Café Holt Ogilvy: A gourmet experience by Holt Renfrew

As you may know, Montreal is home to a Holt Renfrew boutique, a symbol of luxury in the downtown area. For us, the magic of the place lies beyond the clothing racks and in the dining room of Café Holt, where one can enjoy a fine dining experience worthy of the boutique.

A quality approach

Located on the second floor of the store, Café Holt is a sort of extension of the Holt Renfrew customer experience where quality is always the order of the day and nothing less than impeccable service is expected. The bar is high, but Café Holt wins us over with flying colours. “It’s a quality approach. Excellence is really what we put forward,” explains Pascal Arsenault, the restaurant’s manager.

First of all, the design of the space is magnificent, and is certainly one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. The French design firm Laplace drew inspiration from the Hollywood of the 1920s to create a mid-century modern decor. The room comfortably seats 90 people on beautiful red velvet chairs and banquettes, including the bar (our favourite part). The warm colours and accents of wood and marble create an atmosphere that is at once both very chic and casual. The sun-like lighting, developed by Quebec-based Norclair, is a beautiful touch that ties it all together for a stylish (and very Instagrammable) look.

Unpretentious haute cuisine

However, Café Holt is not the only one of its kind. Holt Renfrew had already been establishing this concept elsewhere – Toronto and Vancouver – before exporting it to Montreal in June 2020. Here, they distinguish themselves by the style of cooking that we characterize as gourmet, unpretentious haute cuisine.

In the kitchen, chef Joris Larigaldie (Manoir Hovey) has joined the team, offering great originality and liveliness to the menu. Originally from France, Joris has traveled extensively and had the opportunity to cook internationally before settling in Quebec. He puts all his experience and knowledge into each plate for a delicious lunch.

The menu changes twice a year, much like clothing collections do, all while keeping the classics. One of the signature dishes at all Holt Renfrew cafés is the Holts Cheeseburger (iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickles, maple/bacon jam, Dijon mustard aioli, aged white cheddar, brioche bun), a fixture that leaves no one hungry. The avocado tartine (sour cream, poached eggs, pistachios) is also a staple whether for brunch or lunch. They also offer a fish dish that changes daily, and is prepared according to the chef’s inspiration. Note that the fish they serve is always certified Ocean Wise. For customers with a sweet tooth (like us), you’ll be happy to know that they serve brownies, cookies, tarte Tatin (with apples of course), and more. The bill can add up quickly, but the service you receive is more than worth the cost of the experience.

To drink

On the bar side, everyone is on board when it comes to cocktails. Café Holt is a place where they don’t skimp on creativity, which is why the drinks all have a little “je ne sais quoi”. As for the wine, Pascal is in charge. The menu is made up mainly of private imports with a few SAQ wines. It goes without saying that in addition to eating well, wine lovers will also find very good bottles to accompany their meal. The wine list also changes often to match the menu in the dining room to a T.

For now, Ogilvy’s Café Holt only operates on a take-out basis, true to form for your brunches and dinners. Plus, they also have a great selection of wines to take home. Once the pandemic is behind us, the team sees a lot of potential to take the concept to the next level, maybe even to a happy hour! We can’t wait.

Written by Britanny Clarke


Last update: September 23, 2022

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