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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office

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    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores
    • Leaderboard
    • Editor's Picks
    • New Places

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office

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      Your cart is empty.

      --°C|Tuesday, May 12, 2026|
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      --°C|Tuesday, May 12, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
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      EN/FR
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Sections
      • Arts & Culture
      • Beyond Montreal
      • Design
      • Food & Drink
      • History Lessons
      • The Bulletin
      Explore
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
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      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
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      • See All
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      Food & Drink

      Montreal's Best Restaurants of 2025 According to Local Writers, Photographers, and Influencers

      These are the spots Montreal's food writers, photographers, and bloggers couldn't stop visiting in 2025, from neighbourhood staples to standout pop-ups.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      December 25, 2025 · 8 min read

      Montreal's best restaurants of 2025 according to local writers, photographers, and influencers
      Among all the names you're about the read about, Le Violon took the top spot. | Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      Le ViolonMon LapinPasta PooksRôtisserie La LuneLimboL'ExpressCafé San GennaroBar St-DenisLe Super QualitéBottegaImpastoCasavantMolenneLe Petit AlepKitano ShokudoRestaurant Pho Viet NamAttiRestaurant ImpérialBar VivarTuck ShopLiverpool HouseBar LuzSatay BrothersMamieMomijiFenêtre Sur KaboulMcKiernanSarayNouveau SystèmeLa Binerie Mont-RoyalFerreira CaféLe Chien FumantParkLawrenceAlmaDamasGarde MangerDeniseDisco Mayo DînetteBuboyLeilaLimousineSushi Okeya KyujiroMare Porto VecchioKif KifAu Pied de CochonCabane à Sucre Au Pied De CochonCabane d'à CôtéSnowdon DeliAylwin DeliNolanBistro La FranquetteNora GrayBossaCabaret L'enferBebaRegashiPichaiLe GodotBouillon AlbertSushi NishinokazeMastardMenu ExtraBarrocoPolariJ'ai FengDalmata Bar LaitierNouilles SauvetteParapluieGia Vin & GrillDouble's

      Comments

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      No comments yet. Be the first!

      Follow on Google
      Food & Drink

      Montreal's Best Restaurants of 2025 According to Local Writers, Photographers, and Influencers

      These are the spots Montreal's food writers, photographers, and bloggers couldn't stop visiting in 2025, from neighbourhood staples to standout pop-ups.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      December 25, 2025 · 8 min read

      Montreal's best restaurants of 2025 according to local writers, photographers, and influencers
      Among all the names you're about the read about, Le Violon took the top spot. | Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      Le ViolonMon LapinPasta PooksRôtisserie La LuneLimboL'ExpressCafé San GennaroBar St-DenisLe Super QualitéBottegaImpastoCasavantMolenneLe Petit AlepKitano ShokudoRestaurant Pho Viet NamAttiRestaurant ImpérialBar VivarTuck ShopLiverpool HouseBar LuzSatay BrothersMamieMomijiFenêtre Sur KaboulMcKiernanSarayNouveau SystèmeLa Binerie Mont-RoyalFerreira CaféLe Chien FumantParkLawrenceAlmaDamasGarde MangerDeniseDisco Mayo DînetteBuboyLeilaLimousineSushi Okeya KyujiroMare Porto VecchioKif KifAu Pied de CochonCabane à Sucre Au Pied De CochonCabane d'à CôtéSnowdon DeliAylwin DeliNolanBistro La FranquetteNora GrayBossaCabaret L'enferBebaRegashiPichaiLe GodotBouillon AlbertSushi NishinokazeMastardMenu ExtraBarrocoPolariJ'ai FengDalmata Bar LaitierNouilles SauvetteParapluieGia Vin & GrillDouble's

      Comments

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      No comments yet. Be the first!

      Follow on Google

      When we look back on how folks in the media and influencer-verse were eating out this past year, Montreal's food scene in 2025 wasn't about the next big opening or constant exploration, but the places worth going back to over and over again.

      Read on and you'll see: we turned to the critics, photographers, and bloggers who spend their lives hunting down the city's best meals once again to hear about their most memorable meals and the spots they couldn't stay away from. From rotisserie chicken that reminded everyone why simple food done right never goes out of style to pop-ups that pushed boundaries with collaborations spanning cities and cultures, their picks reveal a dining scene that's confident, grounded, and unafraid to have fun.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Latest from The Main

      Food & Drink30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality DynastyArts & CultureA Local's Guide to Mile EndFood & DrinkCafé BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living RoomFood & DrinkPlume Was Built the Old-Fashioned WayHistory LessonThe Strange Architectural Afterlife of Joseph-Arthur Godin

      When we look back on how folks in the media and influencer-verse were eating out this past year, Montreal's food scene in 2025 wasn't about the next big opening or constant exploration, but the places worth going back to over and over again.

      Read on and you'll see: we turned to the critics, photographers, and bloggers who spend their lives hunting down the city's best meals once again to hear about their most memorable meals and the spots they couldn't stay away from. From rotisserie chicken that reminded everyone why simple food done right never goes out of style to pop-ups that pushed boundaries with collaborations spanning cities and cultures, their picks reveal a dining scene that's confident, grounded, and unafraid to have fun.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Latest from The Main

      Food & Drink30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality DynastyArts & CultureA Local's Guide to Mile EndFood & DrinkCafé BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living RoomFood & DrinkPlume Was Built the Old-Fashioned WayHistory LessonThe Strange Architectural Afterlife of Joseph-Arthur Godin
      The Bulletin: A holiday heist, full plates, and a surprisingly busy weekend [Issue #161]

      Previous

      The Bulletin: A Holiday Heist, Full Plates, and a Surprisingly Busy Weekend [Issue #161]

      Next

      Where Montreal's Food Writers and Photographers Loved to Drink in 2025 (and What They Ordered)

      Where Montreal's food writers and photographers loved to drink in 2025 (and what they ordered)
      The Bulletin: A holiday heist, full plates, and a surprisingly busy weekend [Issue #161]

      Previous

      The Bulletin: A Holiday Heist, Full Plates, and a Surprisingly Busy Weekend [Issue #161]

      Next

      Where Montreal's Food Writers and Photographers Loved to Drink in 2025 (and What They Ordered)

      Where Montreal's food writers and photographers loved to drink in 2025 (and what they ordered)

      More Food & Drink

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty

      Carlos Ferreira built his Peel Street restaurant to represent a larger vision of Portugal. Three decades later, his daughters are helping carry that ambition into its next era.

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room

      Inside a raw concrete space on Murray Street, banana-infused espresso and matcha drinks anchor a broader ambition to become part of the neighbourhood’s daily rhythm.

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way

      Set inside a former Mile End bakery, two Bouillon Bilk alumni are pairing French-influenced cooking with private import wines and a handcrafted dining room.

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond

      Michelin’s second Québec selection adds four new One Stars while continuing to push the guide beyond Montreal’s usual fine dining conversation.

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet
      Food & Drink
      Ariane Gonzalez

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet

      From producers and artisans to chefs and sommeliers, the industry gathered in Montreal to celebrate its own ecosystem and signal where the province's gastronomy is heading next.

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.

      As Quebec’s second Michelin Guide approaches, longtime critic Lesley Chesterman questions whether the city’s restaurants are built for what the guide rewards—and what chasing stars really costs.

      More Food & Drink

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty

      Carlos Ferreira built his Peel Street restaurant to represent a larger vision of Portugal. Three decades later, his daughters are helping carry that ambition into its next era.

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room

      Inside a raw concrete space on Murray Street, banana-infused espresso and matcha drinks anchor a broader ambition to become part of the neighbourhood’s daily rhythm.

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way

      Set inside a former Mile End bakery, two Bouillon Bilk alumni are pairing French-influenced cooking with private import wines and a handcrafted dining room.

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond

      Michelin’s second Québec selection adds four new One Stars while continuing to push the guide beyond Montreal’s usual fine dining conversation.

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet
      Food & Drink
      Ariane Gonzalez

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet

      From producers and artisans to chefs and sommeliers, the industry gathered in Montreal to celebrate its own ecosystem and signal where the province's gastronomy is heading next.

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.

      As Quebec’s second Michelin Guide approaches, longtime critic Lesley Chesterman questions whether the city’s restaurants are built for what the guide rewards—and what chasing stars really costs.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      A Field Guide to Not Being a Total Asshole to Your Bartender
      Food & Drink
      Max Honigmann

      A Field Guide to Not Being a Total Asshole to Your Bartender

      We asked three Montreal bartenders to tell us what they wish their clients knew.

      A New Pub Aims to Bring Finesse to the Plateau's Bar Scene
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      A New Pub Aims to Bring Finesse to the Plateau's Bar Scene

      Elevated pub classics, a daily 5 à 7, and a kitchen open until 1 a.m. have all arrived at the corner of Prince-Arthur and Saint-Laurent.

      Bona Fide, One of Villeray's Best New Restaurants, Is Closing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bona Fide, One of Villeray's Best New Restaurants, Is Closing

      The Roman-style pasta and natural wine spot on Saint-Laurent lasted just under two years, but long enough to make a real impression.

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End

      The team signed off this week with a note of gratitude to their regulars.

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      Built from scratch in a Kirkland strip mall, La Tratt has spent 20 years playing the long game to earn loyalty, and it shows.

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer

      China's food culture never stopped evolving. Montreal's did. These are the chefs closing the gap.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      A Field Guide to Not Being a Total Asshole to Your Bartender
      Food & Drink
      Max Honigmann

      A Field Guide to Not Being a Total Asshole to Your Bartender

      We asked three Montreal bartenders to tell us what they wish their clients knew.

      A New Pub Aims to Bring Finesse to the Plateau's Bar Scene
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      A New Pub Aims to Bring Finesse to the Plateau's Bar Scene

      Elevated pub classics, a daily 5 à 7, and a kitchen open until 1 a.m. have all arrived at the corner of Prince-Arthur and Saint-Laurent.

      Bona Fide, One of Villeray's Best New Restaurants, Is Closing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bona Fide, One of Villeray's Best New Restaurants, Is Closing

      The Roman-style pasta and natural wine spot on Saint-Laurent lasted just under two years, but long enough to make a real impression.

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Nita Tout Garni Is Closing After Five Years in the Mile End

      The team signed off this week with a note of gratitude to their regulars.

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      Built from scratch in a Kirkland strip mall, La Tratt has spent 20 years playing the long game to earn loyalty, and it shows.

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      A New Class of Chefs Is Proving How Much Chinese Food Has to Offer

      China's food culture never stopped evolving. Montreal's did. These are the chefs closing the gap.