3 Best Bars in Saint John, New Brunswick

In three small rooms of a historic building, with bare brick walls and subdued lighting, you'll find a massive selection of the finest whiskeys in the world. The focus is mainly on Scotch, with all the famous (and some lesser-known) Scottish distilleries represented, but there's also an interesting selection from other parts of the world, including Ireland, Japan, France, the United States, and—of course—Canada. Currently, there are two from Atlantic Canada distilleries (Signal Hill from Newfoundland and Gin Thuya from New Brunswick), with plans to bring in more as their whiskeys mature sufficiently. If whiskey isn't your thing, there are other options, including a lengthy selection of cocktails.

In the downtown historic district, this pub lives up to its name with old-time Irish fun, including a weekly live traditional music session in a room at the back. In the main bar on Wednesday, Brent Mason, a well-known neofolk artist, starts the evening and then turns the mike over to the audience, and Friday and Saturday (and some Thursdays) it's mostly live cover bands, starting at 10 pm.

Two-hour shows here bring some well-known touring comedians to Saint John as well as showcasing local and regional talent.