8 romantic restaurants in Montreal for the best date night
Montreal is the largest city in Canada's province of Quebec, and certain parts of the city are definitely conducive to a romantic date night. Old Montreal is a particular favorite here, with cobblestone streets, vibrant squares, and iconic attractions like the Notre-Dame Basilica. But the city isn't all about this one neighborhood. In truth, you will find romantic restaurants all over Montreal.
Montreal's setting is enough to put almost anyone in a romantic mood. Named after a mountain in the middle of the city, Mount Royal, Montreal has everything you need. Aside from Mount Royal Park, the city sits on an island in the Saint Lawrence River, so beautiful natural vistas abound.
When it comes to delicious food in Montreal, that won't be a problem either. The romantic restaurants in Montreal have most of the cuisine types you're looking for, like Italian, Québécois, and French. Due to the city's history as a colony of France up until 1763, it's not only the language that pays homage to the French. Many Montreal restaurants do too.
Whether you want a casual date night or a fancy and luxurious one, Montreal has you covered. And before you check out one of the most romantic restaurants in Montreal, make sure you're not burdened down with shopping bags or suitcases. A Bounce luggage storage in Montreal can hold your things securely while you focus on amazing food and your lovely date instead of your stuff.
Toqué
We start our list of the best romantic restaurants in Montreal with Toqué because they offer Québécois cuisine. Since you're in Montreal, it only makes sense to try something local. Québécois cuisine has a distinct French influence for obvious reasons, but it's not exactly French cuisine either. You'll just have to try it to form your own opinion. You can expect lots of fresh produce, excellent cuts of meat, and flavorful cheeses here. It should be noted that this is not a place to take a vegetarian or vegan as there are no meat-free main courses.
Toqué is located in the International District and offers a contemporary dining room full of jewel tones, the requisite white tablecloths, and warm lighting. The experience here is fine dining at its best, but the catch is that you should expect to pay a hefty fee for such opulence. This restaurant is ideal for a special occasion when you really want to impress someone.
Our recommendation
Everything on the menu here is absolutely worthy of an addition to your date night meal. Since you can't have every dish on the menu, your best option is the tasting menu. As far as tasting menus go, this one is absolutely stacked with tempting flavor combinations and innovative items. It's a seven-course meal, and you can choose it with or without the foie gras. Meats like veal, duck, and lamb feature heavily, as do things like Jerusalem artichokes, Savoy cabbage, and oyster mushrooms.
Location
900 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC
Price level
$$$$
Perles et Paddock
When trendy, colorful, and fun is the name of the game for your romantic evening in Montreal, head to Perles et Paddock. They offer weekend brunch, a bar menu, a fixed-price menu, and the regular a la carte dinner menu. The wine list is deep here with a focus on natural wine, but there are cocktails, too, if wine isn't your thing.
This is the best romantic restaurant in the city to bring a date that's vegetarian or vegan. Menu entries are clearly noted as such, as are the gluten-free options.
Our recommendation
The prix fixe menu is the star of the show here and gives you a taste of everything. Start with the vegan mushroom confit with celeriac and sourdough crouton. Then, go with the poached trout as your main. Save room for dessert and opt for the cocoa cake with white chocolate crumble.
Location
403 Rue des Seigneurs, Montréal, QC
Price level
$$$
Holder
Although your food won't technically be prepared by a Michelin-starred chef at Holder, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was. This restaurant is a Montreal institution offering French cuisine in a brasserie-type setting. It's a large hall with a prominent wood bar stacked with shelves of wine. The overall feeling is warm with banquette seats and soft lighting. The large windows let in a lot of natural light, and touches of greenery are dotted all around. The restaurant fits well in its surroundings of Old Montreal.
The menu at Holder is a la carte, offering you lots of choices among the French-inspired dishes. Making online reservations is recommended, and they even have a weekend brunch if you prefer an earlier date.
Our recommendation
There's so much to choose from on the menu, so a recommendation from your server is usually a good idea. Other than that, our favorites include the steak tartare, goat cheese with pesto, and the Holder bouillabaisse.
Location
407 McGill St, Montreal, Quebec
Price level
$$$
Restaurant Bonaparte
Another location in Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal), Bonaparte couldn't be closer to the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica. This spot tends to cater to the pre-theater crowd, but of course, you don't need to be seeing a show to eat here. You can't beat the atmosphere in the Napolean-themed inn, along with the many alcoves, gorgeous chandeliers, and stained glass artwork.
Bonaparte serves gourmet French cuisine available a la carte or as part of a tasting menu. The wine pairing will cost you an extra $58 but really adds something to the experience. There are three dining sections in the restaurant: the impéatrice decked out in red velvet, the central hall, which is more open, and the verriere, which is usually reserved for private gatherings of larger groups.
Our recommendation
Definitely opt for the tasting menu if you can swing it. Some of the choices you'll have include the duck foie gras crème brulée, filet mignon, and duck breast flavored with maple syrup and wild berries - a tribute to the restaurant's home country.
Location
447 Saint Francois Xavier St, Montreal, Quebec
Price level
$$$
Restaurant Graziella
Billed as a modern Italian kitchen, you can't have a list of the most romantic restaurants in Montreal without an Italian option. The space here has high ceilings, a comfortable yet small bar area, contemporary furniture, and an overall beautiful aesthetic.
Set in the Old Montreal Business District, the restaurant is run by Graziella Battista, hence the name. They also have an expert sommelier to guide you through their vast wine list, and the servers consistently provide excellent service.
Our recommendation
Make a reservation online before heading here to avoid disappointment. As for your meal, it would a shame not to sample at least one thing from every section of the menu. The perfect meal for us involves the mozzarella di bufala for antipasti and the stracchino-filled Cappelletti as the first course. Now, this alone will likely fill you up, so if you're going to attack all courses, this is best shared with your date. Add the crusted mackerel and the chef's selection of pastries for dessert, and you have an elaborate and delicious meal on your hands.
Location
116 McGill St, Montreal, Quebec
Price level
$$$
Le Millen
Located in the Ahuntsic borough of the city, Le Millen is a classic French restaurant with a twist toward modernity. It might be safer to say that the cuisine is French-inspired, but without drilling down, what we do know is that the food is excellent. The menu features items like goat cheese soufflé, crispy crab, and local lobster.
This is one of the few romantic restaurants in Montreal that will allow you to bring your own wine to dinner. If you've picked up something special in your travels around the city, this might be a great special occasion to use it.
The decor at Le Millen skews informal with black furnishings, an open kitchen, and not much more in the way of decoration other than a white neon sign. But that's fine because then you can make your date and the food the center of your attention.
Our recommendation
Your choice is either the seven or nine-course tasting menu, which makes the decision pretty easy. The nine-course option includes foie gras and an extra chocolate course. Evaluate your hunger level and your budget, and the answer should come to you easily. It's wise to make a reservation online ahead of time if you can, as this Montreal restaurant tends to fill up - especially on the weekend.
Location
1185 Rue Fleury E, Montreal, Quebec
Price level
$$$
L'Express
Since 1980, L'Express has been a Montreal institution offering anyone who graces its dining room a modern take on the classics of French bistro cuisine. This is one of the perfect romantic restaurants in Montreal for you if you really like wine but don't want to mortgage your house to pay the bill. That's not to say that the wine list doesn't have expensive wines on it - it does. The cellar at L'Express contains a whopping 11,000 bottles, and the servers are well-equipped to make recommendations for wine pairings based on your meal and budget.
You won't get elaborate tasting menus here. Instead, the a la carte menu has all your favorites done expertly and presented flawlessly. The attentive service and food quality are other reasons to make this your date night location. The atmosphere is welcoming and more down-to-earth than some of the other spots on our romantic restaurants in Montreal list. Black and white checkered floors, retro bar stools, a huge glass roof, and large trees complete the look here.
Our recommendation
You're going to have trouble deciding what to get here - that's a fact. We're here to help and recommend that you go with either a fresh fish selection like the poached or grilled salmon or the roasted quail with wild rice.
If you and your date are out exploring the city and don't get to dinner until late, this place is perfect. They are open every day except Sunday from 11 am to 2 am. So there's no need to rush.
Location
3927 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec
Price level
$$$
Damas
Since our list has been mostly full of classic romantic restaurant food types, we switch now to something different. Damas is a Syrian restaurant with distinctly Persian decor that's cozy and lavish without being stuffy. Think of rich colors, ornate lanterns hanging from the ceiling, brown leather chairs, and dark wood, and you'll start to get an idea of what it's like to dine here.
Damas is found in the central (and definitely high-end) borough of Outrement and has a lovely plant-covered patio that's ideal for date nights in warmer weather.
If you're unfamiliar with Syrian cuisine, we can help you out. Chefs create interesting and often spicy combinations using ingredients like vegetables, fruit, and edible flowers. Meat is less of a focus, but still present. Instead, the flavor comes from nuts, dairy, honey, and exotic grains. The best thing to do is try it on your next date night to know exactly what it's like.
Our recommendation
Aside from making a reservation for a table on the patio, opt for either the pescatarian tasting menu or the regular one. The meal will set you back $148 per person, and it's important to note that the entire table must get the same tasting menu. The food on the tasting menus changes occasionally, but you can expect tasty things like grilled octopus salad, halloumi, falafel, and rack of lamb with babaghanouj.
Location
1201 Ave Van Horne, Outremont, Quebec
Price level
$$$$
Conclusion
Wining and dining a date in Montreal is easy. With a general focus on French and French-inspired cuisine, the culinary experience in Montreal is special. You'll also find Québécois, Italian, Syrian, and other international foods available here, especially in the Montreal street food scene.
Once you've made the most of your romantic meal at one of these restaurants, consider making the evening even more memorable with a nightcap at one of the best rooftop bars in Montreal. You'll be glad you did because it's probable that neither of you will want your night to end.
