Across the Bridge to enjoy the Ottawa Gatineau region's only Cigar Lounge
Bacchus: Cigare & Sofa
3 boul du Casino, Gatineau, QC
Open 4PM – 12AM
Parking: You will find free underground parking on the premises. The hotel’s overnight guests can also use the valet parking.
Hours: The hours at Bacchus are excellent. This establishment opens at 4 PM and closes at midnight, 7 days a week.
Oftentimes, locals will pick an Ottawa establishment for a night out. The city boasts a variety of quality bars & restaurants that are perfect for any occasion. Ottawa has it all… Right?
There is one area where Gatineau undoubtedly has the upper hand: the Casino. Under one roof, you can find gambling, fine dining, bars, and a concert hall. But if you’re seeking something special, there’s also a hidden gem within the Casino (particularly within the adjoining Hilton Lac Leamy): the Bacchus Bar. It is named after the Roman Temple of Bacchus in Lebanon, perhaps because this bar boasts some beautiful Roman-style columns in the cigar area.
What makes the Bacchus Bar so special is that it’s the only Cigar Lounge in the Nation’s Capital Region. If you love the idea of smoking a cigar while sipping a fine cognac, this is the place for you.
Off the bat, the Bacchus has quite a few convenient features:
- It’s 11 minutes drive from downtown Ottawa
- There is a free coat check by the bar
- Reservations aren’t needed
The space
To get to the Bacchus, you’ll have to go to the lobby of the Hilton Lac Leamy. Going past the reception, you will find the Conrad Lounge, and from there you will easily see the sign: Bacchus – Sofa & Cigare.
The Bacchus is divided into two areas: the Sofa lounge and the Cigar lounge
The sofa area is quite large. We find here a wood-panelled lounge with a beautiful gas fireplace encased in dark marble. Sit in sofas and armchairs, while taking in the view of the Lac Leamy through twelve-feet tall windows. Tea candles, table lamps, and recessed ceiling lights make this a warm and well-lit area.
The cigar area is much smaller and moodier. Located behind closed doors at the back of the bar, you have to ask the staff for permission to enter this lounge. It’s dimly lit with black leather wingback armchairs huddled around small black marble tables. The walls have charcoal black wainscoting. On the wall hangs a portrait of Winston Churchill smoking a cigar.
There’s seating for about 30 people at a time and the lounge never feels crowded even when it is at full capacity. Everyone is sitting in their corner of the lounge enjoying their cigars. The music is not noticeable. The sports channel is always playing on a small TV in a corner above the fireplace. Despite the carpeted floors, the venue is clean and well-kept.
The service
The service is always great at Bacchus but we wouldn’t say that they go above and beyond. There are usually two employees working at a time, so there isn’t anyone waiting at the door to greet and seat us. Going to Bacchus for a cigar, you will enter the venue and walk to the back of the bar to inquire with the staff about seating in the cigar area.
The service and the vibe are formal but also no-stress. The staff wear formal attire but there is no dress code for the guests. Expect to see as many people in suits as in hoodies. You don’t have to dress up nice to go here but if you do, you will not feel out of place. Although the server visited our table regularly, we noticed that water was not initially brought to our table and that we had to ask for some.
The staff has been consistent over the years and they know their cigars quite well. They have been able to guide us on numerous occasions to choose the right cigar, whether we were looking for a Cuban cigar or not. The staff always cut the cigar for us, which avoids any mistakes on our behalf such as cutting too much or not enough and potentially ruining a perfectly good cigar.
In terms of pairing spirits with cigars, we found ourselves to be in good hands. When we inquired about cognac, the bartender was able to elaborate well enough about different cognac brands and types.
The menu
The cigar inventory was quite complete. On one side of the humidor were the Habanos (Cuban cigars), the other side were the New World cigars (not Cuban). The prices were listed we could see the length and ring gauge (thickness/ diameter) of the cigars.
We noticed that the cigar selection changes over time. Notwithstanding, they had most of the big Cuban brands such as Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, Monte Cristo, H. Upmann.
Looking at the drink menu we saw that the Bacchus has a decent selection of dark fine spirits: over 20 scotches, 10 whiskies, as well as many brandys.
As a cocktail enthusiast, we were glad to see that the cocktail program was recently updated but we still found that it wasn’t up to par when compared to cocktail-focused bars. From a menu of 11 cocktails, there were 3 sweet martinis and also 3 cocktails that listed the use of the same cranberry juice. The Black Manhattan (25$) made of Bourbon & Amaro was quite expensive but seemed like an excellent pairing choice for a cigar. Upon a subsequent visit we noticed that this cocktail had been removed from the menu.
We ordered many drinks as well such as red wine, scotch, cognac, rum, litchi martini, cuba libre, and the margarita. The margarita we received was unfortunately a frozen margarita (slushy). However, this was before their cocktail program update, so it may be served differently now. The Cuba Libre and Litchi Martini were great and tasted as expected.
The drinks are always served in the appropriate glassware but the presentation of the drinks was never extravagant. They serve the drinks on a white beverage napkin, in very run-of-the-mill glassware like what you would expect at a regular hotel bar. This could be elevated with heavier tumblers or branded napkins. They garnish their cocktails with a lemon wedge which we find to be out of place considering the exclusivity of being in a cigar lounge. We would have liked to see at least some dehydrated lemon wheels to boost the aesthetic of their cocktails.
We did appreciate that the cocktails use the spirits from local distilleries. We found on the menu Gin du Jardin (Chelsea), Sortilège (a Quebec favorite), and AIR coffee liqueur (Gatineau). Overall, we recognize that Bacchus puts their energy towards optimizing their cigar and scotch offerings, though it would be nice to see some accessibly-priced libations that pair well with cigars such as a signature old fashion or a rum-forward cocktail.
We were glad to see a food program as well, which included finger food & share-ables such as nachos ($29), beef tartare ($32), and a charcuterie board ($50) among other items. Unfortunately, we have not yet tried the food. Notwithstanding, the prices of the alcohol were decent: the libations were within the average price for Gatineau. The cigars were more expensive than at the shop but well worth it.
Overall the Bacchus is a great venue for its target audience. Located near a hotel exit, it’s easy to get there. The parking is easy all year ’round, the bar is always open and never too busy. The Bacchus is worth it for anyone who enjoys a cigar now and then but it’s not the perfect place if you’re only looking to eat and drink. Keep in mind that it’s not a cocktail bar but rather a cigar lounge above all else.
Good afternoon,
I am planning to pass by your establihment on Tuesday evening of April 15th 2025.
May I bring and enjoy my own cigars? I understand a fee might be charge if it is.
Or, is it not permitted?
Cheers!
Francis Guerin
Hi Francis,
As of 2020, Bacchus no longer allows guests to bring their own cigars. To smoke here, you will have to buy a cigar from the establishment.
Cheers!
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