The best food halls in Montreal
Food Halls are organized spaces that bring together a variety of restaurateurs, often showcasing a mix of local, artisanal, or high-quality gastronomic cuisines, with shared dining areas. The Time Out Market in Lisbon and the first Eataly in Turin were among the earliest examples of this concept.
Unlike food courts, which are typically associated with fast food and shopping malls, food halls emphasize diverse, refined culinary experiences connected to local culture or specific specialties. They often feature some of the best local eateries in town. These spaces have become cultural and culinary hotspots, reflecting current trends in food consumption, including an interest in sustainability, diversity, and authenticity.
Smithsonian Magazine published an article on the evolution of collective dining spaces, from ancient taverns to modern concepts like gourmet halls. It discusses the social and economic dynamics that have transformed restaurants and public dining spaces into places of cultural innovation, socializing, and consumption (what we refer to as moments of happiness).
Alan Davidson’s book The Oxford Companion to Food also provides an in-depth analysis of the links between traditional and modern food practices and explores the evolution of food markets, offering detailed historical and cultural contexts on the origins of food practices and sales venues. The concept was gaining significant momentum when the global pandemic put everything on halt. But now COVID is long behind us, and the public is rushing back to these new temples of gastronomy.
So if you’re out or shopping in Downtown Montreal or at Royalmount, here are the best food halls in the city and our suggestions for your next visit.
Le Cathcart
Le Cathcart Restaurants and Biergarten stands out from other food courts mainly due to its unique decor. Under its impressive glass roof, this massive food hall, spanning over 35,000 square feet, welcomes guests with more than 1,000 seats, in addition to its outdoor beer garden. Enjoying a drink while taking in the view of Mount Royal? We love that! Some of our favorites include Otto, Arthurs Nosh Bar, Omnivore, HÀ, and Bella, the little sister of the Bossa sandwich shops.
LE CENTRAL
Le Central offers more than 600 communal seats, 275 contributors, and 25 renowned gastronomic names. It is also the very first food hall in the city. Located in the heart of Quartier des spectacles, at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Le Central revitalizes the image of “The Main” by reflecting, through its diverse offerings, the waves of immigrants and their equally varied cuisines over the centuries (adding a romantic touch to the space). The food hall is inspired by the covered public markets found around the world. Our favorites include Heirloom, Morso, Chom Chom, and Le Super Qualité. If you’re in a festive mood, end the night dancing at Vino Disco!
Montréal
Time Out Market Montréal
Eaton offers several food options for dining from morning to evening. The very first Time Out Market opened in 2014 in Lisbon. Following its resounding success with both locals and tourists, the brand decided to expand internationally. With the same decor and identical monochrome colors, Time Out Market aims to spread its brand image in Montreal. The only difference compared to other Time Out Markets is its location. This is the first time the international culinary market has set up in a shopping center. To achieve this, Time Out Market partnered with Ivanhoé Cambridge, a real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and a global leader in real estate. Together, they’ve created an elegant dining space on the second floor of the Eaton Centre, bringing together several major names in Montreal’s gastronomy under one roof, including Bossa, Marusan, Blossom, Chez Simon Cantine Urbaine, Le Taj, Il Miglio, Campo, Ibericos, Paul Toussaint, and Chanty Yen, the grand winner of Top Chef Canada in 2024! Time Out Market Montreal also features a wine bar, a mocktail and soda bar, a dairy bar, as well as a culinary school, Atelier & Saveurs.
Montréal
Le Fou Fou - Montreal
Le Fou Fou is the stunning food hall at Royalmount, bringing together some of Montreal’s most talented chefs under one roof. The culinary offerings are exceptional, but that’s not all: the entire concept is meticulously designed, featuring a cutting-edge technological experience. And let’s not forget the absolutely fabulous decor. We love Prime for its smash burger and fries, Le Taj, Eva’s for breakfast, and Spirulina. Also, make sure to visit the Royalmount esplanade, where you’ll find several other restaurants, including a brand-new branch of Olive & Gourmando.
Montreal
