Montréal’s award-winning restaurants
Montréal is a fantastic food city with such an amazing range of restaurants that it can sometimes be difficult to choose just one. With fabulous flavours and unique culinary experiences in every neighbourhood, it’s no wonder that so many of the city’s establishments have made their way to the top of several prestigious lists. So bring your appetite and get ready to discover Montréal’s award-winning cuisine.
Mon Lapin
No. 1 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
This jewel of a neighbourhood restaurant has been voted the best restaurant in Canada two years in a row. Borne from the brilliant minds of chefs and co-owners Marc-Olivier Frappier and Jessica Noël, the Mon Lapin menu is comprised of memorable small plates highlighting Québec’s terroir such as the instantly classic croque-pétoncle or the buckwheat cake that’s been on the menu since day 1. The wine list offers privately imported, natural and biodynamic wines carefully selected by sommeliers and co-owners Vanya Filipovic and Alex Landry from small producer friends from around the world. The service is carried out flawlessly by Marc-Antoine Gélinas, the fifth owner of this winning team. Reservations are a must at this sought-after spot.
Beba
No. 8 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Two Joe Beef alumni brothers open an Argentinian restaurant with heavy Italian and Spanish influences on a sleepy corner of Verdun and it instantly becomes a hit. Beba serves magnificent, flavourful comfort food in a lively ambiance. It’s the kind of restaurant you wish was on the corner of your street so you can indulge in its beautiful food, service and style several times a week.
Monarque
No. 11 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Monarque’s grandiose Old Montréal project includes a brasserie, a fine dining restaurant and an impressively long bar. The entire space’s design is absolutely stunning! The brasserie menu includes classics such as lobster Thermidor and escargots as well as more seasonal dishes while the dining room’s menu, designed as a three-course meal, leans more towards fine dining.
Montréal Plaza
No. 13 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
A meal at Montréal Plaza Restaurant will always surprise and delight. The dining room has a modern crisp ambiance with quirky accent pieces that will make you do a double take (wave hello to Elmo!) and the buzzing ambiance is like none other. Try the tasting menu to sample some extraordinary dishes or order items to share with your dining companions. All will result in a great night out.
Restaurant Toqué!
No. 19 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
A staple on the Montréal restaurant scene since 1993, chef Normand Laprise’s restaurant is built on his passion and commitment to shedding a spotlight on Québec’s local and seasonal ingredients. Beautiful and delightful dishes and exceptional service make a meal at Restaurant Toqué! an experience to remember. There’s a reason this restaurant has been part of Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants since 2015!
Cabaret L’Enfer
No. 21 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Cabaret L’Enfer is one of Montréal’s most refined establishments. Having honed his skills at Le Mousso and Noma among others, chef Massimo Piedimonte’s cooking combines French technique with his Italian background to create a unique take on fine cuisine. The minimal plating is like a work of art and the service is always on point but the ambiance is fun and casual.
Joe Beef
No. 41 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
A former number one on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants, trailblazing Joe Beef is still making waves on the Montréal food scene. Over-the-top refined Lyon-inspired cuisine, a boisterous ambiance and a flawless service are what set this restaurant apart. The back terrasse and garden are a slice of paradise on a warm summer night.
Salle Climatisée
No. 50 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Salle Climatisée menu consists of sharing plates cooked with care in order to let every local and seasonal ingredient from small Québec farms shine. “Nothing new, something special” is their motto and it fits this neighbourhood restaurant perfectly. Head there for a relaxed and inviting ambiance and a immensely fun time.
Below is a list of more Montréal award-winning restaurants with their specific rank on the 2024 Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list:
Au Pied de Cochon – No. 51
L'Express – No. 53
Otto – No. 54
Paloma – No. 55 (now closed)
Nora Gray – No. 56
Lawrence – No. 60
Bar St-Denis – No. 63
Pichai – No. 68
Bouillon Bilk – No. 69
Alma – No. 72
Mastard – No. 73
Sabayon – No. 79
Le Vin Papillon – No. 80
Foxy – No. 83
Gia Vin et Grill – No. 84
Casavant – No. 87
Liverpool House – No. 93
Hoogan et Beaufort – No. 96
Le Mousso – No. 98
Park – No. 100
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.