Izabelle Bernier, also known as Iza Bee

My Laval
by Tourisme Laval

From the barbershop to the local restaurants, the public market, the neighborhood microbrewery, and the exciting local scene, discover the favorite spots of proud Laval residents who are passionate about their neighborhood.

Take a peek into their world and explore their “Laval side” through articles and videos.

Hidden treasures, discoveries—are you ready to explore Laval?

Izabelle Bernier, known as Izabelle Bee, is the editor-in-chief of Narcity Québec and a true native of Laval. She is passionate about her work, which allows her to discover a wealth of activities, places, and unique people throughout Quebec.

Tell me about your role as an editor at Narcity Québec
I’ve lived in Laval my whole life and I’m the editor-in-chief at Narcity Québec. I’m incredibly curious, and my schedule is busier than the number of hours in a day!

What’s your hidden gem in Laval?
Les Insulaires Microbrasseurs. I love this neighborhood bar because the atmosphere is warm and cozy, and the decor is amazing. Here, the staff takes the time to listen to us and recommend products that match our tastes and personalities. You really feel like a VIP. If you come alone, you can sit at the bar, and Yan, the friendly bartender, will give you recommendations and introduce you to new products—because at Les Insulaires, there’s always something new!

Did you know they have 16 house-brewed beers and 24 draft lines? For someone like me who loves to explore and discover new things, it’s just perfect. And what about the food? The beef tartare is exquisite, and the Les Insulaires poutine is excellent.  It’s the ideal spot for happy hour with friends, because in addition to chatting, you can play board games… and there’s parking!

Photo credit: Olivier Bourget

Do you come here often?
Since it opened in November, I’ve been here four times, but there’s a reason for that! I work a lot, and in the winter I don’t go out much… but it’s still the microbrewery where I’ve spent the most time over the past few months!

How did you first hear about Les Insulaires Microbrewers?
I met Marilène, the owner, at the Laval Beer Festival, which she founded. At the time, I was writing an article about the Festival—which I love, by the way. When I heard that Marilène and her partner Guillaume were opening Les Insulaires, I wasn’t surprised. It actually made perfect sense. Marilène is a passionate woman, and her passion shines through in all her projects. The staff at Les Insulaires are just as passionate. It’s a wonderful team, and you’ll never see an employee checking their phone during work hours!

Photo credit: Olivier Bourget

What would you say to someone who’s never been to Les Insulaires?
It’s an unpretentious, trendy, warm, charming, and cozy neighborhood microbrewery.

Photo credit: Olivier Bourget

If you had to describe Laval to a visitor in just a few words, what would you say?
It’s a suburb of Montreal. It’s the opposite of the big city. It’s friendly, safe, and easy to get around by car. There’s still that sense of community and closeness. We have a downtown area, but we also have nature.

Some highlights:

• By day, she is an editor-in-chief; by night, she coaches the UQAM Citadins cheerleading team and the RND Élite Allstars team in Bois-des-Fillion.
• To round out her already busy schedule, she works as a bartender one night a week.
• A sign of fate? His parents met at the Brasserie Futuriste, a venue now occupied by Les Insulaires.
• His favorite dish at Les Insulaires: beef tartare
• His favorite beer: Porter
• Children are welcome at Les Insulaires.