Modavie is a timeless place that brings us back to our roots, where ladies & gents gather and eat in a lively atmosphere caused by great conversation, live music and the wooden scents of a vintage room. Born in 1997, it quickly became popular among locals & visitors, and is now considered a Montreal institution.
Treat yourself to refined French fare in an antique & dimmed corner locale spawning two floors. From the classic beef tartare, to tasty sweetbread, to the famous ratatouille, your cravings will be easily satiated.
Modavie comes across as a warm, lively French bistro in Old Montreal with inviting lighting, timeless charm and nightly live jazz. Reviewers consistently highlight friendly, attentive service and a welcoming staff that makes celebrations feel special. The menu features crowd pleasers like duck confit, rack of lamb and lamb chops, escargots, onion soup and mussels with fries, with many dishes praised for bold flavors and generous portions. The atmosphere blends old world charm with modern warmth, and the two level space with live music creates a vibrant yet conversation friendly setting. While busy nights can bring a bit of hustle and occasional slower pacing, the overall experience is described as memorable and well worth returning for.
One of my favourite restaurants in Montreal to go to with friends when we're in a mood to eat dinner on a Friday night with live music. This resto always offers great food & nice music.
The location was in the Old Town of Montreal which was amazing. The service was great our server was really kind. The food was delicious & lastly enjoyed the live music & overall vibe
We had a nice dinner at Modavie restaurant. The place has a great atmosphere & feels lively, especially with the live music playing during the evening.
We ordered salmon fillet with barley & a glass of wine. The food tasted fresh & was very tasty. The salmon was well prepared & the dish was nicely balanced.
The restaurant was quite busy, which shows it's a popular place. Because of the live music & the number of guests, it can also get a bit loud, but it adds to the energetic atmosphere.
Overall, it's a nice place with good food, live music, & a vibrant setting. 🎶🍷🐟
ambiance excellente lorsque le band live joue, par contre lorsque pas de musique live arrete l'ambiance est a mourir,
pour les repas malheureusement je n'ai pas aimé, tout était beaucoup teop salé
Service was friendly & ambiance was nice. Bread was fresh & butter was good. Jazz music was played live as we ate our tuna tartare, cod & rice with lobster bisque, steak & fries & crème brûlée 🍮 Street parking with meters.
We had a great day at Modavie. We had reservations at night but we were in the area in the afternoon so we stopped in. We had never been here before. We had a fabulous time listening to the live jazz music in the other room, enjoying some specialty drinks, & light food sitting at the bar. The manager (possibly the owner) who greeted us was ao nice!! He chatted with us in both languages & he was so charming & paid lots of attention to my Mom. We came back at night to a lovely table on the 2nd floor where we thoroughly enjoyed more live jazz music from a different trio. The manager/owner & the serving staff were once again amazing & the food was delicious. We are from Ottawa & my 80 year old mother hadn't been to Old Montreal in over 20 years & wanted to visit. Thanks to the manager, a very nice gentleman, its a great experience she will never forget. On the way out, the manager went out of his way during a busy time for him, to catch up to my Mom as she was about to step into the street, to say thank you. Its the little things that matter the most & we will never forget this restaurant & we highly recommend it after two visits in the same day. Thank you for the memorable day!!
Had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here! The atmosphere was warm & welcoming from the moment we walked in. Our server was attentive & knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations. The food was exceptional - fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned, & beautifully presented. Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor. The portions were generous & well worth the price. The restaurant was clean & well-maintained, & despite being busy, we didn't feel rushed. The dessert was the perfect ending to our meal. We'll definitely be returning soon & would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great meal & excellent service. Five stars!
Had a late lunch here last week. Food was excellent & the service impeccable.
Lorenzo the Maite d' is a real gentleman & made us feel very welcome
Will be back again (& again).
Thank you
Beautiful restaurant! It has a rly nice aesthetic. Service was great & so was the jazz. The food was pretty good, but could have used more seasoning. The portions were on the small side. For the price I think the food should've been 20% better. Overall I recommend:)
I've had my birthday dinner at Modavie & the whole dining experience was beyond exceptional! Food was amazing, we particularly enjoyed the foie gras toast & duck confit (even better than the ones we had in Paris!). Our server Mathias is super friendly & attentive, checking in from time to time if we enjoyed the meal, & even gave me a surprise with a dessert to celebrate my birthday. Absolutely will revisit again when travelling to Montreal - highly highly recommend!
Feb 28, 2026
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Excellente expérience. Ça faisait longtemps que je n'avais pas mangé un bon foie de veau & une purée au beurre. L'accueil du Maître d'hôtel (italien) nous mets tout de suite dans l'ambiance. Très bon service. Le seul hic, bouteille d'eau pétillante à 7,50$ chargée 2 fois. C'est de l'eau gazéifiée'maison' avec une bonbonne de gaz. Je ne me soucis jamais du prix quand c'est bon, mais je trouve cela intense. Mais j'y retourne car la cuisine est précise & net! & y a pas à dire, des classiques de la cuisine Française mais realisé avec de bons ingrédients & de l'amour c'est toujours excellent!
One of the greatest restaurants I have been to. My wife invited me there on my birthday & I loved it! There was even a live band playing Jazz that day 🤩
The food was great especially the appetizers & the desserts.
The waiter George was really friendly. We even became friends with him & he offered us a dessert on the house!
Would definitely go back there this summer. I recommend it to anyone visiting Montreal or spending an evening around the Old Port
My husband, 2 year old son, & I stopped in for a mid week lunch & we're very impressed. The service was wonderful, both William & Lorenzo took great care of us. They were both so kind & attentive, & treated my son as just as important as the rest of us at the table. The food was excellent! Stand outs were their soup of the day, which was a carrot & broccoli soup, their salmon tartare, & the rack of lamb. William was also helpful with wine pairings to go with our meals. We will definitely be back next to we visit Montreal.
