This Old Montreal bistro and wine bar serves classic French dishes in its rustic, upscale two-floor dining room. Exposed brick, dark wooden tables, and an ornately decorated marble horseshoe bar that rests in the centre of the space lend to the restaurant’s warm vintage charm. Every night, and during brunch, bands jam on the stage, so each meal is lively, set to the sounds of live jazz and blues.

One of the Plateau's most enduring institutions, Café Cherrier has occupied the corner of Saint-Denis and Cherrier since 1983, drawing writers, politicians, journalists, and artists to its pink-lit dining room, cushy banquettes, and vine-covered wraparound terrasse. Owner Jacques Boisseau built the place into what he calls the home of Montreal's "faune créatrice," and the walls bear black-and-white portraits of regulars past: René Lévesque, Yvon Deschamps, and others. The menu is classic French brasserie: fish soup with rouille, escargots, duck confit, steak frites, crème brûlée, tarte Tatin. A rotating table d'hôte runs lunch and dinner through the week. The wine list leans on private imports.

French-inspired buvette Éléonore comes from the same group behind Hochelaga’s Junco and Rufus & Anna, pairing an extensive wine list with creative, seasonal, shareable tapas. Its modern space, complete with warm lighting and velvet chairs, fosters a casual, though still elegant, atmosphere, where sharing conversation over a bottle of wine is as easy as stopping by for a quick drink. The kitchen executes precise technique and a bold, ingredient-driven menu, from tender escargot in a white wine cream to a rotating list of market-driven dishes designed to pair with whatever’s in your glass, while the bar delivers craft cocktails, WILLS beers, and a selection of wines.

Bagatelle has been on rue Ontario Est, steps from Marché Maisonneuve, since 2005. The format is French brasserie: à la carte and table d'hôte at lunch and dinner, with a market-driven menu that shifts with the seasons. The dinner card runs from duck confit imperial rolls and smoked beef tartare to duck magret, braised veal flank, and a five-course tasting menu at $85. A five-course tasting menu is available for $85. Weekend brunch is a draw, with an extensive benedicts menu and house-smoked salmon on Saint-Viateur bagels. BYOB, with a terrace in season.