53 Best Restaurants in Quebec, Canada

Seafood lovers, rejoice: Québec City now has its very own ocean-based restaurant, and a great one at that. Helmed by a team of seasoned chefs, this gourmet restaurant provides diners with flavorful, flawless, and generously sized dishes of anything from scallops to clams and marlin tatakis, all nicely complemented by delicate side dishes such as lentils, sorbet (yes, ice cream for dinner), and edible flowers. It is a light-filled, beautifully appointed venue.

Chef Guillaume Saint-Pierre's love for authentic Italian cuisine led him to open this popular 25-seat restaurant, located off the main St-Roch thoroughfares, where he can fully concentrate on that passion with gusto and skill. Italian tradition (there's arancini and vitello tonatto) blends with local flair (there's cacio e pepe with Swiss chard, and lobster spaghetti). The restaurant's immense popularity means reservations are essential, often requiring booking weeks in advance, especially for weekends.

Buvette Scott, nestled on an unpretentious spot in the heart of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, delights with its attractive menu and impeccable service. This Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient has quickly become a local favorite, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere thanks to its cozy wooden décor. Here, the menu changes almost weekly on a handwritten blackboard, offering a dozen small and medium-sized seasonal dishes, primarily highlighting fresh vegetables and exquisite seafood. Waiters even curate the music, happily taking suggestions to blast that perfect tune on the record player, adding to the friendly, almost family-like ambiance.

Dinette Triple Crown is relatively small (a counter with just eight stools), but the real draw here is not indoor dining but taking the comfort food to go. Locals know to ask for a picnic basket (fully equipped with cutlery, dishes, and a tablecloth) that will be enjoyed in Little Italy Park across the street. Have it filled with fried chicken with fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy, braised greens, and biscuits, or pulled pork sandwiches and brisket.

This unpretentious, industrial-chic Little Italy restaurant has garnered a great reputation, thanks in part to its celebrity-chef owners, Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione, who make some of the best pasta dishes in town.

For over 30 years, L'Échaudé has drawn a loyal clientele of businesspeople and tourists alike, thanks to its honest pricing and ideal location nestled between the vibrant business and antiques districts. At lunch, the flank steak with shallot butter remains a timeless classic, while daily specials feature excellent fish, tartares, and pasta dishes. For those with a hearty appetite, the three-course tasting menu at just C$65 offers remarkable value for dinner. Regardless of the hour, though, expect nothing less than courteous and professional service. Inside, the warm ambiance of the mahogany-paneled lobby gives way to a modern, inviting dining space with green-and-beige accents, hardwood floors, and a striking stainless-steel bar illuminated by backlit river stones. In warmer months, you might even be lucky enough to snag a coveted, sun-drenched table on their outdoor terrace.

This iconic Montréal bistro hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1980, and it’s just as well—regulars would throw a fit if it did. Quintessential French fare is fairly priced and appetizing, outstanding even, with dishes like steak tartare with fries, salmon with sorrel, and calf's liver with tarragon. Tiny tables sometimes struggle to accommodate the ever-present crowds (including local chefs, who congregate here for dinner after hours), but the lively atmosphere is part of the charm. Kids are warmly welcomed.

Step into Le Bedeau (French for beadle) on Rue Saint-Jean, a playful concept rooted in ecclesiastical heritage helmed by Arnaud Marchand—of the esteemed Chez Boulay brigade, so you know to expect nothing but the best. This upscale wine bar boasts an interior playing with religious symbols, from confessional doors to organ pipe-inspired mezzanines. Here, gluttony is not a sin bur rather a requisite, with delights like truffle pork rillettes or scallops with sweet clover and lemon. The wine list, naturally, is up to par, featuring excellent picks from Québec wineries, making every visit a delightful pilgrimage.

The high ceilings and imposing vault door give away the fact that this was once a bank, but an amiable staff and inventive bistro cuisine (without pretentious fluff) make this establishment a favorite among locals, who munch on well-prepared seasonal, creative, flavorful shareable plates like smoked aubergine with romesco sauce or veal tartare with lemon and fiddleheads.  Wine lovers, this restaurant recently hired the best sommelier in Québec City.

A Montréal institution since 1985, the 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 its northern Indian cuisine, which isn’t as spicy as its southern counterpart, thali—platters comprising a variety of curries—are ideal for sampling unfamiliar flavors. Vegetarians and vegans will feel right at home with the veggie 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 also open at the Time Out Market, an upscale food court at 705 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest.

First and foremost a wine bar, this atmospheric 30-seat spot also dishes out delicious vegetable-forward, market-based cuisine. The cuisine features local and seasonal ingredients, and the flavors are simple enough to pair well with the stars of the show: the many wines on offer. The homemade bread topped with mushrooms and lobster, the rotisserie whole cauliflower with crispy chicken skin, or the Brussels sprouts a la plancha are just a few of the small plates 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.  Vegetarians and vegans should be forewarned that even if a dish here appears to be vegetarian it may have been prepared with animal stock or fat, so it's best to enquire before ordering.  

Named after a national park in the Congo, a mother-daughter team helm this delightfully cozy pan-African Quebecois fusion restaurant in the 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.

Eaton's 9th floor restaurant, an Art Deco masterpiece meant to simulate a 1920s ocean liner, was a paragon of sophistication during Montréal's zenith as a jazz age capital. Here, husbands took their wives for an elegant dinner. It was also where anglophone society women lunched, and where many mothers and daughters, as recently as the 1980s, marked special occasions. When Eaton's stores across the country shuttered in 1999 due to bankruptcy, the beloved restaurant sat collecting cobwebs for 25 years. Now, after a full restoration, the legendary 9th-floor restaurant reopened in May 2024. The ship-like dining room is used only for performances and special events, with the former grand hall and art gallery now serving as the restaurant and cocktail bar spaces. Some of the original Eaton's classics remain on the menu, but most of the cuisine can best be described as "French, with a Montréal twist". The cocktail bar, Le French Line, adjacent to the restaurant, is small but magnificently restored, featuring mirrored walls, some of the original, fantastical art tableaux, curved banquette seating, lots of windows, and pale green velvet curtains. Here, patrons can snack on tasty bar plates while sipping fabulous cocktails when the kitchen is closed. Or, any time the bar is open. 

To access the 9th-floor, take one of the restored elevators in the original entrance hall at 1500 boul. Robert-Bourassa. Here you'll find a grand corridor filled with window displays of historical objects, which leads to the reception desk.

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. Inspired by Mexican Canadian chef Christian Ventura's values, the setting is replete with brick walls, natural woods, and soothing tones, including a few stunning walls of botanical murals. "You eat with your eyes," says Ventura, "so everything has to be beautiful." And beautiful it is. Exquisitely plated, inventive confections are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. The bar serves organic wines, colorful cocktails, and privately imported sakes, making Sushi Momo an attractive destination for a quiet 5 à 7 (cocktail hour).  There's also a Sushi Momo takeout counter at 16 avenue des Pins in the Plateau.

This sun-drenched corner bistro, with its wraparound windows letting in splendid light year-round, now calls a former bank home—its past echoed in the safes woven into the decor. Black and dark wood accents lend a profoundly Parisian flair, while the menu serves local fare in a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. From game meat and seafood to fresh pasta and revisited classics (don't miss the Brussels sprouts Caesar), alongside a strong selection of vegan options, Alphonse certainly aims to please. Its cocktail menu is an absolute must.

Named for a 19th-century book by Philippe-Aubert de Gaspé, who once resided in the 1675 house, this establishment offers an authentic taste of French Canadian cooking. While it boasts a surprisingly good wine list, most guests come for the traditional Québec menu featuring hearty dishes like pea soup, tourtière (meat pie), meatball stew, and baked beans. You might also find more elaborate options such as wild game creton, bison bourguignon, or Lac St-Jean meat pie with wild meats. Servers in period costume enhance the historical ambiance, and each of the five dining rooms, like the bright vaisselier (dish room) with its colorful antique dishes and fireplace, offers a unique theme.  Grab one of the city's best dining deals: a delightful three-course lunch, starting at just C$39.95, available daily from 12 to 5PM.

In business since 1991, the restaurant is regionally known for seafood, which is processed on the premises; steamed snow crab is a highlight. Some dishes swing Italian—there’s a seafood pizza, crab calzone, seafood risotto, and penne with mussels and clams. The dining room is grand but nothing fancy. Natural wood trim barely lightens the mostly olive green color scheme.

Beaufort Bistro, a cross between haute cuisine and comfort food, has received a lot of attention since it opened in 2014. Since then, this part restaurant, part busy café-bar has moved to a much larger space to better accommodate more—and more types of—diners. As owner Jean-François Girard says, he wants Beaufort to welcome everyone from families with kids to remote workers with laptops, the young and young at heart, bohemians, bankers, and solo diners who want to sit at the bar. A fan of Norwegian cuisine, Girard features cod fritters, gravlax pavé, Nordic shrimp rolls, and Icelandic cod with pan-fried black rice, almonds, and mushrooms, along with more standard bistro mainstays such as tartare, pasta, and ratatouille—and for the kids: Thérèse's mac and cheese. 

Experience sustainable dining at this Old Québec gem, where many herbs and vegetables are harvested directly from its green roofs, making their way straight to each plate. Indulge in an entirely organic, nut- and gluten-free menu, with ingredients almost entirely sourced within single-digit kilometers. Its elegant interior, with stone walls and wooden ceilings, is beautifully illuminated by abundant windows. Note that each service features a "farm to table" daily special, changing with market finds and seasonal flavors, while the lunch prix fixe offers exceptional value for budget-conscious visitors.

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 that 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 flavors. Complement your meal with a kombucha or a bottle of organic Pinot Noir or Tsukinokatsura Junmai Iwai sake. 

Is it possible to eat sushi without harming our oceans and the fish that live in them? The owners of Bloom think so. At this pretty plant-based eatery in the Quartier des Spectacles, you can choose between artfully plated maki, futomaki, gyoza, crispy rice treats, and specialty rolls, each dish a captivating fusion of flavors. Complement your meal with a kombucha or a kaeru margarita flavored with matcha, pineapple juice, lime juice, and agave syrup.

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 oysters and salmon tartare to duck poutine, fish-and-chips, and mac and cheese. The kitchen stays open to serve after-theater customers on show nights at nearby Théâtre Outremont. 

Simple preparations mean the flavor of seafood shines. Broiled lobster is the main attraction. Get it on its own or on a seafood combination platter. Fish and shellfish might get a quick sauté in butter, and steamed shrimp are cooked just until they turn pink and tender. Dessert brings a local specialty: cloudberry pie. The amber-color fruit, native to the area’s boreal forests, is similar to raspberries. The no-frills dining room supplies booth and table seating.

A beacon of the French (from France) cultural diaspora in Montréal, Chez Victoire is the epitome of Plateau Mont-Royal’s warmth and joie de vivre. Fittingly, the creative menu features French-inspired seasonal market cuisine. Take a seat at the long bar and order one of the shareable plates such as the oysters or the fried artichoke heart with black garlic mayo, or opt for a booth to share the classic tomato and mozzarella di bufala salad or the famous burger Chez Victoire. 

Spectacular, unobstructed panoramic views of the entire city are just the beginning at this rotating restaurant. While the breathtaking vistas alone are worth the climb, the experience is elevated by friendly, well-managed service and a truly creative, delicious menu. Don't miss the roasted arctic char with lemon gnocchi and shiitakes, or explore their solid brunch offerings.

Eclectic may be the best way to describe the food at this scarlet-colored restaurant, as the dishes combine a French bistro feel with a little bit of the American Southwest. The seasonings are down to a science here, and the proof is in the homemade ketchups, hot sauces, and salsas that are generously offered at each table. As with many restaurants, the menu changes with the seasons, but the Caesar salad made à la minute and the copious Baileys fudge chocolate cake are popular constants. The meat and seafood are carefully sourced; any of the nightly available options are always a great choice.

Long held in disdain by Montréal food critics, the restaurant at the Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) has upped its epicurean game. These days the restaurant’s top-notch cuisine pays homage to Québec’s terroir with enticingly presented dishes served in a contemporary yet elegant setting (think white tablecloths, cloche plate covers, and impeccable service). There is an à la carte menu, in addition to a table d’hôte (starting at C$62) and a five-course tasting menu (C$89). The optional wine pairing is an additional C$57.

Halfway between a discreet speakeasy and an oyster bar, this is an unlikely pearl in the heart of the St-Roch district. Cross the threshold of the hidden entrance and you'll find yourself in a stunning interior. Magenta velvet, soft lighting, and brass create a warm, intimate atmosphere. Food-wise, expect seafood specialties, including the incredible two-tier platter. Drinks-wise, expect fresh, creative cocktails and a quirky wine list that embraces all things biodynamic. Service is as discreet as it is attentive, no matter what you order.

The cocktail menu originally put this hip bistro on the map, drawing crowds for creative martinis (think cucumber and basil), and now the food holds its own. The house specialty is tartares—the menu lists four variations of marinated raw fish—and heaps of grilled meat, fish, or tempeh served on wooden chopping blocks. Young partiers are attracted to the cafeteria-style tables, where they mingle over ginger-beer cocktails, soups, salads, and tapas.