12 ideal places to eat and drink before a Montreal Canadiens game
Hockey is back, and in case you haven’t heard, so are full capacity games at the Bell Centre.
So if youâre one of the thousands heading out to watch the Canadiens at home, itâs important to get your pre-game warms up in too.
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Before spending an arm and a leg on a beer in a plastic cup, itâs important to have a solid place to go âstretchâ 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 first period are over.
Here are 12 great spots to eat and/or drink before a Habs game, all within walking distance of the Bell Centre.
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
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Although there are more than a few Keg steakhouses in Canada, this is the one and only for Habs fans.
A short walk from the home of the Habs, this classic steakhouse has some fine cuts of meat along with delicious cocktails.
Some of their newer menu staples include the Fried Chicken Sandwich and Baja Steak Salad. But you can’t go wrong having any of their 10 steak dishes.
Address: 5 Place Ville Marie, Mansfield St (eight-minute walk from Bell Centre)
Mckibbinâs Irish Pub
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Mckibbinâs is a cozy pub with a fun atmosphere. They hold over 20 imported beers on tap and have solid happy hour deals every day from 4 to 8 pm, perfectly timed for your pre-game. Their food menu is big and tasty â you canât go wrong with their Irish nachos, fish nâ chips, or the bison burger.
Chase that down with a $5 happy hour pint and youâll have a couple of bucks to spare on that Bell Centre pretzel during intermission.
Hold on to your ticket after the game and theyâll exchange it for a free shot of Jameson.
Address: 1426 Bishop Street (nine-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Burger Bar Crescent
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Located in the heart of the ever-busy Crescent Street, Burger Bar is the perfect spot to head to before the game if youâre hungry and donât want to eat again for the foreseeable future.
BB offers fantastic, majestic burgers at a reasonable price. Their âHangover Burgerâ is an award winner but Burger Bar’s mac nâ 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 (eight-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill
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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 Centreâs restaurant neighbours.
They offer all the conventional Irish beers and their food menu is classic tasty pub grub.
Theyâre popular for their wings, fish, curry, and bangers. If youâre 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 (three-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
McLeanâs Pub
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McLeanâs 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 (six-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Station des Sports
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Station des Sports is massive diner that boasts an equally vast food menu, all for relatively cheap.
Their beer and spirit list wonât impress you but the number of televisions will. They have over 150 TVs in the restaurant and yes, thatâs included the ones in the restrooms as well. If youâre 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 (13-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Hurleyâs Irish Pub
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Hurleyâs is a maze of a pub; it has two floors both of which have different rooms that never seem to end.
Itâs an authentic Irish pub, perfect for exploring the three different bars packed into one. Hurleyâs is dark and cozy and itâd 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 (five-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Brass Door Pub & Grill
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Brass Door may be quiet and small but if youâre looking for classy dĂ©cor and a delicious food menu, itâs 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.
You canât 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, should be your go-to spot if the Habs play on a Wednesday.
Address: 2171 Crescent Street (10-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
La Belle & La Boeuf Burger Bar
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La Belle & La Boeuf is a bar fused into a library and itâs 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.
Donât come here if youâre hoping for a regular pint, you have to try their signature drinks. Youâll get lost in the barâs dĂ©cor and the walk to the Bell Centre will do you good after devouring one of their hefty burgers.
Address: 1620 Saint-Catherine Street (12-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Pizza Dany
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What Pizza Dany lacks in size, they make up for in delicious pizzas.
If you’re strapped for time before puck drop, head over to Pizza Dany, which takes up a small space inside what feels like an entrance, and throw back a few slices while you walk down the street to the Bell Centre.
Or, give them a 15-minute heads up and order a large pie for you and the gang which will surely get devoured before the Bell Centre’s doors open.
Their spinach and garlic pizza is good enough to make you forget about the game, entirely.
Address:Â 1237 Rue de la Montagne (5-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
Joes Panini 24h
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If you’re hoping to hold on to a few extra bucks for the big game, consider some tasty sandwich options at Joes Panini.
Their famous chicken, steak and cheese, sausage, tuna, bbq ribs, ham and cheese, BLT, meatball, veggie, and roast beef panini all go for a smooth $6.75.
Toss in a drink and you’ll be full for game time for just under $10.
Address:Â 1404 Rue Drummond (seven-minute walk to the Bell Centre)
La Cage Centre Bell
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Do you know what’s easier than walking to the arena after dinner? eating dinner in the Bell Centre itself.
La Cage – Brasserie sportive is one of the largest sports restaurants/bars in Montreal. The Habs-themed restaurant has over 70 television screens, two levels, and enough space to accommodate 550 fans.
Nothing gets you in the mood for a game quite like being surrounded by Canadiens memorabilia as you enjoy your dinner.
It’s also the perfect place to go if you don’t have tickets but still want to feel the ambience and momentum of the game.
Address: Centre Bell, 1212 avenue des Canadiens de Montréal
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