Snowbird Tiki Bar

Visited the Snowbird Tiki Bar on Monday evening and had an amazing time.

The decor is amazing and very classically Tiki. Both bar areas are loaded with tikis, mugs, floats, skulls and other vintage paraphernalia.

There is a wide selection of traditional and house created drinks - all prepared expertly and with much flair by bartender Seb. We tried the Mai Tai, Saturn, Piña Colada, Blue Hawaii, Zombie, Snowbird's Downfall and Elvis Wong. The Elvis Wong was especially delicious and I highly recommend.

Hospitality was second to none. Despite being extraordinarily busy for a Monday night, the staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and happy to interact with a couple of Tiki-philes from the East Coast.

If there was ever any debate whether there is authentic Tiki in Canada, five minutes at the Snowbird will answer any questions. This is a world-class Tiki bar that stacks up against all but the most well-known establishments. And I can;t speak highly enough about Seb (bartender) and Ali (manager), who match up with any in the industry.

The Snowbird Tiki Bar isn't just a great Tiki bar, its one of the best bars in Montreal...period. You'd be making a big mistake if you didn't stop in for a visit.

A quick report to confirm that Snowbird is alive and lively, serving a thriving clientele in Montreal in the summer of 2021. Covid protocols are still being followed, but the second-floor space is expansive enough that you and your party can unmask in comfort while enjoying your drinks and appetizers.

I made my first visit earlier this week, and was seated on the outdoor porch which has a great away-from-it-all ambiance. The decor is great, although more on the campy Instagram-friendly side than a painstaking 60s recreations.

No corners are cut, however, on the drinks themselves. They use brand-name rums, truly fresh ingredients, and authentic hardcore Tiki recipes. I had a great Zombie, and my partner said her Pina Colada (imaginatively served in a coconut cream can) was the best she's ever had.

The music's not exotica and the vibe is more vibrant than subdued, but it's still great to see it continue as the sole Tiki outpost in Montreal.

Visited in April 2019. It was alright - not the immersive tiki experience I prefer. Music was older pop/top 40. Bartenders seemed friendly and were having a good time. Crowd piled in and were very jovial in French. Seemed to be having a blast! I might have thought it was really cool, but I've been spoiled with the likes of Vancouver's Shameful Tiki Room & KC's TikiCat.

Went in 2017 and first visit was excellent, great drinks and food, decent atmosphere

Went again in 2018, mood had totally changed, went hard on the 50's rockabilly vibe

Closed late 2018, spiritual successor now open in back room of Idole Bar

Drinks were good, food was decent, but very few tikis! And they played a full album of steel drum covers on repeat.

Visited on the second day of their soft-opening inaugural weekend, so it is tough to score properly at this time. However, this is one Montrealer who is very pleased with the work, direction, and effort made behind this endeavour!

Though the people behind this bar are admittedly green to the Tiki scene, having had the good fortune to speak with a few directly, I shall say their interests and efforts appear to be respectful, in earnest, and sincere!
The bar, both the animate and inanimate aspects, was welcoming and feels genuine of character; while it is still a little more on the kitsch side of the culture, Hawaiian shirts and muumuus aside, this place did really feel my kind of 'Aloha', something which I value largely in and outside of the global Tiki "Ohana."
Granted choices are rather slim in Montreal — we've a few eateries catering to Hawaiian fare, but nothing I would say comes close to really qualifying as a proper Tiki destination — I can conclude at this time that I am both happy and optimistic about the future of this place, and shall certainly be back! My Critiki star-rating and review shall be revised once they are fully up and running. For the time being though, I say: Bravo! and wish the Snowbird the very best of luck!

p.s. a little side note. While I am still not fully enamoured by the logo, Anne Murray's famous clutch on the name is fading some. I am pretty optimistic that, following a few more visits, any reservations I may have on these two aspects shall fade beneath a pleasant cocktail-wash and musical-sway.