Where to eat in Old Montréal around the Cirque du Soleil's Big Top
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: If you have tickets to see any one of the astounding shows full of acrobatics and artistry under the Big Top of Cirque du Soleil’s in the Old Port of Montréal, you’ll want to take advantage of the equally astounding restaurants in the area. When the eating is this good, it only adds to the entertainment: The work of so many skilled chefs and their institutions is easily within walking distance, so the entire evening can be turned into a show with a stellar meal.
Big eats for the Big Top
A circus show from Cirque du Soleil can take a lot out of you, and that means you’re going to need a lot of energy for the big show—or maybe you’re just in a celebratory mood, as you’ll be witnessing some of the world’s most famous circus performers taking to the stage.
One of the best ways to do that is with a sizeable steak dinner, and that’s where some of Old Montréal’s restaurants shine the most. Restaurants like Vieux-Port Steakhouse have been serving huge cuts of prime beef since 1983, while more recent spots like Taverne Gaspar will make a tidy seven-ounce steak-frites. There’s also Maggie Oakes, where they put a hot grill to work to cook up dishes like a contre filet aged for 55 days before being served with wild mushrooms and fingerling potatoes, all smothered in a bordelaise sauce. If any of this sound like it would be better washed down with a beer than Bordeaux, try eating from the long menus of 3 Brasseurs Saint-Paul.
Less bombastic but no less delicious, there’s the refined French bistro eats of Modavie where filling plates of classics like ratatouille, braised lamb pappardelle, and mushroom risottos can be had. The same can be said of Bevo Bar + Pizzeria, where all the headlining Italian classics are on offer, from pizza and pasta to creamy burrata and meatballs in tomato-basil sauce.
Elegant eats before the electricity
Sometimes you want your evening out on the town before a big show to be quieter and more contemplative, allowing everything to start softly before rising to a crescendo.
For those looking for that kind of experience, they’ll want to strongly consider a lighter and refined meal from somewhere like the immaculately designed Un Po’ di Piu, where Italian dishes like fresh pasta and focaccia are served alongside seasonal greens and an impressive selection of Italian wines and precise cocktails. There’s also the sophisticated Portuguese fare of Helena, where there are as many tapas of croquettes and grilled seafood as there are specialties like pan-seared cod steak in a gorgeous dining room by local designer Agostino De Reggi.
For the seafood lovers, there is Chez Delmo. The menu showcases a variety of traditional fish and seafood specialties the likes of Dover sole, lobster Thermidor, lobster bisque and walleye amandine as well as novelties such as lobster rolls and salmon tartare.
Maybe you’ll want more of an escapist experience, so head over to Jacopo for a dining room inspired by the al fresco dining found on the magnificent streets of ancient Rome.
There’s also the institution Holder, a large European-style brasserie where the after-work energy of Montrealers can be enjoyed at its best over wines and classics like mussels or braised beef cheek. Mélisse' intimate dining room and its superb terrace overlooking Old Montréal will have you craving some more of its Mediterranean-influenced cuisine.
Getting vibes up before the lights go down
If you don’t want the party to stop during your night out under the Big Top, it’s best start the night—or end it—with one of the more energetic offerings in Old Montréal.
The best places to do so will be at Santos, a Latin bar and restaurant that practically transforms into a nightclub in the later hours of the evening. Whether you choose to go before or after your show, you need to enjoy some of their tacos, the half-chicken with mole negro, or the 12-ounce dry-aged ribeye. Just remember that Tuesdays are Ladies’ Night where women drink free with a purchase of $40 of food between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Wednesdays have $5 for select tacos and bottomless margaritas for $60.
The Farsides is equally upbeat, if not more, thanks to the eclectic interior design and a delicious menu of Hawaiian & Thai cuisine. Enjoy the heavy beats of their DJ and enjoy a cocktail (or three) in a unique space along with equally unique food like Peking duck tacos, ‘Thaiwaiian’ steak-frites, lobster pad Thai, and either a pineapple Dole whip or Hawaiian sweet buns served with condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, and blueberries for dessert. Come nightfall, don’t be surprised to see the table next to you taking advantage of their bottle service.
Snacking before the spectacle
Maybe you don’t want to have a big meal, or even a light meal, and that’s OK: There’s plenty in the area for you to enjoy without breaking the bank or your belt.
Le Cartet has been known for a great weekend brunch just as much as it has been for light lunches and take-out plates since 1999. There’s also the Mediterranean bites of Babacool, where the mezze you order can weigh down the table as much as it does keep things light and simple with wine by the glass or bottle. The Mexican restaurant La Catrina is similar in how their tacos alone can provide a meal that both light and substantial, but there are options like oyster platters and a significant selection of tequila if you get into a more libationary mood. Finally, as seafood tends to be a lighter option on most menus, you’ll be best served by going to a restaurant that specializes in it like the lobster bar Pincette - Bar à homard. Their raw bar allows you to pick and choose at your leisure, but if someone you’re eating with wants something heavier, just point them to the snow crab mac and cheese or lobster poutine served with a bisque gravy.
JP Karwacki
JP Karwacki is a Montréal-based writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Time Magazine, the Montreal Gazette, National Post, Time Out, NUVO Magazine, and more. Having called the city home for over a decade and a half, he regularly focuses on spreading the good word about the amazing things to eat, drink and do in Montréal. One half raconteur and the other flâneur (with just a dash of boulevardier), when he wasn’t working on the frontlines of the city's restaurants and bars, he spent his time thinking about, reading about and writing about restaurants and bars.