Montréal, Québec Hotels and City Guide

Montréal - Restaurants

The food. This is why we travel! To experience the delicious tastes of different cultures and cuisines, to smell the aroma of exotic new dishes, and to experience something we may never have before. Montréal was recently named as the second best city for dining in all of North America, after only San Francisco, California. This is quite objective though: many Montréalers would argue vehemently that their cuisine is far superior. It is a tasty debate.

When in Montréal, you must try poutine at least once. A plate full of French fries swims in rich, thick gravy. Topping the whole “mess” (as the word “poutine” derives from) is curds of white cheddar cheese. Sounds far from haute cuisine, no? But it is delicious and a favorite among Montréalers. You will see it in fast food restaurants, though to experience the best, try La Banquise in the Plateau district.

The local favorite, poutine, is just part of the immense offerings you will find, and it demonstrates the variety and ethnic contributions to cuisine that you can find within the city. This distinctly Canadian dish stands beside the incredible beef brisket sandwiches and deliciously crusty bagels, which are contributions of the large Jewish community. Sample the traditional French cuisine at Les Halles and L’Express in the Plateau district. Try le P'tit Plateau , Bistro l'Entrepont, and Au Petit Resto, French bistros where you can soak up Montréal’s distinct atmosphere while enjoying a taste of the old country.

Try Chinese, Italian, Moroccan, Ethiopian, Caribbean, Mexican, Japanese, Indian, Greek, Vietnamese, and fusion cuisine. If you have a refined palette or are a culinary newcomer, you will find dish after dish that will please and excite your taste buds.

Something that sets Montréal apart from many other cities around the world is the affordability of its fare. Many restaurants, even those serving more sophisticated cuisine, are apportez votre vin – or bring your own wine. You may bring your own bottle of wine purchased inexpensively at a liquor store, to enjoy with dinner. This cuts the costs tremendously. And don’t worry. It is not considered gauche or tacky. It is also a great way to ensure that you will have the wine you love with your meal.

Montréal is full of bistros, cafes, and bakeries that offer great food and lower prices. You can easily find wonderful ethnic restaurants in the Plateau that allow you to indulge your appetite without breaking your budget. Many eateries offer a two to four course meal package deal for even more wallet-friendly dining. Another option is to purchase your food at one of the incredible markets. The Jean-Talon Market, on 7075 Avenue Casgrain, offers an amazing selection of fresh produce. Stores lining the area provide cheeses, meats, baked goods, and much more. You can easily assemble a delectable picnic. World class dining doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive.

But it can be. If you have room in your budget to treat yourself, try a menu dégustation. This is luxurious dining at its best: you will get a five to seven course menu of treats created by the chef. Soup, salad, fish, sherbet, a meat dish, dessert, and coffee. These unbelievable meals showcase the talent of the top chefs and encourage you to spend hours eating, conversing, and enjoying yourself. Two of these wonderful meals and a bottle of wine cost about $200. If you can, indulge at La Loie, Anise, L’Atelier, or another of Montréal’s finest restaurants.

Montréal Restaurants

Les Continents
Hotel Inter-Continental Montréal, 360 Rue St-Antoine Ouest, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 3X4
Tel: +1 514 987 9900

Toqué
3842 Rue St-Denis, Montréal, Quebec H2W 2M2
Tel: +1 514 499 2084

Les Remparts
93 Rue de la Commune Est, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 1J1
Tel: +1 514 392 1649

Milo's
5357 Avenue du Parc, 100 St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Quebec H2V 4G9
Tel: +1 514 272 3522

Le Muscadin
639 Notre Dame West, Montreal, Qubec H3C 1H8
Tel: +1 514 842 0588

The Beaver Club
La Reine Elizabeth Hotel, 900 René-Lévesque Boulevard Ouest, Montréal, Quebec H3B 4A5
Tel: +1 514 861 3511

La Marée
404 Place Jacques Cartier, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 3B2
Tel: +1 514 861 8126

Mediterraneo
3500 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montréal
Tel: +1 514 844 0027

Nuances
1 Avenue de Casino, Montréal, Quebec H3C 4W7
Tel: +1 514 392 2708

Bonaparte
443 Rue St-François-Xavier, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 2T1
Tel: +1 514 844 7368

Gibby's
298 Place d'Youville, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 2B6
Tel: +1 514 282 1837

Le Passe-Partout
3857 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, Quebec H4A 3J6
Tel: +1 514 487 7750

Les Trois Tilleuls
290 Rue Richelieu, St-Marc sur Richelieu, Montréal
Tel: +1 450 584 2231

L' Express
3927 Rue St-Denis, Montréal, Quebec H2W 2M4
Tel: +1 514 845 5333

Piment Rouge
Le Windsor, 1170 Rue Peel, Montréal, Quebec H3B 4P2
Tel: +1 514 866 7816

L' Air Du Temps
191 Rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 1Z5
Tel: +1 514 842 2003

Bazou
1271 Rue Amherst, Montréal, Quebec
Tel: +1 514 526 4940

Le Caveau
2063 Avenue Victoria, Montréal, Quebec
Tel: +1 514 844 1624

Tipping

Like many areas of the world, tipping is customary, though not strictly mandatory in most cases. For instance, wait staff usually receive a tip of 15 percent, or 20 if service was particularly good. If you are dining with a large party, a gratuity may be added automatically to your bill. In this case, you are certainly not obligated to leave more, but may if the service was extraordinary. Bartenders receive a tip of $1 to $2 per drink as you pay for your round, and taxi drivers receive 10 to 15 percent of the fare.
Other tips include:

Hair stylists: 10 to 15 percent
Baggage handlers: $1 to $2 per bag
Valets: $1 to $2
Housekeepers and hotel maids: $1 to $3 per day of your stay (unless there is a service fee on your bill. In that case, tipping is extra and only done if service is extraordinary)

Hotels in Montréal, Québec