Montreal’s 12 Best Restaurants For Romance

As one of Montreal’s most exemplary fine dining destinations, Damas is renowned for its pitch-perfect Syrian dishes. Start with a cocktail that brings in classic Levantine touches such as rose water or pomegranate while diving into shareable mezzes, like perfectly smooth hummus or bright and tangy fattoush cut with crispy pita. The menu has an array of succulent grill dishes and soul-warming braised options; try some from both categories if you can. Otherwise, for a special occasion, you can’t go wrong with the tasting menu, allowing you to sample a little of everything.

La Chronique is arguably the pinnacle of Montreal’s extensive French dining scene, and among the best options in town altogether. Chef-owners Marc De Canck and Olivier de Montigny have typically avoided the media spotlight, focusing their attention on their craft. You and your companion can tuck into the degustation menu, which changes frequently but typically applies French techniques to fine seafood, meats, and produce from Quebec and Canada. A lengthy wine list prioritizes classic French options, with bottles for any palate and price point — just ask sommelier Jonathan Sitaras.

Toqué is considered a pioneer in Quebec’s fine dining scene, thanks to chef-owner Normand Laprise’s skills in shining a spotlight on the most perfect products that the province has to offer. Though it opened its doors in 1993, it’s still one of the most sensual dining experiences in Montreal: standards such as foie gras get the local treatment with redcurrant and sea buckthorn gels, and tender meats shine alongside mushrooms and root vegetables that showcase Quebec’s fields and forests. Do it right and get the seven-course tasting menu (with an optional, but extremely on-point wine pairing) — although a la carte ordering is possible.

In terms of both decor and food, Old Montreal staple Le Club Chasse et Pêche is like taking a trip to a classy cabin in the woods, without even leaving the city. Fittingly, the restaurant’s name, which translates to “the hunting and fishing club”, means diners can expect the freshest and finest products from Quebec’s forests, rivers, and seas. The dishes are refined and let a few key ingredients shine, be it whelks, scallops, Arctic char or duck. A bold wine list features funky natural wines, as well as full-bodied traditionals.

Montreal isn’t generally regarded as a stellar sushi city, but chef Antonio Park’s eponymous restaurant, a date night darling, is one big exception. Park (who was also the first Canadian chef to receive a license to import Kobe beef) uses supremely fresh, top-notch ingredients, such as bluefin and albacore tuna, to craft simple yet exquisite platters of maki, nigiri, and more. He also draws on his Korean and South American heritage to bring in a few twists, like the beef sushi, served with kimchi and chimichurri sauce.

Impress your date with fine British fare, such as a juicy beef Wellington and whiskey pudding, at restaurant Bar George, boutique hotel Le Mount Stephen’s in-house restaurant. There are also a few nods to this side of the pond, with some elegant seafood dishes like baked black cod. The restaurant is located in a heritage building that was formerly an exclusive social club, so there’s plenty of atmosphere. Brunch, lunch, and a particularly creative cocktail menu are also offered.

Whisk your date away on a tour of sub-Saharan Africa by way of Le Virunga’s transportive plates. The meats and seafood on executive chef Maria-José de Frias’s menu are sourced from some of Quebec’s finest producers and shine in dishes such as a goat stew with Nigerian-style yam fufu; there’s also Arctic char from Gaspésie with starchy cassava and a green curry jus — hearty dishes that pair well with Virunga’s entirely South African wine list. It’s all served up with impeccably warm service, led by Frias’s daughter, Zoya.

A little further afield in the West Island city of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Bistro Nolah is worth the 20 to 30 minute drive from Montreal proper. It’s one of the the only restaurants in the city to be fully committed to Cajun cuisine, making it a unique option for date night, boosted by the restaurant’s particularly attentive service. Louisiana classics including gumbo, jambalaya, fried oysters, and catfish fill out the menu. Don’t skip the cocktails: Nolah pays homage to New Orleans, a city that knows how to mix some serious drinks.

Elegant but unfussy, Chez Lévêque has dished up French brasserie fare to Montrealers for decades. The team has fine-tuned classics such as lobster bisque, terrines, tartares, moules-frites, sweetbreads and a classic steak; save room for a crème brûlée or crêpes suzette. There’s also a great option for couples on a budget: after 9pm every day (except during holiday peaks), Chez Lévêque has a $29 table d’hôte menu with choices between a few menu favorites.

Treat yourself to tapas and shellfish at this welcoming Spanish spot on Saint-Denis Street. As the name suggests, a few Galician specialties (particularly octopus) feature on the menu, but with options such as paella and gazpacho, it also draws inspiration from all over the Iberian Peninsula. A lengthy wine list shows off full-bodied Spanish and Portuguese options to go with it all. If you head there on a Friday or Saturday night, you can also treat your date to an in-house flamenco performance.

Since 1987, this grand old dame has served classic antipasti, pastas, and veal dishes in a historic Old Montreal building. Couples will be bowled over by nonna-inspired favorites such as meatballs, minestrone, carbonara, and seafood linguini. But save room for tender secondi like veal scallopini with a cream sauce. It’s a family-run affair, with warm hospitality to match.