The Main Logo
Food & Drink

North America's 50 Best Restaurants proves Montreal is a world-class dining capital

Quebec chefs cleaned up at the inaugural awards.

The Main

The Main

September 26, 2025- Read time: 2 min
North America's 50 Best Restaurants proves Montreal is a world-class dining capital

North America finally has its own "50 Best" list, and Montreal has come out swinging in the ring. The inaugural ranking, unveiled last night on September 25 8 p.m. PDT in Las Vegas, crowned New York’s Atomix as No. 1—but the bigger story here is Canada, and especially Quebec.

Mon Lapin in Little Italy landed at No. 2, making it the highest-ranked Canadian restaurant and officially the “Best Restaurant in East Canada.” To top that off, wine director Vanya Filipovic also took home North America’s Best Sommelier award, cementing Mon Lapin’s rep as a destination where the glass matters just as much as the plate.

Member-only story

Unlock Montreal’s stories. Join The Main community.

Read this story free.

Enter your email to unlock your first article and get The Bulletin — our weekly roundup of food, art, and local culture.

  • 5 free articles per month
  • Save your favourite places & guides
  • Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
  • Stay connected to Montreal culture

Become an Insider.

Join a community that supports independent Montreal stories and celebrates the people shaping its culture.

Subscribe
  • Unlimited access to all stories
  • Exclusive features & local insights
  • Special offers and event invites
  • 10% off in our shop
  • Support local storytelling

Already a member? Sign in

From an influential recording studio to a musical nerve centre of Montreal

Previous

From an influential recording studio to a musical nerve centre of Montreal

Next

A butcher's gamble, a forgotten tavern, and how the Mile End earned its name

A butcher's gamble, a forgotten tavern, and how the Mile End earned its name

Related articles

A (mostly) spoken history of Pasta Casareccia and 40 years of feeding NDG
Tom Zalatnai

A (mostly) spoken history of Pasta Casareccia and 40 years of feeding NDG

How a kid who swore he'd never run the family business ended up exactly in the institution where he belongs.

Montreal gets its first German beer hall in 30 years with Wünderbar
J.P. Karwacki

Montreal gets its first German beer hall in 30 years with Wünderbar

The 3,500-square-foot beer hall on Plaza Saint-Hubert serves Bavarian drinking traditions with liter steins of German imports along long communal tables.

Brocard proves traditional Syrian food can feel brand new
J.P. Karwacki

Brocard proves traditional Syrian food can feel brand new

A young team, an open kitchen, and recipes passed down through generations: Meet Talal Sabbagh's new spot on Saint-Laurent.

How Monkland Tavern shaped Montreal's restaurant scene over 30 years
J.P. Karwacki

How Monkland Tavern shaped Montreal's restaurant scene over 30 years

The NDG institution and best-kept industry secret that helped launch some of Montreal's best chefs.

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [November 2025]
J.P. Karwacki

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [November 2025]

Lebanese home cooking meets halal Caribbean fusion, natural wine bistros, pop-up delis with house-cured meats, New York-style pizza perfected, and more.

Boulangerie Marguerita has been baking bread the same way for over a century
Ivy Lerner-Frank

Boulangerie Marguerita has been baking bread the same way for over a century

The Little Italy bakery that could: Still hand-rolling loaves in its original 1910 brick oven, still telling real estate speculators it's not for sale, just for bread.