Celeste: Sublime Italian Spot in Downtown

Since November 2025, a new player has slipped into downtown Montreal’s food scene. Located in the Golden Square Mile, Celeste is the little sister of Béatrice, Estelle, and Café Améa. The spacious dining room, designed by Agostino Di Rigi (ADR Design), unveils a décor already being hailed as one of the most beautiful in the city.

Celeste is the brainchild of two owners: Pino Forgione, a well-known figure on Montreal’s Italian scene (Beatrice, Estelle, Café Amea), and Michael Coppa, the company’s executive chef and co-owner of Café Amea. The idea came about after a realization: Amea’s success had revealed a demand that wasn’t being met in this neighbourhood. “With Amea’s success, there was demand from customers asking, ‘Could you stay open later?'” Michael recalls. When the space right next to Amea became available, the decision didn’t take long.

In the kitchen, chef Jeffrey Capuano and sous-chef Frank Gioffre work alongside Coppa on a regional interpretation of Italy, with a distinctive Celeste twist. Basilicata is a major influence: it’s the source of the cruschi peppers and a house spice blend that seasons the meats.

Here, the steak isn’t a classic ribeye: it’s a rib cap, the crown peeled off the prime rib, “the most tender and marbled cut of meat,” Michael explains. It’s finished with a Tuscan rub featuring warm notes—cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander seeds—not something you’d find in the local trattorias. Chicken, the everyday dish par excellence, becomes a more ambitious piece here: an espresso and sambuca sauce over anise-scented celery root purée. One of our favourites, and one shared by many: the gnudi—rare in the city—essentially pasta-less ravioli originating from Tuscany. The menu evolves with the team’s inspiration and seasonal ingredients.

The wine list, unsurprisingly Italian, offers a beautiful selection of bottles that pairs wonderfully with the food. The front of house is led by general manager Sabrine Laraqui. The team also welcomes groups, with a dedicated menu and the option to privatize the room for weddings and events.

The décor is undeniably the star of the show. From the furniture to the plates, everything has been carefully chosen to create an elegant, luxurious, and spacious setting. A chic, bright, and warm décor, dominated by a large glass roof and sheer curtains that diffuse the light. Wood and plants create an indoor garden vibe, while glass light fixtures add a golden touch. Colourful banquettes, marble, and cozier corners round out a space that’s both sophisticated and lively.

The clientele is varied, mixing young corporate professionals unwinding after work, groups of women enjoying a girls’ night out and dressing to the nines, as well as couples looking for a date night in a spot that’s both buzzy and polished. In a downtown that was searching for its next great Italian restaurant, Celeste seems to have found the answer. Buon appetito!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on April 16, 2026

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