Blending the owners’ Argentinian background with explorations of great cuisines from around the world, this tiny Verdun restaurant is cooking some of the most impactful yet deceivingly simple food in town.

Known for their level of creativity that hinges on the unhinged, this French restaurant’s stupefying theatrics are well-known both in the dining room and on its plates.

One meal here and you’ll no longer be surprised why its tables are in such high demand: This restaurant has single-handedly stolen the show when it comes to eating a fantastically delicious Italian meal.

Dining at this Old Montreal jewel of a French brasserie and dining room from chef Jérémie Bastien is both a masterclass in its cuisine’s techniques and classics plus cosmopolitan inclusions from other cuisines.

Consider this the next-gen steakhouse of Montreal: With its in-house butchery, it’s an address in Outremont that flips the porterhouse-and-martinis formula on its head in the best of ways.

At its core, Provisions is a butcher shop with a sharp focus on quality and tradition, bringing a touch of nostalgia to every bite. This is where you’ll find sandwiches and burgers built from the ground up—starting with hyper-local, pasture-raised meats processed in-house. The challah bread, hand-cut brisket, and signature house-made sausages make their offerings anything but typical.

Known for its standout burgers, Provisions takes the smashburger approach, ensuring a caramelized crust on the outside and juicy perfection inside. The sandwiches—brisket, Cubano, turkey, or even halloumi—strike a balance between satisfying simplicity and thoughtfulness. It’s food that’s as good as it is honest.

Salle Climatisée is a Little Italy gem that marries the charm of a neighbourhood haunt with thoughtful, seasonal dishes inspired by local ingredients. This compact bistro doesn’t chase trends; instead, it celebrates simplicity with a menu that shifts subtly to reflect the rhythms of Quebec’s terroir. Expect a parade of carefully composed plates that reveal a mix of rustic and refined.

Low-intervention wines are a staple here, curated to enhance rather than overshadow the food, while the minimalist, François Séguin–designed interior balances elegance and coziness. Whether you’re perched on the street-side terrasse or settled inside, Salle Climatisée offers an experience that feels as intimate as it does inventive, perfect for those who appreciate the quiet power of well-executed simplicity.

Bar St-Denis is rapidly ascending Montreal's culinary ladder, and for good reason. The magic lies in the dedication of David Gauthier, Emily Holmsy, and their gifted crew. Among a menu of standout dishes, the Deer Kibbeh Nayeh stands out. This raw deer delicacy, with its creamy texture and subtle sweetness, is a testament to premium local sourcing. Garnished with mint and onions, and enriched by a premium olive oil drizzle, it's a symphony of flavors. Paired with spicy chili-brushed flatbread, every bite promises a new revelation.

This ode to Quebecois cuisine is essential eating in Montreal, served in a completely unpretentious fashion that takes diners to the very heart of what makes this province stand out.

Specializing in Niçoise cuisine that combines the best of southern France and Italy, the father-daughter team behind this sweet spot of a restaurant in Villeray easily makes for chic evening any night of the week.

Heni, a Little Burgundy restaurant focused on the SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) region of the world—a decolonial term for what’s commonly referred to as the Middle East—is a place of many new pathways for Montreal. Its kitchen is producing new kinds of flavours that blend its regional focus with Quebecois ingredients—think marinated olives with sea buckthorn berry instead of orange zest, kibbeh can be made with PEI beef or duck hearts, fatteh and couscous with wild mushrooms, lobster tails spiced with ras-el-hanout on a bed of corn, ice cream sandwiches of sfouf and wild blueberries that are dipped in dark chocolate—as well as wines taken from its in-house wine importation agency Sienna which highlights new-generation winemakers from Lebanon. It’ll have even more aces up its sleeves once the whole operation is fully up and running—stay tuned and subscribed to us for when the full story about this place goes out.

A local forerunner for Thai food augmented by pure creativity and Canadian products, this is where chef Jesse Mulder has taken his reputation for dizzyingly good eating to new heights.

This small tasting menu-focused restaurant from chef Marc Cohen celebrates offal and classics that have been with the restaurant from the very beginning, served with a level of hearty refinement.

Every Sunday, Griffintown's Mano Cornuto transforms into a haven of Italian tradition. Dive into a four-course feast that feels like home, yet surprises every time. At $40 per person, it's an unmatched culinary journey in Montreal. From fresh salads kissed with unique vinaigrettes to pasta dishes that sing with authenticity, and desserts that melt your heart. And, if you're in the know, the porchetta add-on is a must. Paired with curated wines and special cocktails, Sunday at Mano is more than a meal; it's an experience.

Arthurs Nosh Bar is a Saint-Henri favourite, blending Jewish culinary traditions with a new-gen sentiment. Helmed by Raegan Steinberg and Alex Cohen, both with roots in Montreal’s fine dining scene, this small but vibrant restaurant honours the flavours of Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Mizrahi cooking. The stylish space, with its olive-toned bar and sun-filled atmosphere, makes Arthurs a perfect spot to enjoy comfort food classics like schnitzel and babka in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

The McArthur sandwich with fried chicken’s a daily standout choice, but the brunch menu—available weekends only—features must-try dishes like an American grand slam, Moroccan toast with challah, poached eggs, and spiced chickpeas, and a hearty latke smorgasbord.

Casual, fun, and incomparably flavorful, this Singaporean restaurant’s menu walks the line between addictive comfort food and inventive visits to Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond.

John Winter Russell’s classic restaurant for refined seasonal dishes inside a deconsecrated church is an exploration of landscape through food, where the cooking is both intriguing and engaging.

If you haven't lunched at Impasto, you're missing out. Seriously, make a reservation. With Luca, Charles, and Deborah at the helm, expect a parade of culinary delights from appetizers to desserts. Their weekly pasta specials, crafted by the genius Pastapooks, are a revelation.

This destination in Hochelaga is an exceedingly accessible option for fine dining where tasting menus take you on a tour of its chef David Ollu’s Bouillon Bilk tutelage plus wholly new avenues.

The restaurant that launched a thousand ships, this is a definitive Montreal dining experience thanks to its one-two punch celebrating classic dining with a banquet-style celebration of good food.

While known as the vegetable-forward offering of the Joe Beef empire, its ingredients receive all the love and expertise of its meatier counterparts, plus a wine list of precision and innovation.

From its interior ‘wine island’ to its lunches full of sandwiches ‘n’ salads and dinners of arrosticini, finely spun pasta, and contorni, this Saint-Henri spot is a fine dining gem without comparison.

Liverpool House in Montreal's Little Burgundy has emerged from the shadow of its sibling, Joe Beef, with its own identity. Known for hearty French cuisine and exceptional seafood, it features a raw bar and dishes like Italian beef tartare and lobster spaghetti. Opened in 2007, it offers a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere and a diverse wine selection. The restaurant’s friendly ambiance and outstanding menu make it a favorite for both locals and visitors.

The wood fire-informed and deeply seasonal menus of this fine dining titan from chef Marc-André Jetté is as comforting as it is exciting, and its wine lists will immediately astound you.

Taking cues from Scandinavian cuisine and applying it to Quebec’s terroir, each plate here is done with pinpoint accuracy, resulting in plates that resemble small sketches or paintings from chef Antonin Rivard-Mousso.

This Mile End restaurant focused on vegetable-forward tasting menus is considered among the very best in the city for its high calibre of cooking and service, along with its energetic atmosphere.

Its rotating menus of upscale, seasonal fare will keep you guessing, but the buzzy ambiance and service at this Saint-Henri eatery will make you feel like you’re immediately at home.

An essential address in Montreal for Syrian cuisine, every spiced and aromatic bite here is impeccably sourced from across the Mediterranean, from shared mezze to sizzling grilled platters.

Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier’s Old Montreal restaurant is a discreet and pensive place to spend hours over opulent dishes that, time and again, provide the most memorable of experiences.

The vibes are high when eating at this restaurant from Chuck Hughes. It’s an absolute parade of surf and turf served up with a service staff that knows how to have a good time.

A progenitor in the Montreal scene for taking Japanese cooking and treating it to French techniques and presentations, Hiroshi Kitano’s bistro in the Plateau is a must—especially the omakase.

A Westmount Square institution blends together the very best of French bistro fare, Italian trattorias and steakhouses into one solid offering that can upscale any night out on the town.

This next-gen Cambodian restaurant in Verdun is a lively cornerstone of the city’s dining scene because of the richly aromatic food they offer, playing on dishes both traditional and wholly new.

Just when you thought Saint-Henri couldn’t possibly squeeze in another place to eat, Bonheur d’Occasion landed earlier this year with a splash. Maybe it’s the simple and comforting corner bistro ambiance, the steady café noshes cakes and sandwiches during the day, or maybe it’s the “take my money!” dishes they create for dinner services, but chef Philippe Gauthier and pastry chef Victor Adnet are bringing their A-game and then some.

Dressed in an interior design of black and gold minimalism, the menus of this Griffintown destination sets a high bar for dining in Montreal thanks to its combination of wood-fired and fresh elements.

A hidden gem of Westmount, this French-forward bistro is equal parts traditional dishes done to perfection and a level of experimentation you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Snowdon Deli isn't just a restaurant; it's an institution. For those in the know, it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane. For newcomers, it's a delightful discovery waiting to happen. This iconic Jewish deli, with its vibrant matzo ball soup and cheese bagelach, transports you straight to the heart of classic Miami eateries, echoing the charm of places like Wolfie’s Rascal House. Outlasting local legends like The Brown Derby and Ben’s, Snowdon Deli stands as a testament to timeless taste and tradition.

On Saint-Denis in the Plateau, Cabaret L'enfer from chef-owner Massimo Piedimonte brings the chef’s pedigree and expertise to the fore with a deeply personal experience. The space, designed with industrial chic by XY Contemporary, retains rustic brick walls while incorporating steel and granite to form a dining experience surrounding a bustling open kitchen of performances. Offering a tasting menu that marries Italian roots with French techniques, each dish celebrates local products and craftsmanship. The ambiance, festive and increasingly lively as the evening changes to night, helps balance the high levels of skill from the kitchen with simply having a good time—even rocking out to their playlists of skate punk.

Oncle Lee on Laurier Avenue West redefines Chinese dining with a distinctly Montreal twist. A creation of Andersen Lee and the minds behind Bouillon Bilk, the restaurant’s simple yet elegantly adorned space with sleek black banquettes and Chinese lanterns reflects a deep reverence for both the culinary and cultural aspects of Lee’s heritage. The menu reimagines traditional Chinese dishes through a local lens, featuring items like chow mein alongside innovative offerings such as steamed oysters with black bean. Oncle Lee also boasts a compelling drink selection, including bespoke cocktails and a thoughtful wine list, so meals celebrate refined tastes and communal dining.

A Montreal institution since 1980 on rue Saint-Denis, L'Express continues to uphold its reputation for timeless French cuisine and conviviality. Founded by François Tremblay, Colette Brossoit, and Pierre Villeneuve, the restaurant caters to everyone with a welcoming atmosphere that remains to this day. With a menu largely unchanged over the years, L'Express offers classic dishes like sorrel soup, marrow, and veal liver, prepared with an unwavering consistency and attention to detail. Designed by renowned architect Luc Laporte, the elegant decor exudes a timeless charm, attracting a diverse clientele served by a stable team of long-serving staff.

Chez Tousignant evokes a sense of nostalgic comfort with its vintage diner decor designed by Zébulon Perron. This eatery conceived by chefs Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione along with chef Yann Turcotte offers a delightful throwback to the classic casse-croûtes of the 1950s and 60s. Here, everything from the tiles to the seating invites you into a different era. The menu celebrates simplicity perfected, boasting homemade delights such as the city's best smash burgers, exquisite hot dogs, and top-tier poutine, all crafted with a dedication to freshness and quality. Chez Tousignant stands out for its genuine charm and the exceptional skill behind each dish, combining culinary nostalgia with contemporary panache.

Ma Poule Mouillée is Montreal’s bustling Portuguese Plateau rotisserie where locals and visitors alike have been wowed since its opening in 2013. The restaurant is celebrated not just for its expertly charcoal-grilled chicken but also for offering one of the best poutines in the city. This particular dish stands out due to its inventive use of São Jorge cheese, flavorful grilled chorizo, and a signature homemade sauce that the chef proudly claims makes all the difference. Beyond its famed poutine, Ma Poule Mouillée features a menu brimming with Portuguese classics from sandwiches to fried squid, all served in a vibrant, no-frills, cafeteria-style setting. For those on the go, the entire menu is available for takeout.

Since its debut in March 2011, Bouillon Bilk has epitomized culinary refinement in Montreal. Mélanie Blanchette and François Nadon meld minimalist decor with innovative cuisine, creating a sublime dining experience reminiscent of Danish elegance. The menu, a testament to Nadon's creativity, features seasonal proteins paired with inventive sides, exploring a harmonious balance of textures and flavors. Complementing the dishes, Bouillon Bilk curates an exceptional wine list focused on private imports in an understated yet sophisticated atmosphere. Each meal here is a deliberate fusion of simplicity and complexity, making it a cornerstone of Montreal’s gastronomic scene.

Fleurs & Cadeaux, a new Japanese-inspired snack bar in Chinatown, quickly captivated guests with its unique charm before closing two weeks after its September opening due to COVID-19. Situated in a pink, century-old building on Saint-Urbain Street, this venue honors its past as a florist and gift shop by retaining its name and exterior. The space is thoughtfully designed, from its vinyl selection to its retro décor.

Co-owned by ten partners, including David Schmidt and chef Tetsuya Shimizu, the restaurant features a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. The open kitchen showcases Shimizu’s culinary skills, offering dishes like temakis, Japanese curries, sashimi on rice, and bento boxes, all beautifully presented.

The drink menu includes innovative cocktails and a diverse selection of natural wines and artisan sakes. The basement speakeasy, Sans Soleil, features a hidden entrance, DJ-spun vinyl, and a top-notch sound system.

Tucked away in Montreal's tranquil Outremont neighborhood, Alma embodies a confluence of culinary traditions and vinicultural passion, a brainchild of chef Juan Lopez Luna and sommelier Lindsay Brennan. This petite haven marries the robust flavors of Mexico with the delicate nuances of Mediterranean cuisine, all underscored by a profound appreciation for Catalan natural wines. The space, intimate and warmly appointed by friends and family of the owners, invites diners into a world where the spirit of Catalonia's 'vino con alma'—wine with soul—permeates every aspect. Every dish tells a story, especially the chef’s signature nixtamalized corn tortillas, a nod to ancient Mexican traditions. The dining experience is elevated by their 'carte blanche' menu, offering diners a curated journey through seasonal specialties, paired with rare vintage wines.

Grounded in his home country of Haiti and exploring the islands and South America, eating at chef Paul Toussaint’s restaurant is always a unique celebration of spice and flavour you can’t find elsewhere.

McKiernan Luncheonette, a sprawling spot from the team behind Joe Beef and Maison Publique, redefines casual dining in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest. Positioned to cater to the day-to-day needs of locals, McKiernan occupies a vibrant space on St-Patrick Street, serving straightforward, yet inventive breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Expect comforting staples like rotisserie chicken and unique all-day breakfast options, accompanied by a modest selection of natural wines and beers. With its capacity for large groups and a flair for hosting, it promises more than just a meal—expect a culinary event designed for community engagement and pure delights.

In Saint-Henri, Elena emerges as a testament to Italian cuisine reimagined. Opened in early 2018 by the team behind Nora Gray, this spot pays homage to inspiring individuals like Elena Pantaleoni, whose spirit infuses the establishment’s warm, unpretentious hospitality. It integrates seamlessly into the neighborhood, reflecting its evolution with a vibrant, inviting space designed by Kyle Adams Goforth. The menu, crafted by Emma Cardarelli and Janice Tiefenbach, showcases dynamic iterations of Italian classics—from artisanal pizzas to homemade pastas, all complemented by Ryan Gray’s meticulously curated natural wine list. This new culinary landmark not only promises exquisite dishes but also embodies a modern trattoria's soul, where every detail underscores a commitment to quality and community.

Dobe & Andy, a Cantonese BBQ joint, delights with its straightforward yet delicious fare inspired by Hong Kong’s vibrant food scene. Since its opening in March 2019 by Edmund, Eric and Edward Ku with Webster Galman, this spot has charmed diners with its commitment to authentic, well-crafted meals at pocket-friendly prices. The menu, ranging from $7 to $17, features staples like succulent crispy pork roast and a uniquely savory curry braised beef.

The 90-seat venue emphasizes a communal approach, reflecting a deeply ingrained family ethos in every dish served. Nestled in the heart of Montreal's Chinatown on Saint-Urbain Street, whether it’s for takeout or delivery, Dobe & Andy offers a taste of dedication wrapped in the warmth of a family-operated gem.

The Four Seasons Hotel Montreal’s in-house restaurant MARCUS fuses luxury with local flair on an expansive third floor designed by Atelier Zébulon Perron. This communal space welcomes both locals and guests, where the lounge, bar, restaurant, and terrasse offer distinct atmospheres, from an oceanic lounge to a forest-like bar. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Marcus Samuelsson with executive chef Jason Morris, the venue reflects Montreal's vibrant social scene. Morris, known for his precision and creativity, ensures each dish from the globally inspired menu complements the sophisticated, timeless setting, making MARCUS a culinary landmark in the city.