33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (2024)

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (1)

Photograph: Daph & Nico | Tourisme Montréal

From high-end spots to casual eateries, this is the essential guide to eating downtown.

Written by Holly Tousignant & Laura Osborne

Written by: Isa Tousignant

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From Michelin star-calibreinstitutions, to epically delicious cheap eats and some of the best new restaurants in town, there's something for everyone in the city’s most bustling neighbourhood. Did we mention that one of them is inside one of the most unique Art Deco spaces in Canada? It's no secret that downtown Montreal is home to some of the most fun things to do in the city, but it's also where you can find some of the most famous and iconic food in town. Check out our favourite sandwich spots, the best brunches in the city and more.

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Best of the city under one roof

Time Out Market Montréal
Photograph: Time Out Market Montréal

Our local editors have handpicked the best of the best restaurants and chefs and gathered them under one roof at Time Out Market Montréal. It's a40,000-square-foot culinary and cultural destination that's centrally located downtown in the Centre Eaton de Montréal—the biggest in the city of its kind—stocked with 13 eateries, 6 bars for beer, wine, cocktails and mocktails, a cooking school to learn new tricks and techniques, cultural spaces and more. But don't just take our word for it.

Where to find the best restaurants downtown

1.Île de France

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (6)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (7)

1930s luxury liner vibes? A sumptuouscocktail barand lavishly appointed grand salle with next-level acoustics?Hidden from view for 25 years, this stunning 1930s Art Deco spaceis finally open, and our jaw is on the ground.The restaurant Île de France offers afine diningexperience inspired by the Eaton's 9th floor original menu under the expert guidance of Executive Chef Liam Hopkins (Hopkins, McKiernan,Park) and Culinary Director Derek Dammann (Maison Publique, McKiernan, Fifteen).

2.YAMA
Photograph: YAMA

The brand new YAMA in the Vogue Hotel is easilyone of thebuzziest restaurantsin the city right now, partly for the setting, partly for Chef Antonio Park’s food. Chef Park was born in Argentina to Korean parents, and spent time in Brazil and Paraguay before eventually moving to Montreal. YAMA is the latest of his many restaurants (helloParkandJatoba), and a chance to get a fresh take on his multicultural approach to seafood, both raw and cooked. The glittering, twinkling scene in the newly redesigned dining room is also an attraction in itself. Make sure tostop at the bar: it’s a handsome place to stand and try one of the classic cocktails—a martini seems fitting—while crowd-watching.

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3.Hiatus
Photograph: Hiatus

With panoramic views of Montreal’s skyline and an all-star line-up of chefs, Place Ville Marie in downtown Montreal is the spot to be.Sprawled across the 45th and 46th floors of Place Ville Marie — one of the city’s mosticonic buildings— Hiatus is a top tierrooftopexperience.With breathtaking, panoramic views of the city anddowntownMontreal, Hiatus transforms from acafé-baron the 45th floor during the day to an intimatedining experiencein the evening one floor above.

4.Terrasse Alizé
Photograph: Terrasse Alizé

Perched on the 9th floor of one of the buzziest hotelsdowntown, this new terrasse is raising the bar. Heated and covered, Terrasse Alizé—situated atop the Humaniti Hotel Montréal—is an urban oasis filled with plants, perennials and an elevatedhidden gardenthat’s open rain or shine.The buzzy new terrasse concept from H3 Group andChef Jean-Sébastien Giguère(the chef-partner behind La Cabane du Coureur, Le Coureur des Bois,ClimatsatTime Out Market Montréaland Restaurant h3) is also bringing the next-level food.

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5.Bar George
Photograph: Cindy La

One of Montreal's most romantic spots according to Antoni Porowski, this spot is situated in a gorgeous, historic space inside a swanky boutique hotel. Bar George’s British Isles-inspired fare (Scotch eggs, Welsh rarebit) is all the more impressive for the wood-panelled, high-ceilinged and exceedingly posh environment it’s served in. The team uses local ingredients to create dishes and cocktails that are as beautiful as the building itself, and if you gorge too much at George, it’s also part of one of the best hotelsin town.

6.Labo Culinaire

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (16)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (17)

On the third floor of the cutting-edge cultural centre known as the SAT, you’ll find culinary inventiveness—and, in summer, a very cool view from the shared tables on the rooftop terrasse. The seasonal menu is simple and short, but always a trip for your taste buds and a way to discover locally foraged flavours. The veggie-forward mains are great for vegetarians but also include choices like Quebec scallops, lamb, beef and more.

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7.Kamúy

At the heart of the city is Place des Festivals, and at the heart of Place des Festivals is this restaurant by chef Paul Toussaint (also of Time Out Market Montréal fame). The ever-evolving Caribbean menu celebrates and elevates island flavours, from jerk shrimp to crispy pork shoulder griots to pillowy doumbreys: sweet potato dumplings that are Haiti’s answer to gnocchi, served up with seasonal seafood and a coconut bisque.

8.Café Vasco da Gama

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (18)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (19)

Get a taste of Portugal with your sandwich today. The downtown mainstay serves crowds of locals as well as visitors from its long counter filled with salads, sweets and next-level sammies, with fillings like duck and fig, pulled lamb or Portuguese charred chicken. For dessert, grab some pastel de nata—egg tarts with an impossibly flaky crust.

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9.Ristorante Beatrice

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (20)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (21)

A downtown staple, Beatrice is as much a sought-after destination for its delicious Italian fare as it is for its lush, romantic terrasse. Beatrice’s dishes might veer somewhat from the traditional, but once you taste the homemade pasta and fresh ingredients, you certainly won’t be complaining—you'll be glowing.

10.Marcus

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (22)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (23)

The Four Seasons Hotel houses this fashionable restaurant signed by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. The Nordic, Ethiopian influenced food attracts celebrities of the Québec kind with its fish-forward inventiveness, mix-and-match menu, interactive cocktails (involving smoke or sparklers) and star dishes (try the sashimi). Weekday lunch and weekend brunch offer a more affordable way to get the Samuelsson experience.

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11.Fiorellino

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (24)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (25)

Let the quintessentially Italian-style chairs engulf you as you sink your teeth into some of the best Italian snack food in town: wood-fired pizzas, homemade salumis and fresh pasta worthy of nonna. The service is fast and effusive, as it should be, making this a great spot for a lunch between appointments—but it’s also warm and cosy enough for a date.

12.Terrasse Carla
Photograph: Maxime Brouillet

This hidden terrasse on the 6th floor of the Hampton Hotel by Hilton will take you and your fellow scenesters to a sunny headspace that channels Saigon of the 1950s. Inspired by Vietnam’s French colonial architecture, Carla’s offers a menu that mixes classic French fare with Vietnamese influences. Try the juicy Saïgon burger for irrefutable proof.

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13.Henri Brasserie Française

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (28)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (29)

From the restored stained glass to the ornate carved ceilings, the historical grandeur of the bejewelled Birks building is enough to feast your eyes on at first impressions. Slide into a lush velvet booth for the refined French fare, and splurge on the shareable seafood platter for a glittering dinner. Or opt for a more casual, quick lunch of steak tartare or Caesar salad.

14.Café Parvis

Right next to its big sister Furco, this café is more “morning person” to Furco’s “night owl”, with a sunnier vibe and a focus on lunchtime (though both places are open all day and into the night). The protein-topped salads are worth coming back for again and again, but the favoured order among the local business set are the pizzas.

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15.Furco

Light up any day or night downtown with a visit to this rad and ragamuffin bar, where the casual wood-laden décor makes for a cosy context for tasty cocktails and an interesting private import wine list. The food is straightforward, homey, filling and simply yummy—the lamb kefta was a recent hit, and the charcuterie board a distinct 5 à 7 favourite.

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16.Ferreira Café

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (30)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (31)

The Plateau’s Little Portugal neighbourhood isn’t the only place to get top-quality Portuguese food in Montreal. Ferreira has been a downtown staple since the mid-90s and its fresh, high-end takes on Portuguese classics include dishes like grilled octopus and Portuguese-style oysters. The attractive Peel Street eatery offers an impressive selection of imported products from Portugal, line-caught fish flown in by plane and (we saved the best for last) a stunningcovered terrasse for the summer.

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17.Nora Gray

In a city flush with quality Italian food, Nora Gray is among the best of the best. Tucked away near the Bell Centre, this bustling spot just outside of the downtown core is more modern Italian fare than nonna’s kitchen, but it’s regularly named one of the best restaurants (period) in Montreal, let alone Canada.

18.LOV

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (34)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (35)

This aesthetically pleasing plant-based resto (with two locations downtown) is proof that vegetarian food can be exciting and innovative—not just for vegetarians, but for all lovers of great food and impressive presentation. The casual menu includes burgers and modern takes on comfort food classics and isn’t strictly vegan (egg dishes are available and substitutions can be made for “real” cheese), but even without the animal by-products, LOV’s veggie fare is full of flavour and consistently crowd-pleasing.

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19.Bouillon Bilk

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (36)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (37)

This outwardly unassuming spot is off the beaten path on the lower end of Saint-Laurent, but inside its as fresh and contemporary as anything in the city. Staffed with a front-of-house team that’s passionate and informative about the dishes they’re serving, chef François Nadon is behind a menu that is meticulous and innovative, all beautifully presented in a famously minimalist setting.

20.Cadet

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (38)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (39)

Run by the same team as Bouillon Bilk, Cadet is mere steps down the road on Saint-Laurent, with a similar minimalist style to its more formal big brother. Fresh, creative dishes are coupled with friendly, attentive service, and their cocktails and desserts are major fan favourites. If you’re a fan of seafood restaurantsin particular, you gotta eat here.

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21.Il Focolaio

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (40)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (41)

This wood-fired pizza joint’s extensive menu includes just about every combination of toppings one could possibly hope for. A downtown mainstay located on Phillips Square near the corner of Sainte-Catherine, Il Focolaio is also dietary restriction-friendly; most of their 77 pizzas can be made gluten-free and all of them can be done with vegan cheese if that’s your thing. Whatever your order, it'll be among the best pizza in Montreal.

22.Jatoba

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (42)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (43)

The Asian-fusion dishes on offer at Jatoba (including dumplings, maki and sashimi) are fresh, delicious and ideal for sharing, but the business district eatery is a must-visit spot even if you only have time for one of their pretty cocktails. The exposed brick-and-glass interior, full of foliage and orange lanterns, makes for one of the most striking dining atmospheres in Montreal.

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23.Escondite

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (44)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (45)

Escondite’s mouth-watering tacos and other creative, Mexican-inspired dishes have made it a popular spot among both locals and visitors alike. Its young, trendy digs (with not one, but two downtown locations) would feel just as much at home in the Plateau, a nice change from the minimalism aimed at the business crowd found elsewhere. The food is as fun as it is delicious, and it’s best washed down with one of their tequila-based cocktails.

24.La Habanera

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (46)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (47)

Union Avenue spot La Habanera is the brainchild of the same team behind the nearby Escondite, and the creativity found in the latter is just as evident in this kitschy Cuban bar and eatery. The specialties here are small plates that combine Cuban classics with other cuisines like smoked meat croquetas or fried chicken bao. They also offer plenty of rum-based cocktails (including various mojitos, natch). Full of delightfully cluttered tropical décor, Habanera’s tables are often as busy as the art on the walls.

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25.Le Taj

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (48)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (49)

Le Taj was one of the very first Indian restaurants in Montreal and remains one of the most beloved. The long-time downtown staple (also servind delicious dishes at Time Out Market Montreal) has a large evening à la carte menu; its fare's a standardbearer as far as local Indian spots go,due to its beautifully flavoured touches and how it's served in an elegant setting.

26.Sushi Okeya Kyujiro

One of the first restaurants in the city to offer an exclusively omasake experience, Sushi Okeya Kyujiro features a 20+ tasting menu highlighting fresh fish flown in from all over the world. Don't miss the omasake brunch on weekends.

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27.Campo

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (50)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (51)

There’s no shortage of delicious rotisserie chicken in Montreal, most of it concentrated around the Plateau. But Campo, a relative newcomer opened by the same team behind Ferreira Café, still manages to stand out from the crowd with its casual fare, making for an ideal stop for a finger-licking treat. Check out its Time Out Market Montréal location in the Eaton Centre downtown.

28.Maison Boulud

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (52)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (53)

Renowned French chef Daniel Boulud’s Montreal restaurant is as luxurious as you’d expect from an eatery situated in the Ritz-Carlton hotel, with a luxurious menu and wine list to match. It’s not all foie gras and veal tartare, though; they also do a popular burger for lunch and sport a solid buffet for breakfast.

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29.Yoko Luna
Photograph: Yoko Luna

Montreal’s largest-yet supperclub is emblematic of the downtown nightlife scene, with its larger-than-life décor and eye popping entertainment. Its Peruvian-Japanese menu, by contrast, is full of refined flavours that will excite the palate without overwhelming. The sticky sesame ribs are a standout, as are the wagyu ravioli and super yummy Bluefin tuna ceviche, with addictive pops or concha corn and a touch of jalapeño heat.

30.Ganadara

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (56)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (57)

Getting a quality meal downtown doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. Korean fusion spot Ganadara, known for its deep-fried comfort foods (the fried chicken in chili sauce is the cult favourite) is a popular and inexpensive Concordia student haunt. Ganadara is proof that low prices don’t have to equal low quality, even around the Concordia University campus. The line outside can be long, but thanks to the generous portion sizes, you won’t have to worry about eating for a while afterwards.

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31.Tiradito

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (58)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (59)

Serving up Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, Tiradito’s opening in 2016 heralded the introduction of something new and fresh to many Montreal restaurant-goers; a nice change in a city with a strong but not-overly-varied food scene. The eponymous dish, tiradito, is a scrumptious dish of raw fish cut like sashimi. Other menu items include Peruvian ramen and Peruvian poké, all of which guarantee a dining experience unlike anything else you’ll find in Montreal.

32.Otto Yakitori Izakaya

33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (60)
33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (61)

Montreal is full of izakayas, but Otto was the first to specialize in charcoal-grilled yakitori (all parts of the chicken) skewers. It’s a perfect stop for a late-night night and a drink, which make the late opening hours ideal for fuel during a night out, if not just before the bars announce last call. You won’t be going too far, though, as the sake and soju selections here are the real deal.

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33.Rosélys

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33 Best Downtown Montreal Restaurants To Try Right Now (63)

The pressure can be high for the restaurants of high-end hotels, and the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth’s Rosélys delivers. The large, art-deco-inspired space is the site of daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as well as afternoon tea and Sunday brunches, all meals which are as much about the experience as they are about the (French-inspired, this is Montreal after all) food.

Discover more of downtown Montreal

Best things to do in Downtown Montreal
Photograph: Henry MacDonald (@night.shotz)

Amazing things to do in Downtown Montreal are found on every corner, each bursting with arts, culture, food and drink.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

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