Montréal
Design Restaurant Experiences
Originally created for the
AIA COD Montréal Conference September 2002
Montréal is not only
known for it’s design, but also it’s culinary culture. Montréalers
eat in restaurants more often than any other Canadians. The following
list combines Montréal’s design sensibilities with l’eau à
la bouche dining opportunities. Many of these restaurants require
a reservation and are accordingly indicated with the symbol [R].
For variety, you may wish
to try the daily Table d’hôte which is the set menu usually starting
with soup or salad, an appetizer (l’entrée), the main dish (le plat
principal), and dessert with tea or coffee.
Bon appétit!
Dining in the City Centre
Although there are hundreds
of restaurants in the city centre, many of the dining hot-spots are along
boulevard Saint-Laurent just north of Sherbrooke; rue Saint-Denis between
Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal; rue Duluth between Saint-Laurent and Saint-Hubert;
and on the Plateau along Avenue Mont-Royal.
If you decide to remain downtown,
here are a few locations of note:
Bice – 1504, rue Sherbrooke
Ouest t.937.6009 [R]
- upscale cuisine
- located amid Sherbrooke
street’s many art galleries
Newtown – 1476 rue
Crescent t.284.6555 [R]
- it is race car driver,
Jacques Villeneuve's place
- Crescent street
is also popular for its nightlife
Le Café du nouveau
monde – 84, rue Ste-Catherine O.
t.866.8669
[R]
- located in Montréal’s
premier French language Theatre, le
Théâtre
du nouveau monde (TNM)
- The restaurant is
on the mezzanine and the café-bar is at
street level
AREA – 1429, rue Amherst
t.890.6691 [R]
- considered the best
dining in Montréal’s gay village
Vieux Montréal
Old Montréal offers
a complete diversity of dining experiences. Walk around, look at
the posted menus, and absorb the ambiance of the old city. Here are
a few suggestions to help you out.
Da Emma - 777, de
la Commune Ouest t.392.1568 [R]
- upscale Italian
cuisine
- located in the South-West
corner of the Multimedia city
Cube at Hôtel St-Paul
- 355, rue McGill t.876.CUBE [R]
- upscale cusine in
a Euro-styled boutique-hotel
- trendy oyster bar
upstairs
Bleu – 295, rue St-Paul
Est t.861.5337 [R]
- international cuisine
Toqué! – 900,
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle t.499.2084 [R]
- upscale North American
cuisine
- known to be one
of the best in the city
Pierre du Calvet –
405, rue Bonsecours t.282.1725 [R]
- upscale French cuisine
in an historic building dating back to
1725
boulevard Saint-Laurent
‘The Main’ is known as one
of Montréal’s trendiest places to dine. The list below covers
Saint-Laurent from Sherbooke to Prince Arthur. Aside from cafés
and resto-bars, here are a few of the design restaurants along Saint-Laurent.
Mezze's – 3449
St-Laurent t.281.0275 [R]
- Greek cuisine
Globe – 3455, boul.
St-Laurent t.284.3823 [R]
- upscale North American
cuisine
Primadonna – 3479,
boul. St-Laurent t.282.6644 [R]
- upscale cuisine
Buonanotte -
3518, boul. St-Laurent t.848.0644 [R]
- Italian cuisine
Café méliès
- 3536, boul. St-Laurent t.847.9218
- in the exCentris
multimedia building
rue Saint-Denis
Shopping, cafés,
bars, and some of Montréal’s exclusive dining pleasures are found
along bustling St-Denis between Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal.
l'Express – 3927,
rue St-Denis t.845.5333 [R]
- very French upscale
- every Montréaler
knows of l’Express
Laloux – 250,
Avenue des Pins Est t.281.0682 [R]
- upscale French cuisine
- Just a few blocks
west of St-Denis along Av. des Pins
Continental – 4169,
St-Denis t.845.8039 [R]
- French cuisine
- Casablanca style
rue Duluth
If you want to wander along
a street of restaurants with cuisine from around the world, then Duluth
between St-Laurent and St-Hubert is a calm semi-pedestrian street full
of casual dining experiences. Many of the restaurants do not require
reservations and a large number let you bring your own wine (Apportez votre
vin)! If you are looking for a liquor store (SAQ), there is one at
the corner of Duluth and St-Denis. Here are two restaurants of note.
La Prunelle – 327,
rue Duluth Est t.849.8403 [R]
- French cuisine
La Colombe – 554,
rue Duluth Est t.849.8844 [R]
- local cuisine fresh
from the market
Plateau Mont-Royal
Discover why so many Montréalers
want to live in this dynamic and diverse neighbourhood of 90 000+ people.
Here you will find casual design restaurants typical of the daily dining
experience. Looking North and South along the side streets leading
from Mont-Royal, you will see Montréal’s famous triplexes that are
synonymous with living on the Plateau and many of the city centre’s older
neighbourhoods.
Les Folies – 701,
Av Mont-Royal Est t.528.4343
- local design casual
- next to Métro
station Mont-Royal
m!isto – 929, Av Mont-Royal
Est t.526.5043 [R]
- local design pasta
Pizzédélic
– 1250, Av Mont-Royal Est t.522.2286
- local design pizza
Specchio – 1278, Av
Mont-Royal Est t.527.2487
- Italian cuisine
Café So – 1302,
Av Mont-Royal Est t.590.00SO
- local design casual
Le Pistou – 1453,
Av Mont-Royal Est t.528.7242 [R]
- local design casual
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