© Alison Slattery
Joe Beef
No. 3 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Joe Beef is a place where locals congregate, and around which tourists plan their Montréal trip! The popular lobster pasta is a must for first timers although anything on the menu will make your taste buds sing. Dave McMillan and Fred Morin have their restaurants down to a delicious science.
© BENEDICTE BROCARD
Restaurant Toqué!
No. 6 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
A staple on the Montréal restaurant scene since 1993, chef Normand Laprise’s restaurant is built on his passion and commitment to shedding a spotlight on Québec’s local and seasonal ingredients. Beautiful and delightful dishes and exceptional service make a meal at Restaurant Toqué! an experience to remember. There’s a reason this restaurant has been part of Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants top 10 since 2015!
© Dominique Lafond
Montréal Plaza Restaurant
No. 7 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
A meal at Montréal Plaza Restaurant will always surprise and delight. The dining room has a modern crisp ambiance with quirky accent pieces that will make you do a double take. Try the tasting menu to sample some extraordinary dishes or order items to share with your dining companions. All will result in a great night out.
© Frédérique Ménard-Aubin - Montreal en Lumière
Le Mousso
No. 16 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Known for its tasting menu and wine pairings, Le Mousso has been a hit on Montréal’s dining scene since day 1. Its dishes, plated like works of art, are colourful, original and flawless. It’s a great place for an unforgettable celebration.
© Susan Moss
Vin Mon Lapin
No. 21 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Owned and operated by chef Marc-Olivier Frappier and sommelier Vanya Filipovic, this jewel of a neighbourhood restaurant is one of the best in Montréal. The Vin Mon Lapin menu is comprised of memorable small plates highlighting Québec’s terroir such as the house made ham or the pink endive and foie gras salad. The wine list offers privately imported, natural and biodynamic wines carefully selected by Vanya. A good time is guaranteed at this no-reservation spot.
© Two Food Photographers
Pastel Restaurant
No. 22 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants & No. 8 on enRoute Magazine’s Canada’s Best New Restaurants list
Canadian and Québec products are the focus at Pastel Restaurant, located in charming Old Montréal. The stunning décor is as refined and elegant as the delightful dishes that are akin to artful edible tableaux. Whether you dig into the celebrated tasting menu or pick the à la carte option, you are in for a memorable dining experience.
© Two Food Photograhers
Le Vin Papillon
No. 23 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
With in season ingredients, fantastic cocktails and wines, a charming garden, and creative dishes to share, Le Vin Papillon has been putting smiles on people’s faces since 2013. The crew, all part of the Joe Beef staff, is like an all-star team of extremely talented humans. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations but a local’s trick to avoid waiting is to head over for a late lunch or early dinner when it opens at 3 pm.
© Two Food Photographers (Alison Slattery)
Beba
No. 25 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Two Joe Beef alumni brothers open an Argentinian restaurant with heavy Italian and Spanish influences on a sleepy corner of Verdun and it instantly becomes a hit. Beba serves magnificent, flavourful comfort food in a lively ambiance. It’s the kind of restaurant you wish was on the corner of your street so you can indulge in its beautiful food, service and style several times a week.
© Two Food Photographers
L’Express
No. 30 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Walk into this establishment and you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped foot in a Parisian bistro. L’Express’ layout, waiters and menu all come together to create an unmistakable French culinary experience. At this Montréal iconic establishment, must have dishes include the bone marrow with coarse salt, the chicken liver pate, the tartares with fries and the delicious pickles that come complimentary of the house with the baguette and butter.
Damas
No. 37 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Damas’ dizzyingly beautiful décor instantly transports diners to exotic locales fragrant with warm spices and fresh flavours. It’s been a favourite among Montrealers and tourists alike since the very beginning and it’s easy to understand why. The Syrian specialties served here are authentic and absolutely delicious. In the summer, the terrasse is one of the liveliest in town.
© Alison Slattery - Two Food Photographers - Tourisme Montréal
Monarque
No. 42 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Monarque’s grandiose Old Montréal project includes a brasserie, a fine dining restaurant and an impressively long bar. The entire space’s design is absolutely stunning! The brasserie menu includes classics such as lobster Thermidor and escargots as well as more seasonal dishes while the dining room’s menu, designed as a three-course meal, leans more towards fine dining.
© Two Food Photographers
Moccione
No. 45 on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants list
Intimate and cozy, Villeray’s Moccione restaurant has carved a spot as one of the best Italian restaurants in Montréal. It serves excellent market and season-driven Italian dishes that include great appetizers and an array of homemade pastas. The carefully selected wine list is outstanding and leans towards natural wine choices.
© Foxy
Below is a list of some more Montréal award-winning restaurants with their specific rank on Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants:
Nora Gray - No. 56
Liverpool House - No. 57
Foxy - No. 60
Maison Publique - No. 62
Elena - No. 63
Jun I - No. 66
Bouillon Bilk - No. 69
Il Pagliaccio - No. 83
Le Club Chasse et Pêche Restaurant Bar Salon - No. 86
Estiatorio Milos - No. 89
Candide - No. 93
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.
