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.
Ottawa has its share of sleek cocktail bars and beautiful restaurants — the kind of places you keep in your back pocket for date nights or when friends are in from out of town. But just across the river in Gatineau lies something the nation’s capital city simply cannot claim: a cigar lounge.
That distinction belongs to Bacchus Bar, a discreet retreat tucked inside the Hilton Lac-Leamy, mere steps from the casino floor. Named for the Roman god of wine — and perhaps for the ancient temple in Lebanon it calls to mind — Bacchus carries a quiet, old-world gravitas.
To reach Bacchus, visitors pass the reception of the Hilton Lac-Leamy and find themselves in the Conrad Lounge, a bright, contemporary space designed for casual gathering. A discreet sign — Bacchus: Sofa & Cigare — signals the passage into a completely different world.
The bar is divided into two distinct areas: the expansive Sofa Lounge and the more intimate Cigar Lounge, each designed to suit a different rhythm of evening.
The Sofa Lounge greets you with wood panelling, a gas fireplace encased in dark marble, and twelve-foot windows framing the tranquil waters of Lac-Leamy. Tea candles, table lamps, and recessed ceiling lighting lend the room warmth without distraction. Plush sofas and armchairs invite conversation, while the view outside reminds you that you are still, however, part of the world.
In contrast, the Cigar Lounge is a world unto itself. Access requires permission from staff, reinforcing the sense of exclusivity. Inside, Roman-style columns flank the space like sentinels, and the air fills with the scent of tobacco and the slow swirl of amber spirits. Black leather wingback armchairs huddle around small black marble tables, charcoal wainscoting wraps the walls, and a portrait of Winston Churchill smoking a cigar presides over the room with approval. Despite seating for roughly thirty guests, the room never feels crowded. Everyone finds a private corner; the music is unobtrusive, and a sports channel plays quietly on a small, corner-mounted television.
It’s a unique proposition in the National Capital Region: a place where you can savour a Cuban robusto and a glass of cognac under the same roof. Bacchus makes it remarkably easy. There’s no need for a reservation; it’s an eleven-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, free parking is available year-round, and the free coat check spares you from juggling winter layers.
The service at Bacchus is formal yet relaxed. Staff members wear traditional bar attire, but guests are under no pressure to dress up; hoodies sit comfortably beside suits. Upon entering the cigar lounge, a brief interaction with the staff secures seating, and thereafter, attentive yet unobtrusive service ensures that guests have everything they need.
Where the Bacchus team truly shines is in their expertise. Both the head bartender and the supporting staff understand the nuances of cigars and spirits. On numerous occasions, they have guided me through both Cuban Habanos and New World selections, cutting each cigar to perfection. If you inquire about a pairing — whether a delicate cognac or a bold scotch — you can trust their recommendations. They understand not only the mechanics of a cigar, but the sensory experience it affords.
The cigar selection is impressively curated. Habanos from iconic Cuban brands such as Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, Montecristo, and H. Upmann sit alongside a thoughtful array of non-Cuban cigars, neatly displayed in two large humidors. The inventory evolves over time, ensuring variety while maintaining the classics. The prices were listed, and we could see the size of the cigars.
Bacchus’s spirits program mirrors the sophistication of its cigars. Over twenty scotches, ten whiskies, and a variety of brandies offer breadth for connoisseurs. Cognac enthusiasts are particularly well catered to, with options ranging from lighter, fruit-forward expressions to heavier, aged selections.
As cocktail enthusiasts, we were glad to see that the cocktail program was recently updated, though it still doesn’t compete with cocktail-focused bars. From a menu of eleven cocktails, three were sweet martinis, and three listed the same cranberry juice. The Black Manhattan ($25), made with bourbon and amaro, was expensive but seemed like an excellent cigar pairing. On a subsequent visit, we noticed it had been removed from the menu.
During our visits, we sampled red wine, scotch, cognac, rum, a Litchi Martini, a Cuba Libre, and a Margarita. The Cuba Libre and Litchi Martini were well executed and tasted as expected. The Margarita arrived frozen rather than shaken or stirred, though this was prior to the program update.
Cocktail presentation was understated, with drinks served in simple glassware on plain white napkins. Garnishes were minimal, usually a lemon wedge, which felt incongruous with the lounge’s exclusivity. That said, each drink was served in appropriate glassware and made with care. We did appreciate the use of spirits from local distilleries, including Gin du Jardin (Chelsea), Sortilège, and Artist In Residence coffee liqueur (Gatineau). Bacchus clearly prioritizes cigars and spirits, though a few accessible, cigar-friendly classics — such as a signature Old Fashioned or rum-forward cocktail — would be welcome.
While Bacchus is primarily a cigar and spirits destination, a modest food program exists. Options include nachos ($29), beef tartare ($32), and a charcuterie board ($50). Though we have not sampled the food, the menu reflects thoughtful pairings. Alcohol pricing was reasonable for Gatineau, and while cigars are more expensive than at retail shops, the experience justifies the premium.
Overall, Bacchus is a great venue for its target audience. It is easy to access, never overly busy, and always open. For anyone who enjoys a cigar now and then, it is well worth the visit. Just keep in mind: this is not a cocktail bar, but 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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I use to visit Bacchus frequently before the pandemic. However, since then this has been my first visit in 5 years. Simply because as some other patrons have noted Bacchus management has used the pandemic as a means by which they hike up the cigar prices and made it so that’s the only cigar you can partake in should you wish to do so is the one sold at the lounge.
I am also a cigar snob and to be honest the cigar I like can be purchased at a more reasonable price online. This was not an issue before the pandemic but apparently despite everything going back to normal the management has seen fit to keep the pandemic operating procedures in place. Why I believe this is the management way of trying to regain some of their losses due to the pandemic. However, since I use to go to the cigar lounge once or twice a week before the pandemic. Who is really losing out by my lack of attendance.
Since I have only gone once in 5 years who’s losing out. I can do the math but so can everyone else. I have always had a drink or two when I brought my own cigar. This is once or twice a week and since I have not made any attempt to return with the exception of this special day. I believe the management have lost out on significant profits. I am also sure I am not the only one.
We cigar smoker should approach the management and voice our concerns. That we want to return to the pre-pandemic regulations. But if the new regulations are to keep the patrons safe & the servers safe then the cigar server should not be cutting or handling our cigars. This was my experience on my latest visit that the server not only picked up my cigar with his hand but proceeded to cut the cigar.
My suggestion is simply a return to the old rules would improve business and if needed impose a nominal cutting fee as some restaurants do when you are bringing your own wine.
However, the old regulations worked just fine prior to the pandemic. These same regulations should be adequate post pandemic and if you truly wish to safeguard the clientelle, and the staff then have the customers can take their cigar buts with them or throw them into a cigar disposal deposit upon completion of their evening.
But I truly believe that the management is using these post pandemic regulations to recoup their losses while their was a full blown pandemic for everyone to be worried about, but now there is no just justification. Therefore, a return pre-pandemic rules is warranted.
Hello! I am looking to bring my partner for a surprise birthday weekend. I am looking for more information about this quote in your article: “…the Cigar Lounge is a world unto itself. Access requires permission from staff” How do I request access, specifically? Thanks!
Hell Andrea. Once you enter the Bacchus Bar, you will see two employees, usually tending the bar. You must tell any of these employees that you and your partner would like to go to the cigar lounge. The server/ bartender will then bring you both into the cigar lounge and offer you a seat.