Auberge Saint-Gabriel, North America's first inn and the country's first legal drinking establishment, was once home to the print shop that published the newspaper Le Patriote, and was even a fur-trading post before it became a highlight of Quebec's fine dining scene and a one of Montréal's hottest night spots. For 300 years, the Auberge has been a maker of memorable evenings, from cocktails on the patio and drinks at its intimate bars to meals in the opulent dining room and private events in its stunning halls.
Acquired in 1987 by the Bolay family, Auberge Saint-Gabriel has earned a sterling reputation. Its new owners, Marc Bolay, Garou and Guy Laliberté, turned it into a masterpiece, transforming this reminder of the past into a decidedly modern venue with playful nods to history. The Auberge was redesigned by Bruno Braën (Rufus Rockhead, Club Chasse et Pêche, Big in Japan), who had fun with the iconography associated with Quebec's history, honouring its heritage while remaining lighthearted. Brilliant!
Born in Sweden, Ola Claesson starts his culinary career at a very young age. Born into a family of chef, his first love is cuisine, which he discovers through the exploration of flavors and rich traditions.
Ola leaves Sweden in 2005. After traveling the world to discover new flavors, he settles in Paris and works at world-renowned, Michelin-starred restaurants like Meurice and Le Pré Catelan. It is only during his time working at Spring Paris that he discovers his true passion for market cuisine and local products – a culinary philosophy that would stay with him forever and inspires him to this day.
Chef Claesson, after a few years in London, at the head of a private gastronomic restaurant, leaves Europe for the beautiful city of Montreal.
Not ready to go home just yet? Head down to Velvet, a parallel universe in Auberge Saint-Gabriel's basement. Talk a walk down the long, candlelit stone hallway and step into the thick smoke surrounding the dance floor of Montréal's sultriest night club. Explore the wild cocktail list and discover top-notch DJs. At Velvet, there are no rules—it comes as a shock when it's time to leave at 3am.
L'Auberge Saint-Gabriel is described as a beautiful historic setting in Old Montreal with candlelit stone walls and crackling fires that create a warm, intimate atmosphere. Reviews consistently highlight exceptional service and attentive staff, paired with a menu of delicious, shareable dishes like cheese fondue with breads and vegetables, charcuterie, and standout mains, along with refined cocktails and thoughtful wine recommendations. The ambiance is perfect for romantic evenings or celebrations such as weddings, combining old world charm with modern touches to create a memorable dining experience. While some mention the price and occasional noise, the overall impression is one of high quality, care, and a magical visit that makes guests eager to return.
Title: Overpriced, Extremely Salty, & Too Loud for Dinner
?I visited this restaurant hoping for a quality dining experience but was very disappointed. The service was adequate, but the overall experience was poor.
?Atmosphere & Timing: We went to eat at 9 p.m., & the venue felt completely unsuitable for dining. The music was excessively loud, making conversation impossible. This is clearly a spot best suited for drinks & a party crowd looking for'action,' not for enjoying a serious meal.
?Food Quality & Value: The food is generally overpriced for the quality provided. The advertised large signature steak looked noticeably smaller when served & was pre-cut on the plate, which felt deceptive. The cheese fondue was also difficult to enjoy; the portion was heavy & far too large, yet the accompanying vegetables were shockingly insufficient-barely enough for one person. To attempt to compensate for our dissatisfaction, we were offered a small amount of extra steak as well as desserts to share. Despite this, the primary dishes were extremely salty. The excess sodium made it unpleasant to eat & kept me up all night needing water.
?If you are looking for action & a party, this spot is probably fine for a drink, but I cannot recommend it for a quality meal.
Ottimo cibo
Fresco e di grande qualità.
Assolutamente da assaggiare il vino da dessert IceWine del quebec. Buono e particolare.
Grazie ai ragazzi del servizio.
Aug 14, 2025
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Un mot à dire ; PARFAIT!!
Moi & mon conjoint avons fêtés nos 1 ans ensemble & avons été reçu comme des rois service 5* ils nous ont faire découvrir de nouvelles saveurs, les repas était exceptionnel. Notre serveur mehdi a su comment nous donner les meilleurs conseils niveau repas & accompagnement de vin !
L'ambiance était chaleureuse & bien décorer. Perso, je suis pas une grande mangeuse de dessert mais il nous ont fait goûtés au fondant au chocolat & le dessert à la rhubarbe wooooow j'ai adorée (lui a la rhubarbe 20/10 !! Je recommande le restaurant 100% merci encore pour cette belle soirée ♥?
De la bonne cuisine , un service de qualité, il faut compter quand même plus de 120 dollars pour repas complet (entrée, plat , dessert) & un minimum de boisson
J'avais commandé un gâteau d'anniversaire pour mon ami lors de la réservation, qu'ils ont oublié. Ils ont ensuite remplacé le gâteau par un autre dessert plus cher sur la carte qu'ils ont voulu me charger. La nourriture & le service ne valent pas le prix demandé.
Beautiful restaurant, greeeeat food. I had beef Tatare, Polenta & lamb & a dessert to die for. All 10/10. The waiter wasn't the nicest & made uncomfortable jokes more than once, other than that it was a great evening.
Went there for a company holiday dinner. Service was great, staff was very friendly, the decor is inviting & comfortable. That was very good.
Then dinner started...
vinegrette on the salad was oily with barely any vinegar, bland.
Main course was described as a nice 7 hour slow braised beef with pasta. Turned out it was basically a bite or two of bland braised beef on top of pasta. Again... bland & a bit tasteless.
Sorbet was a white peach sorbet, with a splash of sweet liquor that tasted like perfume.
Dessert was a fresh apple clafouti with a sweet salty caramel sauce.
I wouldn't go back & certainly hope my boss will chose another place next year. Promising menu description turned out to be pretentious, cheap & tasteless.
Dec 5, 2013
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Bon, mais trop cher..pour ce qu'ils ya dans les assiettes. En entre le fois gras en torchon aucun gout..si non pour le plat principal & le dessert tout était délicieux. .j'ai trouvé la facture un peu trop salé. 160.00 par personne 1 entrée par personne,1 plat par personne , 1 dessert a 2 partager. .2 coupes de vin par personne. .si non le service l accueil est irréprochable. .& l'ambiance superbe. .
J'étais déjà venue pour un évènement privé d'une agence de pub, c'était vraiment le fun. Le traiteur, la musique, le lieu.
Mais pour manger au restaurant ce fût autre chose.
Mon entreprise m'a offert le forfait découverte (159$). J'étais très impatiente d'y aller, on m'en avait beaucoup parlé.
Tout d'abord le vin servi était bouchonné (ça peut arriver n'importe où) mais la serveuse n'a rien remarqué... (quand on voit le prix des bouteilles, on se dit qu'il faudrait que les serveurs aient un minimum de connaissances). Son responsable est venu nous voir au bout de 10 mn pour s'excuser (ce qui est normal), elle a fait une erreur certes mais nous avons senti son responsable très en colère contre elle, ce qui n'est pas agréable vis à vis des clients.
Puis la nourriture, & bien rien d'extraordinaire, les assaisonnements étaient convenus. Je n'ai même pas fini mon dessert (tarte tatin), & c'est assez rare pour le souligner. Par contre rien à dire sur la viande, elle était excellente & tendre à souhait, mais sans accompagnements qui tiennent la route, le plat n'avait pas de prestance.
C'est très rare que je laisse un avis négatif, mais je ne m'attendais tellement pas à ça. Je vais une fois par semaine au restaurant, autant dans des restaurants chics & gastronomiques que dans des petits restos de quartier. Mais là j'ai trouvé l'ambiance très m'as-tu vu, qui se veut chic mais ne l'ai pas, trop branché?. Je dirai c'est tendance, voilà tout.
Je m'attendais à un service plus attentif, une musique moins "spice girls".
Si l'on m'invite encore je veux bien y refaire un test mais je doute fort de changer d'idée.
Allez faire un tour pour vous donner une idée, le lieu est vraiment sympa mais le prix ne vaut pas ce qu'il y a dans l'assiette, ça c'est certain.