French$$$old-montrealMon-Fri 11:30-24:00; Sat-Sun 17:00-24:00
Monarque is a polished French brasserie in Old Montreal, pairing an all-day raw bar and steak frites downstairs with a more ambitious dining room above.
Order: Oysters and steak frites in the brasserie, then the raw bar.
Tip: The brasserie takes walk-ins at lunch; book ahead for the quieter upstairs dining room.
JapaneseChef Antonio Park$$$$westmountTue-Sat 11:30-14:30, 17:30-22:00
Park is chef Antonio Park's Japanese omakase restaurant in Westmount, Montreal, where sustainable sushi meets subtle Korean and Argentine touches.
Order: The omakase counter, or the signature sushi and sashimi platters.
Tip: Sit at the counter for the omakase; the dining room is fine, but the sushi bar is where the real show happens.
French$$$outremontMon 18:00-22:00; Tue-Fri 11:45-15:00, 18:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 18:00-22:00
La Chronique is a long-running fine-dining room on Laurier Ouest in Montreal, plating precise French-market cuisine and pouring a serious wine list.
Order: The market tasting menu with a wine pairing.
Tip: It is small and old-school; dress up a little and let the sommelier lead the pairings.
ContemporaryChef Danny Smiles$$$plateauMon-Sat 17:00-22:30
Le Violon is chef Danny Smiles's contemporary restaurant on the Plateau in Montreal, named to North America's 50 Best in 2026 for its generous cooking.
Order: The chef's menu; the pastas and shared plates are the strength.
Tip: Book two weeks out for weekends; the room is warm and loud in the best way.
ContemporaryChef Massimo Piedimonte$$$$plateauTue-Sat 18:00-22:00
Cabaret l'Enfer is Massimo Piedimonte's tasting-menu restaurant on Saint-Denis in Montreal, a moody, music-driven room serving a deeply personal menu.
Order: The single tasting menu with the paired drinks.
Tip: It is one seating and one menu; arrive on time and let the soundtrack and kitchen set the pace.
Mexican$$$outremontWed-Sat 18:00-23:00
Alma is an upscale Mexican restaurant on Avenue Lajoie in Outremont, Montreal, turning house masa, seafood and mezcal into a refined tasting menu.
Order: The tasting menu built around fresh masa and Mexican seafood.
Tip: Take the mezcal and agave pairing; the bar program is as considered as the kitchen.