The Best of Old Montreal: Our suggested addresses
The Best of Old Montreal: Our suggestions for bars, cafés and restaurants
Old Montreal is arguably one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods, and for good reason. With its remarkable history, striking architecture, vibrant energy and wealth of attractions, Old Montreal is a bit like a bottomless treasure chest, always holding something new to discover.
Canada’s oldest urban neighbourhood
Old Montreal is the oldest urban neighbourhood in Canada. As you stroll its streets, you’ll be surrounded by historic monuments, century-old buildings and cobblestone lanes. You’ll also notice a diverse crowd, countless boutiques and specialty shops, and plenty of things to do. Whether it’s a ride on La Grande Roue de Montréal, a visit to the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica or a walk along the waterfront, you’ll never be bored. Each season also brings its share of events, giving you one more reason to come back and wander through Old Montreal.
Where to eat and drink in Old Montreal
Unsurprisingly, our favourite activity in the neighbourhood is exploring its food and drink scene. Beautiful cafés, hidden bars, upscale restaurants and more laid-back spots: there’s something for every taste, at any time of day. In the morning, stop for a good coffee before exploring the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal. At lunchtime, look for a terrace or a bright dining room for a relaxed meal. When evening falls, the old stone walls take on a whole new atmosphere, perfect for a cocktail, dinner with friends or a romantic night out.
This list doesn’t cover every good address in Old Montreal, of course. It is, however, a selection of our favourite cafés, bars and restaurants featured on our site. Whether you live in Montreal or are just visiting for the weekend, these spots are a great way to experience the neighbourhood through its food. If you’d like to explore other foodie neighbourhoods in Montreal, have a look at our recommendations for Saint-Henri, Little Burgundy and Mile End.
Enjoy!
Monarque
Monarque is one of our favourite restaurants and certainly one of the most beautiful. It opened in 2018 in a stunning space in the heart of Old Montreal, welcoming guests to enjoy excellent, generous French-inspired cuisine. Every detail, from the décor to the service to the menus, has been carefully considered. Contemporary, French-inspired cuisine; plates as beautiful as the room they’re served in. The seasonal menu is constantly evolving and follows the chef’s inspirations, so every visit brings something new.
Montréal
Hana Korean Steakhouse
In Old Montreal, Hana Korean Steakhouse offers an upscale, festive and convivial take on Korean barbecue. Here, the grill sits at the centre of the table and beef reigns supreme: prime cuts, in-house dry-aging, wagyu. Guests come as much for the signature BBQ to share as for the nine-course omakase menu, designed as a true gastronomic journey. With no overwhelming smoke, a carefully curated wine and sake list and an elegant interior by Zébulon Perron, Hana pulls off a refined, lively and thoroughly Montreal Korean steakhouse.
Montréal
Toqué!
Since opening nearly three decades ago, Toqué! has established itself as one of Montreal’s finest restaurants. From the start, owners Normand Laprise and Christine Lamarche have brilliantly met the challenge of running a fine dining restaurant in Montreal. Creativity, quality and presentation are the cornerstones of the menu, and all of it is well worth the high price. If you want to invest wisely in a memorable evening, a meal at Toqué! belongs on your list.
Montréal
HÀ Vieux-Montréal
At the corner of William and McGill streets, Hà serves Southeast Asian–inspired cuisine in a gorgeous space designed by Amlyne Phillips. You’ll find several of our favourites here, from imperial rolls and steamed buns to chicken wings and pho, all featured in our selections of Montreal’s best specialties. A lively spot to share a meal with friends before continuing the evening at Nhậu Bar, hidden in the basement.
Montréal
Le Club Chasse et Pêche
Le Club Chasse et Pêche is one of Montreal’s top tables if you’re looking for something a little exclusive and upscale with excellent cuisine. Since it opened, it has been one of our favourite addresses in the neighbourhood. A short menu where everything hits the mark; there’s no room for half-measures here. True to its name (Hunting and Fishing Club), the menu is built around the hunt and the catch, always featuring a few fish, a poultry dish and a red meat, often game. We especially love this house for its creativity, its intimate atmosphere and its original, flavourful menu.
Montréal
Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel
In Old Montreal, L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel is synonymous with tradition: an establishment that has mastered the art of fine food and good cheer for many years. It’s a destination of choice for food lovers and a lovely place to mark a special occasion.
Montréal
Philemon Bar
Philémon is a very pleasant place to go out, and it has firmly made its mark in Old Montreal. According to owner Marc Beauchamp, the original idea was to create a bar where people could enjoy good wine, good food, good cocktails and all of life’s other pleasures. On the drinks side, you’ll find bold, affordable private-import wines. Even after several years, Philémon continues to offer its guests a consistently joyful, festive atmosphere. Thank you, Philémon.
Montréal
Bar Bisou Bisou
Bisou Bisou is a charming cocktail bar right in the heart of Old Montreal. Perfect for an apéro, it’s the ideal starting point for a night out in the neighbourhood (or for celebrating until late).
Montréal
Capisco
On Saint-Paul Street, Capisco brings a fresh, exotic breeze to this storied Montreal neighbourhood. Created by the owners of Tiradito and Chifa (Marcel Larrea, David Dumay and David Schmidt), Capisco offers the same warm hospitality in an elegant, welcoming setting.
Montréal
Le Serpent
With its well-balanced combination of superb décor, a pleasant atmosphere, a delectable menu and warm service, this restaurant is one of Montreal’s essential addresses, and one we always return to with great pleasure. It is now part of our list of Montreal’s best Italian restaurants.
Montréal
Sabrosa
Finally, a favourite on Place Jacques-Cartier! A happy marriage of rich, flavourful dishes, attentive service and a moody, muy caliente setting awaits you at Sabrosa.
Montréal
Stellina
If the name Stellina has a nostalgic ring, what lands on the plate is just as rooted in the culinary traditions of Italy. The concept at this Old Port restaurant is to bring back forgotten classics of Italian cuisine.
Montréal
Restaurant Dorsia
On Notre-Dame Street West, Dorsia unfolds a décor of marble, woodwork and mirrors inspired by the elegance of the 1980s. Its contemporary cuisine brings French and Italian influences together around Quebec products. A special mention goes to the Caesar salad, a big team favourite that earned it a spot on our list of Montreal’s best. Attentive service rounds out the experience at this Old Montreal table.
Montréal
Romies
At 465 McGill Street, Romies breathes new life into the former Boris Bistro space as a contemporary American bistro. Run by Alexandre Cohen and Raegan Steinberg, the duo behind Arthurs Nosh Bar, the restaurant leans into indulgence with a nostalgic touch. Save room for the Brooklyn Blackout, a dense, moist chocolate cake topped with chocolate mousse and served with cookies-and-cream whipped cream. A generous finale that alone is worth the trip to Old Montreal.
Montréal
Buvette Pastek
“We wanted to create a place where people can come every day, at any time of day. Whether for a coffee, a glass of wine or a party, we wanted to make Buvette Pastek a timeless gathering place,” says owner Thomas Vernis.
Montréal
Bowie Speakeasy
Bowie, located beneath Dorsia in Montreal’s Old Port, is a newer address reinventing the city’s upscale night out. Inspired by the world’s most prestigious private clubs, this restaurant-bar by WITH Hospitality offers a one-of-a-kind experience. With its elegant décor, dim lighting and intimate atmosphere, Bowie appeals to fans of exclusive spots.
Montréal
Garde Manger
On Saint-François-Xavier Street, Garde Manger is one of Old Montreal’s emblematic tables. Co-owner and executive chef Chuck Hughes helped turn it into a classic where indulgence meets a love of celebration. People come for the generous cuisine, the buzzing atmosphere and dinners that happily stretch into the night. A sure bet for celebrating in good company.
Montréal
BARROCO
On Saint-Paul Street West, Barroco welcomes guests into an intimate, warm setting. This French-inspired table puts the spotlight on cuts of meat and Quebec terroir, favouring small-scale farms and carefully sourced products. As evening falls, the room comes alive, carried by a festive atmosphere and the promise of a great night.
Montréal
YUBARI
Located in Hôtel St-Paul on McGill Street, Yubari serves Japanese cuisine with French influences in an elegant setting. An Old Montreal address for treating yourself or celebrating, with a DJ on site Wednesday through Sunday to set the tone for the evening. The restaurant is also open for lunch, Monday to Friday, and lends itself well to business lunches.
Montréal
Nhậu bar
Nhậu Bar is the hidden cocktail bar of Hà in Old Montreal! Open since 2017, it is absolutely charming. “We wanted to create a bar where you don’t feel like you’re in Montreal, a space that takes you somewhere else,” says co-owner Nicolas Urli.
Montréal
Dispensa Épicerie Italienne
Tucked away on William Street in Old Montreal, Dispensa is a well-kept secret among the neighbourhood’s lovers of good food and Italian culture.
Montréal
Restaurant Mélisse
While the atmosphere peaks in the evening, Mélisse also offers a lunch menu as well as weekend brunch. In short, plenty to enjoy at any time of day.
Montréal
Place Carmin
On William Street in Old Montreal, Place Carmin revisits the codes of the French brasserie in a bright, elegant setting. Behind it is the team from Bouillon Bilk and Cadet, whose expertise shows here in generous, precise cuisine rooted in the French repertoire. From starters to desserts, the menu invites you to take your time at the table. A contemporary brasserie worth remembering for a business lunch as much as a dinner with friends.
Montréal
Restaurant Graziella
This upscale address is ideal for a fine Italian meal or a corporate event. The staff make every effort to keep guests happy, and the many regulars are proof of it.
Montréal
Dandy
Dandy is the project of Michael Tozzi, whom we first got to know in the kitchens of Olive et Gourmando and Club Chasse et Pêche. In a bright room that’s just chic enough, guests settle in for lunch or brunch around cuisine that is both refined and comforting.
Montréal
Olive et Gourmando
Olive et Gourmando has been an Old Montreal essential for nearly three decades, and there’s no doubt it will remain one. It’s the place to go when you’re looking for something very simple yet truly delicious, as beautiful as it is good. The décor is warm and inviting, ideal for a Sunday morning in good company. The brunch and lunch offerings are each more tempting than the last. It’s home to one of Montreal’s best brunches and some of the city’s top croissants.
Montréal
La Cave à Manger
This wonderful hidden cellar in Old Montreal carries you away with its exclusive selection of natural wines and its breads and viennoiseries, masterfully crafted by a team intent on reaching the highest level of quality, from the baguette to the pizza.
Montréal
Crew Collective & Cafe
If you’re looking for a place that perfectly embodies Old Montreal, Crew Collective & Café is it. This magnificent café is surely among the most beautiful in Montreal. Set in the grand banking hall of the iconic Royal Bank building on Saint-Jacques Street, with incredibly high gilded ceilings, huge chandeliers and more marble than you can imagine, the place has something magical about it. Beyond its beauty, Crew also serves delicious drinks and pastries. A splendid, inspiring space that’s ideal for productivity and creativity!
Montréal
Paparmane
With its colourful décor, playful menu and superb selection of teas and herbal infusions, Paparmane has well earned its place on our list of Montreal’s best tea rooms. An original outing idea, whether with family, as a couple or with friends!
Montréal
Motto Handroll Bar
Motto, a Japanese restaurant on Saint-François-Xavier Street in the heart of Old Montreal, pays tribute to the delicate art of temaki: sheets of nori filled with rice and fish, rolled by hand and served on the spot, right before your eyes. Among the signature dishes are a few sashimi, but the true house specialty remains the hand rolls, served one by one by the chef. Motto was conceived in the spirit of Japanese sushi bars, where you eat quickly without ever compromising on quality.
Montréal
Restaurant Gandhi (Halal)
People come to Gandhi for delicious Indian cuisine in a stylish space right in the heart of Old Montreal. The restaurant sits on Saint-Paul Street West in a charming, classic neighbourhood building. Inside, the décor is bright, clean and minimalist, and the service is just as polished. On the menu, you’ll find all kinds of starters and mains; the chef recommends the vegetarian dishes, the lamb karahi, the chicken karahi and the tandoori. The menu is first and foremost traditional Indian cuisine, so you’ll likely recognize the names of most dishes. Gandhi is one of our two favourite upscale Indian restaurants in the city.
Montréal
Holder
Holder is one of those houses that gave Old Montreal its taste for grand brasseries. On McGill Street, its lively dining room welcomes neighbourhood regulars and large groups alike. While it appears in our selection of the best French brasseries, several of its classics have also caught our attention: its moules-frites, tartares, French onion soup and fish and chips rank among our Montreal favourites.
Montréal
Restaurant Da Emma
On rue de la Commune Ouest since 1998, Da Emma is an Italian institution in Old Montreal. In a stone-walled dining room, the house carries on a family tradition of generous, comforting Roman cuisine. Now run by the sixth generation of restaurateurs in the family, it ranks among Montreal’s best Italian restaurants. People come for the homemade pasta and the pleasure of shared meals, with the familiar warmth of a big table at nonna’s.
Montréal
Cantina Concha
Cantina Concha brings the tradition of the Mexican cantina to life in Old Montreal. Drop in for a drink and explore a fine selection of artisanal tequilas and mezcals, then pair your cocktails with crispy quesadillas and house-made salsa. Classic Mexican films play on the projector, and on weekends, the dance floor takes over.
Montréal
