Perched across the top floors of Place Ville-Marie, Hiatus is dining as spectacle—but not empty spectacle. The 44th floor hosts a Mediterranean raw bar and outdoor terrasse; one floor up, there's a bar for snacks and drinks; and at the summit, the 46th-floor restaurant serves a menu that moves between Japanese and French influences with real technique behind the interplay. That means ramen and nori tacos alongside foie gras tartelettes and arctic char, all executed with enough confidence to justify the altitude. Sid Lee Architecture's redesign gives the space a sense of occasion without tipping into stuffiness. It's lavish, yes—but Hiatus earns its place among the most highly-prized tables in the city by backing up the views with food that holds your attention.

This tiny Verdun restaurant doesn't announce itself. Owners Geneviève Everell and Pablo Santamaria blend their Argentinian roots with influences from wherever the cooking takes them, and the result is some of the most impactful yet deceptively simple food in the city. Dishes arrive unfussy but land with precision—the kind of cooking that makes you pause mid-bite. The room is small enough that reservations feel like a minor victory, and the atmosphere runs warm without veering into performative intimacy. Beba shows up on lists of the best restaurants in Montreal for good reason: It's a place where the focus stays on the plate and the person across from you, which is exactly what a date night should be.

A Montreal institution since 1980, L'Express hasn't chased a single trend in over four decades—and that's precisely the point. The menu reads like a time capsule of French bistro classics: sorrel soup, bone marrow, veal liver, steak tartare. What keeps it relevant is the unwavering execution and the atmosphere of lived-in conviviality that few restaurants manage to sustain. The checkered floors, zinc bar, and long-serving staff create a room that feels both elegant and entirely unpretentious. Whether it's a late-night bite after a show or a proper sit-down dinner, L'Express delivers the kind of consistency that turns first-time visitors into regulars. Some things don't need reinvention.

The moment Le Violon was hinted at, anticipation started building. Danny Smiles and co-owner Dan Climan transformed the former Maison Publique space into something unmistakably refined: Portuguese marble, white tablecloths, Parisian green accents, and Climan's own paintings on the walls. In the kitchen, Smiles works alongside co-executive chef Mitch Laughren and chef de cuisine Sara Raspa on a menu that pulls from everywhere—tahini-drizzled kibbeh nayyeh, gochujang-glazed sweetbreads, strawberry shortcake—without losing coherence. Andrew Park runs the dining room and oversees a wine program that's steadily deepening, while the cocktail list sticks to well-made classics. It's elegant without stiffness, ambitious without pretension. Le Violon delivers the full package: beautiful room, serious food, impeccable service.

Everything at Foxy passes through fire. Since 2015, the kitchen has operated exclusively with a charcoal grill and wood-fired oven, and that constraint shapes every dish—vegetables, seafood, and meats treated with the same logic, built for sharing, and designed to let the ingredients speak. The room mirrors that restraint: intimate, warm, and anchored by the rhythm of the open kitchen. Under new ownership as of 2024, the philosophy hasn't shifted. Seasonal menus stay grounded in local sourcing, the wine program favours balance over flash, and the consistency that made Foxy a destination remains intact. It's fine dining without posturing—one of the best restaurants in Montreal for anyone who wants smoke, simplicity, and a meal that lingers.

For over 20 years, Leméac has held its ground as a cornerstone of Outremont dining. The French bistro formula here isn't complicated: beef tartare, escargots, steak frites, executed with care and zero interest in chasing what's new. The room is elegant but approachable, the terrasse is one of the neighbourhood's best, and the service strikes that rare balance between attentive and relaxed. Brunch pulls a devoted crowd for dishes like towering French toast with caramelized bananas or boudin with cider sauce. Leméac works because it knows exactly what it is—a neighbourhood institution that delivers timeless cooking without pretension—and has no intention of being anything else.

Mon Lapin has built its reputation on consistency across every level: refined cooking, a wine list that regularly ranks among the country's best, service that feels both personal and polished, and an atmosphere that makes a Tuesday night feel like an event. The Saint-Zotique address operates with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly what it does well. Menus shift with the seasons, but the sensibility stays constant—thoughtful, produce-driven dishes that reward attention without demanding reverence. It's a restaurant that works for celebrations and weeknight dinners alike, which is part of why it remains one of the best restaurants in Montreal years after opening.

Chef Elias Deligianis and sommelier Renée Deschenes opened Bistro La Franquette with a clear idea: a neighbourhood spot that takes the bistro format seriously without overcomplicating it. The menu is concise and seasonal—pastas, poultry, seafood, steak frites—built around well-executed plates that favour balance over excess. The Westmount room runs warm without being precious, with high ceilings, handmade details, and the steady hum of conversation that marks a place people actually want to spend time in. Wine plays a central role, with a European-leaning list that rewards curiosity. La Franquette resists the urge to overdefine itself, letting good cooking and genuine hospitality do the work.

Tucked off Parc Avenue in Mile Ex, Bar Cicchetti brings a slice of Venice to Montreal through cicchetti—small, snackable Venetian bites—and a carefully curated wine list that leans into macerated and natural bottles. The room is low-lit and cozy, designed by architects Julia Manasas and Maxime Lefebvre with a warmth that suits the format. In warmer months, the terrace expands the real estate; year-round, the menu stays fresh, seasonal, and priced to encourage ordering freely. It's one of the best wine bars in the city for a reason: relaxed atmosphere, smart sourcing, and a genuine love for the form. Ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a full evening of grazing.

Chef Jérémie Bastien's Old Montreal brasserie operates at the intersection of classic French technique and cosmopolitan influence. The room is handsome, the service polished, and the cooking manages to feel both rigorous and generous—a dining room where you can order escargot or duck and trust that it's being treated with the seriousness it deserves, while occasional nods to other cuisines keep things from feeling rote. Monarque has earned its place among the best restaurants in Montreal by understanding what a proper brasserie should deliver: consistency, elegance, and the kind of meal that makes a night feel like an occasion without requiring a special one.

La Lune is a love letter to Québécois rotisserie culture, filtered through the sensibility of the team behind Mon Lapin. Executive chefs Marc-Olivier Frappier and Jessica Noël focus on poultry—chicken, duck, guinea fowl—sourced from trusted local farms and treated with the care you'd expect from this crew. Zébulon Perron's dining room exudes warmth, from the wooden owl guarding the entrance to the lunar-cycle nods throughout. The wine list, assembled by Vanya Filipovic and Alex Landry, balances French bottles with Quebec's best. No reservations, no pretension—just quality comfort food executed with soul. It's a neighbourhood rotisserie elevated without losing what makes the format work.

Bonaparte has occupied its historic Old Montreal space since 1999, serving refined French cuisine in a setting that feels appropriately timeless. Three dining rooms offer distinct moods—the fireplace-anchored Imperatrice, the skylit Verrière—while the menu sticks to what the kitchen does best: boeuf bourguignon, lobster à la vanilla, and tasting menus that showcase classic technique. The Empire-style décor sets the tone for evenings that feel celebratory without requiring a specific occasion. Service is attentive, the wine list is curated with care, and the overall experience delivers exactly what you'd hope for from a French fine dining destination that's been at it for over two decades.

The "little sister" to Montréal Plaza, Juliette Plaza opened in early 2024 with its own identity: a snackier, more casual counterpart to the boundary-pushing original. Devilled eggs, sandwiches, temaki-style rolls, and smaller seafood dishes form the core, with offal preparations spun in creative new ways. The space, designed with a blend of nostalgia and invention, mirrors the menu's playful energy. Cheryl Johnson and Charles-Antoine Crête's fingerprints are all over it, but Juliette isn't just an extension—it's a distinct room with a distinct rhythm. It works equally well for a quick bite before heading elsewhere or a longer evening spent working through the menu.

Okeya Kyujiro operates as orchestrated immersion: a 20-course omakase that unfolds like theatre, with Chef Takuya Matsuda at the centre. This is Edomae sushi elevated to performance—razor-sharp precision, curated sake pairings, and an aesthetic that pays serious homage to Japanese tradition. The intimate, reservation-only setting means every seat has a view of the work, from the whisper of bonito flakes being grated to the deliberate placement of each piece. It's not just theatrics; the technique and sourcing back it up. For a date night that demands attention and rewards it, Kyujiro delivers something genuinely unforgettable.

Capisco is chef Marcel Olivier Larrea’s love letter to his roots and a wild dive into Peruvian-Italian fusion that Montreal didn’t know it needed. Created alongside partners David Dumay and David Schmidt, the 70-seat place breathes life into Old Montreal’s former Papillon space, with a design that's weaving nostalgia into every corner—think vintage tiles and custom chandeliers that feel like they’ve seen a few good stories.

Chef Larrea’s menu cooks up bachiche cuisine, a heady mix of Italian and Peruvian traditions whichdraws on his heritage and the Italian diaspora’s influence on Peruvian cuisine: The dishes reinterpret classics with twists like ricotta gnocchi à la huancaína, while drinks like the Rosa do Botija marry Italian spirits with Peruvian leche de tigre.

What began as a pop-up in 2010 has evolved into one of the city's most compelling tasting-menu destinations. Now housed in the former larrys space on Fairmount, Lawrence pairs whole-animal butchery with meticulous plating and a touch of British sensibility. Chef Marc Cohen's menu leans adventurous—brain and morel agnolotti, tongue terrine—while maintaining the depth that made the restaurant a Montreal institution. The wine program focuses exclusively on private imports from small producers, and a close relationship with Boucherie Lawrence ensures top-tier sourcing. Whether it's a midday three-course or a full tasting menu at dinner, Lawrence remains essential. One of the best restaurants in Montreal, full stop.

FROM WITH Hospitality, the group behind Ryu and Ayla, Dorsia brings contemporary fine dining to Old Montreal with a menu that merges French and Italian technique. Chef Miles Pundsack-Poe—whose resume includes Michelin-starred kitchens like The Restaurant at Meadowood—delivers dishes like smoked burrata with fennel, hand-cut tagliatelle with lamb ragù, and Quebec duck with sea buckthorn. The Ivy Studio design balances elegance with warmth: wood millwork, marble, travertine, and soft lighting across 100 seats built for sophisticated nights out. Classic cocktails and a curated wine list complete the picture. It's polished without being cold, and the cooking justifies the setting.

Set against the industrial backdrop of Saint-Henri, Estelle is an upscale Italian restaurant with a sleek, minimalist room that amplifies the energy rather than dampening it. Chef David Tarantini's menu delivers Italian classics with unexpected turns—handmade pappardelle with truffle oil, branzino with jalapeño tahini—while the wine list and cocktails lean into Italian flair. The atmosphere skews lively rather than hushed, creating a sense of exclusivity without the velvet-rope pretension. Whether you're working through delicate linguine with clams or crispy salmon Milanese, Estelle promises the kind of experience where the food, room, and energy all align. It's one of the best Italian restaurants in the city for a reason.

La Spada brings a slice of Rome to Saint-Henri with a maximalist approach: plush banquettes, rococo candelabras, a marble-topped bar dubbed "purgatory," and an atmosphere of theatrical elegance. Under chef Scott Usheroff, the osteria combines neighbourhood warmth with the refinement of Roman fine dining. The menu delivers timeless Italian—cacio e pepe, vitello saltimbocca, fried suppli—alongside inventive dishes like butternut squash ravioli in brown butter sage. House-made focaccia, squid ink linguine, and classic aperitivi round things out. It's one of the best Italian restaurants in Montreal for anyone who wants their pasta with a side of drama—in the best sense.

Nama Omakase blends Japanese and French technique in a contemporary Downtown setting. Chef-owner GaCong Ruan and executive chef Michael Ho—a finalist from Les Chefs!—oversee a menu that highlights sashimi platters and seasonal dishes, with both omakase and à la carte options available. The room, designed by Guillaume Menard, pairs exposed brick and stone columns with elegant raw-material treatments that suit the precision on the plate. General manager Victor Loison brings Michelin-starred experience to the front of house. It's an investment, but the quality of preparation and sourcing justifies it—especially when paired with the curated wine and cocktail selections.

Provisions flips the classic steakhouse formula on its head. At its core, it's a butcher shop with a sharp focus on quality—hyper-local, pasture-raised meats processed in-house, forming the backbone of everything from sandwiches to the signature smashburgers that have earned a devoted following. But the Outremont address is also one of the best wine bars in the city, with a thoughtful list that suits both casual evenings and longer dinners. Challah bread, hand-cut brisket, house-made sausages—it's food that's as honest as it is good. A date night here feels relaxed and satisfying, with enough going on to keep things interesting without overcomplicating the formula.

A departure from the team behind Tri Express, Regashi combines decades of Japanese cooking expertise with Quebec terroir in a sleek Saint-Henri izakaya. Chef Thierry-Tri Du-Boisclair's menu is built around a custom aging room for fish and a focus on shareable plates—bao buns, tataki, oysters—that explore the intersection of technique and local sourcing. There's some sushi, but regulars of Tri Express shouldn't expect the same playbook. The room is modernized and polished, a step in a new direction for the family. For an intimate date night with precision cooking and a sense of discovery, Regashi delivers.

Once a simple espresso spot and cocktail preamble to Datcha, Kabinet has transformed into a refined dining destination in Mile End. The 1970s Parisian bistro-inspired redesign by ADHOC Architectes—marble bistro tables, Thonet chairs, a Ukrainian crystal chandelier—sets the tone for a menu of continental classics with modern touches: chicken-liver mousse with sea buckthorn gel, 90-day aged beef tartare, and a rotating caviar selection. The cocktail program remains acclaimed, and the wine list shifts dynamically. It's one of the best cocktail bars in the city that also happens to serve serious food. Sophisticated, unpretentious, and ideal for an evening that stretches longer than planned.

Richard Holder's Italian-forward restaurant on Saint-Laurent Boulevard is maximalist in the best way: every nook dressed to the nines with religious iconography—Madonna statuettes, a haloed cow's head, communion wafers at the entrance—courtesy of designer Thomas Csano. In the kitchen, chefs Alejandro Vega and Pierre Morneau keep things versatile: ricotta on toast, broccolini, grilled mortadella skewers, crudos, and a lot of fresh pasta made in-house (visible from the back dining room). At 100-plus seats, Miracolo runs loud and lively, the kind of place where you're rubbing shoulders with neighbours and feeding off the energy. It's a date night for when you want to feel the room—not escape it.

Marci pays homage to 1960s Italian sports bars and New Jersey vibes with a menu and atmosphere to match. Chef Alex Geoffrion's compact, vibrant lineup features clams casino, an anchovy-rich Caesar, and notably crispy hybrid pizzas influenced by New York, New Haven, and Jersey styles. The wine list is thoughtfully assembled, and a serious sound system elevates the ambiance beyond typical pizza-joint territory. Sommelier Julien Patenaude and DJ/co-owner Kris Guilty round out a team of serial restaurateurs who've built a space that's more cultural homage than neighbourhood slice shop. Great for casual date nights with good wine and better pies.

Since 2011, Nora Gray has remained a standout for Southern Italian-inspired cuisine in an intimate, wood-lined Griffintown room. Co-founders Emma Cardarelli and Ryan Gray built the restaurant on culinary passion and obsessive attention to detail, and under new executive chef Dmetro Sinclair, that sensibility continues. The menu evolves constantly—expect house-made ravioli, rustic pork chops with braised cabbage, fresh crudo—while the wine program emphasizes organic, natural, and biodynamic bottles. It's one of the best Italian restaurants in Montreal, and its proximity to the Bell Centre makes it equally suited for post-game dinners and anniversaries. Romantic without trying too hard.

Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier's Old Montreal address is discreet by design: a subterranean room where you can disappear for hours over opulent dishes that consistently deliver some of the city's most memorable dining experiences. The menu speaks to game and seafood with French-inflected technique, the wine list is deep, and the service knows when to appear and when to vanish. It's a restaurant for occasions that matter—or for manufacturing the sense of occasion when you need it. Few spots in the city manage to feel this timeless while remaining this relevant. A cornerstone of the best restaurants in Montreal.

Opened next to Hélicoptère, Copilote transformed a former dépanneur into a 25-seat bar with a chic, relaxed energy. It's a spot to extend an evening or start one—shareable finger foods like oysters, tartare, and chicken liver mousse, plus a cocktail menu by Benjamin Gauthier that highlights seasonal ingredients and Quebec spirits. The wine-by-the-glass selection keeps things interesting, and the kitchen closes at midnight. It's not your average neighbourhood bar; the team behind Hélicoptère brings the same attention to quality and creative, seasonal offerings. Great as a first stop before dinner or a last stop after.

Housed in a former Angus Shops structure, Hoogan et Beaufort operates with the precision of a well-run workshop. The open-fire kitchen isn't a flourish—it's infrastructure, and chef Marc-André Jetté selects ingredients with that constraint in mind. Dishes emerge clearer, not louder, moving between vegetables, seafood, and meat without leaning on excess. The wine program is deep and rewards curiosity. The room keeps its industrial scale intentionally measured, with sightlines drawn toward the flames anchoring service from start to finish. It's fine dining shaped by fire and restraint—one of the best restaurants in Montreal for a meal that feels both elemental and refined.

Bar St-Denis has climbed Montreal's culinary ladder with speed and purpose. David Gauthier, Emily Holmsy, and their team deliver a menu where standout dishes like deer kibbeh nayeh—raw, creamy, subtly sweet, garnished with mint and onion and drizzled with premium olive oil—showcase exactly what careful sourcing and technique can achieve. Spicy chili-brushed flatbread accompanies, and every bite offers something new. The room suits the food: intimate, focused, the kind of place where the cooking is the main event. It's a date night destination for anyone who wants to eat exceptionally well without excess ceremony.

An essential Montreal address for Syrian cuisine, Damas delivers impeccably sourced dishes from across the Mediterranean—shared mezze, sizzling grilled platters, and spiced, aromatic bites that reward slow dining and conversation. The Outremont room is elegant without feeling formal, and the service strikes the right balance between attentive and unhurried. For a date night that moves at its own pace, with food designed to be lingered over, Damas remains one of the most reliable choices in the city. It's the kind of restaurant you return to for years.

Chef David Ollu's Hochelaga destination makes fine dining genuinely accessible. The tasting menus draw on his Bouillon Bilk training while charting new territory, with a pace of rotation that suggests the kitchen is still discovering the place alongside its guests. Vegetables, market runs, and whatever ideas surface that week shape menus that feel loose and curious in the best ways. The room is light, warm, and unfussy—fine dining without the posturing, where conversation moves freely between the pass and the tables. It's one of the best restaurants in Montreal for a splurge that doesn't feel stiff.

Annette adds a wine-forward counterpart to Hoogan et Beaufort's fire-driven cooking. The plant-filled room features live entertainment and a finessed menu of comparably smaller plates, fed by chef Marc-André Jetté's own butcher shop. Boudin croquettes, beef tartare, sweetbreads, lamb chops—alongside lighter vegetarian options to balance things out. The wine list is thoughtful rather than flashy, favouring producers that make sense with the food. It's one of the best wine bars in the city, and its position in Angus makes it ideal for starting or extending an evening in the east end.

Opened in 2023 at Espace Saint-Denis, Le Molière leans fully into the tradition of the French brasserie: elegant, generous, and by-the-book in the best way. Chef Jean-Sébastien Thomas ensures the classics are done right—veal kidneys, salmon with sorrel—while lunch keeps things unfussy with herb omelettes and Toulouse sausage with mash. Dinner brings richer, more elaborate fare. The wine list favours French and European bottles over natural or offbeat selections, and direct access to Théâtre Saint-Denis makes it work for pre-show bites or full evenings out. Pierre Brousseau's design is warm and expansive, with a private room seating up to 80.

Mélanie Blanchette and François Nadon—the duo behind Bouillon Bilk and Cadet—reimagine the French brasserie in the former Le Local space in Old Montreal. Skylights, earthy tones, and rounded fixtures by Clairoux create an airy elegance, while chef Nadon's menu goes beyond typical brasserie fare: foie gras terrine, zucchini vichyssoise, a stunning rib steak for two with golden fries. Desserts stay refreshingly unpretentious—crème caramel, chocolate mousse—emphasizing classic flavours over showy plating. The French wine list is robust, private dining spaces are available, and a terrace expands the real estate in summer. It's sophisticated without being stuffy, and perfect for occasions that call for a touch of French elegance.

Perched on the 44th floor of Place Ville-Marie, Cappello brings a steady hand to Downtown Italian dining. The menu leans classic—polpette, vitello tonnato, branzino, profiteroles—but it's about execution, not nostalgia. Crisp pinsa, well-dressed chicory, mains with restraint, and desserts that don't overreach. The room balances business lunch and date night without leaning too hard either way, and the energy skews warm rather than buttoned-up. One of the best Italian restaurants in the city for anyone who wants reliable cooking, a solid wine list, and a view that doesn't hurt. It knows its audience and respects the appetite.

Chef Laurent Dagenais's first permanent restaurant brings a much-needed sense of occasion to Saint-Lambert. Designed by IVY Studio, the room blends luxury and nostalgia—beige leather banquettes, dramatic lighting, a 20-seat curved bar—with a confident, celebratory energy. In the kitchen, Vincent Monast (ex-BarBara Vin) and team put out refined plates that riff on French classics: aged Limousin beef, girella with lamb, caviar service, bistro starters that split the difference between comfort and elegance. Jonathan Homier's cocktail program riffs on timeless formulas without losing edge. Limousine is both a return to roots and a next chapter—polished French-forward dining with a sense of fun.

A Montreal institution since 1938, Moishes is a legendary steakhouse built its reputation on dry-aged prime rib, USDA Prime beef, and Eastern European-inspired sides, and under Groupe Grandio, the revival balances nostalgia with reinvention. Original chandeliers and butcher's scales nod to the past; city-inspired murals and a sleek modern aesthetic point forward. Signature dishes remain—house coleslaw, dill pickles, perfectly grilled ribeyes—while the menu expands to include seasonal seafood and vegetarian options. Over 200 seats, a lavish bar, and 85 years of legacy make Moishes a date night for anyone who appreciates a steakhouse with history.

Chef Catherine Couvet Desrosiers—a Foxy and Bouillon Bilk alum—runs this intimate 30-seat Village space with an 18-seat counter as its centrepiece. Two prix-fixe options showcase seasonal, local ingredients, with a philosophy that rejects trends of shareable plates in favour of individual portions. Sustainability shapes everything, with creative waste management repurposing almost every scrap. The room, dressed in lush green and gold, reflects the ethos: thoughtful, refined, and rooted in the joy of good food and company. It's a small-scale date night with big ambitions—one of the city's best restaurants for anyone who values intention over spectacle.

Since 2018, Moccione has settled into Villeray with the quiet confidence of a place that was always meant to be there. The intimate room runs on steady energy and a deliberately tight menu: a handful of starters, a few pastas, and rotating mains that change with the seasons. Co-owner Luca Cianciulli keeps things anchored in Italian tradition, with house-made pasta as the backbone—gnocchi, ragù, carpaccio show up often for a reason. The wine list favours thoughtful producers over flashy bottles. It's a neighbourhood restaurant in the truest sense: relaxed, precise, and one of the best Italian restaurants in the city for an evening that doesn't need to prove anything.

What started as Quebec's first wine and dessert bar has sharpened into something singular: a sensual, precision-driven Little Italy spot where savoury plates and plated desserts compete for attention—and both win. The kitchen, run by pastry chefs with serious savoury chops, leans into texture, temperature, and balance. Sweet potato agnolotti, Tunisian-style brik with saffron and honey, and over 40 dessert wines by the glass (curated by co-founder Jared Tuck) make the case for staying longer than planned. Tasting menus are available, but even a solo cocktail and one of the infamous late-night sweets feels intentional. Refined without stiffness, elegant without exclusivity—Ratafia is one of the best wine bars in the city, built on desserts but far from saccharine.

Tucked behind Capisco in Old Montreal, Mezcla is chef Marcel Larrea's chance to cook on his own terms. The 24-seat room operates a few nights a week with a blind ten-course format—Peruvian roots, French training, and a willingness to follow wherever an idea leads. One night it's razor clams and foie gras; another, alpaca. The space is intimate and moody, built around a chef's counter where the meal unfolds at close range. It's not trying to be accessible or crowd-pleasing. For the right kind of date night—curious, unhurried, open to being surprised—Mezcla rewards the commitment.

A brasserie with serious pedigree, Molenne occupies a former hay depot near the old racetrack grounds, and the room leans into that history without getting precious about it. Salvaged banquettes, repurposed architectural details, and a general sense that everything here has earned its place. Chef Louis-Joseph Rochefort brings fine-dining experience from Australia's Attica to a menu that sharpens French comfort food—expect familiar dishes treated with more care and edge than the format usually allows. The wine cellar runs deep, the bar pours cocktails on tap, and the overall effect is a room that feels both rooted and forward-looking. Substance over scene.