Montreal is renowned as one of the best foodie destinations in the world. From street food vendors with a difference to luxury fine dining and everything in between, some of the city’s best restaurants can be found in the downtown area, where the nightlife is always buzzing. From breakfast through brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacking and drinking, the best restaurants in downtown Montreal promise a memorable meal out.
Enjoy a Portuguese private dining experience and treat the whole gang to something a little bit special, with a family-style menu specifically designed for sharing. Get your New Year party plans started with a reservation at a bistro-style hotspot with special Christmas and NYE feast menus. Or take your date to one of the most glamorous spots in all of Montreal, with vintage decor reminiscent of the roaring twenties.
Guarantee your spot at one of the best restaurants in downtown Montreal by booking on OpenTable today.
The best restaurants in downtown Montreal – read on for a guide
For seasonal Mediterranean fare – visit Le Carré Restaurant
Quebec local products inspire Mediterranean-style cuisine at Le Carré Restaurant , where quality is the primary consideration for inclusion. Refined yet friendly, with a cozy, chic interior, Le Carré is an all-occasion dining destination. From lunch at the counter to a romantic date night, a business dinner or a private booking for a special event, the team are on hand to ensure everything is perfect. The menu is renewed regularly to reflect the freshest and highest quality of available produce. Highlights include dishes such as home-smoked salmon with Grissini, saffron and scallop risotto with pumpkin cream and coriander oil, and tuna tataki with lobster bisque and mango salsa.
For the best French restaurant in Montreal downtown – book a table at Le Pois Penché
Le Pois Penché specialises in comfort foods inspired by French cooking. Think rich bouillabaisse with scallops, mussels and shrimp, duck confit with peppercorn sauce and fingerling potatoes, and Canadian prime rib steak with your choice of sauces and sides. Or for a luxury sharer, try the chilled seafood platter with whole lobster, assorted oysters, shrimps, mussels, scallop ceviche, salmon tartare and Spanish anchovies for the table. All this and more are served Parisian-style, out on the leafy terrace, or in the opulent indoor dining room. The hospitality is always as warm and welcoming as the food, from brunch right through to supper.
For contemporary dining in heritage surroundings – visit Bar George
The romance, the glamour and the decadence of old Paris stand in Montreal in the form of Bar George. Situated in a restored heritage building that used to belong to the famous Sir George Stephen, this dramatic venue combines the old and new, bringing old-world style to a modern rendezvous. From breakfast through to supper, from group bookings to a lunch at the bar and a catch-up with your favourite bartender, Bar George is a real downtown destination. Menu highlights include the George’s full English breakfast with hen’s eggs and black pudding, duck breast with beet gel and citrus duck jus, and lobster risotto with makrut lime and mint oil. Add a signature cocktail, such as the Tehuana Fuego with mezcal, agave and ananas, and you have a night out to remember.
For private dining, Sunday brunch and afternoon – book at Rosélys
If brunch is your thing, then Rosélys is a must-try. It boasts a spectacular Sunday brunch, with a private reception area on the mezzanine level for exclusive bookings. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light during the day and offer a view across the square to the Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral. As the festive season approaches, Rosélys brings new delights to the table. Book a festive afternoon tea with a mixture of sweets, savouries and a little Christmas magic from the 23rd to the 31st of December between noon and 2:30 pm. Take the stress out of Christmas Day with a four-course menu on the 25th of December, or ring the New Year in with style with an eight-course menu, live jazz band and champagne.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in downtown Montreal – pull up a chair at Fiorellino
A classic Mediterranean dining experience imported directly from Italy, Fiorellino is one of the best Italian restaurants in downtown Montreal for groups and families. This delightful hotspot delivers traditional dishes with an innovative twist, the lifelong dream of four friends who finally realised their ambition. Perhaps start with a Cesare salad or grilled beef short ribs with salsa verde. Move on to seafood bucatini with parsley, garlic and chilli, or an Angus striploin fillet with red wine sauce and chimichurri. Or, for the vegetarians, try fluffy mushroom gnocchi with truffle paste and parmesan, or a hand-stretched pizza with your choice of toppings.
For one of the best restaurants in downtown Montreal for special occasions – try something different at COMMODORE restaurant
One of the best French restaurants in downtown Montreal offering both outdoor and indoor dining in vibrant, romance-filled spaces, COMMODORE restauranto is a must-try hotspot. This restaurant is inspired by vintage decor and offers a classic French bistro menu focusing on the highest quality of ingredients and the latest cooking techniques. Pop into the Commodore Café and grab a bite – perhaps a homemade soup or avocado toast – alongside a barista-made coffee that will set you up for the day. Or head to COMMODORE restaurant for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner – the weekend French toast brunch is not to be missed. In the evening, sample lobster bisque cappuccino, roasted duck breast with gratin dauphinois, or smoked oyster mushrooms with pumpkin seed pesto.
For a taste of Portugal in the heart of Montreal – visit Ferreira Café
An inspired chef, a visionary owner and a dedicated team of talented individuals make Ferreira Café one of the best restaurants in downtown Montreal. Discover the Portugal of today without leaving the city, with a menu inspired by the Mediterranean and a dining experience that promotes conviviality, warmth and sharing. For an exclusive experience or group event, try the salle privée – private dining for anywhere from 36 to 72 seated, or as many as 120 for a standing cocktail and canape reception. Take breakfast, lunch or dinner in your own unique space, with a sommelier on hand for optional wine pairings and an event coordinator provided free of charge. Whether dining privately or in the main restaurants, showstopping dishes could include confit octopus terrine with black olive aioli, duck confit and mushroom risotto with a port wine reduction, and 60-day dry-aged rib steak from Marchand du Bourg. Try happy hour for great deals, or dine family-style with a sharing menu.
For the best French restaurant in downtown Montreal – check out Henri Brasserie Française in Downtown
As part of the new Montreal five-star Hotel Birks, Henri Brasserie Française promises grandeur and glamour. From the 19th-century elegance of the interior to the spectacular outdoor space on the terrace, the decor evoked opulent luxury. Restored stained glass forms a showpiece around which velvet upholstered booths are gathered on a wooden chevron floor. Showcasing the very best ingredients from throughout Quebec and Canada, the seasonal menu is created by a team with decades of culinary experience. Think half-cooked duck foie gras with fig condiments, lobster with a lemon truffle mayonnaise, and crispy sweetbreads with oyster mushroom and asparagus in a Noily-Prat sauce.
For one of the best restaurants with a view in Montreal – take a trip to Marcus
As part of the Four Seasons, Marcus is a chich hotspot and one of the best restaurants in downtown Montreal. Contemporary and vibrant, and with stunning views across the cityscape from the terrace, this is more of a destination than a restaurant. Stylish, relaxed and inviting for all occasions, from business breakfasts to evening cocktails and everything in between. Local and international ingredients are combined expertly, with a focus on fresh seafood. The signature dish at Marcus is the Picadilly – pasta with lobster and chilli. Before indulging, take a seafood tour, with fresh oysters, Nordic shrimp salad, snow crab and cocktail shrimp for the table. Add sweet and sour eggplant with Quebec maple syrup, A5 Wagyu beef from Japan with a wedge salad, or black Canadian cod with edamame, or opt for the expérience comptoir du chef for the full experience.
For a fun night out with a group and cocktails at sunset – take your seat at Muze Lounge & Terrasse in Downtown
A hidden tropical oasis in the heart of downtown Montreal, Muze Lounge & Terrasse brings a taste of the Mediterranean, rain or shine. The covered terrace is spacious and verdant, with sweeping views across the Quartier des Spectacles. Daydream about holidaying on the continent, or, simply soak up the late summer sun. In the winter months, retreat to the cosy lounge area, where DJ nights and a diverse cocktail menu complement the culinary offerings. Try the Mediterranean tacos with fried calamari and tzatziki or the Angus beef tataki to start, then add a Muze tuna burger with wasabi or the Muze signature papaya salad with tiger prawns and roasted peanuts. For group events, private dining is also available for bookings of between 50 and 300 people year-round.
For one of the best bars in Montreal – hit up Deville Dinerbar
American-inspired comfort food to feed the soul is Deville Dinerbar‘s specialty. A modern cocktail bar meets an old-school diner, and the two pull off a vibrant result that draws in locals and visitors alike each night. Start with a signature Smoky Flower cocktail, featuring tequila, smashed mint and chartreuse, before perusing the dinner menu for something to soak it up. Perhaps try the famous deep-fried mac and cheese wontons with Diablo marinara sauce. Or push the boat out with lobster spaghetti in a champagne cream sauce or A5 Japanese Wagyu beef ribeye with Hawaiian black sea salt.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in downtown Montreal for pizza – feed the family at TIAMO in Downtown
There’s nothing better than a pizza night out with the gang, and TIAMO delivers some of the best pizza in town. Plus, handmade pasta, meats grilled to perfection, vegetarian delights and more, all with that famous Italian passion for culinary quality and excellent hospitality. If you’re looking for a fun night out with friends or a real gem to take the family to for lunch, TIAMO could be your new local. TIAMO has recently added weekend brunch to its offering, so you can start your weekend even earlier. The cocktail menu is also mentioned favourably by locals, with innovative signature creations alongside modern classics. Enchanting decor, welcoming staff and an eclectic menu make for a memorable night out.
Montreal is an amazing destination for foodies and aspiring gourmets, with a plethora of restaurants of every description. Some of the best restaurants are in downtown Montreal, where the nightlife is vibrant and packed with an eclectic mix of people and tastes, from jazz bars and live music venues to rooftop terraces and elegant fine dining.
Book yourself a table at one of the best restaurants in downtown Montreal with OpenTable.
If you’re looking for great restaurants in Montreal in other districts, discover more with these great guides:
- 12 exceptional Italian restaurants to try in Montreal
- 10 of the best rooftop restaurants and bars in Montreal
- The best family restaurants in Montreal for a fun meal out
- The best terrace restaurants in Montreal for outdoor dining
- The best brunch in Montreal for a great start to the day
- The best date restaurants in Montreal for a romantic night out
- The 12 best restaurants in Montreal for celebrating right now
- The 10 best restaurants in Montreal and surrounds for a fabulous night out
- 9 of the best Greek restaurants in Montreal for a feast to remember
