French Restaurants in Montreal

In Montreal, much like everywhere else, French restaurants tend to fall into one of the three main categories: first, there are Escoffier-codified species of haute cuisine (which in its modern form is mostly referred to as cuisine classique or "Classic French"); then there are somewhat simpler places like bistros and brasseries serving cuisine bourgeoise; and finally, there are those belonging to the nouvelle cuisine category which allows for (and encourages) more liberal experimentation with ingredients and culinary accents.

French restaurants can be found all over the city.

Select French Restaurants

• Au Pied de Cochon
  536 rue Duluth Est (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 281-1114
  Chef-owner Martin Picard has basically built his restaurant around the concept of over-indulgence. Foie gras is all over the menu, not only in the section devoted to it.


• Bistro L'Entrepont
  4622 Hotel de Ville (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 845-1369
  Small restaurant serving delicious French bistro cuisine dishes.


• Bonaparte
  443 rue St-François-Xavier (Old Montreal), (514) 884-4368
  A romantic Classic French restaurant. Three meticulously appointed dining rooms. The service is good, although somewhat formal. Although many patrons are tourists (the restaurant is located downstairs from a small hotel), Le Bonaparte is definitely not a tourist trap - it is well-known and respected in the city.


• Café des Beaux Arts
  1380 rue Sherbrooke Ouest (Downtown Montreal), (514) 843-3233
  Café des Beaux Arts is not your typical museum restaurant - with a bona fide chef (Richard Bastien), quality food and attractive decor it qualifies as a dining destination onto its own. 70 seats in the main room and a 55-seat private dining room.


• Café du nouveau monde
  84 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest (Quartier des Spectacles), (514) 866-8669
  Located inside the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, this restaurant/café (easily identifiable from the street thanks to its glass walls) is open to everybody, whether or not they've come to see a play at the theater. That said, the best hours to dine are actually when there's something on stage (that is to say between 8pm and 10:30pm) because the café is not that busy. The menu consists mainly of French bistro dishes.


• Chez Queux
  158 rue St-Paul Est (Old Montreal)
  Traditional French cuisine.


• Holt Renfrew Café
  1300 rue Sherbrooke Ouest (Downtown Montreal), (514) 282-3749
  Hungry shoppers enjoying the famous sandwiches in a minimalist décor.


• La Gargote
  351 Place d'Youville (Old Montreal), (514) 844-1428
  Although the word “Gargote” means “cheap restaurant” or “diner” in French slang, this bistro actually offers fairly upscale versions of classic French dishes (with some North African influences).


• Laloux
  250, avenue des Pins Est (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 287-9127
  Nouvelle Cuisine "with a twist". Romantic atmosphere, despite somewhat barren location.


• L'Entrecôte St-Jean
  2022 rue Peel (Downtown Montreal), (514) 281-6492
  L'Entrecôte St-Jean's menu may be short (essentially containing just one main dish - its signature steak) but the execution is flawless and the restaurant's success is a proof that the strategy worked. "Aucune surprise" indeed.


• L'Express
  3927 rue St-Denis (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 845-5333
  L'Express is simultaneously the coolest bistro in Montreal and its relatively well-kept secret. There is no sign on the door and they don't need one - everybody who is anybody in Montreal knows exactly where it is. Reservations are recommended (especially during the "regular" dinner hours), but the wait is probably going to be acceptable if you come come after 10:30 pm. The restaurant is open late (until 2 am).


• Narcisse
  95 rue de la Commune Est (Old Montreal), (514) 392-1649
  The wine bar boasts more than 40 wines by the glass.


• Toqué!
  900 place Jean-Paul Riopelle (Quartier International), (514) 499-2084
  One of the quintessential Montreal restaurants, popular with moneyed out-of-town foodies eager to get a taste of Québec cooking. Not everyone was happy when the restaurant moved to its current location, but apparently the move didn't diminish the restaurant's qualities - Toqué! is still considered one of the best restaurants in Montreal.


• Verses
  100 rue St-Paul (Old Montreal), (514) 788-4000
  A contemporary French-Quebecois cuisine restaurant located at Hotel Nelligan.

Please keep in mind that our site does not attempt to provide comprehensive restaurant listings. These are simply the restaurants picked by our editors and contributors - subject to all the subjectivity such a method implies.