Fun, Festive and Affordable: Good times at a good price
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a relaxed evening out at a restaurant – one where your date’s voice is louder than the music playing (if you know what we’re talking about, check out our list of bars where you can hear yourself speak). Other times, however, nothing can beat a lively and festive night out, made perfect with the addition of delicious food and drinks, and of course, the right company. The only problem with those types of evenings are that it can be easy to get carried away and forget the fact that there’s a bill to pay when you leave. To avoid putting a damper on the end of a great night, here is our list of the best fun, festive and affordable addresses in Montreal!
For all those who like to eat well, drink well, be in a lively atmosphere and spend a memorable night out with friends, this list of fun, festive and affordable restaurants is certainly the right one for you. The addresses featured here are perfect for larger groups and for introducing visiting friends to the fun side of dining in Montreal. Beyond a lively and entertaining atmosphere, these restaurants also offer delicious and interesting cuisines – a necessity for a spot on any of our lists. Finally, the evenings spent at any of these restaurants will surely end with a win, because the bill will most likely be reasonable – after all, it’s up to you if you decide to offer a round of shots to the entire restaurant, in which case we can’t guarantee the state of your final bill.
If you prefer to have food as an accompaniment to your drinks rather than vise versa, here is our list of bars that serve the best food.
Le Red Tiger (Village)
The neon lights that greet you illuminate the phrase « The crazier, the merrier ». This is pretty much the atmosphere you will find at Le Red Tiger; a charming, warm and unpretentious place, full of people who like to eat. This Montreal restaurant is both festive and affordable. Since the day it opened, the Red Tiger has been continuously busy and the reason is simple – they serve delicious Vietnamese street food in an original setting and all at a very good price. What could be better? The team of passionate people behind the project are very hands on, so customers always feel welcomed and taken care of. Vadim Daniel
Montréal
Satay Brothers
Satay Brothers is a small refuge of happiness on Notre Dame Street West. This little gem is the work of brothers Alex and Mat Winnicki and as of recently, quite a few other key people. The Satay Brothers project is indeed devoted to creating a pleasant, entertaining place to enjoy dishes that take our minds off of the cold Quebec winter. Here, we eat the type of food that the owners grew up with- they call it South Asian, because it’s not associated with any particular country. The atmosphere here is always festive, crowded and warm. Laksa, buns and kebabs are our favourite dishes. Alison Slattery
Montréal
Escondite Union
A stone’s throw from the old fur district, Escondite is a small, friendly Mexican restaurant. This kitchen offers a selection of original tacos and small plates. You’ll fall in love with the braised tongue and codfish tacos – we promise. You also must absolutely taste their churros, because they are some of the best in the city! Here, there is a tequila and Mezcal bar and a fun cocktail menu. The atmosphere of the restaurant is lively and the place is always crowded. A great address to have in your back pocket whenever you’re downtown.
Montréal
Le Petit Alep Bistro
Despite the fact that this address has been open for more than 20 years, it is still one of our favourite restaurants in town. We love it for their lively atmosphere, tasty dishes and remarkable wine list! Le Petit Alep is the younger sibling of restaurant Alep (which we also recommend checking out). Here, you’ll find a wine list of over 250 labels, a menu full of rich and impactful Middle Eastern flavours, and a very welcoming atmosphere that will keep you coming back for more. Alison Slattery
Montréal
Verdun Beach
Exploiting a concept not yet used in Montreal, Verdun Beach takes the form of a guinguette where you can drink well, eat well and dance to your heart’s content.
Montréal
Isle de Garde - Brasserie
Isle de Garde is a superb craft brasserie where you can enjoy an excellent beer in La Petite-Patrie while snacking on something tasty in a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. What we love most about Isle de Garde are its great beers and its unique vibe. The owners know what they’re doing, and they’ve managed to create a warm, welcoming place where you can enjoy good food and good drinks without breaking the bank.
Montréal
BarBara
The concept here is intentionally multifaceted. Above all, BarBara aims to be a wine bar where good juice flows freely at accessible prices. BarBara is a welcome addition to Saint-Henri, proving that you can enjoy beautiful, delicious things without breaking the bank — and the lively atmosphere is always part of the experience!
Montréal
Pumpui
Épicerie Pumpui is a small counter-style restaurant that opened in November 2017 on St-Zotique Street and serves an excellent menu inspired by the flavours of Thailand. The menu is primarily Thai, with a few influences from Southeast Asia more broadly. The dishes are comforting, full of authentic flavour, and absolutely delicious!
Montréal
Lundis au soleil
Lundis au soleil appears in our list of the best wine bars in Montreal as well as in our guide to where to drink great natural wine in the city. The atmosphere is lively, and the kitchen turns out wonderfully shareable, convivial dishes. You leave the place with a perfectly reasonable bill.
Montréal
Yokato Yokabai Ramen
Yokato Yokabai Ramen is a small, unassuming ramen shop on the corner of Drolet and Rachel. In our opinion, it serves some of the best—if not the best—ramen in Montreal. The establishment also ranks among the very best Japanese restaurants in the city!
Montréal
Bar Furco
Furco opened its doors in October 2012 and hasn’t slowed down since. The owners fully embrace the concept of a “bar where you can eat well,” and that’s exactly what Furco delivers. The menu by chef Joëlle Trottier (formerly of Pistou, now closed, and Buvette Chez Simone) changes every month. She loves to innovate, offering generous dishes that keep us coming back again and again: comforting snacks, fresh plates perfect for sharing, and food that pairs beautifully with a good drink.
Montréal
La Buvette Chez Simone
La Buvette Chez Simone opened on Avenue du Parc in 2008. Since then, it has become a convivial neighbourhood classic—perfect for grabbing a drink or celebrating a special occasion. The service is warm, the atmosphere is always lively, the wine is fairly priced, and the menu is simple and delicious. La Buvette Chez Simone is a pioneer among wine bars offering truly shareable plates in a relaxed, bar-style setting.
Montréal
Gema Pizzeria
Pizzeria GEMA is a charming Little Italy spot that serves some of the best pizzas in Montreal, in our opinion. It’s a warm, comforting restaurant—perfect for anyone craving a really good pizza. The place is also an ode to family, welcoming children with ease in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Everyone feels at home here: parents, friends, couples, kids, grandparents—you name it.
Montréal
La Toxica
La Toxica earned a spot on our list of beautiful, delicious, and affordable restaurants in Montreal, as well as on our guide to where to eat well on a budget in the city. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the kind of place that makes you want not only to sit down and enjoy a fabulous meal, but also to get up and move your hips on the dance floor. Stay tuned — Rosa plans to host dance nights with Mexican musicians and DJs to honour and celebrate her rich cultural heritage. It’s going to be great!
Montréal
Taverne Atlantic
La Taverne Atlantic made a striking entrance into the Mile Ex scene in late summer 2019. This beautiful tavern sits on the corner of Parc Avenue and Beaubien Street and offers a gourmet bar where you can feast and celebrate late into the night. For snacking, the house serves an affordable, snack-bar–style menu.
Montréal
Octo
Opened in January 2023 on Promenade Ontario, Octo offers a reimagined—and particularly fun—dim sum experience. It’s a great addition to the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood if you’re looking for original, delicious dishes at very affordable prices.
Montréal
Marci Café - Restaurant
With a menu inspired by the flavors of New Jersey, a carefully curated natural wine list, and an excellent sound system, this newcomer on Plaza St-Hubert is sure to turn heads — and turntables! Pizzas, casino clams (clams served on the half-shell with breadcrumbs and bacon), and a Caesar salad topped with two generous anchovy fillets are just a few of the classics you’ll find on the menu.
Montréal
Bar Henrietta
Bar Henrietta is a superb neighbourhood bar, perfect for grabbing a drink and a little bite. It’s one of our favourite spots and one of our top picks for a festive night out. While it remains very much a bar, you can also enjoy a selection of delicious, Portuguese-inspired small plates prepared by David Le Gloahec and his team. You’ll find all kinds of affordable, shareable dishes that change regularly.
Montréal
Casavant
Located just steps from Jean-Talon Market, Casavant offers a French brasserie experience that charms with its gorgeous décor, friendly atmosphere, and delicious, well-priced menu. Note that the restaurant is open seven nights a week, making it one of our go-to addresses for Monday-night and Sunday-night dining.
Montréal
Chifa
The kitchen team honours traditional Sino-Peruvian culinary customs while offering unique dishes centered on high-quality ingredients. The plates are varied, always striking a balance between freshness and comfort. You order a few and share them around. The atmosphere is definitely festive!
Montréal
Tiradito
Tiradito is a fantastic Peruvian resto-bar on Bleury Street and is featured on our list of the best bars to eat at in Montreal. A visit to Tiradito feels like a little getaway — surprising in the best way and always a pleasure. What we love most about the place is definitely the open concept built around its large central bar. We’re also big fans of the décor, the service, and the menus — both food and drinks. The place truly won us over; it’s definitely one of our favourites!
Montréal
vinvinvin
Vinvinvin is a vibrant, colourful wine bar that brightens up La Petite-Patrie and energizes the neighbourhood in just the right way. The spot offers a varied and truly delicious selection of “living” wines from northern climates. By that, we mean fresh, lively bottles imported mainly from Central European countries such as the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, and Slovakia, alongside a wide range of wines from Quebec and Ontario.
Montréal
Icehouse
Icehouse is neither fine dining nor fast food — it sits somewhere in between. It’s an unpretentious spot where you can eat well without worrying about the grease factor. At Icehouse, you feel at ease: the menu is honest and uncomplicated, and the place is warm and festive.
Montréal
Neotokyo
Located in a historic building on Viger Street, between downtown and Old Montreal, Neotokyo looks like it was pulled straight out of a science-fiction film. This cyberpunk-style noodle bar serves delicious ramen soups, mazemen (brothless ramen), a few classic sides, and a short list of sakés and Japanese-inspired cocktails. The address proudly appears on our list of beautiful, delicious, and affordable restaurants in Montreal.
Montreal
Biiru
Biirū is an izakaya in the heart of downtown Montreal, serving delicious Japanese-inspired cuisine in a lively, festive atmosphere. The restaurant belongs to the same group of young entrepreneurs behind Habanera, Escondite, and Koa Lua — Yann Levy, Benjamin Bitton, and Yossi Ohana. Like its sister establishments, Biirū offers a great vibe, a very good menu, and all of it at affordable prices.
Montréal
Le Bar Darling
We’re especially fond of the bar’s unique décor and love that the space doubles as a superb café. You can work there during the day and wrap things up with a few drinks and some beautiful small bites with friends. It’s the perfect place to linger or grab a drink at any time of day. A wonderful success!
Montréal
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