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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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$$ | The Plateau |
You simply haven't really eaten in Montréal if you haven't eaten at Schwartz's, Canada’s oldest deli. This Montréal classic has zero frills décor-wise, yet crowds have been coming since 1928 for a thick and legendary smoked-meat sandwich on rye with mustard. The cooks do such an excellent job at curing, smoking, and slicing beef brisket that even when it's 20 below zero, locals (and celebrity visitors) endure the consistently long lines. Try to avoid lunch and dinner hours, as the wait is particularly long. If you're in a rush, use the takeout counter next door.
3895 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2W 1X9, Canada
Known For
- Local institution
- Sandwiches with smoked meat marinated in herbs and spices
- Long wait for a table
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | The Plateau |
Even New Yorkers have been known to (collective gasp!) prefer Montréal's light and crispy bagel to its bulkier Manhattan cousin, due to the dough of the Montreal version being boiled in honey-sweetened water before baking in a wood-burning oven. St-Viateur Bagel & Café is a great place to get them, especially with smoked salmon. For a novel experience, try the rosemary and sea salt version. Be sure to check out St-Viateur's original location at 263 St-Viateur Ouest, where the bagel-magic has been happening since 1957. That venue does not have a dining area, but you can pick up bagels fresh out of the oven until midnight.
1127 av. Mont-Royal Est, Montréal, Québec, H2G 1X9, Canada
Known For
- Delicious bagels
- Classic and creative options
- Local favorite
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$$$$ | Old Montréal |
Frequently named one of Montréal's best restaurants and Canada's third best by canadas100best.com, a meal at Toqué! is not so much about sustenance but rather experience. Toqué is slang for "a little stubborn," as in the chef's insistence on using fresh, local ingredients; consequently, the menu changes daily in accordance with market offerings but foie gras, duck, and wild venison are on constant rotation. Some patrons wouldn't consider ordering anything but the seven-course, C$182 dinner tasting menu.
900 pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, Québec, H2Z 2B2, Canada
Known For
- Tasting menu
- Market cuisine
- Wine pairings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$ | Westmount |
A favorite among vegans, celiacs, and vegetarians—and even omnivores—Montréal's first vegan restaurant serves comfort food dishes and beverages that are creative and delicious—not to mention packed with vitamins. A large chalkboard holds specials of the day. Try the gigantic sandwiches, such as the Sirocco (grilled eggplant and hummus), which comes on chapati bread, or for something a little earthier, go with the Dragon bowl, a crowd favorite of steamed bok choy, organic rice, tempeh, marinated veggies, and tamari sauce. Don't forget to order the "uncheesecake" for dessert.
4896 rue Sherbrooke O., Montréal, Québec, H3Z 1H1, Canada
Known For
- Dragon bowl
- Vegan cheesecake (gâteau fauxmage)
- Vegan- and celiac-friendly
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$$$ | Rosemont |
The only Norwegian-inspired eatery in Montréal, Beaufort Bistro has admittedly received a lot of attention. Part-time restaurant, part-time busy café (complete with freelancers and students on a deadline), this white-washed cozy space serves the only authentic open-faced sandwiches—smørrebrød—this side of the pond, as well as a variety of mains, like Rösti (potato galettes), tartares, and, of course, blinis and gravlax (this is a Scandi café, after all).
414 rue St-Zotique Est, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1L9, Canada
Known For
- Authentic smørrebrød—open-faced sandwiches
- Tartares
- Great coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Old Montréal |
A relatively new addition (opened in late 2019) to the plant-based sushi zeitgeist, Bloom on rue St-Paul aims to prove that it's possible to enjoy sushi without harming our oceans and the fish who live in them. With its white-painted brick and stone walls, blond wood surfaces, and low-hanging cloth lamps, this gorgeous resto is like a cross between a spa and a traditional Japanese restaurant. Choose between a wide array of artfully plated makis, futomakis, nigiris, gyozas, salads and soups, each dish a captivating fusion of tastes. Complement your meal with a kombucha or a bottle of organic pinot noir or Tsukinokatsura Junmai Iwai sake.
368 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2A6, Canada
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sat.-Wed.
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$$ | Little Italy |
Nobody questions the authenticity of the Neapolitan-style pizza here, seeing as there's a nearly four-ton wood-burning pizza oven made from Vesuvian rock in the kitchen which cooks pizza in 90 seconds flat, at 500 degrees Celsius (932 °F). There are just a few toppings available, but all are fabulously flavorsome, like fresh tomatoes, vegetables, and top-quality salumi.
65 rue St-Zotique Est, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1K6, Canada
Known For
- Excellent gelato to-go
- Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza
- Panozzi, calzoni, and tronchetti
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sat.–Wed., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Downtown |
The decor at this restaurant reflects its philosophy: fresh, thoughtful, and simplified (yet not simple). The market-based menu changes often and includes dishes that are just as beautiful to look at as they are delicious. House specialties feature local and seasonal products such as juniper, fiddleheads, asparagus, pears, and maple syrup; game like deer and duck; fish such as oysters, lobster and crab; and an assortment of Québec cheeses.. The wine selection includes private-import wines.
1595 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2X 2S9, Canada
Known For
- Private-import wines
- Market cuisine
- Sleek, modern decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, No lunch on weekends
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$ | The Plateau |
The mastermind behind this photogenic bakery had been making bread for Montréal's best restaurants for years before he decided to open up his own place. His own shop is a favorite with locals, who line up every weekend for fresh baguettes. In addition to serving a delicious rye and caraway seed loaf and chocolate babka, Hof Kelsten also makes sandwiches like homemade gravlax with seasoned cream cheese or chopped liver with crispy onions that make for an excellent lunch or early evening meal (the shop closes at 5 pm). The bakery serves brunch on weekends.
4524 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2T 1R4, Canada
Known For
- Chocolate babka
- Jewish cuisine
- Panettone
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$$$ | Old Montréal |
Inspired by Paris’s golden-age brasseries, Brasserie 701's spectacular setting features high ceilings, neoclassical architecture, giant arched windows, and lovely chandeliers. The menu incudes the usual suspects expected at a brasserie, from tartares, filet mignon, and escargot to foie gras.
701 côte de la Place-d'Armes, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2X6, Canada
Known For
- Salmon or beef tartare
- Homemade wild mushroom ravioli
- Packed with locals
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$$$ | Outremont |
With its cavernous corner spot on Outremont's trendy avenue Bernard, sophisticated yet playful décor, and artfully prepared comfort food, this brasserie is always a good bet for quality food and excellent people-watching. The menu at Les Enfants Terribles is a mix of high end cuisine and comfort food favorites, from salmon tartare, grilled oyster mushroom salad, to spaghetti Bolognese, fish-and-chips, and mac ’n’ cheese. The kitchen stays open to serve after-theater customers on show nights at nearby Théâtre Outremont. There is a second location on the rooftop of the Place Ville Marie, downtown.
1257 av. Bernard Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2V 1V8, Canada
Known For
- Pouding chômeur cake
- After-theater crowd
- Elevated comfort food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues. and Wed.
