Your location at the W will give you a couple options: Old Montreal in one direction; Crescent Street in another. Both are filled with bars in close proximity, 10 minutes' walk or so from the W.

I hope you know what the Montreal W hotel is like. My wife and I stayed there a couple years ago, and hated it. Dimly lit, house music thumping all the time in the lobby area, a "trendy" high-fashion bar/disco complete with velvet rope line-up to get in. Suffice to say, this 50-something couple was VERY out of place. LOL!

Although Crescent is fine -- and it's definitely easier because it's the most English of nightclub strips -- I'd lump it in the category of more commercial. I'd suggest the Latin Quarter because it has 5 microbreweries all within walking distance, although it can get pretty cold in December, so bundle up :)

I found this interesting post for beer pub crawling: www.bodensatz.com/article.php… ... they don't mention the Saint Bock that opened just this year...

Great advice! If there are any "must see" bars/pubs we'd love to have some specific destinations.

Thanks!

G

It really depends on what kind of evening you really want - either in a more commercial, English area or in a microbrewery in a French area.

I don't really have suggestions for Crescent area since I don't hang out there often but I do have a favorite beer-place in Quartier Latin.

If you really like microbrewery beer, you should try L'Amère à Boire. It's a pub/bar located on St-Denis St between Ontario St and Sherbrooke St. Three storeys, lots of wood, brick and plants - real cosy. Great music too. They have a wide variety of beers to suit evey taste, they also offer a basic bar food menu (fries, nachos, sandwiches, etc).

YOu see all kinds of people, college students to 40-something professionnals who come to relax after a day at work. To me, this place has a very 'homey' feel to it.

Enjoy your stay and congrats for the wedding!

Tristou's post/article link pretty much sums up the Montreal brewpub scene for me. However, most of them are likely to be crowded, with the likely exception of the Sergent Recruiteur. (I do like their beer though I wonder how they've stayed open all these years).

I would add for your consideration "Vice & Versa" at 6631 St-Laurent. On Crescent, you could also try Hurley's next to Brutopia, if you want to try McAuslan's products, including their Oatmeal stout.