontreal
6. Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill
With their beautiful exposed brick, birch tables and kilt-wearing staff, Olde Orchard is your traditional Celtic-Irish pub. Its proximity to the Bell Centre makes it very busy during Habs games, but not overwhelming like the Bell Centre’s restaurant neighbours.
They offer all the conventional Irish beers, all poured to perfection. The food menu is classic Irish pub grub and is very tasty. They’re popular for their wings, curry, and bangers. If you’re looking for a similar vibe to what the Bell Centre will be for a Habs game, Ye Olde Orchard is for you.
Address: 1189 de la Montagne, Montreal (3-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @yoopub
7. McLean’s Pub
McLean’s is an English pub fused with a sports bar. Its various TVs showcase a variety of sports while the oak beamed ceilings and hand-carved fireplace make for a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Head upstairs to shoot some pool, order food off their flavourful menu, or gather your friends to try and finish the 10-litre tower of beer. Yes, you read that right.
Address: 1210 Peel Street, Montreal (6-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @mcleanspub
8. Station des Sports
Station des Sports is massive diner that boasts an equally vast food menu, all for relatively cheap.
Their beer and spirit list won’t impress you but the number of televisions will. They have over 150 TVs in the restaurant and yes, that’s included the ones in the restrooms as well. If you’re looking to get into a real sporty state of mind before the game, grab a club sandwich and get lost in all the sports at Station des Sports.
Address: 2051 Saint-Catherine Ouest, Montreal (13-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @station_sports
9. Hurley’s Irish Pub
Hurley’s is a maze of a pub; it has two floors both of which have different rooms that never seem to end.
It’s an authentic Irish pub and it’s great to explore the three different bars within one bar. Hurley’s is dark and cozy and it’d be tough to find a bar that pours a better pint of Guinness than here. They offer traditional pub food at a good price and always have live music playing somewhere; you just have to trek around to find it.
Address: 1225 Crescent Street, Montreal (5-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
10. Brass Door Pub & Grill
Brass Door may be quiet and small but if you’re looking for classy décor and a delicious food menu, it’s your go-to spot.
Some of their food items venture away from pub classic (such as the tacos or scallops) but everything is still scrumptious. They offer a small beer and spirit list but favour quality over quantity. Y
ou can’t go wrong with their 25 cent wing deal, especially before the inflated prices of the Bell Centre. A candle-lit table with cheap, scrumptious wings, perhaps? Brass Door is right up your alley.
Address: 2171 Crescent Street, Montreal (10-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @thebrassdoorpub
11. La Belle & La Boeuf Burger Bar
La Belle & La Boeuf is a bar fused into a library – it’s absolutely gorgeous, just like their burgers.
LB&LB offers gourmet burgers and an impressive array of signature cocktails served in giant mason jars. The bar is completely devoted to the Habs and offer solid deals on pitchers and cocktails before games. Don’t come here if you’re hoping for a regular pint, you have to try their signature drinks. You’ll get lost in the bar’s décor and the walk to the Bell Centre will do you good after devouring one of their hefty burgers.
Address: 1620 Saint-Catherine Street, Montreal (12-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Instagram: @belleetboeuf
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