Le Violon: Stepping into a painting of fine dining in the Plateau

Walking along Rue Marquette in the Plateau, one could almost miss Le Violon if it weren’t for the locals’ enthusiastic reception. Beyond its fresh exterior black paint job and frosted glass windows, the dining room bustles: an intimately close-quarters 50-seat space that embodies the vision of co-executive chefs Mitch Laughren and Danny Smiles, general manager Andrew Park, and Montreal artist / creative director Dan Climan.

A project discreetly in the works since Smiles announced his departure from Hudson’s Willow Inn in December 2023, the restaurant is easily filling the shoes of its predecessor, Maison Publique.

It’s exciting to think of the restaurant as a living artwork that people can step into, interact with, and enjoy. Like I do in my art practice, I approached designing this space by thinking about the feeling we wanted to create.