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BarBara Vin: A Delicious Spot with Italian Flair in Saint-Henri

An address that wears many hats

BarBara is a charming spot that opened its doors on Notre-Dame Ouest Street on January 26, 2021. A wonderful addition to Saint-Henri, it proves that you can enjoy the finer things in life without breaking the bank.

The concept is intentionally multifaceted. First and foremost, BarBara aims to be a wine bar where great bottles flow freely at affordable prices. It also features a dispensa (Italian for “mini-grocery”) stocked with take-home wines, beers, and non-alcoholic products, as well as a café for early risers. The wine bar aspect is highlighted by a beautiful wine cellar, ready to quench the thirst of guests.

At the heart of this wonderful project, in its early days, were chef David Pellizari and his muse Catherine Draws, previously known for their delicious work at Lili Co., along with Nicolas Urli, Flore-Anne Ducharme, and Jean-François Gervais. Today, Catherine Draws and Cloé Champagne (also a partner) serve as co-directors.

In its current iteration, three key figures contribute to the happiness of guests: executive chef William Cody, pastry chef Genova Evelyn, and sommelier Dominic Marazzani.

As for the décor, it is the result of a collaborative effort between the Gauley Brothers and Jean-François Gervais.

“Wake up Barb” et autres gourmandises à manger et à boire

The menu places a special emphasis on fresh pasta and other delightful Italian-inspired treats. During the day, you’ll find focaccia, zeppoli, bombolini, and other grab-and-go bites that make your mouth water just thinking about them.

BarBara also embraces its dispensa concept, offering a selection of high-quality products to awaken the chef within and help create a delicious feast to impress at home. Think preserves, house-made sauces, fresh pasta ready to cook, and tutti quanti. Staying true to its homemade ethos, BarBara even has its own coffee, developed in collaboration with the Zab roasting house. Called Wake up Barb, it features their famous Pistacchio Latte, available for enjoyment on-site or as whole beans to take home.

BarBara has just launched Les gâteaux BarBara (lesgateauxbarbara), a line of cakes available by pre-order and pickup only, crafted by the pastry chef.

As mentioned earlier, the house boasts a well-stocked wine cellar curated by Catherine Draws, featuring selections from small producers both locally and abroad—wines so enjoyable, you’ll want to sip them even without thirst.

Des offres en tout temps

BarBara is open every day from 8 AM to 1 AM:
• Breakfast from 9 AM to 3 PM (ricotta, rapini, and fried egg tartine or a breakfast sandwich with pancetta, egg, and provolone).
• Lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM.
• Aperitivo starts at 3 PM (anchovies, charcuterie, focaccia, pickles, fried olives, burrata… and more!).
• Dinner from 4 PM to 11 PM.

The counter is filled with pastries—croissants, tiramisu Danish, pistachio rolls, cacio e pepe rolls, cinnamon knots, cornetto, and many other nearly irresistible treats.

The wine bar, meanwhile, is open at all times. As Catherine puts it: “Here, the music is lively, it’s noisy, it’s laid-back, but with heart in the right place. Unlike the hiccups at the start, service has settled in (so has the pace!), especially now that we have enough staff to meet demand. We truly have an amazing team right now—I often have to pinch myself. Kids are always welcome too, because, well, we have to train the customers of tomorrow!” (Laughs!)

An important detail: BarBara does not take reservations and operates on a “first come, first served” basis. Judging by the steady crowd eager to enjoy its generous offerings, everyone seems more than happy with that arrangement.


Photography by Alison Slattery — 





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