18 Best Restaurants in Downtown, Montreal

Step inside Caffettiera and you just might be convinced you've entered an Italian café circa 1994. Here in this faux-wood-paneled space with its stand-up espresso bar, beige and blue banquettes, and block-color formica tabletops, you're likely to hear native Italians speaking together—just like in Italy. You'll drink flavorful coffee made from arabica coffee beans that are sourced from 11 plantations, roasted in Rome by Fantini, and brewed from Vittorio Arduini Lever machines and classic aluminum Bialettis. At the bar, you'll choose from an assortment of panini and Italian dolci (desserts) such as brioches, crostate (jam tarts with a lattice pastry top), cornetti (croissants), and bomboloni (ball-shaped doughnuts filled with jam or Nutella). And, since Caffettiera is an authentic Italian bar, not just a café, you'll see bottles of Aperol, Campari, Fernet Branca, Vecchia Romagna, and Amaro Nonino behind the bar. There's no detail Italian Canadian owner Andreas Vecchio, an Italian bar aficionado with a strong sense of nostalgia for the 1990s, and his partner and cousin Diego Lovino haven't thought of. Imported Italian chocolates and bonboni? Check. Italian chips and snacks for aperitivi? Check. Cheap-quality Fantini paper napkins (they also have higher-quality napkins) in Fantini dispensers? Check. Just like in Italy.

Refined Le Taj carries a piece of Montréal's history with its ornate mud wall originally made for India's pavilion at Expo ’67. With northern Indian cuisine in mind, which isn’t as spicy as its southern counterpart, thalis—platters comprising a variety of curries—are ideal for sampling unfamiliar flavors. Vegetarians and vegans will feel right at home with the veggie-heavy menu, notably the saag paneer (white cheese with spinach), the tandoori vegetable platter, and the channa masala (chickpeas seasoned in coriander, garam masala, mango powder, onions, and garlic). Le Taj is open for lunch only at the Time Out Market, an upscale food court at 705 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest.

Time Out Market, the popular "anti–food courts" gastro hall opening in cities around the globe, unveiled its Montréal location just a few months shy of the pandemic lockdowns. The industrial-chic, dimly lit 40,000-square-foot space features a black ceiling, gray and concrete surfaces, and warm, oil-finished maplewood floors. Low-intensity pin lights illuminate the dark surfaces and the blond wood tables and benches, creating an understated effect. TOM Montréal includes 16 unique "food concepts” (Time Out Market's description for the stalls), representing 12 of the best restos in the city, in addition to four bars. Currently, gourmets and gourmands will find such epicurean delights as Mezzmiz (Beirut-style Lebanese meze), Le Red Tiger (Vietnamese), Moleskine (pizzeria), Le Taj (Indian), Paul Toussaint (the chef's Haitian/Caribbean dishes), and Ibéricos (Spanish tapas), among others. A partitioned bar area, demarcated by a custom iron grill to gently separate it from the food hall, boasts the original arched windows from the now-defunct Eaton department store. It consists of the Time Out Bar, Beer Bar, and Wine Bar. There's also a dedicated mocktail bar that concocts exquisite nonalcoholic libations.

The décor at this restaurant reflects its philosophy: fresh, thoughtful, and simplified (yet not simple). The market-based menu changes often and includes dishes that are just as beautiful to look at as they are delicious. House specialties feature local and seasonal products such as juniper, fiddleheads, asparagus, pears, and maple syrup; game like deer and duck; seafood such as oysters, lobster, and crab; and an assortment of Québec cheeses. The wine selection includes private-import wines.

The open-concept kitchen in this sleek restaurant is renowned for its for "haute" Portuguese cuisine, including roasted salted cod, seafood bouillabaisse, and a whole array of appetizers like giant shrimp and grilled octopus or roasted sardine fillets. Wine connoisseurs are attracted to the impressive list of Portuguese wines.

Aficionados are willing to wait for a seat at this small café, where the foam on your latte or café au lait is artfully arranged in waves, hearts, or curlicues. The gastro coffee is imported from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Brazil, Bolivia, and elsewhere via the famed 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters in Vancouver. Patrons can choose alternatives to dairy milk, such as soy, almond, and oat. Don't drink coffee? Try the molten hot chocolate or the homemade iced tea. 

What was once a fur showroom in the 1970s now hosts Café Parvis, a stylish, bohemian eatery with floor-to-ceiling windows, half-stripped mint-green paint, and luxuriant plants hanging from the ceiling. If morning visits are for artisanal coffee and pâtisserie du jour, dinner is for ordering shareable wood-oven-baked pizzas enhanced by fresh salads and the on-point selection of organic wines.

Located in Montréal's Downtown core, Deville Dinerbar is a fun alternative to the otherwise rather serious dining options in the area. A palette of neon pink, white, and black keeps the dining room vivid and exciting (but not diner-kitschy). The meat-heavy menu, with dishes like the substantial Deville burger, shepherd's potpie (peas, corn, braised short ribs, and puff pastry), or fish-and-chips on a brioche bun, provides filling choices, so be sure to leave room for dessert. Whimsical drinks like the Hawaii 5-0, Miami Vice, and Preciso Quetzal, presented in a bird-shaped glass with plumes of pineapple leaves, in addition to tasty, brightly colored mocktails, complete the entertaining vibe.

Escondite's young, ambitious, and talented owners know a good idea when it comes to them. So much so that they now have seven branches across the city since the avenue Union location opened in 2015. Each of their Mexican restaurants (they're also behind a handful of funky Japanese izakayas and Hawaiian poke eateries) crackles with energy and eclectic style, a mishmash of neon signs, portraits of Frida Kahlo, bright murals of saints, a variety of Día de los Muertos skulls, turquoise banquettes and barstools, and mismatched press-back chairs in a range of hues. On the menu is inventive Mexican-inspired cuisine—think Mexican General Tao cauliflower with tamarind, agave, and coriander; Monterey Jack and jalapeño gyoza nachos with pomegranate pico de gallo, serrano chili and black pepper cream; and Korean steak with Oaxaca cheese, grilled cactus, pickled jalapeño, and orange crush sauce—and delicious tequila-based cocktails.  There is a second Downtown location on rue Drummond.

A boisterous Japanese pub and restaurant (known in Japan as an izakaya), Imadake serves small plates meant to be shared with a beer or cocktail in hand, and you won't find any sushi on the menu. The name Imadake means "only for now" and is a reference to the restaurant's ever-changing menu and "live in the moment" philosophy. You can pick from a variety of dishes, including ramen and noodle bowls as well as house specialties like korokke (mashed potato croquettes), okonomiyaki (a Japanese savory pancake) with oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushroom and green onion skewers, miso-marinated black codfish, or spicy karaage (chicken with wasabi mayo).

You could almost walk right by this tiny, unpretentious establishment on this seedier stretch of rue Ste-Catherine, but the line of people waiting to get in is a telltale sign. Locals and visitors alike love Kazu not for its décor but for its delicious Japanese comfort food. The tiger shrimp burger, the veggie bowl with a little chili oil on rice, and the salmon and tuna bowl are all great options.

Arrive 15 minutes before opening time or well before 8 pm to beat the queue.

With its airy, all-white-and-green, plant-filled décor, dining at LOV (Local, Organic, Vegan) is like eating in a beautiful greenhouse. This fashionable restaurant is the kind of plant-based establishment that even die-hard carnivores will line up to enter. Starters here include LOV calamari (tempura heart-of-palm rings with lemon-truffle aioli) and mushroom and vegetable dumplings with almond butter kimchi sauce. Highlights among the mains are coconut butternut squash curry and mushroom risotto with cashew cream. 

If you're in the mood for a big, nourishing, market-fresh salad served in a colorful ceramic bowl in a pastel setting, Mandy's is the place to go. Choose from among a dozen signature varieties or make your own. If you don't believe that a meal can be a meal without meat, there are options that do include meat or another protein source.   There's a second Downtown location in Phillips Square, as well as others in Westmount, the Old Port, and Mile End.

The salmon and avocado tartare is a must at this surprisingly affordable Japanese tapas restaurant and lounge. Vegans and vegetarians will appreciate plates like the shiitake lettuce cups, avocado tacos, and black truffle mushroom dumplings. Carefully selected wines and classic cocktails combine with sleek lighting (the dragon changes color throughout the night) for a memorable dining experience. There are also locations in Griffintown and Westmount.

This multilevel restaurant filled with young professionals lures in patrons with its lively atmosphere and deliciously updated English food. The signature fish-and-chips is deservedly popular, as are other classics like bangers and mash and shepherd's pie. The Burgundy Lion can get boisterous with good cheer in the evening, fueled by the extensive beer list and the 200-plus varieties of whiskey. It's a popular spot to watch football (that's soccer to North Americans) and hockey. Classic British breakfasts like "bubble n' squeak" (cabbage, eggs, onions, and smoked meat) and French toast made with crumpets make for busy weekend mornings.