Known for their level of creativity that hinges on the unhinged, this French restaurant’s stupefying theatrics are well-known both in the dining room and on its plates.

Vin Papillon opened in 2013 as the quieter, greener offshoot of Joe Beef and Liverpool House, but over time it’s become something else entirely—less of a satellite, more of a touchstone. Originally conceived as a tribute to sommelier Vanya Filipovic and chef Marc-Olivier Frappier, the restaurant built its reputation on playful, vegetable-forward dishes and a wine list that championed natural producers long before it was fashionable. It’s where smoked carrot éclairs and ham with brown butter–drizzled cheddar became cult classics, and where a who’s-who of Montreal’s new culinary wave—Jessica Noël, Gab Drapeau, Alex Landry—cut their teeth.

Today, Vin Papillon is helmed by Fred Morin and chef de cuisine Alan Stewart, with wines now curated by Max Campbell of Deux Caves. The room remains intimate and unflashy, with white brick walls and a signature painting of an ocean liner—painted by Fred himself—looming over the open kitchen. The menu is short, seasonal, and slyly inventive, veering from wood-fired maitake to escargot atop escargot. It’s still walk-in only, still open at 3pm, and still one of the most quietly magnetic places to drink and eat in Montreal.

Lawrence has evolved, but its commitment to exceptional food remains unchanged. What began as a pop-up inside Sparrow in 2010 has now transformed into an intimate tasting-menu destination, housed in the former larrys space on Fairmount Avenue. Chef Marc Cohen, alongside Sefi Amir, has refined the restaurant’s approach, crafting a menu that blends whole-animal butchery with meticulous plating and a touch of British inspiration. Dishes lean adventurous—think brain and morel agnolotti or tongue terrine—while still maintaining the depth and elegance that made Lawrence a Montreal institution. The wine program, curated by Keaton Ritchie, mirrors this philosophy, focusing exclusively on private imports that highlight small producers. A close relationship with Boucherie Lawrence ensures the highest quality meats, while house-baked bread and seasonal vegetables round out the offering. Whether for a three- or four-course midday indulgence or a full tasting menu at dinner, Lawrence remains one of the city’s most compelling dining experiences.

A Westmount Square institution blends together the very best of French bistro fare, Italian trattorias and steakhouses into one solid offering that can upscale any night out on the town.

Dining at this Old Montreal jewel of a French brasserie and dining room from chef Jérémie Bastien is both a masterclass in its cuisine’s techniques and classics plus cosmopolitan inclusions from other cuisines.

Few restaurants exhibit as much a celebration of Quebec gastronomy as this one from Normand Laprise, where farm-to-table food and market-based menus receive leading-edge treatments by the chef and his team.

Consider this the next-gen steakhouse of Montreal: With its in-house butchery, it’s an address in Outremont that flips the porterhouse-and-martinis formula on its head in the best of ways.

At its core, Provisions is a butcher shop with a sharp focus on quality and tradition, bringing a touch of nostalgia to every bite. This is where you’ll find sandwiches and burgers built from the ground up—starting with hyper-local, pasture-raised meats processed in-house. The challah bread, hand-cut brisket, and signature house-made sausages make their offerings anything but typical.

Known for its standout burgers, Provisions takes the smashburger approach, ensuring a caramelized crust on the outside and juicy perfection inside. The sandwiches—brisket, Cubano, turkey, or even halloumi—strike a balance between satisfying simplicity and thoughtfulness. It’s food that’s as good as it is honest.

From its interior ‘wine island’ to its lunches full of sandwiches ‘n’ salads and dinners of arrosticini, finely spun pasta, and contorni, this Saint-Henri spot is a fine dining gem without comparison.

John Winter Russell’s classic restaurant for refined seasonal dishes inside a deconsecrated church is an exploration of landscape through food, where the cooking is both intriguing and engaging.

The restaurant that launched a thousand ships, this is a definitive Montreal dining experience thanks to its one-two punch celebrating classic dining with a banquet-style celebration of good food.

Since 2005, this Little Burgundy institution has shaped the city’s dining scene, turning classic French techniques into something unapologetically Montreal. Founded by Frédéric Morin, Allison Cunningham, and former partner David McMillan, the restaurant pays tribute to 19th-century tavern owner Charles “Joe Beef” McKiernan, whose legacy of excess and generosity lives on in every over-the-top plate.

The menu, scrawled on a chalkboard and dictated by what’s fresh, blends Quebecois bounty with a bistro’s indulgence: foie gras, roasted bone marrow, and a perennial lobster spaghetti. The wine list leans classic, but there’s room for natural selections and deep cuts from smaller producers. The space itself—cluttered, candlelit, a little chaotic—feels like the kind of place where a dinner reservation could turn into a multi-hour feast. Expect to leave full, maybe a little tipsy, and with a renewed appreciation for why this spot remains one of Montreal’s greats.

This destination in Hochelaga is an exceedingly accessible option for fine dining where tasting menus take you on a tour of its chef David Ollu’s Bouillon Bilk tutelage plus wholly new avenues.

Dressed in an interior design of black and gold minimalism, the menus of this Griffintown destination sets a high bar for dining in Montreal thanks to its combination of wood-fired and fresh elements.

A Montreal institution since 1980 on rue Saint-Denis, L'Express continues to uphold its reputation for timeless French cuisine and conviviality. Founded by François Tremblay, Colette Brossoit, and Pierre Villeneuve, the restaurant caters to everyone with a welcoming atmosphere that remains to this day. With a menu largely unchanged over the years, L'Express offers classic dishes like sorrel soup, marrow, and veal liver, prepared with an unwavering consistency and attention to detail. Designed by renowned architect Luc Laporte, the elegant decor exudes a timeless charm, attracting a diverse clientele served by a stable team of long-serving staff.

A hidden gem of Westmount, this French-forward bistro is equal parts traditional dishes done to perfection and a level of experimentation you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Blending the owners’ Argentinian background with explorations of great cuisines from around the world, this tiny Verdun restaurant is cooking some of the most impactful yet deceivingly simple food in town.

An essential address in Montreal for Syrian cuisine, every spiced and aromatic bite here is impeccably sourced from across the Mediterranean, from shared mezze to sizzling grilled platters.

Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier’s Old Montreal restaurant is a discreet and pensive place to spend hours over opulent dishes that, time and again, provide the most memorable of experiences.

Grounded in his home country of Haiti and exploring the islands and South America, eating at chef Paul Toussaint’s restaurant is always a unique celebration of spice and flavour you can’t find elsewhere.

Taking cues from Scandinavian cuisine and applying it to Quebec’s terroir, each plate here is done with pinpoint accuracy, resulting in plates that resemble small sketches or paintings from chef Antonin Rivard-Mousso.

Its rotating menus of upscale, seasonal fare will keep you guessing, but the buzzy ambiance and service at this Saint-Henri eatery will make you feel like you’re immediately at home.

This ode to Quebecois cuisine is essential eating in Montreal, served in a completely unpretentious fashion that takes diners to the very heart of what makes this province stand out.

One meal here and you’ll no longer be surprised why its tables are in such high demand: This restaurant has single-handedly stolen the show when it comes to eating a fantastically delicious Italian meal.

The vibes are high when eating at this restaurant from Chuck Hughes. It’s an absolute parade of surf and turf served up with a service staff that knows how to have a good time.

This Mile End restaurant focused on vegetable-forward tasting menus is considered among the very best in the city for its high calibre of cooking and service, along with its energetic atmosphere.

The wood fire-informed and deeply seasonal menus of this fine dining titan from chef Marc-André Jetté is as comforting as it is exciting, and its wine lists will immediately astound you.