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$$ | Verdun |
First and foremost a wine bar, this atmospheric 30-seat spot also dishes out delicious vegetable-centric, market-based cuisine. The cuisine features local and seasonal ingredients, and the flavors are simple enough to go well with the stars of the show: the many wines on offer. The homemade bread topped with mushrooms and lobster, the rotisserie whole cauliflower, or the Brussels sprouts "a la plancha" are just a few of the dishes that have become crowd favorites. End your meal with an assortment of Québec cheeses. The plates are all meant to be shared while you sip on some of the most unique wines in the city, carefully selected from wineries near and far. Reservations are not accepted, so be sure to get a table by arriving early, when the restaurant opens at 4 pm.
2519 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3J 1N4, Canada
Known For
- Italian tapas
- Brussels sprouts à la plancha
- Extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations not accepted
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$$$$ | The Plateau |
A mother-daughter team helm this delightfully cozy pan-African Québécois fusion restaurant in Le Plateau. Innovative and well executed dishes like cassava couscous with okra and goat stew celebrate local produce and sub-Saharan flavors for an experience you won’t soon forget.
851 rue Rachel E., Montréal, Québec, QC H2J 2H9, Canada
Known For
- Goat stew
- Excellent cocktails and South African wine
- Homey, high-end cooking in an intimate setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Tues. No lunch
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$$$$ | Outremont |
Open since 2001, this sophisticated French bistro pleases Montrealers with its flawless classics and its heated wraparound outdoor terrace. Regulars gravitate toward dishes such as the beef or salmon tartare, grilled Cornish hen, asparagus and wild mushroom risotto, mushroom ravioli, and hanger steak—all served with ceremonial aplomb on white linen tablecloths. Leave room for dessert: Pain Perdu, a thick slice of brioche with caramel and maple, is an indulgent specialty and can feed two people (if you can bear to share).
1045 av. Laurier Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2V 2L1, Canada
Known For
- Being busy
- Salmon tartare
- Pain perdu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$$ | The Plateau |
Elegant and old-school, Montréal's premier steak house has been in the Lighter family since 1938 and family members have consistently been hands-on when it comes to selecting and aging their own antibiotics-and-hormone-free steaks, sourced from local farmers. Fresh oysters are a terrific starter, and fresh fish preparations are available, but make no mistake: this is a steak house. Do not skip Moishe's famous Monte Carlo—potato skins filled with potato mixed with milk, butter, cream, and chives. The $29 special after 9 pm Wednesday through Saturday is a great deal for late diners.
3961 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2W 1Y4, Canada
Known For
- Monte Carlo potato
- Quality, aged steaks
- Coleslaw and pickles starter
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | Latin Quarter |
A darling of Montréal food critics since it opened in 2014, Canada's first vegan sushi restaurant is an innovative twist on the traditional sushi eatery. The setting, fresh from a renovation and redesign in early 2021, is replete with brick walls, natural woods and soothing tones, including a few stunning walls of botanicals. The new decor is inspired by Mexican-Canadian chef and owner Christian Ventura's environmental values as well as by wabi-sabi, a Japanese spiritual and aesthetic concept. "You eat with your eyes," says Ventura, "so everything has to be beautiful." And beautiful it all is. Exquisitely plated confections, such as 3 Champions (a play on the French word for mushroom, champignon), mushroom tartare, shiba zuke, rice pops, and truffle mayo; the Taj Mahal with kabocha tempura, red pepper tempura, shishito tempura, avocado, and onion; and Geisha, a creation of "salmon," "shrimp," marinated shishito pepper, avocado, and citrus ponzu sauce, are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. The bar serves organic wines, colorful cocktails, and privately imported sakes, making Momo an attractive destination for a quiet 5 à 7 (cocktail hour).
3609 rue St-Denis, Montréal, Québec, H2X 3L6, Canada
Known For
- Inventive cuisine
- Eco-conscious
- Soy- and gluten-free options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Reservations recommended
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Old Montréal |
Influential types arrive at lunchtime en masse for a table at this bustling bakery and sandwich shop where vegetables are organically grown in a nearby garden and fresh crab is flown in for salads. Crowd pleasers include Le Cubain panini (pancetta, roasted pork, Gruyère with lime, cilantro, and chipotle) and the vegan sandwich with chickpea and harissa spread, pickled beets, creamy sauce, and minty slaw. Baked goods are also consistent winners.
351 rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2A7, Canada
Known For
- Organic produce
- Affordable sandwiches
- Popular brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Sustainable, organic, and fresh every day is the philosophy of this high-end sushi restaurant. The menu is eclectic, with excellent sashimi—some specimens flown in directly from Japan—noodles, and some vegetarian-friendly Japanese dishes mixed with a variety of influences from chef Antonio Park's multiple backgrounds—Korean, Argentinian, and Canadian. You can leave the inspiration to him and opt for a omakase menu (chef's choice) for C$115. And don't forget to leave room for dessert! Park partnered with the pâtissier a few doors down to serve exceptional confections like the sorbert maison; the "Tout Chocolat," a chocolate brownie with milk chocolate mousse and roasted pecan caramel; or the Lemon Yuzu Crémeux, a Greek yogurt gel with poppyseed, meringue, and a pain de gênes biscuit.
378 av. Victoria, Montréal, Québec, H3Z 2N4, Canada
Known For
- Creative menu
- Omakase
- Exquisite desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$ | The Plateau |
This small and tastefully decorated bakery is, simply put, a Montréal treasure. Locals come from all over the city to pick up delicious desserts like lemon tarts and Paris-Brest that taste as good as they look. Pâtisserie Rhubarbe also serves a delightful afternoon tea every Friday from 2 to 5.
1479 av. Laurier Est, Montréal, Québec, H2J 1H8, Canada
Known For
- Afternoon tea
- Paris-Brest
- Long wait for a table
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed., Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Outremont |
No one does pizza quite like these pizzaiolos; they are, after all, legally certified by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napolitana in Italy. Using all-natural and non-processed ingredients, and adhering to traditional pizza-making methods (like using a 900-degree oven), Pizzeria 900 on Bernard is one of the most sought-after pizza spots in town with one of the most popular patios. Classics include an unfussy mozzarella di bufala and fleur de sel appetizer as well as delectable mains, like the spicy pancetta and figs, or the humble but sturdy margherita blanca pizzas. They now also offer the option of vegan cheese for an extra $2. In the probable event that the tiny 20-seat restaurant is full, look out for the Pizzeria 900 food truck, or head to one of the other locations around town.
1248 rue Bernard Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2V 1V6, Canada
Known For
- 900 degree oven
- Neapolitan-style pizza
- Stylish space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | The Plateau |
You simply haven't really eaten in Montréal if you haven't eaten at Schwartz's, Canada’s oldest deli. This Montréal classic has zero frills décor-wise, yet crowds have been coming since 1928 for a thick and legendary smoked-meat sandwich on rye with mustard. The cooks do such an excellent job at curing, smoking, and slicing beef brisket that even when it's 20 below zero, locals (and celebrity visitors) endure the consistently long lines. Try to avoid lunch and dinner hours, as the wait is particularly long. If you're in a rush, use the takeout counter next door.
3895 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2W 1X9, Canada
Known For
- Local institution
- Sandwiches with smoked meat marinated in herbs and spices
- Long wait for a table
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | The Plateau |
Even New Yorkers have been known to (collective gasp!) prefer Montréal's light and crispy bagel to its bulkier Manhattan cousin, due to the dough of the Montreal version being boiled in honey-sweetened water before baking in a wood-burning oven. St-Viateur Bagel & Café is a great place to get them, especially with smoked salmon. For a novel experience, try the rosemary and sea salt version. Be sure to check out St-Viateur's original location at 263 St-Viateur Ouest, where the bagel-magic has been happening since 1957. That venue does not have a dining area, but you can pick up bagels fresh out of the oven until midnight.
1127 av. Mont-Royal Est, Montréal, Québec, H2G 1X9, Canada
Known For
- Delicious bagels
- Classic and creative options
- Local favorite
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$$$$ | Old Montréal |
Frequently named one of Montréal's best restaurants and Canada's third best by canadas100best.com, a meal at Toqué! is not so much about sustenance but rather experience. Toqué is slang for "a little stubborn," as in the chef's insistence on using fresh, local ingredients; consequently, the menu changes daily in accordance with market offerings but foie gras, duck, and wild venison are on constant rotation. Some patrons wouldn't consider ordering anything but the seven-course, C$182 dinner tasting menu.
900 pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, Québec, H2Z 2B2, Canada
Known For
- Tasting menu
- Market cuisine
- Wine pairings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
