Restaurant Île de France on the 9th Floor of the Eaton Centre

The long-awaited Île de France restaurant on the 9th floor of the Eaton Centre has finally opened its doors! After nearly 30 years of anticipation, the restaurant is located alongside the famous and beautiful large hall on the 9th floor. The establishment offers French and Quebec classics executed with impeccable techniques and updated to modern tastes. The restaurant successfully fulfills its promise to bring everyday elegance to Montreal.

“Flora Eaton used the ship Île de France during her transatlantic crossings in the 1920s, hence the name. The ship sailed for the very popular French Line.” Madame Eaton was inspired by the magnificent restaurants and lounges on these ships and commissioned architect Jacques Carlu to recreate something similar at Île de France, within her husband’s department store. The restaurant officially opened in 1931 and quickly became one of the city’s most sought-after spots.

Île de France is run by an amazing team, including Jeff Baikowitz—businessman and philanthropist, also an investor in Joe Beef, Liverpool House, Vin Papillon, McKiernan, Bistro Franquette, and Park—Marco Gucciardi in service—an exceptional Maître D known for Burgundy Lion, Milos, the opening of Bar George, and several restaurants in the Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality group—Andrew Whibley at the bar—formerly of Cloakroom and Bar Dominion—and the very talented chefs Derek Dammann—formerly of Mckiernan and Maison Publique—and Liam Hopkins—formerly of Hopkins, McKiernan, and Park.

So, what does this famous restaurant offer you? A simple yet well-crafted menu, inspired by the original menus of the ships and Eaton’s classic offerings. You’ll find plenty of French inspiration with a Montreal twist: from soups and appetizers to main courses and desserts. Among the favorites, we recommend the tartare, breaded cod, and the flank steak, which has received unanimous praise. The pasta is also quite decadent—it’s made by Kiera German from the now-closed Paradisio Pasta. The menu will change seasonally, but some beloved classics will remain.

The establishment features a short classic wine list focused on minimal intervention, with a significant portion dedicated to natural wine lovers, as well as excellent cocktails available at the cocktail bar, Le French Line.

As for the decor, Île de France is a true piece of history coming back to life. The space is protected by heritage laws and has been perfectly recreated to reflect the design envisioned by Jacques Carlu in 1931. The simple and elegant decor is now part of the most beautiful restaurants in Montreal, as it is an architectural gem. It is a chic, iconic space full of nostalgia, and the view is absolutely spectacular! The restaurant offers around 100 seats, about 30 at the bar, and two private rooms accommodating 20 people each.

The service on this grand ship is still being refined, but the team is enthusiastic and very friendly. It’s worth noting that since the restaurant has just opened, the atmosphere is quite calm for now.

“We are very excited to be part of such a special project! A project like this is unique and very rare. It’s an honor to be part of such a large-scale endeavor. I believe in downtown; there was a time when everyone went downtown for a good meal. At one point, that changed. This project has the potential to bring about positive change in the downtown area,” says Marco.

This is definitely a place to try to (re)discover a historic venue and savor some excellent dishes!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: October 11, 2024

Make a suggestion