215 Best Restaurants in Quebec, Canada

It may be in the heart of trendy Mile End, but this "phyllo bar" looks like it was transported directly from Athens, with food arriving on checkered cobalt-blue wax paper. The spanakopita, with a perfect crispy exterior, makes for an excellent lunch on the go, as does the Melina sandwich, with its spicy feta spread, kalamata hummus, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Another must, the bougatsa, is a warm custard-filled phyllo pastry with cinnamon. It's all about takeout here, though warm temperatures allow for a small deck out front.

Massawippi pale and brown ales and a vast selection of microbrews and imports are all on tap here. Pub food is served both in the upstairs dining room and in the tavern. There are three terraces at this waterfront restaurant, so you'll be sure to enjoy the fantastic view of the Massawippi River. It's a popular place and can get busy at lunch and on warm summer evenings, so try to get there early.

While perhaps not the top pizzeria in Montréal, Pizzeria Napoletana has been at the heart of Montréal's Italian community since 1948. In summer, the outdoor patio hums, with more tables spilling out onto the sidewalk. The menu consists of traditional thin-crust pizzas, pastas, and other southern Italian classics, many based on family recipes.   They do not carry wine; it's BYOW. If you forget to bring a bottle, you can buy one in their shop, Miss Napoletana, across the street. 

Sleek and modern, this friendly restaurant hits all the right spots—it's devoted to local ingredients and its dining room and deck overlook the St. Lawrence River. While the menu items are constantly evolving, expect creative plates: bison tartare, pickled mushrooms, and salt foie gras; sablefish, lime mousseline, and clementine white butter; and savarin, elderberry, and white chocolate Chantilly as dessert. Chef surprises come on the tasting menu, which features a five-course meal with wine.

A true pub, with local beers, ribs, burgers, onion rings, and homemade chips, but the kitchen also serves gourmet delights with local and international flair. Foie gras, salmon tartare, filet mignon, Coquille St. Jacques, spaghetti and goat cheese, and vegetable pizza have all shown up as specials. People-watching is great, especially on the heated, partially enclosed patio that feels a little like a beer garden. Come on St. Patrick's Day and you're likely to get green beer.

Groups of students and other budget-conscious connoisseurs of hearty chow crowd the tables at this hole-in-the-wall for traditional Chinese jiaozi, or soup dumplings, just like they make them in northeast China, with a price that's right: just C$14 to C$18 for 15 dumplings. Among the 40 or so varieties of dumplings here, there are also vegetarian versions, including tofu and vegetables, zucchini and vegan "salami," cabbage and Texas "sausage," and pumpkin. Service can be a bit slow, but it's worth the wait.  Cash only.  There is another location Downtown at 1675 boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest.

This family-run restaurant, in existence for three generations, offers more than 60 dishes on rotation on any given day, making this the place for dim sum feasts. Waiters clatter up and down the aisles pushing a parade of trolleys bearing such treats as firm dumplings stuffed with pork and stir-fried squid and shrimp. The best way to order? Halt a cart as it's going by and point to the dim sum dish you desire. You can order from a menu, too, but that's not nearly as much fun.

This unassuming but contemporary hot spot serves some of the best Vietnamese fare in the city. "Simple yet edgy" are the operative words to describe the menu here. Steamed buns blackened with squid ink; edamames in lime, coriander and sesame; Asian ceviche with sweet potato puree; and chai creme brûlée, to name a few. There is a pleasant terrace on the street and, downstairs, the hidden Nhâu Bar, with its dozens of hanging white and red lanterns, has a sophisticated cocktail menu.

Housed inside a welcoming space with alcove windows and stone walls, this airy, colorful restaurant serves traditional upscale Portuguese cuisine with plenty of seafood dishes. Share a few tapas plates, like the grilled sardines fillets, grilled asparagus or baby potatoes with herbs before delving into the main course. Leave room for natas, the legendary Portuguese tarts filled with a vanilla-scented custard.

A view of the Mingan Archipelago and big portions make this restaurant a favorite—lines can be long—and outdoor seating is a bonus on a fine day. The seafood-centric dinner menu features giant, colorful seafood platters focused on lobster, a seafood pizza, and a lobster club sandwich. Pasta, burgers, and American-style breakfasts are also served.

The premise already has foodies salivating: "anthropomorphic universe" of local and organic cuisine. Chef Stéphane Modat, whose fame on this side of the pond is largely due to his masterful time in the kitchen of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, surrounds himself with precious collaborators (the name of the restaurant, "the clan," is by no means a coincidence) and brings his characterful verve to boreal gastronomy. This is the kind of place where it's best to just trust the process—and savoir-faire—and enjoy every miraculous bite. The menu, whether for lunch, brunch, or dinner, is not posted online and changes daily according to market arrivals (the geographical coordinates of each producer and gardener are listed on the menu), but the mussels, harvested in the remote waters of Côte Nord, are certainly among the best in the world.

Housed inside a stately former bank topped by a clock tower, this well-worth-the-trek restaurant uses the bank's old vault as a walk-in cellar, while the dining room features stone walls and elegant leather chairs. Main dishes are hard to predict because of the product-driven cuisine but regularly feature local and seasonal ingredients such as snow crab, Québec halibut, asparagus, and fiddleheads—but one thing that indeed does not change is the dedication and resourcefulness of the chef. The brunch menu is surprisingly creative and includes housemade beignets, jams, and spreads and a riff on the classic pancakes, with theirs made with apples, homemade yogurt, and maple syrup.

This family-owned restaurant is rooted in French classics but has a taste for pizza and pasta, too. Escargots, steak tartare, veal scallops with mushroom cream sauce, grilled steaks, and various steamed mussel presentations join numerous Italian-style linguine dishes including Alfredo, Bolognese, and carbonara. Go super retro for dessert with flaming crepe suzette.

A beautiful young crowd, tasty cocktails, and delicious tacos are what this dynamic restaurant and bar is all about. The menu is a mix of some of the best Latin fare in Montréal—with toppings like marinated chilis, homemade jalapeño crema, and cumin-roasted walnuts, or the more carnivore-friendly veal tongue with red peanut salsa—as well as other great "Latin-inspired fare." For something festive, order a Paloma (a savvy mix of tequila, lime, hibiscus syrup, and fresh grapefruit juice).

Step into this Québec City "den" (tanière), nestled within ancestral 500-year-old stone vaults. As the province's only restaurant honored with two prestigious Michelin stars, Tanière³ offers a dazzling gastronomic journey with a blind tasting menu of 15 to 20 courses, meticulously crafted by the inventive Chef François-Emmanuel Nicol. Every detail—from creative presentation to the intimate atmosphere and remarkable quality of service—is carefully orchestrated, ensuring a truly unforgettable meal. Almost all ingredients are locally sourced from small-scale producers, featuring unique Québec treasures like St. Lawrence sturgeon, wild wasabi, fir gum, and apple vermouth. While a superb wine pairing is available, the innovative mocktail pairing proves to be a positively unexpected surprise. For the ultimate immersive dining experience, consider booking the chef's table.

Towering gourmet burgers are made exactly to order with a choice of lamb, chicken, salmon, local beef, or a vegetarian patty. Dress it up with one of several cheeses (maybe fresh chevre), various garnishes (how about caramelized onions and smoked bacon?), and a range of sauces (a dab of citrus tarragon mayonnaise?). Burger meals are not mandatory. Steak, grilled salmon, bacon macaroni and cheese, and other appetizers and entrées are also on the menu at this friendly pub.

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.

For an unforgettable journey into Indigenous culture, Sagamité restaurant offers a truly authentic dining experience. Explore the rich, robust flavors of First Nations cuisine with hearty, compelling dishes like elk terrine and smoked bison ravioli. The cozy ambiance and deep cultural immersion make Sagamité an essential, unique culinary destination in the heart of historic Québec.

The menu at this Italian-leaning restaurant with a laid-back, industrial-cool feel is satisfying, with a number of imaginative pizzas, pastas, salads, and such. Try the fried mozzarella or the chef's risotto, which changes daily. The space, which features stone walls and steel chairs as well as a great, somewhat secluded terrace in the summer, is open late for drinks and snacks. A second location has recently opened in Petit Champlain.

Bringing Southeast Asia to southwest Montréal, Satay Brothers is operated by two brothers obsessed with the street foods found in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. The eclectic and oddly charming space—think red walls, illuminated Chinese lanterns, a mishmash of Asian patterns and décor—features communal seating and a long bar facing the kitchen, which fires out steamed pork buns, laksa soup, papaya salad, and, of course, satays to keep the constant and lively crowd fed. Several vegetarian and vegan options are also available.  If the restaurant is closed or too busy, try its original stand at nearby Atwater Market.

The perfect seafood spot for the summer with impeccable views of the Old Port, SeaSalt is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner while walking around Old Montréal. Its bright and clean interior, along with its large covered terrace, makes this restaurant feel as if it belongs on the coast of Southern France.

Part cocktail bar, part British restaurant, this vintage-inspired spot with wooden pew seats sports a welcoming aviary motif. Dinner favorites are the soba noodles with salmon and bok choy and the portobello burger, while the most popular brunch dishes include the smoked salmon plate and the Turkish breakfast plate. Sparrow uses only local and sustainable products.

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 Montréal 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 rue 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.

Bringing tapas uptown, this Spanish-inspired eatery is a chic yet casual place to drink imported wines and share a few small plates. The Tapeo version of the classic patatas bravas served with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli is always a good choice, as are the roasted vine tomatoes and the grilled chorizo. For an unforgettable meal, book the chef's table in the open kitchen, where you can watch the action and get special attention.

Time Out Market, the popular "anti-food court" 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. TOM Montréal includes 16 unique stalls, representing 12 of the city's best restos, in addition to four bars. Currently, gourmets and gourmands will find such epicurean delights as Marusan (Japanese), Le Red Tiger (Vietnamese), Moleskine (pizzeria), Le Taj (Indian), Paul Toussaint (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 are also a dedicated mocktail and soda bar that concocts exquisite non-alcoholic libations, in addition to a new milk bar.

Film producers and poets congregate at this corner café-bistro, sitting on the terrace to sip award-winning espresso. Although there's a hearty lunch and dinner menu of salads and grilled meat, brunch is the big draw. It features soft-boiled eggs with strips of toast for dipping, fruit, and cheese. Regular breakfast is served seven days a week. Try the baklava coffee topped with toasted almonds and honey.

Tora Ya Ramen offers a delightful journey to Japan through chef Miyano Sakai's generational expertise. Each ramen comes with a choice of four broths (soy, miso, Korean-style miso, or veggie miso) that are sure to satisfy both small and gargantuan appetites on cold winter days. There are also Tsunamis, traditional Japanese tapas, and a privately imported sake menu. The authentic décor, with its long wooden bar and banquettes, and the pleasant service complete this truly Japanese experience.

Tula is a first in Montréal and a real find for lovers of southwestern Indian cuisine. Inspired by his grandmother's cooking, owner Abhishek Arun opened his calming, unpretentious, 100% plant-based restaurant in 2023 with a tasty menu highlighting his own take on curries, biryani, dahl, bhurjee, and other non-curry dishes. Arun believes in the principle of balance, thus naming his restaurant "Tula", which means balance in Sanskrit. Eating healthy is important, he says. “If your body is in balance, your whole life is in balance”. On weekends, Tula offers a vegan Indian brunch menu.