© Brasserie Le Pois Penché
Brasserie Le Pois Penché
1230 De Maisonneuve Boulevard | Website
Spectacular seafood platters, French brasserie classics that bring comfort and a festive ambiance are all on the menu at Le Pois Penché, an authentic Parisian brasserie in the heart of downtown Montréal.
© Germain Hôtels
Le Boulevardier
2050 Mansfield Street | Website
Le Boulevardier is downtown’s new French go-to. The chef draws his inspiration from Auguste Escoffier, the “godfather” of modern French cuisine, with a menu that shines the spotlight on a few French dining classics. Extra touches include the bistro-chic decor, which amps up the already inspiring experience.
© Jimmy Hamelin
Restaurant Leméac
1045 Laurier Avenue West | Website
Leméac has become a much-loved spot since its opening in 2001. The Outremont restaurant is always buzzing with diners for lunch, dinner or their famous brunch. Their menu offers a lot of brasserie classics with a contemporary touch. Do not miss out on what is probably their most famous dish: the tall and delicious pain perdu with maple caramel and dulce de leche ice cream.
© Alexandre Parent – Studio Point de vue
Henri Brasserie Française
1240 Square Phillips | Website
Located in the stunning, landmark Birks building downtown, Henri Brasserie Française charms at first glance by its gorgeous 19th century-inspired décor with brass accents, ornate ceiling, and stained-glass windows. The menu is steeped in French brasserie classics such as duck confit, lobster thermidor or tarte tatin.
© Tourisme Montréal, Mayssam Samaha
La Chronique
104 Laurier Avenue West | Website
White tablecloths, a luminous dining room and a flawless fine cuisine are what distinguish La Chronique, an elegant restaurant that’s called chic Laurier Avenue its home since 1995. If you’re a fan of foie gras, you’ll be happy to know that theirs is unmissable.
© Two Food Photographers
L’Express
3927 Saint-Denis Street | Website
Open since 1980, L’Express is an absolute institution in Montréal. Whether you decide to sit at the long bar or in the dining room with the checkered floor, the French classics on the hand-written menu will absolutely transport you to a lively Parisian brasserie. The Île flottante for dessert is a must!
Le Molière par Mousso
1594 Saint-Denis Street | Website
Le Molière is a new French brasserie is a part of Espace Saint-Denis. Designed like a backstage area, patrons can enjoy dinner while feeling like they’re part of the show. Award-winning chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard (Le Mousso) is the Gastronomic Director of the project while star chef Daniel Vézina (Laurie Raphaël) is a consultant. This promises to be a great eating establishment.
© Tourisme Montréal - Marie Deschene
Café Cherrier
3635 Saint-Denis Street | Website
Café Cherrie is another French institution operating on Saint-Denis Street since 1983. Open all day, it’s a great spot to linger, indoors in the classically decorated dining room in the winter or on the vine-wrapped terrasse in the summer. Their menu offers classics of French cuisine such as black pudding with caramelized apples, duck confit or classic lemon tart.
© Ritz-Carlton Montréal
Maison Boulud
1228 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
Star chef Daniel Boulud’s eponymous restaurant located inside Montréal’s Ritz-Carlton hotel is the epitome of class and elegance. It’s also a great place to enjoy contemporary French cuisine imbued with the chef’s personal touch and featuring local and seasonal ingredients.
© Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
Le Renoir
115 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
Montréal’s Golden Square Mile and the Sofitel Hotel are home to Le Renoir, an exquisite restaurant rooted in French cuisine but with an inventive and contemporary approach. Don’t skip desserts, as they are among the best restaurant desserts in Montréal.
© Alison Slattery - Two Food Photographers - Tourisme Montréal
Monarque
406 Saint-Jacques | Website
Whether you prefer the hustle and bustle of a brasserie or the more restrained ambiance of a fine dining restaurant, Monarque offers both. Duck confit, bouillabaisse and Paris-Brest are among the classics served brasserie side, while a more inventive seasonal menu is offered in the dining room.
© Rodolf Noël / LMGCOM
Holder
407 McGill Street | Website
This bustling Old Montréal brasserie is always an excellent choice for lunch or dinner. The light-filled dining room is classically designed and the staff greatly efficient. It’s also loud, like any authentic French brasserie. On the menu you’ll find classic dishes such as tartares, liver pâté and foie gras.
© Alison Slattery
Paname
4847 Wellington Street | Website
Located on the “Coolest Street in the World”, Paname is a great addition to the French restaurant scene in Montréal. Their menu invites guests to rediscover some French classics while featuring local and seasonal ingredients.
For more French restaurants, try one of these:
Plein Sud, Le Pégase, Le Valois, Bonaparte, Chez Delmo, Brasserie Bernard, Marché de la Villette, Au Petit Extra, Jérôme Ferrer, Tandem and Chez Lévêsque.
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 30 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.
