Central Montreal is packed with great dining options, but when it comes time to talk business in an environment that impresses, you need to consider another bunch of criteria. Whether they're striking visually, gastronomically or in terms of atmosphere, these are some of our very fave spots to get down to business within an easy cab ride from downtown Montreal.
1 Place Ville-Marie, Montreal, H3B 4E8
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With a bird's eye view of the whole city below you, there are very few deals you'll feel like you couldn't make. Hiatus, at the top of Place Ville-Marie, offers a tiny menu, but sometimes that's what you want: just a handful of choices of choice quality. Gather as a group for a strategic meeting over shared plates like a killer crudo and melt-in-your-mouth miso leeks, or invite one business partner and lock into a deep, focused discussion over the tasting menu. If the deal goes your way, celebrate with a bottle from their wine list.
Le 9e - Restaurant Île de France
1500 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montreal, H3A 3S8
Let 9e comes with a fantastic backstory as an icebreaker before any meeting. The stunning decor, modelled after the glamorous dining room of a 20th century ocean liner, will impress your guests for sure, displaying some of Montreal's historic grandeur right in the heart of downtown. The menu shines with lunchtime favourites like a lovely hanger steak and Niçoise salad, and since you can reserve you won't have to wait for a table.
Henri Brasserie Française + Lounge
1240 Square Phillips, Montreal, H3B 3H4
It's a stunning setting for a French meal, in an environment that could not be more literally glittering. This house of historic jewellery company Birks drips with tasteful luxury in a calming setting complete with original marble columns and carved ceiling. The seafood and French bistro classics are top-notch (like the salmon rillettes and the braised beef cheek), as are the cocktails (try the French martini, made with pineapple juice).
406 Rue Saint-Jacques, Montreal, H2Y 1S1
This is where you reserve for a classy get-together, maybe to hash out the last details of a contract or to congratulate someone to whom you're giving a promotion. Choose Monarque's brasserie side for a more caj atmosphere and lunch choices like bouillabaisse or pork shop with twice-baked potato, or its dining room side for a more refined table d'hôte menu. Pair a choice glass with dishes like smoked char followed by sage-butter rotolo.
93 Avenue du Mont-Royal O, Montreal, H2T 2S5
Just up the hill from downtown Montreal, this storied diner on the Plateau adds a whole lot of charm to a casual business lunch for two. It's where you take a colleague if you want a casual and lively conversation (maybe a gossip fest about that new guy in accounting?), occasionally interrupted by great efficient service and a family atmosphere. Their salads are outstanding, huge and satisfyingly full of protein, and they all come with a buttered bagel on the side. Also try the mac'n'cheese.
Photo: @alliegold
1440 Rue Drummond, Montreal, H3G 1V9
Luxury lives here, from the intricate original wood panelling through to the many wall tapestries. This ex-men's club still drips with the success of past deals, only now it's open to all and offers indulgence without snobbery. Make a reservation for your big meeting, so you don't have to wait before tucking into the lunch table d'hôte, which starts things off with a beautiful green salad with an addictively snappy vinaigrette, and follows up with dish choices like duck breast over a citrusy couscous studded with cranberries. Don't skip the chocolate tart.
1446 Rue Peel, Montreal, H3A 1S8
A go-to spot for the downtown set, this Portuguese restaurant serves up a plateful of sunshine every time, which is just perfect for a positive problem-solving session with a colleague over a sneaky lunchtime bottle of red. Make a reservation and choose from a generous menu of sophisticated dishes like porcini crusted roasted black cod or the seafood rice casserole, packed with scallops, shrimp, calamari, mussels and clams.
1440 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, H3G 1Z5
Say "Marcus" and your guest will expect fanciness, but at lunch it's much more accessible than in the evening. Get bang for your buck with a lunchtime table d'hôte starting at $55 for dishes like toothsome grilled octopus and filet mignon with fries, while sitting in a glorious space, dressed to impress in black and white tiles, Carrara marble and brass details, plus a nice view of the Leonard Cohen mural.
433 Rue Mayor, Montreal, H3A 1N9
On the casual side of things, this restaurant tucked away behind St. James United Church makes stellar sandwiches, fun pizzas and wonderful salads. It's walkable from the business district and has a great terrasse in the summer, plus an interior that feels happy and lively and will infuse your biz lunch with positive energy. Don't sleep on the desserts, they taste as homemade as if your grandma were in the kitchen.
360 Rue St-Jacques O., Montreal, H2Y 2N1
Talk about wow factor: this ex-HQ of the Royal Bank of Canada will literally make first-time visitors gasp with its glory. Its triple-high ceilings are carved to the gods, its huge windows let in just enough light to glint off all the shiny surfaces, and the menu serves up yummy lunch options at a reasonable price point. If you have serious business to discuss, book one of the small meeting rooms and brainstorm the hours away in full privacy.
