Top Montréal restaurants for the gourmet traveller

Restaurant Toqué!

Restaurant Toqué! is the acclaimed fine dining flagship that launched Montréal’s culinary revolution under Chef Normand Laprise. For over 30 years, this refined Québécois restaurant spotlights seasonal, locally sourced ingredients through elegant tasting menus in a polished downtown dining room. Its imposing glass-enclosed cellar housing over 700 bottles underscores the restaurant’s commitment to exceptional pairings.

Located in Quartier international de Montréal, steps from Old Montréal and the Palais des congrès, Toqué! is a cornerstone for gourmet travellers exploring the city’s fine dining scene.

Why go: For a fine dining experience par excellence.

900 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle  

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La Chronique

La Chronique is a refined French fine dining institution in Montréal, celebrated for over 30 years of market-driven cuisine and impeccable service. Led by chefs Marc de Canck and Olivier de Montigny, the restaurant presents French cuisine with a personal twist, highlighting Québec’s seasonal ingredients through tasting and à la carte menus in an elegant, understated setting. The award-winning wine cellar impresses, and desserts are not to be missed. Located in Outremont on Laurier Avenue, it’s a timeless yet vibrant dining destination.

Why go: For the best seasonal foie gras dishes in the city.

104 Laurier Avenue West
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Maison Boulud

Maison Boulud is the refined French fine dining destination inside the The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal, bringing Chef Daniel Boulud’s cuisine to Montréal’s Golden Square Mile. Rooted in classic French technique and Québec’s seasonal ingredients, it offers tasting and à la carte menus in an elegant setting. Dine near the stoves, by the fireplace, in the bright conservatory, or on the garden terrace in summer, where you’ll forget you’re in the heart of the city.

Located in the Golden Square Mile, Maison Boulud is a polished yet welcoming address for gourmet travellers.

Why go: For refined French cuisine in one of Montréal’s most beautiful dining rooms.

1228 Sherbrooke Street West 
 
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Ferreira Café

Ferreira Café is Montréal’s leading ambassador of refined Portuguese cuisine, blending tradition and modern flair in the heart of downtown. Founded by Carlos Ferreira in 1996, the family-run restaurant pairs pristine seafood and Portuguese flavours with a chic yet inviting atmosphere and one of the most iconic terrasses in Montréal. It’s equally suited to an intimate dinner or a lively group gathering, all just steps from Peel Street’s bustle.

Why go: For impeccably sourced seafood and an elevated taste of Portugal.

1446 Peel Street

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Joe Beef

Joe Beef is the iconic Montréal restaurant that helped redefine the city’s modern bistro scene with its bold, market-driven cuisine. The food blends French technique with Québécois ingredients in a rich, indulgent style served in a cozy, art-filled dining room. The wines are natural and biodynamic and flow with generosity. The ambiance is boisterous, loud and absolutely iconic.

Located in Little Burgundy, Joe Beef remains a pilgrimage spot for gourmet travellers seeking an unapologetically decadent Montréal experience.

Why go: For the quintessential, over-the-top night out.

2491 Notre-Dame Street West
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Chez Delmo

Chez Delmo is a historic seafood institution, serving classic French-inspired fish dishes since 1934. The menu has changed little since its opening, and the restaurant has remained steadfast in its devotion to cuisine Classique of quality seafood prepared traditionally and without embellishment. The dining room blends old-world charm with storied details, from the salvaged iron sign to the granite bar and some of the bar stools. 

Located in Old Montréal, near the port, Chez Delmo is a timeless stop for lovers of classic seafood.

Why go: For beautifully prepared Dover sole meunière and a taste of Montréal’s culinary heritage.

275 Notre-Dame Street West  

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Le Filet

Le Filet is a modern French seafood destination in Montréal, celebrated for its inventive approach to classic seafood and sushi-inspired preparations. The cuisine combines meticulously sourced local fish and shellfish with global influences in a sleek, contemporary setting. Located in Plateau-Mont-Royal across the street from Park Jeanne Mance, guests can enjoy an intimate bar experience or the main dining room. 

Why go: For expertly crafted fish and seafood dishes.

219 Mont-Royal Avenue West 
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Le St-Urbain

Le St-Urbain is a contemporary Montréal bistro that celebrates classic French-inspired cuisine with a modern, approachable flair. The menu highlights seasonal Québec ingredients through thoughtfully executed dishes in a bright, elegant dining room. Located in Ahuntsic, the space balances sophistication with warmth, making it ideal for an intimate soirée paired with exceptional wines. 

Why go: For a destination restaurant with beautifully crafted dishes.

96 Fleury West 
 
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Le Serpent

Le Serpent is a contemporary brasserie in Montréal’s Griffintown, blending Italian-inspired cuisine with a bold, modern spirit. Opened in 2013 in the art-centric Darling Foundry, the restaurant preserves the industrial character of the building, while showcasing its contemporary design enhanced by integrated contemporary artworks. Le Serpent’s cuisine features a strong Italian-inspired menu and a high-quality wine list.

Why go: For inventive Italian-inspired cuisine in a stylish, art-filled industrial space.

257 Prince Street  

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Estiatorio Milos

Estiatorio Milos is an internationally acclaimed restaurant renowned for introducing authentic Greek cuisine to the world and serving as a culinary icon since the opening of its original location in Montréal’s Mile End in 1979. Founded by Chef Costas Spiliadis, the restaurant emphasizes simple, exceptionally sourced ingredients, particularly fresh seafood. Its atmosphere blends warmth and inviting comfort with refined decor and timeless elegance. One of the main design elements is the open fish bar that showcases the fresh catch of the day.

Why go: For a taste of the Greek Isles.

5357 Parc Avenue  

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Bouillon Bilk

Bouillon Bilk is a minimalist fine dining restaurant renowned for its refined, market-driven cuisine presenting contemporary dishes rooted in French technique and shaped by Québec’s seasonal ingredients. The elegant and understated dining room feels serene and design-forward, placing full focus on the artistry of the plate. Located near Quartier des Spectacles, Bouillon Bilk is a destination for gourmet travellers seeking thoughtful, ingredient-driven cuisine in an elegant urban setting.

Why go: For beautifully composed seasonal tasting menus.

22 Sainte-Catherine Street East

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Le Mousso

Le Mousso is a world-class fine dining restaurant celebrated for its meticulously crafted experience. Under the guidance of Chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard, Le Mousso offers a sensory journey in a warm, unpretentious, and chic setting. The chef comes from a long lineage of artists and has chosen food as his medium. Located in Montréal's vibrant Village, Le Mousso offers a singular dining experience with only one seating per evening centered around a multi-course tasting menu.

Why go: For a world-class, multi-course tasting menu that unfolds as a sensory journey.

1025 Ontario Street East  

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Le Club Chasse et pêche

Le Club Chasse et Pêche is one of Montréal’s iconic restaurants that helped define the city’s market-to-table movement. Founded by industry pioneers Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier, the kitchen showcases seasonal Québec ingredients through creative, market-driven cuisine. The dimly lit, stone-walled dining room exudes discreet elegance, making it a favourite for romantic evenings and special occasions. Located in Old Montréal, it remains a benchmark for gourmet travellers seeking polished yet soulful Montréal dining.

Why go: For a fine dining twist on modern Québécois cuisine.

423 Saint-Claude Street 
 
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Jun I

Jun I is a refined Japanese restaurant renowned for its meticulous sushi and seasonal omakase. Founded by Chef Junichi Ikematsu, a master of his craft, the cuisine marries traditional Japanese technique with premium ingredients, presented with precision and restraint. The minimalist, serene dining room on Laurier Avenue in Outremont sharpens the focus on craftsmanship and purity of flavour, delivering one of Montréal’s most elevated Japanese dining experiences.

Why go: For impeccably crafted sushi and an intimate omakase.

156A Laurier Avenue West  

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Marcus Restaurant + Terrace

Marcus is a chic, seafood-forward brasserie bringing vibrant, globally inspired cuisine to the city’s Golden Square Mile. Founded by New York-based star chef Marcus Samuelsson’s and helmed by Chef Jason Morris, the menu highlights pristine seafood and seasonal ingredients in refined yet approachable dishes. Located downtown inside the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, the stylish dining room and expansive terrace create a lively, see-and-be-seen atmosphere.

Why go: For a glamorous ambiance and celebrity chef spotting.

1440 De La Montagne Street  

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Mon lapin

Mon Lapin is a vibrant, market-driven Montréal restaurant celebrated for its inventive, seasonal cuisine and exceptional wine program. The menu showcases Québec’s finest ingredients through creative, ever-evolving small plates served in a lively, tightly packed dining room that hums with energy. 

Located in Little Italy, Mon Lapin was ranked No. 2 on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, where co-owner Vanya Filipovic earned North America’s Best Sommelier Award. The restaurant placed No. 2 on Canada’s 100 Best in 2025—after holding the No. 1 spot in 2023 and 2024—with Filipovic and co-owner and sommelier Alex Landry voted Best Sommeliers in 2025.

Why go: For one of North America’s most acclaimed dining experiences, pairing thrilling seasonal cooking with world-class sommeliers.

150 Saint-Zotique Street East  
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Restaurant Candide

Restaurant Candide is a contemporary Québec fine dining restaurant celebrated for its hyper-seasonal, farm-driven cuisine. Candide presents a refined tasting menu highlighting local producers and peak ingredients with precision and restraint. In winter, the kitchen turns to house-made preserves, ferments, and cellared bounty to extend the seasons creatively. Set inside a former presbytery in Little Burgundy, the bright, minimalist dining room lends a serene, almost monastic elegance to the experience.

Why go: For inventive, terroir-driven tasting menus that spotlight Québec ingredients.

551 Saint-Martin Street
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Hoogan et Beaufort

Hoogan et Beaufort is a contemporary Québec restaurant set in a striking industrial space in Montréal’s east end. Led by Chef Marc-André Jetté, the cuisine is market-driven, with a focus on wood-fired cooking and seasonal ingredients showcased through creative plates. The soaring ceilings, open kitchen, design-forward décor, and friendly, knowledgeable staff, create a welcoming atmosphere. Located in Rosemont’s Shop Angus, Hoogan et Beaufort is a destination for adventurous travellers eager to explore Montréal’s culinary scene beyond the downtown core.

Why go: For inventive wood-fired cuisine.

4095 Molson Street
  
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Damas

Damas is Montréal’s celebrated Syrian fine dining restaurant, renowned for its opulent décor and richly spiced Levantine cuisine. The extensive menu showcases refined dishes crafted with alluring spices and vibrant presentation. The lavish, mosaic-filled dining room evokes the intricate Arabesques of Damascus itself, creating an immersive and festive atmosphere in a thousand and one night-inspired décor. Located in Outremont, Damas is a must-visit for gourmet travellers seeking one of the city’s most transportive and flavour-packed dining experiences.

Why go: For an enticing culinary voyage to exotic flavours in one of Montréal’s most dazzling dining rooms.

1201 Van Horne Avenue  

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Restaurant Beba

Beba is an intimate Argentine-inspired restaurant in Montréal, celebrated for its soulful, ingredient-driven cuisine and bold flavours. Founded by brothers Ari Schor and Pablo Schor and named to honour their grandmother, Beba blends Spanish, Italian, and Eastern European influences through a deeply personal lens, with a constantly evolving menu rooted in Québec’s seasonal products. The warm, bustling dining room in Verdun adds to its neighbourhood charm.

Why go: For heartfelt, shareable plates and one of Montréal’s most personal, chef-driven dining experiences.

3900 Éthel Street  

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Mastard

Mastard is a contemporary Québec restaurant redefining terroir-driven cuisine with creativity and precision. Helmed by chef and owner Simon Mathys, the ever-evolving tasting menu highlights seasonal hyper-local ingredients through techniques and pairings that express the chef’s deeply personal style while the minimalist Rosemont dining room keeps the focus squarely on the plate. A recent MICHELIN-star recipient, Mastard is a must for gourmet travellers seeking Montréal’s distinctive culinary voice.

Why go: For a MICHELIN-star experience.

1879 Bélanger Street  

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Moishes

Moishe's is Montréal’s legendary Jewish steakhouse, serving classic cuts and old-school hospitality since 1938. A fixture of the city’s dining scene, Moishe’s is known for expertly aged steaks, generous portions, and a timeless atmosphere that honours its storied past while embracing a polished new setting. It is one of the only restaurants in town to offer exceptional USDA PRIME beef. Now located in Downtown Montreal, Moishe’s remains a rite of passage for gourmet travellers craving a traditional steakhouse experience.

Why go: For perfectly cooked, dry-aged steaks and a taste of the city’s culinary history.

1001 du Square-Victoria Street  

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Sabayon

Sabayon is an intimate, MICHELIN‑starred modern tasting‑menu restaurant in Pointe-Saint-Charles, where creative market cuisine meets French refinement. With just 14 seats, Chef Patrice Demers crafts beautiful, locally sourced tasting menus that spotlight Québec’s terroir with impeccable precision and elegant presentation. Afternoon “tea time” offerings add a different experience, and desserts remain a particular highlight for this pastry-trained chef. The warm, attentive service and wine pairings by his wife and co-owner Marie-Josée Beaudoin enhance the feeling of a personal culinary journey.

Why go: For an exceptionally creative menu that earned Sabayon a coveted MICHELIN star in 2025 and places it among Montréal’s most highly coveted dining experiences.

2194 Centre Street

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Montreal Plaza

Montréal Plaza is a creative, contemporary French‑inspired restaurant known for its bold technique and playful flair. The kitchen roots itself in classic French tradition while embracing contemporary touches served in a vibrant dining room with quirky design elements like an upside‑down rotating dollhouse overhead or toy dinosaurs making surprise appearances in dishes. 

Celebrated nationally and the recipient of many awards and accolades, the Plaza Saint-Hubert restaurant is among the city’s essential culinary experiences, especially for those seeking a whimsical yet outstanding dining experience.

Why go: For inventive and playful French‑rooted cuisine.

6230 Saint-Hubert Street

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Lawrence

Lawrence is an intimate, MICHELIN‑recommended tasting‑menu restaurant led by British chef Marc Cohen, who oversees the small dining room from the tiny kitchen where he cooks alone. Guided by the seasons and close ties with local producers, including the chef’s own butcher shop, Lawrence’s multi-course menus showcase Québec’s finest ingredients with British‑inflected creativity and bold flavours. The Mile End dining room is warm and inviting, complemented by an impeccable wine list featuring small producers and natural selections.

Why go: For a deeply personal, seasonally driven tasting menu.

9 Fairmount Avenue East

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Alma

Alma is Montréal’s celebrated modern Mexican tasting‑menu destination, blending traditional techniques with Québec’s seasonal bounty. Rooted in heirloom nixtamalized corn, the menu features multi-course experiences that highlight fresh masa, seafood and local produce in creative combinations. The warm, intimate Outremont dining room feels both refined and inviting, perfect for a special evening. 

A frequent standout in Canada’s restaurant rankings and named one of North America’s 50 Best in 2025 as well as best Mexican restaurant outside of Mexico according to the Mexico Gastronomic Guide, Alma draws eager diners willing to book well ahead for a rare taste of its innovative cuisine.

Why go: For an unforgettable Mexican tasting‑menu experience that reimagines traditional flavours with local Québec ingredients.

1231 Lajoie Avenue

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Le Violon

Le Violon is one of Montréal's most talked about new dining destinations, quickly earning national acclaim for its seafood forward, ingredient driven cuisine. Opened in June‚ 2024 in Plateau Mont Royal, the contemporary menu blends the chefs’ Irish, Italian and Egyptian roots, and local Québec influences with precision and confidence, presented within an elegant yet understated dining room bathed in natural light. The concise selections change with the market, supported by a well curated wine and cocktail program. 

Since its opening, Le Violon has garnered widespread acclaim, earning the title of Best New Restaurant in Canada and placing 11th on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants 2025. It also ranked 29th on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants and received a recommendation in the MICHELIN Guide Québec.

Why go: For refined, seasonally driven cuisine in one of Montréal's most sought-after reservations.

4720 Marquette Street

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Montréal’s high‑end dining scene is one of North America’s most dynamic, blending bold creativity with deep respect for seasonality and terroir. From historic institutions to cutting‑edge newcomers, the city boasts numerous award‑winning tables, many of which you’ll find featured above.

For more Montréal culinary inspiration beyond this roundup, explore our guide to Montréal’s newest restaurants or see our Musts for foodies visiting Montréal for the 1st time.