For friends

Ibérica

1450 Rue Peel | Website

Looking for a dining experience where everyone can have a taste before the big show begins? Consider the Spanish tapas of Ibérica: Its convenient location is one thing, but the level of attention given to the sourcing of the menu, things stay delicious from the first bite from an assorted cheese plate to grilled seafood and a sumptuous couple of churros for dessert.

Bazarette

1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal | Website

Operating just a hop, skip and jump out of the Lucien-L’Allier train station, Bazarette entertains its guests with sharing plates and finger foods like truffle fries and burrata before dishes like pulled duck sliders and pasta. The dishes are great when enjoyed with cocktails or imported wines, and even better when you consider how close the Bell Centre is.

Restaurant Kamúy

1485 Rue Jeanne-Mance | Website

Chef Paul Toussaint’s pan-Caribbean restaurant in the Quartier des Spectacles can be just as good for a good pre-game snack as it can be for full and flavourful dinner before a big show. All the chef’s famous classics like jerk chicken, accras and griot are on the menu at Kamúy alongside new favourites like dombrey in coconut bisque, fish with a passion fruit beurre blanc, and more.

Deville Dinerbar

1425 Rue Stanley | Website

The glowing pink neon of 1950s-style diner twisted with nightlife may be first to draw in newcomers with appearance, but it’s Deville Dinerbar’s food and hospitality that keep them coming back. With over a decade of experience under its belt, this restaurant’s punch bowl-sized cocktails and upscaled takes on comfort food like hot dogs and fried chickens don’t disappoint.

Otto Yakitori

1441 Rue Saint-Mathieu | Website

This Japanese restaurant specializing in skewers of chicken, drinks, and a bevy of other dishes both inventive and traditional is a solid bet for when you want to eat a meal that’s meant to be shared. Order up a couple platters of the chef’s selection (make sure to double-check what’ll be served if you have any pickier eaters at the table), a pitcher or two of beer or a hot carafe of sake, and enjoy one another’s company before your show. Reservations are recommended on the weekends.

For families

Les Enfants Terribles

1 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa | Website

With a terrasse that boasts one of the most stunning views in the city, dining at Les Enfants Terribles’ outpost atop the Place Ville Marie can take a night out to a show or sporting event to a whole new level, literally and figuratively. Drop in for oysters and drinks, burgers and poutine, or more meticulous dishes like grilled octopus and a 48-hour braised beef.

Tsukuyomi Ramen Bishop

1242 Bishop Street | Website

Tsukuyomi serves smooth and delicious ramen made from the freshest ingredients. The concise menu offers prime choices made with either a savoury Tonkontsu broth or a vegan option, topped with original condiments and fresh, homemade noodles, passed down from the Japanese tradition. For the uninitiated, the house offers a selection of tasty compositions as well as a number of side dishes to complete your meal. For those in a hurry, get your ramen in less than a minute, making it perfect for lunch or dinner on the go. 

Picks

1407 Rue Saint-Marc | Website

Not only does this Korean-run burger joint near the Bell Centre make an excellent burger, but they’ll build it out as big or as laden with toppings as you like. The only thing you need to take note of is that seating is limited here, but wait times aren’t that long. Otherwise, you can enjoy the long lists of sauces, cheeses, and other toppings to pick from that’ll please kids and hungry adults alike. They also make a mean poutine and kogos, a corn dog that’s studded with French fries you have to try once.

Time Out Market Montréal

705 Rue Saint-Catherine Ouest | Website

Billed as containing the best restaurants in the city under one roof, this food hall inside of the Eaton Centre is an upscaled place to grab a quick meal. Options range from Italian to Japanese, Middle Eastern to Portuguese chicken, not to mention burgers from one of Montréal’s most lauded chefs, Normand Laprise. Thirsty? There’s always a fresh cocktail menu on offer as well as microbrews and curated wines.

Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten

1 Place Ville Marie | Website

This trendy food hall found below the Place Ville Marie is a regular go-to for happy hours and easy eats. Combining sit-down experiences like bistro tenants with grab-and-go eateries such as cheeseburgers and Chinese cuisine, dropping in for pre-game or pre-show meals can be as short or as drawn-out as guests like, and that makes this option a steady one—especially when having trouble deciding who wants to eat what where.

For couples

Bar George

1440 Rue Drummond | Website  

The quality of the English and Scottish cuisine of Bar George is only matched by the amazing décor of the Le Mount Stephen Hotel. The experience here should be more than on par with the astounding show or match to see at the Bell Centre with the level of precision it brings to its cocktails and plates, like lobster pasta or foie gras and broccoli served with a silky gribiche sauce.

Tiradito

1076 Rue de Bleury | Website

Known for singlehandedly elevating Nikkei cuisine in Montréal, Tiradito’s takes on its diasporic combination of Peruvian and Japanese flavours is just as much a draw card as is its sleek interior décor and the energy of its bartenders. From ceviches with leche de tigre and crab causas to antichucho and crispy yuca fries, all of chef Marcel Larrea’s will tempt and delight.

Marcus

1440 Rue de la Montagne | Website

The Four Seasons Hôtel Montréal’s destination restaurant Marcus first turned heads in the city with its celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson leading its splash on the city’s restaurant scene, but it has maintained and only strengthened its stance by taking on local talents Jason Morris and S’Arto Chartier-Otis for its kitchen. Seafood reigns supreme here, whether it’s oysters or towers of chilled lobster tails and scallops before the main act of a night out.

Brasserie Le Pois Penché

1230 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West | Website            

Those looking for some luxury before their trip to the Bell Centre would do well to pay a visit to this classic bistro that’s been a local standard-bearer for French food since 2007. Diners can splurge on seafood towers and steak-frites, or keep things light with a range of salads and soups du jour. It’s best to plan for prolonged visit here, however; you’d do a disservice to dinner if you tried to eat and drink within 20 minutes.

Escondite

1224 Rue Drummond | Website

Tostadas, ceviches, and tacos both inventive and traditional, Escondite excels at serving the crowds of Downtown Montréal memorable experiences in an interior that pops with colour and neon. Those who love Mexican restaurants for their selections of tequila and mezcal should take note, as this place has one of the better selections in town.