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The Main Media Inc. 2026

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    Everything you need to make the most of Montreal.

    Understand the City

    Understand the City

    Stories, guides, and reporting that make sense of Montreal — its culture, neighbourhoods, and everyday life.

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    Discover What’s Around You

    Discover What’s Around You

    Explore restaurants, cafés, galleries, and places worth knowing — searchable by neighbourhood, category, and what's around you.

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    LATEST STORIES

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    The Bulletin: Bus shelter acrobatics, Lunar New Year raves, and Slavic crêpes [Issue #169]
    Newsletter

    The Bulletin: Bus shelter acrobatics, Lunar New Year raves, and Slavic crêpes [Issue #169]

    The Bulletin is a collection of what's happened, what’s happening, and what’s to come in and around Montreal.

    By The Main·FEB 19
    Sponsored

    Quebec's Hiring System is Broken, and She Wants to Fix It

    FEB 19
    Quebec's Hiring System is Broken, and She Wants to Fix It
    Arts & Culture

    Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is the Comedy Movie Event of the Year

    FEB 18
    Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is the Comedy Movie Event of the Year
    Arts & Culture

    What to do this weekend (02.19–02.22)

    FEB 18
    What to do this weekend (02.19–02.22)
    Food & Drink

    Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

    FEB 18
    Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
    Opinion

    Who Killed the Late-Night Dinner?

    FEB 18
    Who Killed the Late-Night Dinner?
    Read More

    Food & Drink

    The best of Montreal's culinary scene

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    Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
    Food & Drink
    J.P. Karwacki

    Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

    Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

    Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking
    Food & Drink
    J.P. Karwacki

    Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking

    The Fleury Ouest newcomer pays tribute to post-war family tables and its chef Benjamin Gilker's Nova Scotian roots.

    Should a Restaurant That Took Everything Get a Second Chance?
    Food & Drink
    J.P. Karwacki

    Should a Restaurant That Took Everything Get a Second Chance?

    Omar Zabuair lost everything when Le Coq de l'Est closed in 2022. Three years later, he ran a pop-up to find out if the food still works—and whether that's reason enough to try again.

    Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
    Food & Drink
    J.P. Karwacki

    Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

    The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

    Good luck getting a table at Mile End's latest morning-to-midnight spot
    Food & Drink
    J.P. Karwacki

    Good Luck Getting a Table at Mile End's Latest Morning-to-midnight Spot

    The neighbourhood's smitten with Au Coin's all-day coffee, natural wine, and sourdough pizza.

    My restaurant got busy before it was ready. Now I can finally take a step back.
    Food & Drink
    Scott Usheroff

    My Restaurant Got Busy Before it Was Ready. Now I Can Finally Take a Step Back.

    It's the unspoken problem of early popularity in restaurants: Nineteen months in, La Spada's owner reflects on the chaos, clarity, and learning to step away.

    Yakitori Hibahihi is bringing the heat to Plaza St-Hubert
    Food & Drink
    J.P. Karwacki

    Yakitori Hibahihi is Bringing the Heat to Plaza St-Hubert

    Japanese restaurant veterans Hiroshi Kitano and Hideyuki Imaizumi bring the fire, united by the grill and hip-hop.

    Three cafés, three generations, and one new wave of Vietnamese coffee
    Food & Drink
    Olive Zeynep Kartal

    Three Cafés, Three Generations, and One New Wave of Vietnamese Coffee

    Three cafés redefining specialty Vietnamese coffee through heritage, fusion, and first-gen identity.

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    Featured Guides

    Read More
    The best restaurants in Montreal
    Guide

    The Best Restaurants in Montreal

    From boundary-pushing tasting menus to perfected single plates—this is where to eat when it matters.

    All of Montreal's best cafés and coffee shops, mapped
    Guide

    All of Montreal's Best Cafés and Coffee Shops, Mapped

    Where work gets dodged, books get read and written, and half the city seems to be locked in conversation.

    Montreal's most romantic restaurants for date nights
    Guide

    Montreal's Most Romantic Restaurants for Date Nights

    Intimate, theatrical, memorable: the spots that make an evening feel like an occasion.

    Montreal's best bookstores, mapped
    Guide

    Montreal's Best Bookstores, Mapped

    Rare finds, curated shelves, and community hubs across the city.

    A field guide to vintage stores, thrift shops, and second-hand gems
    Guide

    A Field Guide to Vintage Stores, Thrift Shops, and Second-hand Gems

    From garage racks to curated closets, here's where to start digging for stylish castoffs that got a second life.

    Local Montreal shops for the permanently curious
    Guide

    Local Montreal Shops for the Permanently Curious

    It's wandering, but rewarded: Shop local, shop curious, and let these spots surprise you.

    Where to find the best listening bars and vinyl cafés in Montreal
    Guide

    Where to Find the Best Listening Bars and Vinyl Cafés in Montreal

    Lean back and listen in at these vinyl-heavy addresses in the city with slow, intentional, and mature atmospheres inspired by Japanese jazz kissa.

    Latest Bulletins

    The latest Montreal bulletins.

    Read More
    Black History Month marks a triple milestone in 2026
    Bulletin
    The Main

    Black History Month Marks a Triple Milestone in 2026

    The Round Table celebrates 35 years in Quebec, 100 years of Black History Month, and a program spanning classical music, sport, and community.

    The 5 wildest poutines coming to Montreal during Poutine Week 2026
    Bulletin
    The Main

    The 5 Wildest Poutines Coming to Montreal During Poutine Week 2026

    Sichuan spice bags, imperial stout gravy, truffle gnocchi—more than 20 restaurants are pushing the dish's limits from February 1-7.

    The neon sign at Le Rouge goes dark tonight after two decades
    Bulletin
    The Main

    The Neon Sign at Le Rouge Goes Dark Tonight After Two Decades

    After 23 years of bottle service, packed dance floors, and nights that turned into mornings, the Saint-Laurent club closes January 31.

    With fewer events and bigger returns, Montreal's convention strategy is working
    Bulletin
    The Main

    With Fewer Events and Bigger Returns, Montreal's Convention Strategy is Working

    The city hosted 63 fewer conventions in 2025 but generated $43 million more in economic impact.

    "If it was 1988, I would buy it every week"
    Bulletin
    The Main

    "If it Was 1988, I Would Buy it Every Week"

    Radio veterans Terry DiMonte and Ted Bird gave The Main a shoutout on their podcast Standing By.

    Tissot's first Canadian boutique starts with a French connection
    Bulletin
    The Main

    Tissot's First Canadian Boutique Starts with a French Connection

    The Swiss watchmaker chose Montreal for its Canadian debut, drawn by the city's Francophone ties to its home in Le Locle.

    Apple Sainte-Catherine reopens in a restored heritage building
    Bulletin
    The Main

    Apple Sainte-Catherine Reopens in a Restored Heritage Building

    The expanded downtown store features local stone, a refurbished copper cornice, and double the floor space.

    SAQ bets on Uber Eats and dépanneur mini-shops to reverse declining sales
    Bulletin
    The Main

    SAQ Bets on Uber Eats and Dépanneur Mini-shops to Reverse Declining Sales

    One-hour delivery pilots late February, with 100 mini-store locations planned across Montreal, the South Shore, and Quebec City by summer.

    Read More

    Beyond Montreal

    Discover what lies beyond the city

    Read More
    How Do You Design a Space That Slows Down Time?
    Beyond Montreal
    J.P. Karwacki

    How Do You Design a Space That Slows Down Time?

    Montreal-based hinter has spent eight years answering that question across a growing collection of architect-designed retreats.

    The Italian family that turned a Quebec sugar shack into a restaurant empire
    Beyond Montreal
    J.P. Karwacki

    The Italian Family That Turned a Quebec Sugar Shack into a Restaurant Empire

    When Rosa Fuoco's husband wanted to buy a sugar shack, she thought he was crazy. Now their sons run three restaurants, a cheese farm, and one of Quebec's top cabanes à sucre.

    The abandoned church where outsider contemporary art found a home
    Beyond Montreal
    Jean Bourbeau @ URBANIA

    The Abandoned Church Where Outsider Contemporary Art Found a Home

    In a quiet village, a church has turned into a sanctuary for artists living on the margins of the world.

    How cold-climate wine is made at David McMillan's Hayfield Farm vineyard
    Beyond Montreal
    Scott Usheroff

    How Cold-climate Wine is Made at David McMillan's Hayfield Farm Vineyard

    Following the Joe Beef co-founder through two days of cold-climate viticulture harvests where hospitality takes the form of al fresco meals, crushed grapes underfoot, and relentless labour.

    The mystery of white sauce poutine
    Beyond Montreal
    Jean Bourbeau @ URBANIA

    The Mystery of White Sauce Poutine

    A deep dive into the belly of the Outaouais.

    Firing ceramics by hand in the Laurentians with the pottery collective Goregama
    Beyond Montreal
    J.P. Karwacki

    Firing Ceramics by Hand in the Laurentians with the Pottery Collective Goregama

    Ancient technique, unpredictability, and slow, communal craft: Goregama has gathered twice a year since 2019 to feed wood into an anagama kiln for 40 hours straight.

    Baie Saint-Paul might be your best bet for a weekend escape in Quebec
    Beyond Montreal
    Daniel Bromberg

    Baie Saint-Paul Might Be Your Best Bet for a Weekend Escape in Quebec

    From farm fields to natural wine, Baie-Saint-Paul makes the case for a quick pause away from it all.

    In search of happiness in Saint-Eustache
    Beyond Montreal
    Hugo Meunier @ URBANIA

    In Search of Happiness in Saint-Eustache

    From flea markets to pickleball courts, a reporter retraces his roots to find out why Saint-Eustache is suddenly among Quebec’s happiest cities.

    Read More
    Deep in the juice with Zamalek: Blending Egyptian karkadé tea with Mile End culture
    Food & Drink

    Deep in the juice with Zamalek: Blending Egyptian karkadé tea with Mile End culture

    How the Mile End scene of the twenty-tens and Egyptian heritage brewed a drink Montreal today couldn't do without.

    Read Full Story
    A (mostly) spoken history of Clarke Café, Montreal’s home of the sangwich
    Food & Drink

    A (mostly) spoken history of Clarke Café, Montreal’s home of the sangwich

    Italo family history, a Mile End legend, and building a modern institution in the Pointe, as told by Frank Servedio

    Read Full Story

    Arts & Culture

    Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is the Comedy Movie Event of the Year

    Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is the Comedy Movie Event of the Year

    By Gianni Fiasche

    What to do this weekend (02.19–02.22)

    By The Main
    What to do this weekend (02.19–02.22)

    Montréal, ma belle is a Quiet Revolution in Immigrant Storytelling

    By Olivia Shan
    Montréal, ma belle is a Quiet Revolution in Immigrant Storytelling

    Design

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

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

    By Philippe Demers

    Emilie Pittman's Em & May designs clothes for bodies, not trends

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

    Meet Dazy Chains, the tech-inspired knitwear brand combining fibre arts with digital culture

    By Kaitlyn DiBartolo
    Meet Dazy Chains, the tech-inspired knitwear brand combining fibre arts with digital culture

    History Lessons

    How a Railway Porter Built Montreal's Most Storied Jazz Club

    How a Railway Porter Built Montreal's Most Storied Jazz Club

    By J.P. Karwacki

    What Montreal's 1976 Olympics left behind, 50 years later

    By J.P. Karwacki
    What Montreal's 1976 Olympics left behind, 50 years later

    The hidden politics of Montreal's 19th-century ice palaces

    By Kaitlyn DiBartolo
    The hidden politics of Montreal's 19th-century ice palaces

    As Venues Close, This Musician-Run Label Keeps the Lights On

    By Joshua Lai
    As Venues Close, This Musician-Run Label Keeps the Lights On

    How this family-run auction house is preserving the art of antiquing

    By Elle Magni
    How this family-run auction house is preserving the art of antiquing

    Ivy Studio is shaping Montreal's visual identity from the inside out

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

    The design behind the REM's 14 new stations, and changing how Montreal moves

    By Thom Seivewright
    The design behind the REM's 14 new stations, and changing how Montreal moves

    The soap maker who bent the Jacques-Cartier Bridge

    By The Main
    The soap maker who bent the Jacques-Cartier Bridge

    The century-long smoked meat legacy of Schwartz's Deli

    By J.P. Karwacki
    The century-long smoked meat legacy of Schwartz's Deli
    Recommend and Bookmark

    Discover Montreal's Top Spots

    A guide to the very best of Montreal, curated by our editors and the voices we feature in our stories.

    Explore Montreal

    Editor's Picks

    What our editors are actually eating, drinking, and recommending.

    Molenne
    Molenne

    Restaurant · Mile End

    Rita
    Rita

    Restaurant · Verdun

    Clarke Café (PSC)
    Clarke Café (PSC)

    Restaurant · Pointe-Saint-Charles

    Reuben's Deli & Steakhouse
    Reuben's Deli & Steakhouse

    Restaurant · Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

    Les Aliments Felix Mish
    Les Aliments Felix Mish

    Grocery Store · Ville-Émard

    Trending

    The places earning the most love from our readers and community right now.

    Celeste
    Celeste

    Restaurant · Downtown

    Figata
    Figata

    Restaurant · Saint-Henri

    Cococina
    Cococina

    Restaurant · Old Montreal

    Orexi Estiatorio
    Orexi Estiatorio

    Restaurant · Old Montreal

    Grille-Nature
    Grille-Nature

    Restaurant · Dollard-Des Ormeaux

    New on The Main

    Recently added to the directory. Get there before the rest of Montreal does.

    Bistrot Boisselet
    Bistrot Boisselet

    Restaurant · Little Italy

    Parquette
    Parquette

    Nightlife · La Petite-Patrie

    Cerise Buvette
    Cerise Buvette

    Wine Bar · Ahuntsic-Cartierville

    Chez Cécile
    Chez Cécile

    Restaurant · Ahuntsic-Cartierville

    Les Delices de Rosa Grill
    Les Delices de Rosa Grill

    Restaurant

    How a Railway Porter Built Montreal's Most Storied Jazz Club
    History Lesson

    How a Railway Porter Built Montreal's Most Storied Jazz Club

    By J.P. Karwacki

    The story of Rufus Rockhead, the Jamaican-born railway porter who built Montreal's most legendary jazz club—and spent decades defending it.

    How a Railway Porter Built Montreal's Most Storied Jazz Club
    History Lesson

    How a Railway Porter Built Montreal's Most Storied Jazz Club

    The story of Rufus Rockhead, the Jamaican-born railway porter who built Montreal's most legendary jazz club—and spent decades defending it.

    By J.P. Karwacki

    J.P. Karwacki

    West Island restaurants are having a moment right now

    West Island restaurants are having a moment right now

    J.P. Karwacki

    Why being weird works in Plaza St-Hubert’s new era

    Why being weird works in Plaza St-Hubert’s new era

    Jason Gisoo Kim

    The emergence of Montreal's unofficial Koreatown

    The emergence of Montreal's unofficial Koreatown

    J.P. Karwacki

    West Island restaurants are having a moment right now

    West Island restaurants are having a moment right now

    J.P. Karwacki

    Why being weird works in Plaza St-Hubert’s new era

    Why being weird works in Plaza St-Hubert’s new era

    Jason Gisoo Kim

    The emergence of Montreal's unofficial Koreatown

    The emergence of Montreal's unofficial Koreatown

    Montreal's City Magazine

    A new place to discover the people, places and community that make Montreal unique.

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    Arts & CultureNirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is the Comedy Movie Event of the YearWhat to do this weekend (02.19–02.22)Montréal, ma belle is a Quiet Revolution in Immigrant StorytellingAs Venues Close, This Musician-Run Label Keeps the Lights On
    Beyond MontrealHow Do You Design a Space That Slows Down Time?The Italian family that turned a Quebec sugar shack into a restaurant empireThe abandoned church where outsider contemporary art found a homeHow cold-climate wine is made at David McMillan's Hayfield Farm vineyard
    BulletinBlack History Month marks a triple milestone in 2026The 5 wildest poutines coming to Montreal during Poutine Week 2026The neon sign at Le Rouge goes dark tonight after two decadesWith fewer events and bigger returns, Montreal's convention strategy is working
    DesignMontreal’s public spaces are good, but are they good enough?Emilie Pittman's Em & May designs clothes for bodies, not trendsMeet Dazy Chains, the tech-inspired knitwear brand combining fibre arts with digital cultureIvy Studio is shaping Montreal's visual identity from the inside out
    Food & DrinkFigata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce TempleCécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort CookingShould a Restaurant That Took Everything Get a Second Chance?Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
    Arts & CultureNirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is the Comedy Movie Event of the YearWhat to do this weekend (02.19–02.22)Montréal, ma belle is a Quiet Revolution in Immigrant StorytellingAs Venues Close, This Musician-Run Label Keeps the Lights On
    Beyond MontrealHow Do You Design a Space That Slows Down Time?The Italian family that turned a Quebec sugar shack into a restaurant empireThe abandoned church where outsider contemporary art found a homeHow cold-climate wine is made at David McMillan's Hayfield Farm vineyard
    BulletinBlack History Month marks a triple milestone in 2026The 5 wildest poutines coming to Montreal during Poutine Week 2026The neon sign at Le Rouge goes dark tonight after two decadesWith fewer events and bigger returns, Montreal's convention strategy is working
    DesignMontreal’s public spaces are good, but are they good enough?Emilie Pittman's Em & May designs clothes for bodies, not trendsMeet Dazy Chains, the tech-inspired knitwear brand combining fibre arts with digital cultureIvy Studio is shaping Montreal's visual identity from the inside out
    Food & DrinkFigata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce TempleCécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort CookingShould a Restaurant That Took Everything Get a Second Chance?Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
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