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
    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
      --°C|Friday, May 1, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      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
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      ShopWeather
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      --°C|Friday, May 1, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      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
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      ShopWeather
      Subscribe
      Subscribe

      More Food & Drink

      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026

      Eight Montreal bars cracked the top 50. One took the whole thing.

      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.

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries
      Food + drink
      Christopher DeWolf

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries

      On the international growth of Messorem, from local can drops, streetwear-style branding, and Brooklyn vibes to an international events and fans.

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown

      A nightlife operator known for late-night destinations pivots to an all-day café, bringing a flexible menu and a few unexpected draws to a quiet stretch near the Bell Centre.

      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.

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall

      After decades in Quebec, Abdul and his family built a restaurant where traditional Afghan cooking has earned a following that extends well beyond the South Shore.

      More Food & Drink

      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026

      Eight Montreal bars cracked the top 50. One took the whole thing.

      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.

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries
      Food + drink
      Christopher DeWolf

      How Three Metalheads Built One of Canada’s Most In-Demand Breweries

      On the international growth of Messorem, from local can drops, streetwear-style branding, and Brooklyn vibes to an international events and fans.

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown

      A nightlife operator known for late-night destinations pivots to an all-day café, bringing a flexible menu and a few unexpected draws to a quiet stretch near the Bell Centre.

      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.

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall

      After decades in Quebec, Abdul and his family built a restaurant where traditional Afghan cooking has earned a following that extends well beyond the South Shore.

      Food & Drink

      Montreal Brasserie Molenne is an Institution in the Making

      The future of Montreal dining looks a lot like its past.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      February 24, 2025 · 5 min read

      Montreal brasserie Molenne is an institution in the making
      Photography: Phil Tabah & JP Karwacki

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      MolenneSushi NishinokazeLeilaMenu Extra

      Up in the Mile End, there’s a 32-year-old refrigerator that’s been newly reupholstered and ready for its second life—it’s not much to some, but it feels like a fitting metaphor for what’s going on at Molenne. Their new brasserie is taking pieces of Montreal restaurant history and rebuilding them into something that feels both timeless and completely new.

      The space tells that story: Banquettes salvaged from the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde’s in-house restaurant line the walls. Old chimney plaques find new purpose. Even the building's bones speak to history—once a horse hay depot, it was part of Montreal's first racetrack, from which the Mile End neighbourhood (colloquially pronounced "Molenne") was through to have drawn its name (that's not necessarily the case, however).

      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

      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 Brasserie Molenne is an Institution in the Making

      The future of Montreal dining looks a lot like its past.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      February 24, 2025 · 5 min read

      Montreal brasserie Molenne is an institution in the making
      Photography: Phil Tabah & JP Karwacki

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      MolenneSushi NishinokazeLeilaMenu Extra

      Up in the Mile End, there’s a 32-year-old refrigerator that’s been newly reupholstered and ready for its second life—it’s not much to some, but it feels like a fitting metaphor for what’s going on at Molenne. Their new brasserie is taking pieces of Montreal restaurant history and rebuilding them into something that feels both timeless and completely new.

      The space tells that story: Banquettes salvaged from the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde’s in-house restaurant line the walls. Old chimney plaques find new purpose. Even the building's bones speak to history—once a horse hay depot, it was part of Montreal's first racetrack, from which the Mile End neighbourhood (colloquially pronounced "Molenne") was through to have drawn its name (that's not necessarily the case, however).

      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

      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

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureA Local's Guide to the PlateauArts & CultureMontreal’s Indie Drag Scene Is Breaking the Rules and Reclaiming the StageNewsletterThe Bulletin: Gore and Comedy at the Cinema, Go Habs Go, and Pizza with Your Pint [Issue #179]Arts & CultureWhat To Do This Weekend (04.30–05.03)DesignA Guide to Design Week Montreal 2026

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureA Local's Guide to the PlateauArts & CultureMontreal’s Indie Drag Scene Is Breaking the Rules and Reclaiming the StageNewsletterThe Bulletin: Gore and Comedy at the Cinema, Go Habs Go, and Pizza with Your Pint [Issue #179]Arts & CultureWhat To Do This Weekend (04.30–05.03)DesignA Guide to Design Week Montreal 2026

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today

      The Cloakroom founder on value over flash, the scene's missing middle, and what Montreal's bar culture still needs to figure out.

      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.

      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.

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?

      As a new wave of restaurants has revived the neighbourhood’s energy, questions remain about who gets to shape (and belong to) the scene now taking hold.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today

      The Cloakroom founder on value over flash, the scene's missing middle, and what Montreal's bar culture still needs to figure out.

      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.

      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.

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?
      Food + drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Mile End Is Back, But Who Is It For Now?

      As a new wave of restaurants has revived the neighbourhood’s energy, questions remain about who gets to shape (and belong to) the scene now taking hold.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      From a Stuntman in Greece to a Barber in the Mile End

      Previous

      From a Stuntman in Greece to a Barber in the Mile End

      Next

      The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for Montreal's Parc Jean-Drapeau

      The only guide you'll ever need for Montreal's Parc Jean-Drapeau
      From a Stuntman in Greece to a Barber in the Mile End

      Previous

      From a Stuntman in Greece to a Barber in the Mile End

      Next

      The Only Guide You'll Ever Need for Montreal's Parc Jean-Drapeau

      The only guide you'll ever need for Montreal's Parc Jean-Drapeau