Canada’s Best Bars

Our monthly My City feature asks Canadian musicians to highlight the best of their hometown: the food, hangouts, shops — whatever makes it feel like home. Almost every time, that means a bar or two, the kind where everybody knows your name — or at least has a neat gimmick. Here are some of the best.

CALGARY PIN-BAR 501 17 AVENUE SW

Calgary has some sweet pinball machines across the city, but now there’s Pin-Bar, a brand new spot dedicated to the pinhead community. (Miesha & the Spanks)

MONTRÉAL LA BUVETTE CHEZ SIMONE 4869 AVENUE DU PARC

Simply the best wine bar in Montreal. The ambience is perfect and the staff always add new wines on the menu — [it] never gets boring. (Charlotte Cardin)

OTTAWA THE “SPEAKEASY” AT UNION LOCAL 613 315 SOMERSET STREET W

Speakeasy is a Prohibition-era term for places selling illegal liquor; this place mimics that feel. This behind-the-library-shelf bar in the basement of stellar haunt Union Local 613 is always packed and friendly. (Kelp Records’ Jon Bartlett)

ST. JOHN’S MALLARD COTTAGE 8 BARROWS ROAD

A cozy, unpretentious spot in scenic Quidi Vidi Village, Mallard features ingredients well-known in Newfoundland, re-imagined into sophisticated comfort food. Our favourite time is Sunday brunch, when local musicians play tunes while we chow down. (Fortunate Ones)

VANCOUVER THE BLACK LODGE 630 THE KINGSWAY

This Twin Peaks- inspired bar is the place to run into the aging musician set. They’ll only tell you where it is if you’ve been playing music for at least a decade. Sit in a cozy log cabin, eat poutine and listen to Thin Lizzy. You’ve earned it! (Hockey Dad Records’ Ryan Dyck)