The 23 Best BYOB Restaurants in Montreal

At Sep Lai, Chefs Line and Natassia prepare traditional Lao food using local ingredients. Spring rolls with shrimp from Matane, QC, fried tofu in tamarind chili sauce, papaya salad, and beef skewers take up only part of their menu and reflect the fresh comfort food Sep Lai does best. Their space, with hanging plants, butcher block tables, and a substantive, string light-adorned outdoor terrasse, evokes a rustic, earthy feel that makes the food and atmosphere feel inseparable. All their dishes are meant to share among the table, as is typical in Laos—even the tasting menu, which is available for groups of three or more.

Le Pégase is a classic French spot in the Plateau, known for their variety of meat options—think braised rabbit, rack of lamb, or pork Osso Bucco. Owner-chef Michael Audet-Laparé (ex-Chez Victoire) helms the kitchen, while co-owner Damien Haennel commands the dining room, a clean, classic space that conveys a quiet elegance, much like the food itself. Try the two course table d’hôte, or the four course gourmet menu, both priced affordably.

Chef Noé Lainesse and partner Kevin Duguay’s Othym is a BYOB favourite among locals for good reason. Tucked in the Village, Othym is a Quebecois restaurant not just in its flavours, but in its ingredients as well. Lainesse’s menu rotates constantly, a smattering of small plates according to whatever’s freshest, sourcing from as close as Montreal, and rarely bridging province lines. Each dish is carefully crafted, to be enjoyed in three courses. Depending on the season, one might start with the fiddleheads with duck egg and crab bisque, move to the beef tartare with shallots, pickles, and beef garum, and end on duck with celeriac, daylily, and camelina.

325 F celebrates the deep flavours of Malagasy cuisine from its quaint dining room in the Plateau. Opened by Bryan Rajarison when he was only twenty-three, the restaurant is built on a foundation of family recipes, dishes that Rajarison learned as a child. With influence from East Africa, India, China, and more, 325 F’s menu unites international flavours in a cohesive manner. Beef samosas, pork and rice, fried spring rolls, and homemade Malagasy pork sausage comprise just some of the offerings.

Hochelaga’s Maison Jofei is a neighbourhood Asian spot that promises reinvented classics made with local ingredients. Their menu, a combination of meals, snacks, and drinks (teas with Eastern flavours like mandarin and yuzu, guava juice, and Japanese soft drinks) takes seasonal direction, while their space is grounded in vintage sensibility. A green accent wall, floral chaise, mismatched lamps, and eclectic frames decorate the room, lends a homey atmosphere within which to enjoy a fried beef po’boy sandwich, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hakka gnocchi, shrimp toast, or whatever else you decide to order.

Du Boucher à la Table is part-restaurant, part-butcher shop, offering a weekly rotating menu (noted on their many hanging chalkboards) based on whatever’s freshest. Quebec lamb, AAA beef, organic pork—all transformed into Italian-inspired dishes, alongside other regional specialties like pasta and fish. Their space is large, with ample seating and multiple counters, as if they’ve created their own insular food hall. Situated in a strip mall out east, it’s easy to overlook on a map. Once you’ve been, it’ll be just as easy to love.

Afghan cooking defines the Plateau’s Fenêtre sur Kaboul, a blending of Persian, Central Asian, and South Asian influences, with menu items that often incorporate rice, lamb, beef, yogurts, and fresh herbs. Afghan textiles anchor an otherwise simple dining room, with white tablecloths and warm wood chairs. The national dish of Afghanistan, Qabuli Palow, featuring a lamb shank over cardamom rice, is not to be missed, nor is the Ashak, ravioli filled with leek and coriander, and topped with garlic yogurt and meat sauce.

Bombay Mahal is rooted in authentic Indian tradition, and their menu, a vast array of street food, dosa, tandoor, and more, reflects it. Vegetarian options range from Daal Makhni to Palak Paneer; they have butter chicken and tikka masala, alongside lamb and seafood dishes as well. With affordable prices and the BYOB policy, it remains one of the best deals in Parc-Ex.

Pizzeria Napoletana has been open in Little Italy since 1948. A fixture of the neighbourhood, and a regular BYOB spot for its residents, their simple antipasti, appetizers, pizza, and pasta make for the ideal affordable meal. Choose from one of their 41 thin-crust pizza options and their equally vast pasta choices. Finish up with a classic Italian dessert, like their house tiramisu or cannoli.

Brossard’s Papa Jackie is one of the first Chinese restaurants to grace the neighbourhood, and specializes in typical Cantonese cuisine. Their menu hits all the favourites—dumplings, General Tao style chicken, Peking duck, salt & pepper seafood, and all the rice and noodle dishes you could dream of. With their circular tables, lazy susans, and teacups at each place setting, it’s the perfect place to bring your picky Yeye or Nainai (grandfather or grandmother) when they’re in town.

Sichuan chicken, pork intestines with green chili, fish stew with sour fermented cabbage—Hong Mere doesn’t shy away from the spice. While they have plenty of mild options, it’s in these dishes that their hold on Chinese cuisine becomes truly apparent, practically necessitating that you have a drink beside you to cut through the inevitable numbing sensation that will follow your meal. Each dish is made for sharing, so you might want to bring more than one bottle.

At Le Cerf-Volant, Robert Lapaj crafts a seasonal, French-inspired menu, using fresh ingredients that pair well with whatever bottle you decide to bring. Like its namesake, which translates to “kite” in English, the menu is playful, but refined, uniting flavours that might seem unexpected, but work together seamlessly. Think a crudo with kalamata olives, or a doughnut with sea buckthorn and bacon. They also have a selection of non-alcoholic drinks, like a spicy bloody caesar, a 0% gin mixed with olive and soda, and homemade sumac and mint lemonade.

Thai Sep is characterized by its vibrancy—with its bold red and yellow dining room making the perfect backdrop for a menu of bright, fresh flavours. In the kitchen, owner Anouxath Siyavong and his mother, Mrs. Thongsoune, prepare Thai and Laotian dishes—homemade Laotian sausages, papaya salad, nême kao, and a pad kraphow with minced meat and Thai basil over rice. Rooted in family recipes and inspired by travels through Thailand, each dish is a labour of love, reflecting passion and tradition.

Of all Montreal’s BYOB spots, Le Jardin de Panos was the first. Opening in 1979, this Greek spot on Ave. Duluth has a lush garden terrasse, dining room rich with natural light, and a menu of homemade Greek favourites. Appetizers include a bright tzatziki, classic feta with tomatoes and olives, spanakopita, and more, but the mains are where they really shine, with moussaka (an eggplant and meat pie), flavourful dolmas, chicken or shrimp skewers, and plenty of vegetarian options.

Mirazu serves classic Turkish cuisine from their two spots in the Plateau and Laval, offering a myriad of authentic dishes ranging hot and cold mezzes, grilled fish, and lamb. The homey restaurant makes a perfect location for a casual lunch or dinner, with their Plateau location’s warm red brick wall and ornate sconces, and Laval’s dark dining room with decorative tiles. Split a bottle and some mezze among the table, and you’ve got an easy meal that’s equally suited for a weekday catch-up or weekend gathering.

At Le Millen, chef-owner Jérémie Gélinas-Roy and co-owner Adeline Douay present a careful array of dishes prepared with local produce, in two tasting menus and à la carte option. Offerings change seasonally, according to what’s fresh, though, regardless of what’s being served, everything is plated with attention to detail, showcasing an artistry and reverence for ingredients that elevates even the most simple combination of produce into something memorable. Expect inventive dishes like a pecorino flan with lemon, watercress, oysters, and garlic gel, or lobster with clams, lemon, horseradish, beet, and tapioca crisp.

Tucked into Hochelaga, État Major is a beloved BYOB spot serving French-inspired cuisine that uses market-driven Quebec ingredients. Chef Chrystel Tremblay’s cooking is carefully considered, with mains leaning on local sourcing—an Arctic char with beurre blanc and fennel salad, duck breast with zucchini two ways and gastrique. Enjoyed in the bright dining room, designed by Serge Labrie, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and rustic-industrial feel, a meal here strikes the balance of feeling like a neighbourhood staple and special-occasion destination all at once.

A Rosemont institution since opening in 2006, Rose des Sables has won over Montrealers with its warm, transporting take on Tunisian and Mediterranean cuisine. Try the Chorba, a fragrant chickpea and chicken soup, seasoned with Tunisian aromatics and coriander, or the gargoulette, lamb cooked and marinated in a clay jar. If you’d rather not choose your own dishes, the five course tasting menu ($110 for two people), covers all the necessary dishes.

Since opening in 2022, this Villeray BYOB has quietly become one of Montreal’s most exciting tables, earning a Michelin recommendation in both 2025 and 2026. Chef Yoann Van Den Berg helms the kitchen, playfully plating up seasonal dishes rooted in Quebec ingredients. Dinner is prix-fixe only, with two options—a four-course Essentiel ($85) or six-course Épicurien ($105). The room is intimate and relaxed, a combination of “bar” seating that overlooks their open kitchen, and regular tables. Bring something special from your cellar; a place like this deserves a worthy bottle.

With its homemade cooking served on handmade pottery by Kwangjuyo, the celebrated Korean ceramics house, Luna has carved out a devoted following on the Plateau. On weekend evenings, they book up so fast that the kitchen switches exclusively to tasting menus which feature a handful of Korean staples done with care. Dishes like Bibimbap in a volcanic stone bowl, Japchae, Kimchi Mandu, and Tofu Gangjeong, cover both the à la carte and tasting menu, so no matter the time, you can count on the same satisfying, soulful flavours.

Khyber Pass does delicious Afghan cuisine in a cozy dining room, with textiles brought from Asia by founder, Faruk Ramisch, and a plant filled terrasse. The dishes are traditional comfort food, like those cooked at home in Ramisch’s birth country of Afghanistan. Lamb dishes, like Kabuli Palawa—lamb shank over basmati rice with raisins and carrots—are the favourite, though each plate reflects the warmth and heart put into them by Faruk’s daughter, Nadia, who helms the kitchen.

Bagatelle is a reliable spot in Hochelaga, taking classic French bistro cooking seriously, while keeping it accessible. The dinner menu spans a satisfying range—smoked beef tartare and salmon from their smokehouse, black pudding with pear sauce, braised meat with foie gras torchon. The five-course tasting menu at $85 provides a good-value walk through of their best offerings, moving through two starter courses a Quebec spirits sorbet trou normand, a main, and dessert. With lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch all on offer, Bagatelle earns a visit at any hour.

French and Mediterranean influences seep through every facet of Les Canailles, from their menu with seafood and foie gras, to their charming tiled dining room with potted plants and a chalkboard noting daily specials. The open kitchen gives the room an easy, lively energy, while seasonal offerings and menu mainstays—salmon and beef tartares, paella, bone marrow—complement each other and keep the regulars returning.