How much does bar interior design cost in Montreal?

Costs vary by square footage, concept and finish level. A neighbourhood bar of 100-150 m² typically starts at $80,000 to $150,000 in combined design and construction. High-end cocktail bars or speakeasies can reach $250,000+. Contact us for a custom estimate.

What permits do you need to open a bar in Montreal?

A Montreal bar requires a liquor permit from RACJ (Régie des alcools), an occupancy permit from your borough, compliance with the Quebec Building Code and RBQ standards, plus an acoustic plan depending on location. We handle the architectural plans required for these applications.

How long does designing a bar take?

The design phase (concept, plans, material selection) typically takes 6 to 12 weeks. With construction and permits, expect 4 to 8 months between first meeting and opening night.

Bar Interior Designer Montreal — Cocktail Bars, Resto-Bars, Lounges

A bar is not a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol. It is a social room where atmosphere, lighting, sound and back-bar flow decide how many guests stay — and how many order a second drink. Good bar design turns an ordinary retail box into a destination people line up to enter.

moodesign has designed bars in Montreal for over 20 years: neighbourhood cocktail bars, upscale resto-bars, hotel lounges, microbreweries and hidden speakeasies. Whether you are opening a 60 m² bar on the Plateau or a 300 m² lounge downtown, we bring the operational experience, brand identity and permit management your concept needs.

Why bar design is its own discipline

The back-bar is the stage — bottle display, bar lighting and bartender choreography are the first thing people see, and the most photographed surface in the room.
Bar flow & service speed — placement of garnish stations, ice, washing and POS dictates how many cocktails per hour your team can produce. Bad flow = slow service = lost tips.
Atmosphere vs energy — a cocktail bar wants quiet intimacy; a pub wants social energy. Lighting, acoustics and seating density must support the mission.
Honest acoustics — a loud bar exhausts guests after 90 minutes. A silent bar feels dead. We calibrate absorption so energy rises without killing conversation.
RACJ & borough permits — capacity, fire exits, bar dimensions, seating-to-standing ratios — every Montreal borough has its own rules. We handle the plans.
Restrooms & transitions — often neglected, these are friction points that make or break the guest experience.

Bar formats we design

Cocktail bars and hidden speakeasies
Resto-bars and gastropubs
Hotel lounges and rooftop bars
Microbreweries and taprooms with visible brewing
Wine bars, wine shops and champagne bars
Traditional pubs and neighbourhood brasseries
Themed bars (tiki, jazz, sports, modern dive)
Nightclubs and late-night lounges

Our approach for a bar project

Concept & positioning — Before the first floor plan, we define the mission: who comes, what time, how long they stay, what they order.
Floor plan & bar engineering — Back-bar layout, service stations, staff flow, capacity, fire exits.
Materials, lighting & acoustics — Choices that hold up day AND night, resist bar humidity and survive daily cleaning.
Permit-ready plans — Documents ready for the borough, RBQ and RACJ.
Site supervision — We stay on the project through opening night.

Discuss your bar project

+1 514-567-2383

Why bar design is its own discipline

Bar formats we design

Our approach for a bar project

Related

+1 514-567-2383

Bar Interior Designer in Montreal

Why bar design is its own discipline

Bar formats we design

Our approach for a bar project

Related