Advertiser disclosure
Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorial or review that may be published on it. For complete and up-to-date information about any product featured, please visit their website. We maintain business relationships with certain partners mentioned in our communication tools. While we may receive compensation if you sign up for a product or service through our affiliate links, our reviews and content are based on an objective assessment. Value estimates are established by Milesopedia and are not provided, endorsed, or verified by the issuing financial institutions. †*Terms and conditions apply.
Since the arrival of the prestigious Michelin Guide in Quebec in 2025, Montreal has more than ever cemented its status as a leading culinary destination. With its Michelin-starred restaurants, lively terraces, and specialty cafés, the city offers a highly diverse dining scene for summer 2026.
The Milesopedia team shares its favourite spots, carefully selected for their quality. At most of these locations, you can use your American Express cards to earn more points on your dining experiences.
Discover our suggestions to fully enjoy the summer season, whether for a refined dinner, a 5 à 7 on a patio, or a well-deserved coffee break.
Milesopedia received a media invitation for some of these establishments. However, the list below reflects only our own opinions and preferences based on our firsthand experiences.
Funding your next trip through dining out? It’s possible. With the right credit card, your restaurant outings will help you quickly earn points that can then be used to pay for your next trips.
Our card of choice is the American Express Cobalt® Card, as it allows you to earn 5 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants. And why this one rather than other high-multiplier cards? Membership Rewards points are flexible points that can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel programs, such as Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy.
By intelligently using these points, it is, for example, possible to obtain a value of 2 cents per point with Aeroplan. In other words, this is equivalent to a 10% return on every dollar spent at a restaurant!
Here are other credit cards that offer 5x points on restaurant spending:
The American Express Platinum Card® is valued for its many premium travel benefits, but also for its famous $200 annual dining credit. This is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself and visit some of Montreal‘s most renowned restaurants.
Located on the 9th floor of the Humaniti Hotel Montreal, Autograph Collection, this patio offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu with a wide variety of signature cocktails and mocktails. The summer program promises: Margarita Mondays with a live DJ, Alizé-style Tea Time, and themed evenings every week; a winning recipe to celebrate summer.
Since the opening of the HONEYROSE Hotel, Montreal, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, the Muze Lounge & Terrasse offers an interesting option downtown. With its retractable roof, the patio welcomes guests rain or shine and is spacious enough for groups. It’s the ideal spot for a post-work 5 à 7, tested and approved by the Milesopedia team.
The patio at the Marriott Chateau Champlain offers a breathtaking view of downtown Montreal. Be there from Wednesday to Sunday to enjoy live DJs.
Bonus: you’ll earn 5x points by paying the bill with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card.
Tip: If you are staying at one of these Marriott Bonvoy hotels, be sure to charge your patio expenses to your room. This way, you will earn points as a Marriott Bonvoy member, in addition to the 5 points per dollar if you pay for your hotel expenses with one of the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
With its prime location offering an exceptional panoramic view of the Old Port of Montreal, Terrasse sur l’Auberge offers a menu that celebrates summer with a focus on freshness. My recommendation: tuna tartare as a starter, and shrimp roll as a main course.
These patios are also worth a visit:
In case of rain, we recommend two gourmet food halls that honor Montreal: the Time Out Market and Le Central. Both located downtown, they offer a selection that will satisfy all tastes and cravings, featuring cuisine from some of the city’s most renowned restaurants.
Located on Rue de la Commune, Gaspar’s new breakfast menu is the best way to start a summer day in the Old Port. I particularly recommend the salmon gravlax eggs Benedict, as well as the mango chutney pancakes – a true delight!
This relaxed little cafe serves as the perfect spot for an equally relaxed brunch. It’s hard to go wrong, as everything on the small menu is excellent. However, I have a soft spot for the Halloumi toast and the classic pancakes. Be warned: a victim of its popularity, September Surf Cafe is always crowded on weekends, but with a little patience, you’ll still be served quickly.
Also try in the same neighborhood: Barley’s and Sunny’s Dinette
A true favorite, Damas offers Middle Eastern cuisine to share for both large and small occasions. Attention American Express Platinum Card® holders: use your annual dining credit at Damas and thank me later.
The Milesopedia team had the pleasure of sharing a holiday meal there. Our verdict: the Thai cuisine at this restaurant, featured in the Michelin Guide Quebec and also eligible for the American Express Platinum Card® annual credit, did not disappoint!
This small restaurant in Little Italy will offer you a grand culinary experience. Named the best restaurant in the country by “Canada’s 100 Best,” you will probably need a reservation to taste the delights of the fresh and local cuisine of this small natural wine bar that has managed to distinguish itself from the largest restaurants nationwide. I had the pleasure of testing it before its nomination, and my expectations were surpassed.
Toqué! and Jérôme Ferrer – Europea are renowned institutions that offer highly gastronomic experiences. Jérôme Ferrer – Europea is one of three Michelin-starred Montreal restaurants, tested and approved by Aline and myself.
For a more casual Bring Your Own Wine option, our graphic designer Evelyne recommends Les Canailles and its seasonal menu. Finally, wine lovers absolutely must try Annette Bar à Vin.
Located in the heart of Old Montreal, BEVO has just released its new menu for summer 2025. My colleague and I had the chance to test it, and we particularly recommend the burrata and truffle pizza, accompanied by a Bellini spritz or an organic white wine.
Elena stands out among the many excellent restaurants on Notre-Dame Street in Saint-Henri. Whether as a couple or in a group, I highly recommend sharing dishes, as everything is absolutely delicious.
Other must-try Italian restaurants in Montreal: Mano Cornuto, Nora Gray, and BarBara.
My colleague Aline frequently travels to Japan, and her expertise is not limited to points and rewards; she also knows how to find the best Japanese restaurants in Montreal.
For the best sushi:
And the best of Japanese cuisine in general:
Unique and authentic recipes, a wide variety of vegan options, and local ingredients: it’s not just ice cream, Icono Glace is a destination in itself to end summer evenings beautifully. For a lighter option, I highly recommend the Kombucha float.
In addition to creating the perfect neighborhood ambiance, this tiny cafe serves excellent floats in the summer: cold brew, matcha, and many other delicious flavors. Located right across from Laurier metro station, it’s a mandatory stop on the way to an afternoon at Parc Laurier.
Other options:
Montreal no longer needs to prove its reputation with its independent cafes, which are far more numerous than those of large chains.
A Mile-End institution since 1970, renowned for the excellence of its Italian coffee and cannolis, Café Olimpico now also has locations downtown and in Old Montreal.
What was once a bank has been voted Montreal’s most beautiful cafe by Tastet. Crew Collective is also an inspiring co-working space, with architecture that will make you feel like you’re in a movie scene. An inspiring place to eat, work, or socialize.
The perfect meeting point to start or end a run or bike ride, get your caffeine fix (or your post-workout reward) at Ma Bicyclette cafe, located directly along the Lachine Canal.
Other excellent cafes near the Lachine Canal:
These other great spots have stood out for the quality of their coffee and other menu items, for their welcoming space, and friendly service.
Montreal is a gourmet destination, and this list could be much longer. For other excellent recommendations, we invite you to explore the Michelin Guide as well as the list of eligible restaurants for the $200 annual credit from the American Express Platinum Card®. Enjoy your meal!
Montreal is full of excellent restaurants to discover during the summer season. Among the addresses recommended by the Milesopedia team are Damas for Middle Eastern cuisine, Pichai for Thai cuisine, and Vin Mon Lapin for a culinary experience recognized in Canada. These establishments stand out for the quality of their cuisine and the dining experience they offer.
Several patios offer spectacular views or a unique summer ambiance in Montreal. Must-visits include Terrasse Alizé, Terrasse Belvu at Marriott Château Champlain, and Terrasse sur l’Auberge with its view of the Old Port. Other popular options include Perché Bar Terrasse and Terrasse St-Ambroise along the Lachine Canal.
Montreal has a very dynamic coffee scene, with many independent establishments renowned for the quality of their coffee. Among the best known are Café Olimpico, a Mile-End institution, Crew Collective Café housed in a spectacular former bank building, and Café Ma Bicyclette near the Lachine Canal.
Certain neighbourhoods are particularly renowned for their gastronomic offerings. Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile-End boast numerous independent cafes and restaurants, while Old Montreal and downtown offer several patios and gourmet restaurants. The Village, meanwhile, becomes very lively in summer with many patios along Sainte-Catherine Street.
Some credit cards allow you to accumulate more points when dining out. For example, cards like the American Express Cobalt Card can offer up to 5 points per dollar spent at restaurants and grocery stores. These points can then be transferred to loyalty programs to reduce the cost of future travel.
Savings are this way (if you don’t see the signup form, click here):
You can change your preferences or opt out at any time by clicking on one of the hyperlinks available at the bottom of each newsletter.
If you are already a subscriber and would like to unsubscribe, you can click on the link at the bottom of any of our e-mails.
