A Montreal bar known for its late-night smashburgers is setting up shop in Manhattan for a single evening. On Saturday, Double's Late Night will take over Ray's on the Lower East Side for its first U.S. pop-up, bringing its signature smashburger and Saintwoods martinis to Chrystie Street starting at 4 p.m.
The takeover is part of a city-to-city bar exchange between the two spots, according to Time Out, with Ray's team scheduled to travel north for its own appearance at Double's in Montreal. Double's Late Night normally operates out of a semi-basement space on Avenue du Parc in Montreal's Mile End neighborhood, founded by chef Danny Smiles, influencer Victor Petrenko, and nightlife company A5 Hospitality, per Tastet. Back home, the menu stretches beyond burgers to include onion rings, classic cocktails, and bottled beers, but it's the smashburger that has made Double's a viral name.
A Dive Bar Swap Between Two Cult Hangouts
Ray's, the host venue at 177 Chrystie Street, will host the event. Ray's will host the takeover at its Chrystie Street location.
Back in Montreal, Double's occupies a room designed by Studio Kiff with 35 seated spots and capacity for up to 70 guests during party takeovers, per the same Tastet account. The bar's Resy listing shows it running from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. on most days, with Sunday closing at 11:59 p.m., pouring bottled beers and classic cocktails. The martinis making the trip to New York come from Saintwoods.
Timing Collides With Fashion Week and the U.S. Open
The Saturday pop-up lands during a packed New York weekend, with New York Fashion Week underway across the city. Ray's also plans to stream the U.S. Open women's final, which takes place that afternoon, giving the bar a packed house of tennis fans alongside anyone chasing a taste of Montreal's export.
Double's has televisions broadcasting sports matches. Whether Saturday's one-night takeover is a trial run for a permanent U.S. presence or simply a friendly swap between two similarly styled dive bars remains an open question. The one-night format leaves open whether Double's might eventually expand to a new market.
