reative forces in both the clientele and management is vividly evident when walking into Code Bar, the latest installment of semi-sophisticated lounges in the eastern part of Downtown Montreal on Rachel EstLocated in front of Lafontaine Park, Code Bar opened its alluring doors this past summer to a rocking opening night in late June and hasn’t slowed since.

The dark, shiny venue has steadily evolved into that type of lounge where you can mingle amongst the creative, media-savvy crowds of Montreal. During the week, Code Bar is more of a lounge-ey spot, while the weekend will be more nightlife oriented.

According to managing-owner Joel Dumoulin, come with your date on Thursday or Friday night, or hit up Code Bar earlier in the week for staff-night type of crowd. With shiny black paint covering the walls, Code Bar mixes in barstools, comfortable modern black sofas and cryptically odd light fixtures hovering over the bar. The true element that signifies Code Bar’s uniqueness is the visual media, which includes a large plasma screen sitting high above the DJ stage on the back wall.

“We feature video-jockeying on the regular,” said Dumoulin, who fixed us a couple of spicy Rouge Gorge shots (Amaretto and Tabasco), the latest favourite of Code Bar regulars. “By accompanying visual elements to the music, we try to show a different mentality from what you’ll find on Crescent.”

On the drinks menu, Code Bar keeps a number of expensive scotches including Oban and Cragganmore, while their Di Poli grappa and Patron tequila works well with the clientele. The bar features 13 oz. bottles for $55 and a mean white cosmopolitan included in the 35 listed martinis.