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El Pequeño Bar

Montreal

Be transported as you duck in from the centuries-old cobbled streets and Gothic Revival stone buildings of Old Montreal to the retro-glam vibes of Old Havana. From iconic cocktail classics of the era (Mojito, Daiquiri, El President and Cuba Libre) to the pressed Cubano sandwiches, each note of this bar's offering rings as true as the clarion call of a jazzy trumpet riff.

This is a space so bijoux, with room for just 10 guests, that its 150sq ft wooden interior was crafted by a cabinet maker. Once a tiny gift shop, it was transformed by the team behind nearby underground speakeasy Coldroom. While that bar attracts a sparkly clientele of pro athletes, visiting Hollywood stars and socialites, El Pequeño is a quieter, more rarefied kind of experience. To see how well the bar balances cocktails with less-traditional yet still-tropical profiles, taste the refreshing Runs in the Family (made with gin, rum, elderflower liqueur, rosewater, lime and celery bitters). There are no reservations here, but you may be able to book the bar out for a private tasting experience from the bar's globe-trotting selection of rare vintage rums.

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