The Main

Montreal's Cultural Directory

Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

Leave feedback

For partnerships and collaborations:

partnerships@themain.com

Content

  • Articles
  • Food & Drink
  • Arts & Culture
  • History Lesson
  • Bulletin
  • Events

Guides

  • All Guides
  • Best Restaurants
  • Best Cafés
  • Best Bars
  • Best Brunch
  • Best Bakeries

Explore Montreal

  • Browse Directory
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Cafés
  • Bookstores

About

  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Advertise
  • Pitch us
  • RSS Feed

Legal

  • Terms of service
  • Membership Terms
  • Privacy Policy
Follow us
InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Wednesday, April 8, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      The Main Logo
      Arts & CultureFood & DrinkHistoryCity Guides
      Explore
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      More
      Categories
      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • Weather
      • See all original stories
      Shop
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      --°C|Wednesday, April 8, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      The Main Logo
      Arts & CultureFood & DrinkHistoryCity Guides
      Explore
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      More
      Categories
      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • Weather
      • See all original stories
      Shop
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      Design

      Design According to Life in Montreal: The Work of MRDK

      For Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind and their Montreal studio MRDK, they're making the city's streets come alive through design.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      October 11, 2023 · 6 min read

      Design according to life in Montreal: The work of MRDK
      Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind of the Montreal-based studio MRDK. / Photograph Scott Usheroff

      The local creative force of Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind of the Montreal-based studio MRDK is true to Montreal, treating its culture and the way people live in it as a source of inspiration.

      It’s an approach to design that’s produced a body of interior and architectural work featuring some of the city’s most stunning and memorable restaurants, bars, and cafés.

      Perhaps it’s only natural that the two designers have focused on places of hospitality, as they find a bit of home in the work they do.

      “We’re mainly inspired by the vibe and feel of Montreal,” Guillaume says over a mid-afternoon video call with David. “How people live here, understand their limits, how they start to feel comfortable and stop feeling comfortable.”

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google
      Design

      Design According to Life in Montreal: The Work of MRDK

      For Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind and their Montreal studio MRDK, they're making the city's streets come alive through design.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      October 11, 2023 · 6 min read

      Design according to life in Montreal: The work of MRDK
      Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind of the Montreal-based studio MRDK. / Photograph Scott Usheroff

      The local creative force of Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind of the Montreal-based studio MRDK is true to Montreal, treating its culture and the way people live in it as a source of inspiration.

      It’s an approach to design that’s produced a body of interior and architectural work featuring some of the city’s most stunning and memorable restaurants, bars, and cafés.

      Perhaps it’s only natural that the two designers have focused on places of hospitality, as they find a bit of home in the work they do.

      “We’re mainly inspired by the vibe and feel of Montreal,” Guillaume says over a mid-afternoon video call with David. “How people live here, understand their limits, how they start to feel comfortable and stop feeling comfortable.”

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google

      More Design

      Stop Building Sad Cities
      Design
      Philippe Demers

      Stop Building Sad Cities

      Dull architecture has a real cost, and Montreal is paying it.

      The Story Behind the Biergarten Table That Became a Terrasse Staple
      Design
      Christopher DeWolf

      The Story Behind the Biergarten Table That Became a Terrasse Staple

      Lea Berger missed the folding biergarten tables of her German childhood. A decade later, they're at every great bar in Montreal, shipped in from Stuttgart.

      Montreal Finally Has a Design Week to Call Its Own
      Design
      The Main

      Montreal Finally Has a Design Week to Call Its Own

      Twenty years after earning its UNESCO City of Design designation, Montreal is consolidating its scattered design events under one banner for the first time.

      Montreal Has a Winter Identity. But Who Does It Belong To?
      Design
      Philippe Demers

      Montreal Has a Winter Identity. But Who Does It Belong To?

      Our city has made winter an art form, so the next step is making sure everyone's invited to enjoy it.

      Montreal’s public spaces are good, but are they good enough?
      Design
      Philippe Demers

      Montreal’s Public Spaces Are Good, but Are They Good Enough?

      Other cities are rethinking how everyday spaces support connection, comfort, and community. Here are five trends Montreal should be paying attention to in 2026.

      Emilie Pittman's Em & May designs clothes for bodies, not trends
      Design
      Phylida Tuff-West

      Emilie Pittman's Em & May Designs Clothes for Bodies, Not Trends

      A look at Em & May’s evolving collections, hands-on production, and commitment to inclusive style

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureAfter 40 Years on Bernard, Dragon Flowers Has a New AddressArts & CultureCrime 101 Goes Back to Basics and Executes Them BeautifullyArts & CultureWhat to do this weekend (04.09–04.12)SponsoredThe Queen E: At the Heart of Montreal's HistoryFood & DrinkA New Pub Aims to Bring Finesse to the Plateau's Bar Scene

      More Design

      Stop Building Sad Cities
      Design
      Philippe Demers

      Stop Building Sad Cities

      Dull architecture has a real cost, and Montreal is paying it.

      The Story Behind the Biergarten Table That Became a Terrasse Staple
      Design
      Christopher DeWolf

      The Story Behind the Biergarten Table That Became a Terrasse Staple

      Lea Berger missed the folding biergarten tables of her German childhood. A decade later, they're at every great bar in Montreal, shipped in from Stuttgart.

      Montreal Finally Has a Design Week to Call Its Own
      Design
      The Main

      Montreal Finally Has a Design Week to Call Its Own

      Twenty years after earning its UNESCO City of Design designation, Montreal is consolidating its scattered design events under one banner for the first time.

      Montreal Has a Winter Identity. But Who Does It Belong To?
      Design
      Philippe Demers

      Montreal Has a Winter Identity. But Who Does It Belong To?

      Our city has made winter an art form, so the next step is making sure everyone's invited to enjoy it.

      Montreal’s public spaces are good, but are they good enough?
      Design
      Philippe Demers

      Montreal’s Public Spaces Are Good, but Are They Good Enough?

      Other cities are rethinking how everyday spaces support connection, comfort, and community. Here are five trends Montreal should be paying attention to in 2026.

      Emilie Pittman's Em & May designs clothes for bodies, not trends
      Design
      Phylida Tuff-West

      Emilie Pittman's Em & May Designs Clothes for Bodies, Not Trends

      A look at Em & May’s evolving collections, hands-on production, and commitment to inclusive style

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureAfter 40 Years on Bernard, Dragon Flowers Has a New AddressArts & CultureCrime 101 Goes Back to Basics and Executes Them BeautifullyArts & CultureWhat to do this weekend (04.09–04.12)SponsoredThe Queen E: At the Heart of Montreal's HistoryFood & DrinkA New Pub Aims to Bring Finesse to the Plateau's Bar Scene

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Your local design re-education starts with these Montreal creatives & artists
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      Your Local Design Re-education Starts with These Montreal Creatives & Artists

      Spotlighting 20 Montreal trailblazers reshaping fashion, art, and design with sustainable practices, bold craftsmanship, and boundary-pushing creativity.

      How Montreal falls in and out of love with Brutalist architecture
      History Lesson
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      How Montreal Falls in and Out of Love with Brutalist Architecture

      How Montreal’s unapologetic concrete giants went from symbols of modernist utopia to polarizing relics—and why the city just can’t quit them.

      Ivy Studio is shaping Montreal's visual identity from the inside out
      Design
      Lili Monette-Crépô

      Ivy Studio is Shaping Montreal's Visual Identity from the Inside Out

      Always in collaboration with local craftspeople, this nimble design firm creates immersive commercial spaces designed for that ineffable 'wow' factor.

      The urban meadow rewriting the map and memory of Montreal
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Urban Meadow Rewriting the Map and Memory of Montreal

      The Ville-Marie Expressway cut its city in two. This civic space honouring 21 women with flowers, architecture, and intention stitches it back together.

      ināt: Crafting perfect imperfections in Montreal's New Chabanel
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      Ināt: Crafting Perfect Imperfections in Montreal's New Chabanel

      Furniture maker and woodworker Michaël Fiset (AKA Mike Fiz) of the workshop ināt on creativity, finding purpose, and (re)building.

      The Saint-Henri soundsmith reclaiming how music should feel
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Saint-Henri Soundsmith Reclaiming How Music Should Feel

      How a record store kid slinging wax by day and DJing by night turned his obsession with audio clarity into a speaker company with soul.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Your local design re-education starts with these Montreal creatives & artists
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      Your Local Design Re-education Starts with These Montreal Creatives & Artists

      Spotlighting 20 Montreal trailblazers reshaping fashion, art, and design with sustainable practices, bold craftsmanship, and boundary-pushing creativity.

      How Montreal falls in and out of love with Brutalist architecture
      History Lesson
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      How Montreal Falls in and Out of Love with Brutalist Architecture

      How Montreal’s unapologetic concrete giants went from symbols of modernist utopia to polarizing relics—and why the city just can’t quit them.

      Ivy Studio is shaping Montreal's visual identity from the inside out
      Design
      Lili Monette-Crépô

      Ivy Studio is Shaping Montreal's Visual Identity from the Inside Out

      Always in collaboration with local craftspeople, this nimble design firm creates immersive commercial spaces designed for that ineffable 'wow' factor.

      The urban meadow rewriting the map and memory of Montreal
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Urban Meadow Rewriting the Map and Memory of Montreal

      The Ville-Marie Expressway cut its city in two. This civic space honouring 21 women with flowers, architecture, and intention stitches it back together.

      ināt: Crafting perfect imperfections in Montreal's New Chabanel
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      Ināt: Crafting Perfect Imperfections in Montreal's New Chabanel

      Furniture maker and woodworker Michaël Fiset (AKA Mike Fiz) of the workshop ināt on creativity, finding purpose, and (re)building.

      The Saint-Henri soundsmith reclaiming how music should feel
      Design
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Saint-Henri Soundsmith Reclaiming How Music Should Feel

      How a record store kid slinging wax by day and DJing by night turned his obsession with audio clarity into a speaker company with soul.

      The Bulletin: What we're thankful for in Montreal [Issue #45]

      Previous

      The Bulletin: What We're Thankful for in Montreal [Issue #45]

      Next

      The Bulletin: The Season of the Witch [Issue #46]

      The Bulletin: The season of the witch [Issue #46]
      The Bulletin: What we're thankful for in Montreal [Issue #45]

      Previous

      The Bulletin: What We're Thankful for in Montreal [Issue #45]

      Next

      The Bulletin: The Season of the Witch [Issue #46]

      The Bulletin: The season of the witch [Issue #46]