The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
Restaurant charges are subject to GST (goods and services tax) of 5% and TVQ (Québec sales tax) of 7.5%, which are usually added to the bill at the end. Restaurant bills do not usually include a service charge (although it is more common for large groups), so a tip is expected. The standard tip is
15%, adjusted up/down for exceptionally good/bad service.
The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over C$65)
$$$ (C$45 to C$65)
$$ (C$25 to C$45)
$ (up to C$25)
These are based on an average three-course meal for one person; they do not include drinks, service charge or tax/tip.
GourmetEuropeaThree restaurateurs from the Languedoc region in the south of France opened this restaurant in 2002. It quickly established itself as a favorite of Montreal restaurant critics and gourmets alike. Europea offers delicious, traditional southern French haute cuisine with a strong Mediterranean flavor. The wine list leaves precious little to be desired, and the service is superb.
1227 rue de la Montagne
Tel: (514) 398 9229.
Website:
www.europea.ca Price: $$$$
LalouxLarge windows, gilt mirrors and creamy yellow walls reflect the lightness that chefs Marc-André Jetté and Patrice Demers bring to their classic French cuisine. The celebrated culinary duo enjoys experimenting with flavor and texture, with outstanding results. The menu is accompanied by an extensive wine list, including a couple of dozen organic vintages. No lunch at weekends.
250 avenue des Pins East
Tel: (514) 287 9127.
Website:
www.laloux.com Price: $$$
Toqué!
Long the king of Montreal's restaurant scene, Chef Normand Laprise works magic with fresh market ingredients and his seared foie gras is legendary. Toqué! won
CAA's (and America's
AAA) highest award, the five-diamond rating, in 2006, only one of two restaurants in the city to receive this accolade. Reservations are essential - book a month ahead. Closed Sunday and Monday. No lunch on Saturdays.
900 place Jean-Paul Riopelle
Tel: (514) 499 2084.
Website:
www.restaurant-toque.com Price: $$$$
BusinessMoishe's SteakhouseFounded by Moishe Lighter in 1938, Moishe's is without doubt a Montreal landmark and a must-do for any meat-lover. With a 60-year culinary tradition of quality, customers are served only the most succulent steaks and chops, as well as seafood and other delights. An atmosphere of Old World opulence and wood-panelled comfort is enhanced further by the experienced staff. Reservations are required. No lunch on Saturdays or Sundays.
3961 Boulevard St-Laurent
Tel: (514) 845 3509.
Price: $$$-$$$$
TrendyBoris BistroThey serve good bistro fare like steak tartare, duck confit and braised rabbit at this Old Montreal restaurant, but the main reason locals and visitors come is the terrace. Leafy trees provide a canopy over the candlelit tables, ensconced within high stone walls and the freestanding facade of the old commercial building that once stood here. No dinner Monday. No lunch Saturday.
465 rue McGill
Tel: (514) 848 9575.
Website:
www.borisbistro.com Price: $$
Globe
The strip of the Main above rue Sherbrooke is packed with see-and-be-seen restaurants, but more than the others, Globe succeeds on the food front as well. The bright and sleek interior (white pressed-tin ceiling, mirrored columns and bamboo-strip floor) provides a backdrop for seasonal market cuisine sourced from local producers and simply but expertly prepared. There is also a short 'midnight menu' (Friday and Saturday until 0200). No lunch.
3455 boulevard St-Laurent
Tel: (514) 284 3823.
Website:
www.restaurantglobe.com Price: $$$-$$$$
L'AvenueThe Plateau is the most vibrant and hip neighborhood in the city, and L'Avenue reflects that, from the quirky décor (sparkly gold booths and a Harley mounted on the wall above the tables) to the new takes on traditional diner fare and French comfort food. Very popular for breakfast and lunch, there is often a queue, especially for weekend brunch. No credit cards (but there is an ATM on site).
922 avenue du Mont-Royal East
Tel: (514) 523 8780.
Price: $$
Marché 27
This hip bistro-deli is a welcome refuge from the offerings along Prince Arthur's pedestrian thoroughfare. With a chic tiled décor and chalkboard walls (upon which the daily menus appear) Marché 27 is a
clin d'oeil on the changing face of The Main. The menu puts an inventive spin on bistro fare, but they are becoming famous for the
Bar a Tartare, featuring exotic choices and flavors. The wine list is respectable and excellent music accompanies delicious food. No early breakfast Saturdays or Sundays.
27 rue Prince-Arthur West
Tel: (514) 287 2725.
Price: $-$$
BudgetCafé SantropolThey have savoury vegetarian pies, but the huge and hugely inventive sandwiches are the trademark here - the triple-decker St Urbain Corner has cream and cottage cheeses, honey, nuts, olives and ham or chicken served on fat slabs of the most delicious bread. All meals come decked out with fruit, as do the divine milkshakes. The design of the cosy interior is as eclectic as the food, surpassed only by the blooming back garden. No credit cards.
3990 rue St-Urbain
Tel: (514) 842 3110.
Website:
www.santropol.comPrice: $
ChuChaiAnyone who thinks they know what a vegetarian meal looks like is in for a shock at this sensational Thai restaurant. Everything from the crispy 'duck' to the 'fish' in spicy sauce tastes as good as (or better than) the real thing, especially accompanied by the deep-fried seaweed. Next-door
Chuch has a similar but cheaper menu to eat in or take away to a nearby park. No lunch.
4088 rue St-Denis
Tel: (514) 843 4194.
Website:
www.chuchai.com Price: $-$$
Schwartz'sOne of the first points of call for expat Montrealers returning to the city is this small, decades-old diner. Throughout the day (and until quite late at night) there is often a queue to get inside for what most consider to be the best smoked meat sandwiches in the city - and thus the world. Similar to pastrami, the brisket meat is sliced thin and stacked high on rye bread. A simple pleasure.
3895 boulevard St-Laurent
Tel: (514) 842 4813.
Website:
www.schwartzsdeli.com Price: $-$$
Personal RecommendationsDa EmmaTucked away in the stone-walled basement of a 19th-century building at the western end of the Old Port, Da Emma is a real find. Handsome black-clad waiters can advise on the vintages in the large wooden wine coolers to go with the simple but exquisite starters. Mama cooks up a storm in the kitchen, and the portions of rustic Roman cooking are hearty and generous. Home-made sorbets and tiramisu are the final blow. Closed Sunday. No lunch Saturday.
777 rue de la Commune West
Tel: (514) 392 1568.
Price: $$$
FonduementaleFor a romantic evening, Fonduementale is a great place to linger over its namesake dishes, by the fireplace in the Victorian dining room or, on warm summer nights, on the patio terrace. Start by dipping croutons in emmental and gruyère cheeses infused with pink peppercorns, or choose from a variety of meats in oil or broth - there is caribou for the adventurous. Either way, finish off with fresh fruit dipped in chocolate or maple syrup fondue. No lunch Monday to Friday.
4325 rue St-Denis
Tel: (514) 499 1446.
Website:
www.fonduementale.com Price: $$$
Le Petit Alep
Located near the hunger-inducing Jean-Talon Market, family-run
Le Petit Alep serves up the tastiest Syrian/Armenian food in the city. Whether for nibbles or a full meal, this cafe always satisfies and surprises. For dessert, try the
Atayef, a walnut-stuffed sweet crepe and finish with one of their superb coffees. Big sister
Alep, next door, is open for supper only and handles larger parties. Closed Sunday.
191 rue Jean-Talon East
Tel: (514) 270 9361.
Price: $-$$
L'Express
This ever-buzzing bistro feels like it has been imported whole from Paris, with its black-and-white checkerboard floor, efficient waiters and mirror-lined walls, which give the narrow space a roomier feel. The menu is classic bistro as well, with standards like pâté, confit de canard and steak-frites simply but superbly prepared, accompanied (naturally enough) by some choice French wines. Reservations recommended, though there is usually space at the bar for single diners.
3927 rue St-Denis
Tel: (514) 845 5333.
Price: $$$
Nightlife:Montreal offers some of the best nightclubs and cabarets to be found anywhere in Canada. The action seldom begins before 2200 and usually continues until the 0300 closing time, although on warm summer days, terrasses (patios) are spilling over with people throughout the day and the 5 à 7 (
cinq à sept - 1700-1900) happy hour pulls in office workers. The legal minimum drinking age is 18 years.
Nightlife hotspots include rue Crescent, the preserve of the city's anglophones and English-speaking tourists, and the French-style jazz cafes, clubs, bars, restaurants and bistros along rue St-Denis. The best buzz in the city is on boulevard St-Laurent ('the Main'), with its upscale bars and restaurants near rue Sherbrooke and more alternative and youthful places to the north.
The gay scene is concentrated in The Village, on rue Ste-Catherine to the east of rue St-Hubert, and the whole street is closed off for a massive party following the Divers/Cité
gay pride parade (website:
www.diverscite.org) in early August. The big gay circuit parties,
Black & Blue in early October and
Hot & Dry in late May, draw thousands of visitors (website:
www.bbcm.org).
For the latest on Montreal's ever-evolving bar and club scene, check the listings in the free alternative weeklies,
The Mirror (website:
www.montrealmirror.com) and
Hour (website:
www.hour.ca) or Brits Wanted (website:
www.britswanted.com). The quarterly
Nightlife Magazine (website:
www.nightlifemagazine.ca) is dedicated to all things party in Montreal and has comprehensive listings.
Bars: On rue Crescent,
Sir Winston Churchill Pub (Winnie's) at number 1459 is a perennial favorite. Irish pubs downtown include
Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 rue Crescent, and the
Old Dublin, 1219a rue University. For brew-pubs, try
Brutopia, 1219 rue Crescent,
Le Cheval Blanc, 809 rue Ontario East or, further afield in Outremont,
Dieu du Ciel, 29 avenue Laurier West.
For French-Canadian culture,
Les Deux Pierrots, 104 rue St-Paul East in Old Montreal, is a lively, noisy spot;
Pub St-Paul, in a 19th-century building next door at number 124, is a bit quieter on weekdays. In the Latin Quarter,
Le St-Sulpice, 1680 rue St-Denis, draws a young, francophone crowd to its huge terrace, while
L'Ile Noire, 342 rue Ontario East, is a more laid-back whisky bar. Downtown, stylish bar-club
Phillips Lounge, 1184 Place Phillips is chic and unique serving up terrific cocktails while surrounding you with quality contemporary art. At
Bily Kun, 354 avenue du Mont-Royal East, stuffed ostrich heads overlook a bilingual crowd drinking local brews to loud music. In Mile End, at
L'Assomoire, 112 rue Bernard, patrons can dine on heaping platters of oysters, among other delights, while savouring expertly prepared cocktails.
If you're on boulevard St-Laurent, it is best to simply walk along and find a bar that appeals. Worth checking out are the cool pool tables at
Le Swimming, 3643 boulevard St-Laurent, and the dive-bar comfort of
Miami, 3601 St-Laurent. DJ bars like
Blizzarts and
Laïka, further north at numbers 3956A and 4040, draw a hip young crowd.
In the Village,
Sky, 1474 rue Ste-Catherine East, is one of the most popular of the many gay bars. The multi-story
Drugstore, at number 1366, offers something for both sexes.
Cabaret Mado, at number 1115, is renowned for its drag shows.
Clubs: Altitude Club 737 (website:
www.promoclub737.com) is a disco-bar-restaurant at the top of Montreal's tallest building, 1 place Ville Marie: the place is hugely popular for its breathtaking panoramic views of the city.
Newtown (website:
www.newtown.ca) is a four-story complex of restaurant, lounge and heaving dance club at 1476 rue Crescent. Infamous during the Days of Disco, the resurrected
1234, at 1234 rue de la Montagne, is once again dispensing glorious good-times and nearby
Light Ultraclub (website:
www.lightultraclub.com), 2020 rue Crescent, caters to the serious party-goer who favors House and Hip-Hop.
Angel's, at 3604 boulevard St-Laurent, draws a more mainstream crowd. The stylish
House (website:
www.housenightclub.com) is a bit further north at number 4521, while still further is the trendy designer lounge
Mile End Bar, with packed upstairs dancefloor at number 5322. The hottest gay clubs in the city are
Parking (website:
www.parkingbar.com), 1296 rue Amherst, and
Unity II, 1171 rue Ste-Catherine East.
Funky Town, 1454 rue Peel, comes with a lush, velvety 70s retro ambience and plenty of funky disco music. Dance, house music, and pretty young things fill the dancefloor at
Tokyo (website:
www.tokyobar.com), 3709 boulevard St-Laurent. Salsa and samba get people dancing at
Club La Boom, 1254 rue Stanley, while mesmerizing African rhythms attract crowds to the long-established
Balattou, 4372 boulevard St-Laurent. A big celebrity draw is
Tribe Hyperclub, (website:
www.tribehyperclub.com), 390 rue St-Jacques, in Old Montreal where techno and house music drive a wild time on the dancefloor.
Montreal's after-hours clubs include
Circus After Hours, 1493 rue St-Andre near Ste-Catherine, and
Stereo, 858 rue Ste-Catherine East. They stay open until around 1000 the next morning and play a good selection of house and techno music.
Comedy: The best time to visit Montreal for comedy is during the Festival Juste pour Rire (Just for Laughs Festival) in July (website:
www.hahaha.com). Otherwise,
Comedyworks, 1238 rue Bishop (tel: (514) 398 9661; website:
www.comedyworksmontreal.com), and
Comedy Nest, 2313 rue Ste-Catherine West (tel: (514) 932 6378; website:
www.comedynest.com) are amusing options.
Live Music: Big-name recording artists play the
Bell Center, 260 rue de la Gauchetière West, and occasionally the city's mid-size venues:
Club Soda (website:
www.clubsoda.ca),
Café Campus (website:
www.cafecampus.com),
Metropolis (website:
www.metropolismontreal.ca) or
Kola Note (website:
www.kolanote.com).
Les Foufounes Electriques, 87 rue Ste-Catherine East (website:
www.foufounes.qc.ca) is renowned for alternative and punk bands. For a loungey, martini-soaked atmosphere,
Jello Bar, 151 rue Ontario East (website:
www.jellobar.com), conjures up the appropriate music.
Balattou, 4372 boulevard St-Laurent, is the best spot in the city for African music.
Upstairs, 1254 rue Mackay (website:
www.upstairsjazz.com) is the place for jazz.
Casa del Popolo, 4873 boulevard St-Laurent (website:
www.casadelpopolo.com) is an intimate performance space with an eclectic line-up from rock to spoken word. In Old Montreal,
Pub St Paul, 124 St Paul has rock a-plenty at weekends and
Les Pas Sages, in the Plateau at 951 rue Rachel, features a cosy bar atmosphere and up-and-coming acts.
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