The best 30 restaurants around Montréal’s Bell Centre
Restaurants Downtown
Downtown Montréal offers no shortage of dining destinations, but when the clock is ticking before a big game or show at the Bell Centre, your choice matters. That’s where this guide comes in, pairing proximity with personality to ensure your evening starts on the right note. With walking times for each spot, you can plan meals that suit your pace and your group—whether it’s a quick bite with friends, a family-friendly option (sometimes where kids can eat on the cheap!), or a romantic dinner for two. From crowdpleaser food halls and casual eats to upscale bistros, these selections cater to every craving before the main event.
For friends
Mythik, Lucille's, Canti Osteria & Bar, Ibérica, Bazarette, Restaurant Kamúy, Siam Restaurant, Deville Dinerbar, Otto Yakitori, L'Ô - Restaurant and Lounge, La Medusa Restaurant, Mise au Jeu
Mythik
Walking time: 1 minute
Mythik’s speakeasy-style restaurant and bar combines a farm-to-table menu with an extensive selection of wines and cocktails. The focus on local ingredients ensures fresh, seasonal dishes, while the space’s modern design and live DJ add energy to the evening. Whether you’re planning a pre-game meal or a post-show drink, Mythik provides a balance of quality, convenience, and ambiance just steps from the action.
1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Lucille’s Avenue des Canadiens
Walking time: 1 minute
This venture from the Lucille Restaurant Group brings their focus on seafood to downtown Montréal in a package that'll meet the needs of professionals, sports fans, and seafood lovers alike. A varied selection of surf and turf ensures there’s something to please every palate, from Atlantic lobster rolls and wood-fired chicken to Angus beef tartare and platters of oysters. That's all served in a space outfitted with screens and a sound system tuned to games that'll help any diner get amped for a coming match at the Bell Centre.
1065 Drummond Street
Canti Osteria & Bar
Walking time: 4 minutes
Canti Osteria & Bar’s combination of Italian comfort and downtown energy creates a laid-back spot for game nights and concert preambles. On the menu, they lean on classics—handmade pasta, fresh focaccia, and steaks—while also throwing a nod to those chasing hearty burgers. A go-to for ticket holders, the resto-bar is only open during event nights, making it a buzzy hub for intermissions and post-game debriefs. Casual yet dynamic, it’s the kind of place where you’ll find a table full of friends sharing good food and drinks alongside pre-game anticipation. Reserve early, especially if you’re rolling deep.
1275 Saint-Antoine Street West
Ibérica
Walking time: 10 minutes
Looking for a dining experience where everyone can have a taste before the big show begins? Consider the Spanish tapas of Ibérica: The convenice of its location is one thing, but the level of attention and quality found in its menu make this choice extra special. Everything’s delicious, from the first bite from an assorted cheese plate to grilled seafood and a sumptuous couple of churros for dessert.
1450 Peel Street
Bazarette
Walking time: 5 minutes
Operating just a hop, skip and jump out of the Lucien-L’Allier train station, Bazarette entertains its guests with sharing plates and finger foods like truffle fries and burrata before dishes such as pulled duck sliders and pasta. These go great with cocktails or imported wines, and even better when you consider how you’re located within the Bell Centre’s complex.
1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Restaurant Kamúy
Walking time: 24 minutes
Chef Paul Toussaint’s pan-Caribbean restaurant in the Quartier des Spectacles can be just as good for a good pre-game snack as it can be for full and flavourful dinner before a big show. While it’s a bit further from the action of the Bell Centre, all of Kamúy’s famous classics like jerk chicken, accras and griot will quickly demonstrate how exceptional of a choice it is.
1485 Jeanne-Mance Street
Siam Restaurant
Walking time: 4 minutes
Siam, tucked inside the chic Warwick Hôtel Le Crystal, brings a refined edge to Thai dining minutes from the Bell Centre. The menu serves all the classics you’d want—pad Thai, curries, and aromatic soups—but with contemporary touches. Dishes are made to be shared, encouraging friends to gather at their tables (though their spices, textures, and aromas may not be for every kid). Recognized with a prestigious “Thai Select Premium” certification, it’s a standout choice for those gathering with friends, whether you’re fuelling up before a game or winding down after a show.
1325 René-Lévesque Boulevard West
Deville Dinerbar
Walking time: 8 minutes
The glowing pink neon of 1950s-style diner twisted with nightlife may be first to draw in newcomers with appearance, but it’s Deville Dinerbar’s food and hospitality that keep them coming back. With over a decade of experience under its belt, this restaurant’s punch bowl-sized cocktails and upscaled takes on comfort food like hot dogs and fried chicken don’t disappoint.
1425 Stanley Street
Otto Yakitori
Walking time: 16 minutes
This Japanese restaurant specializing in skewers of chicken, drinks, and a bevy of other dishes both inventive and traditional is a solid bet for when you want to eat a meal that’s meant to be shared. Order up a couple platters of the chef’s selection (make sure to double-check what’ll be served if you have any pickier eaters at the table), a pitcher or two of beer or a hot carafe of sake, and enjoy one another’s company before your show. Reservations are recommended on the weekends.
1441 Saint-Mathieu Street
L'Ô - Restaurant and Lounge
Walking time: 5 minutes
Set within the Novotel Montréal Centre, L’Ô Restaurant and Lounge sports a seasonal menu—think grilled salmon with olive tapenade or a classic AAA striploin—where familiar flavours are presented with a touch of elegance. The space combines sleek modernity with a warm atmosphere that invites lingering, whether it’s during the summer when the terrasse spills onto the street, or when the venue adapts to friend groups rallying after a concert or fuelling up for a game.
1180 de la Montagne Street
La Medusa Restaurant
Walking time: 5 minutes
For over two decades, La Medusa has been serving classic Italian dining just steps from the Bell Centre. This family-run establishment sticks to its roots, crafting dishes with high-quality ingredients. The menu spans antipasti to pizza and features standout options like veal saltimbocca, seafood risotto, and handmade tagliatelle with lobster. Its warm, welcoming vibe pairs perfectly with the rich flavours coming out of the kitchen, while the private dining room offers a sophisticated setting for group events.
1218 Drummond Street
Mise au jeu
Walking time: 3 minutes
Reserved for Club Desjardins members and ticket holders, this exclusive space offers more than just a meal—it’s a hub for fans who appreciate fine dining with a side of history. Executive Chef Yves Lowe crafts a menu served through interactive culinary stations. The pre-game atmosphere crackles with anticipation, while intermissions become an opportunity to indulge in creamy Quebec cheeses or flame-kissed Suzette crêpes. Steps from your seat, this is where the past and present of Habs fandom meet, offering a retreat from the usual arena hustle. Perfect for both pre- and post-game indulgence.
1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
For families
La Cage - Brasserie sportive (Centre Bell), Campo Poulet Portugais, Picks, Time Out Market Montréal, Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten, Tsukuyomi Ramen, Stanley
La Cage - Brasserie sportive (Centre Bell)
Walking time: 1 minute
A staple for over 40 years, this spot offers locally sourced dishes, an strong beer lineup, and screens so massive they rival the action itself. Dive into game-day classics like poutine, fresh salads, or their crowd-favourite wings—half price every Thursday when you dine in. Tuesdays bring $17 pitchers alongside discounted staples, while Wednesdays cater to wine enthusiasts with 50% off bottles. Sundays round it out with $4 kids’ meals, making this a family-friendly haven.
1212 De La Gauchetière West Street
Campo Poulet Portugais
Walking time: 10 minutes
This easy-going restaurant from the Ferreria family focuses on grilled Portuguese chicken, making it an easy choice for when you’ve got kids in tow. You can make things easy and split a whole chicken on the cheap, keep it healthy with some protein-covered salads, and treat you and your loved ones a bit and order a round of poutine for the table.
1108 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Picks
Walking time: 17 minutes
Not only does this Korean-run burger joint near the Bell Centre make an excellent burger, but they’ll build it out as big or as laden with toppings as you like. The only thing you need to take note of is that seating is limited here, but wait times aren’t that long. Otherwise, you can enjoy the long lists of sauces, cheeses, and other toppings to pick from that’ll please kids and hungry adults alike. They also make a mean poutine and kogos, a corn dog that’s studded with French fries you have to try once.
1407 Saint-Marc Street
Time Out Market Montréal
Walking time: 13 minutes
Billed as containing the best restaurants in the city under one roof, this food hall inside of the Eaton Centre is an upscaled place to grab a quick meal. Options range from Italian to Japanese, Middle Eastern to Portuguese chicken, not to mention burgers from one of Montréal’s most lauded chefs, Normand Laprise. Thirsty? There’s always a fresh cocktail menu on offer as well as microbrews and curated wines.
705 Sainte-Catherine Street West
Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten
Walking time: 10 minutes
This trendy food hall found below the Place Ville Marie is a regular go-to for happy hours and easy eats. Combining sit-down experiences like bistro tenants with grab-and-go eateries such as cheeseburgers and Chinese cuisine, dropping in for pre-game or pre-show meals can be as short or as drawn-out as guests like, and that makes this option a steady one—especially when having trouble deciding who wants to eat what where.
1 Place Ville Marie
Tsukuyomi Ramen Bishop
Walking time: 8 minutes
Whether you’re going to see a game during the start of the hockey season and the colder months, or you’re watching planning on watching playoffs when it’s warmer out, there’s never a bad time for ramen. Warm, comforting, and rich, it’s as satisfying to eat as it is quick—especially perfect for when you’re in a rush. The relatively short menu of soups, sides, and donburi bowls of topped rice making stopping in for a bite super easy for the family.
1242 Bishop Street
Stanley
Walking time: 4 minutes
Set within the sleek confines of the renovated Centre Sheraton Montréal, Stanley is a prime choice for any occasion, but before shows and games? The menu’s thoughtful multi-cuisine approach caters to groups looking for variety. Options include everything from umami-packed Brussels sprouts, smoky scallop risotto, and Montréal steak-spiced chicken sandwiches to small plates like tempura-fried pickles and marinated olives for grazers. There are heartier choices—think braised beef short ribs or mushroom ravioli—that are perfect for a pre-event feast.
1201 René-Lévesque Boulevard West
For couples
Hiatus, 9-4-10 Steakhouse, Mercuri 109, Bar George, Restaurant Europea, Tiradito, Marcus, Brasserie Le Pois Penché, Tbsp., Escondite
Hiatus
Walking time: 13 minutes
Few things can beat the views from the dinner tables of Hiatus on the 46th floor of Place Ville Marie. Except for the food, that is: Chef Yoann Therer’s blend of Japanese cuisine and French techniques consistently provide an exceptional experience that’s only matched by the pinpoint precision of the sommeliers and service staff.
1 Place Ville Marie
9-4-10 Steakhouse
Walking time: 4 minutes
This elevated steakhouse pairs perfectly grilled cuts with à la carte sauces and indulgent signature sides—a great choice for those who appreciate a well-seared steak. Not just for carnivores, the menu also features prepared seafood and fish. The atmosphere balances pre-game sophistication with warmth, complemented by attentive service and a sommelier ready to guide you through their wine selection. Open exclusively for ticket holders, 9-4-10 offers a refined retreat before or after the night’s main event.
1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Mercuri 109
Walking time: 6 minutes
Mercuri 109’s intimate 23-seat bar-à-manger in Montréal’s financial district comes from chef Joe Mercuri, a French technique specialist drawing on their Italian heritage and some Asian influences. The menu changes often, but recent menus have included dishes like duck magret, scallop crudo, and truffle ham rigatoni, each prepared and plated before diners’ eyes. Whether you’re seated at the granite bar or a handcrafted wooden table, it’s a dynamic experience here.
1115 Cypress Street
Bar George
Walking time: 8 minutes
The quality of the English and Scottish cuisine of Bar George is only matched by the amazing décor of the Le Mount Stephen Hotel. The experience here should be more than on par with the astounding show or match to see at the Bell Centre with the level of precision it brings to its cocktails and plates, like lobster pasta or foie gras and broccoli served with a silky gribiche sauce.
1440 Drummond Street
Restaurant Europea
Walking time: 3 minutes
Restaurant Europea is where gastronomy and artistry meet: Led by Chef Jérôme Ferrer, a culinary icon celebrated worldwide for his avant-garde creations, this restaurant curates a theatrical and refined experience where guests can savour multi-course menus. Featuring standout dishes like lobster cappuccino and veal with truffle and foie gras, each plate tells a story of Quebec terroir, blending the chef’s French techniques with playful nods to his heritage. It's perfect for an unforgettable evening before or after your downtown Montréal escapades.
1065 de la Montagne Street
Tiradito
Walking time: 18 minutes
Known for singlehandedly elevating Nikkei cuisine in Montréal, Tiradito’s takes on its diasporic combination of Peruvian and Japanese flavours is just as much a draw card as is its sleek interior décor and the energy of its bartenders. From ceviches with leche de tigre and crab causas to anticucho and crispy yuca fries, all of chef Marcel Larrea’s will tempt and delight.
1076 de Bleury Street
Marcus
Walking time: 9 minutes
The Four Seasons Hôtel Montréal’s destination restaurant Marcus first turned heads in the city with its celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson leading its splash on the city’s restaurant scene, but it has maintained and only strengthened its stance by taking on local talents Jason Morris and S’Arto Chartier-Otis for its kitchen. Seafood reigns supreme here, whether it’s oysters or towers of chilled lobster tails and scallops before the main act of a night out.
1440 de la Montagne Street
Brasserie Le Pois Penché
Walking time: 10 minutes
Those looking for some luxury before their trip to the Bell Centre would do well to pay a visit to this classic bistro that’s been a local standard-bearer for French food since 2007. Diners can splurge on seafood towers and steak-frites, or keep things light with a range of salads and soups du jour. It’s best to plan for prolonged visit here, however; you’d do a disservice to dinner if you tried to eat and drink within 20 minutes.
1230 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Tbsp.
Walking time: 16 minutes
This swish spot inside the W MONTRÉAL hotel isn’t reserved for guests by any means. Cuddle up on its leather banquettes wrapping around the dining room and indulge in either its tasting or shared menus, or split some of its luxurious options like grilled tomahawk steaks, delicate pasta, and wild game appetizers.
901 Square-Victoria Street
Escondite
Walking time: 6 minutes
Tostadas, ceviches, and tacos both inventive and traditional, Escondite excels at serving the crowds of Downtown Montréal memorable experiences in an interior that pops with colour and neon. Those who love Mexican restaurants for their selections of tequila and mezcal should take note, as this place has one of the better selections in town.
1224 Drummond Street
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.