Motel Bar

What is Motel Bar? Located at 1235 Queen Street West near the border of Parkdale and Roncesvalles, Motel Bar is a moody, character-rich dive and piano joint owned by Daniel Greaves, frontman of Canadian rock outfit The Watchmen. The intimate room caps out at around thirty patrons, framed by dim amber lighting, vintage art, an upright piano, and vinyl records for sale. Seating keeps things casual and close-quarters with a wooden bar counter, small tables, and street-facing perches.

Motel Bar Menu & What to Order The program skips overly complex mixology in favour of honest, wallet-friendly pours and neighborhood standards. Grab an ice-cold pint of Ontario craft beer on tap or a classic tallboy alongside unfussy highballs and a well-stirred bourbon Old Fashioned. There is no full dinner kitchen operating here, making it a pure watering hole meant for sipping drinks while taking in live acoustic sets or jazz sessions.

Know Before You Go Seating operates on a strict walk-in basis, and the tiny floor plan fills up rapidly during live piano evenings and whenever Winnipeg Jets games are broadcast to loyal Manitoba expats. Streetcar transit is painless, with the 501 Queen line stopping steps from the front door. The bar opens its doors every night at 7:00 p.m. and keeps pouring through last call at 2:00 a.m.