Below is a list of the Top 25 Restaurants in Montreal right now, an evolving selection of places we love to eat at. It’s by no means definitive, it’s just a reflection of what we’re into at the moment and where we think you’re guaranteed to get a good meal.
The Top 25 Restaurants in Montreal Right Now
1. Le Violon
If it’s good enough for world leaders, pop stars and astronauts, it’s good enough for me. Jokes aside, Le Violon is among the most refined and complete restaurant experiences in town. Montreal’s favourite son, Danny Smiles, and co-executive chef/owner Mitch Laughren put together a regularly evolving menu of restrained and elegant dishes influenced by the seasons and the team’s wide-ranging culinary backgrounds. The room is one of Montreal’s most beautiful, designed by Zébulon Pérron in collaboration with co-owner and creative director Dan Climan. The service is equally noteworthy, as is the beverage program — both of which are overseen by longtime collaborator and additional co-owner Andrew Park. (4720 Marquette)
2. Mon Lapin
20 years after the opening of Joe Beef, its unofficial offspring, Mon Lapin, has officially taken over the mantle of Montreal’s most celebrated restaurant. A perennial list-topper, Marc-Olivier Frappier and Vanya Filipovic’s Little Italy restaurant was named the #2 best restaurant in North America last year — and it’s easy to see why. Frappier and co-chef Jessica Noël’s food is playful, occasionally iconoclastic and invariably delicious. The croque-pétoncle is a dish that’s earned its place in Montreal’s culinary history, but whatever creation makes its way to the menu is sure to be excellent. Filipovic, for her part, has been recognized by both MICHELIN and World’s 50 Best as Montreal’s grande dame of wine, and her talents are on full display at Mon Lapin. (150 St-Zotique E.)
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3. Beba
Ari and Pablo Schor’s Verdun restaurant remains the gold standard for Montreal hospitality and is living proof that fine dining isn’t about gilding the lily — it’s about spectacularly good cooking using even better products. Argentinian on paper, the restaurant’s roots are accented with Jewish, Spanish and Italian influences, resulting in food that is singular, entirely unpretentious and absolutely delicious. Don’t ask for empanadas — do ask for mackerel montadito and whatever is on special. (3900 Éthel)
4. Limbo
A relative newcomer to the scene, Limbo has quickly become a fan favourite. Ex-Salle Climatisée chef (and Faze guitarist) Harrison Shewchuk has teamed up with the brilliant Cédric Larocque in the kitchen and Jack Zeppetelli (ex-Pichai) and Jesse Massumi (Pumpui, Pichai) in the front of house. The result is a somewhat francophillic, Elizabeth David-meets-David Lynch-feeling restaurant that defies expectation and delivers some of the best and most interesting food and drink in town. (45 Mozart W.)
5. Leméac
The other French bistro. While l’Express often garners the lion’s share of attention, Leméac certainly holds its own (and in a few categories, far exceeds its St-Denis counterpart). The room is sophisticated and a touch moody but never sacrifices a sliver of the utilitarian charm that makes for a great bistro. The boudin is a cult classic and the onglet keeps pace with the best in the city. But the Pain Perdu, cut nearly three inches thick, sauced with maple syrup and topped with dulce de leche ice cream — that, you can hang your hat on. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (1045 Laurier W.)
6. Lawrence
15 years in, Lawrence is the best it’s ever been. Now in its third iteration (and second location), the restaurant formerly known for its hearty, meat-forward, British cooking is now home to one of Montreal’s most thoughtful and well-executed tasting menus. Chef/owner Marc Cohen, who runs the kitchen solo, puts out a nine-course menu that focuses on seasonality (meats in winter, seafood in spring and veg come summer) and robust flavour pairings. From the fazoletto with fenugreek-scented beef tripe curry to the deeply unctuous tuna crumpet with marrow butter and its accompanying tuna and kelp broth, each dish is bursting with flavour and beautifully presented, yet never overly precious — a hallmark of Cohen’s cooking. Polari’s Keaton Ritchie (a long-time Lawrence alumnus) runs the beverage program and stocks an exceptional cellar that features rare back-vintages. Also nice to note, Lawrence’s pricing includes service — so no need to tip. (9 Fairmount)
7. Pichai
The city’s best damn Thai spot. Chef Jesse Grasso’s food is diverse, composed and reflective of dishes you’d see in northern Thailand. The fried fish balls in a sweet chilli sauce are incredible, as is the Laab Ped, a spicy salad of duck and duck hearts, but it’s the specials that keep the crowds coming back. Seasonal dishes might include firefly squid served with nam jim talay, a potent dipping sauce made of lime, coriander and pickled garlic, or grilled veal heart with a fragrant lemongrass relish. The food is powerfully flavourful, unapologetically spicy and truly, truly delicious. (5985 St-Hubert)
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Marc-André Jetté and Mila Rishkova’s Angus Shops eatery has been lauded by locals and critics alike since it opened back in 2015. Early pioneers in Montreal’s wood-fire cooking scene, their food has always tamed the flame with elegance and restraint, preferring technique and subtlety over intensity. Jetté serves two menus in parallel — a six-course tasting menu or a more conventional à la carte menu (with no crossover dishes between menus) and the food is among the most sophisticated in town. Award-winning sommelier Hugo Deschênes manages a massive cellar featuring over 800 references, meaning there’s a bottle (or two) for nearly every palate and price point. (4095 Molson)
Co-cheffed by Marc-Olivier Frappier and Jessica Noël (Mon Lapin) alongside chef de cuisine Charles-Eric Boutet, the concept is simple: perfectly roasted chicken, crispy fries, luscious gravy — but executed with the kind of care and finesse this team is known for. The front-of-house lineup is equally stacked, with Vanya Filipovic joined by Mon Lapin veteran Alex Landry and celebrated wine minds Morgane Muszynski (ex-Denise) and Rosalie Forcherio (ex-Paloma). The wine list is, unsurprisingly, excellent — and the desserts (especially the carrot cake) are worth saving room for. Recently open for lunch, La Lune is in contention for Montreal’s best club sandwich and the unreasonably nice dining room glimmers even brighter in the light of day. (391 St-Zotique)
10. Ferreira Café
Carlos Ferreira’s downtown institution — now run largely by Carlos’s two daughters, Sandra and Claudia — turned 30 this month, and thanks, in part, to a swanky new renovation, it has never felt more relevant. Known for the city’s best power lunch, what really sets Ferreira apart is the seafood. Flown in from Portugal several times a week, everything from sardines and cod to octopus and crimson carabineros is cooked with precision. Recognized by the Michelin guide last year, the restaurant features a tremendously deep (and pricey) cellar full of (but not exclusively) Portuguese producers. Make sure to stay for dessert — the pasteis de nata are second to none, and the chocolate mousse with their house olive oil is truly a thing of beauty. (1446 Peel)
11. Bar St-Denis
Despite its consistent praise from chefs and food lovers alike, Emily Homsy and David Gauthier’s Bar St-Denis has been one of this city’s most slept-on restaurants — until its recent addition to MICHELIN’s recommended restaurants in Montreal as well as Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list. A habitual haunt for Montreal industry folk and Little Italy locals, its reputation was built on an easygoing atmosphere, genuine hospitality and undeniably excellent food. Bar St-Denis is always guaranteed to surprise and delight with perfectly executed classics and genuinely innovative new dishes. (6966 St-Denis)
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It’s hard to speak about Westmount’s dining scene without laying on serious praise for Louie Deligianis and Renée Deschenes’s excellent Victoria Avenue bistro. Among Montreal’s most talented chefs, Deligianis’s menu favours comfort and approachability over innovation and ego. From the homemade halloumi — a new classic by any measure — to the freshly ground Franquette Burger (with pillowy homemade buns) or a classic steak frites, each dish feels familiar yet utterly sublime. While it’s not always available, their mousse de foie is the best I’ve ever had. (374 Victoria)
13. Bottega
The Covone family’s Little Italy institution is home to what many consider the best Neapolitan pizza in Montreal — and for good reason. The pizzas themselves are beautiful. Airy dough baked until bubbled and charred — with just the right amount of chew — and topped with all manner of seasonal ingredients. While a pizza or two should find their way on every table, the sides and specials almost always steal the show. From brilliant plates of pasta to astonishly delicious fried zucchini flowers and the best damn meatballs you’ve ever tasted, Bottega remains a consistently beloved mainstay in both Little Italy and Laval. (65 St-Zotique E.)
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14. J’ai Feng
What started as a pandemic-era pop-up is now one of Montreal’s most important Chinese restaurants. Technically billed as a noodle-bar, Anita Feng’s 10-seat shop — which is now primarily operated by chef Christophe Jiulong Yu — is an invitation to discover regional Chinese specialties with a particular focus on Sichuan, though it’s not uncommon to see regional dishes from across the country. The food is deeply researched, distinct from the standard fare found around town (which leans Cantonese) and is spectacularly delicious. (43 Beaubien E.)
15. Gia
Gia is an emphatic embrace of Tuscany and Abruzzo and represents the owners’ many years of dedication to bringing the best of Italy to Montreal. The kitchen, run by co-owner and Elena mainstay Janice Tiefenbach alongside Chef de Cuisine Conrad Charron, is built on a foundation of charcoal grilling supported by a rotating cast of seasonal veg dishes, beautiful seafood (both raw and cooked) and some truly excellent pasta. The front of house is overseen by Lawrence (Larry) Fiset, whose encyclopedic knowledge of the world of wine makes his list one of the best and most interesting in town. Pop in for lunch or dinner, or pull up to “Wine Island” for a few bites and a glass or two of vino. (1025 Lenoir)
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Since opening early 2025, Sushi Nishinokaze has confidently set a new standard for Japanese dining in Montreal. The eight-seat Edomae-style sushiya is led by chef Vincent Gee, whose experience spans Tokyo, Vancouver and Toronto, alongside co-owner Julian Doan. Together, they offer a 24-course omakase that balances technical mastery with a modern, deeply personal touch. Seasonal, wild-caught seafood, a proprietary rice blend cultivated near Kyoto and nearly priceless tableware from Doan’s private collection all speak to the restaurant’s uncompromising ethos. Regularly cited as an industry favourite among chefs, at $360 per head, it’s also one of the city’s priciest tables. (5264 St-Laurent)
17. Pasta Pooks
Recently named the 9th Best New Restaurant in Canada (Air Canada), the pasta counter by Victor-Alex “Coach Vic” Petrenko and Luca Labelle Vinci is serving some of the country’s best pasta. While Pooks handles the pasta-making — notably using golden-yolked Conestoga eggs — chef Kai Borst mans the stoves and keeps things mostly classic. Highlights include the guanciale-studded carbonara, squash-filled casoncelli mantovani or the now famous tagliatelle al ragù. Side dishes and daily specials are also excellent, as is Martin Pariseau’s impressive wine list. Readers will be happy to know that they’ve expanded into the space next door, so more seats are available at each service. (6704 Clark)
Plongeoir’s John Hale and Antoine Denis teamed up with Taylor D’Ottavi (ex-Salle Climatisée, Liverpool House) and chef Darcy Gervais-Wood (ex-Salle Climatisée, Maison Publique) to open what may be Montreal’s best new bistrot — with a “t.” The room is deceptively sophisticated, comfortably sitting alongside the likes of London’s St. John. The menu, for its part, is short and sweet. Gervais-Wood wants the focus to remain on simple, well-prepared classics that are easily recognizable and immediately satisfying — gougères, mushroom velouté, steak au poivre. Everything is lifted straight from the traditional bistro canon but gently inflected with his unique imprint. (7120 St-Laurent)
19. Hana
Hana, a Korean steakhouse that opened in Old Montreal late 2025, is one of the most intriguing new dining concepts. Bringing together Hanhak Kim (Bar Otto) and David McMillan (ex–Joe Beef, Grille-Nature), it blends the refinement you’d expect from an Old Port steakhouse with the conviviality of Korean BBQ. Chef Wongoo Jeon’s menu centres on prime cuts of dry-aged beef grilled to order tableside and served with a dazzling array of excellent banchan, jiggae, and rice. The spectacular Zébulon Perron–designed room features extra-roomy banquette seating and a hand-painted ceiling that looks as if Bemelmans took a trip to Seoul. The cocktail menu is excellent — especially the gently spiced Old Fashioned — while the wine list offers a nice selection by the bottle and a healthy dose of Champagne for those looking to splurge. (301 le Moyne)
20. Salle Climatisée
In the era of the neo-bistro, Salle Climatisée stands out. Having planted its flag in the early days of 2020, the restaurant, despite twice changing chefs, has never skipped a beat. The deceptively straightforward and spot-on cooking Salle built its name on remains entirely intact and is as good as it’s ever been. The wine program is one of the neighbourhood’s best-priced (and well-stocked to boot), and the service is second to none. From the iconic zig-zagged leeks vinaigrette to the delicate but towering black trumpet vol-au-vent, this is the type of restaurant we all wish we had in our neighbourhood. (6448 St-Laurent)
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21. Mezcla
After reclaiming the name over a decade after the closing of his first venture, serial restaurateur Marcel Larrea (Capisco, Tiradito) opened the 25-seat, reservation-only Mezcla in late November of last year. Tucked away behind a hidden door inside Capisco, chef de cuisine Kolya Olivier (ex-Foxy, Au Pied de Cochon, Montreal Plaza) puts out an 11-course tasting menu that focuses on classic Peruvian dishes and ingredients. Rustic classics like the beautiful alpaca empanadas or cau cau (a veal tongue and escagot stew) share the stage with more refined dishes like monkfish in pil-pil, kenauk trout tiradito and a smoky lamb belly anticucho, which counts among the best dishes of the year for me. There’s a solid wine list, but make sure you try a cocktail prepared by award-winning bar director Simon Ouellette. (85 St-Paul E.)
Hiroshi Kitano (Kitano Shokudo), Hideyuki Imaizumi (Marusan group, Fleurs et Cadeaux) and prolific restaurateur David Schmidt’s new yakitori venture has already developed a fairly serious cult following. Taking over the former Café Brouillon space on an exploding stretch of Plaza St-Hubert, Hibahihi — despite its slightly silly-sounding name — is no joke. Skewers of chicken, deftly grilled over charcoal, are the main draw. Just try the hearty tsukemono and you’ll get what the hype is all about. But the menu reaches deeper — beautiful cuts of sashimi served as a glistening chirashi bowl, a togarashi-spiced chicken skin salad — even the potato salad punches above its weight class. Mael Bourbonnais’s wine list is full of hits and the selection of sake is almost dizzying. Kanpai. (6580 St-Hubert)
23. Dobe & Andy
What makes Dobe & Andy a uniquely special spot in Chinatown is both its commitment to tradition and willingness to depart from it. Since 1994, Cantonese BBQ — duck, char siu, pork belly and soy chicken — has been their calling card, but those in the know take their meat with a side of punchy mapo tofu, soy-stained beef ho fun or the city’s best wonton noodle soup. Look out for the occasional specials like century egg congee, ginger lobster or, if you’re lucky, one of Montreal’s best fried chicken sandwiches. (1071 St-Urbain R-12)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMIqWfPMr06
24. Le Petit Alep
A casual Syrian/Armenian restaurant serving snack-sized versions of fattoush salad, muhammara and stuffed vine leaves. If you make the trip, make sure to try the kibbeh nayeeh (beef tartare) and the saucisses d’Alep. While the food is always satisfying, those in the know come to raid Alain Paillassard’s epic wine cellar, which was stocking (and ageing) cult natural wines decades before it was de rigeur. (191 Jean-Talon E.)
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Since 1964, this iconic orange orb could be considered an unofficial part of the Montreal skyline — but it is also one of the city’s best casse-croûtes. Pull up on a sunny day for a near-perfect poutine generously bathed in dark brown gravy, an oversized toasty (hot dog on a toasted bun, for the uninitiated), a classic cheeseburger or a surprisingly good club sandwich. Most diehards come for the signature julep — an intensely sweet, orange creamsicle-like concoction that needs to be tasted to be understood. (7700 Décarie)
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For more on the Montreal restaurant scene, please visit the Food & Drink section.