Where to eat oysters in Montréal
Mayssam Samaha
There’s nothing quite like the refreshing, briny taste of fresh oysters. Those in the know will go to great length in the pursuit of that salty ocean taste. Luckily, Montréal has a nice list of restaurants offering beautiful selections of these beloved bivalves in every neighbourhood.
OLD MONTRÉAL
Pincette - Lobster Bar
Lobster may be the star of the show at Pincette but their raw bar, including the oysters, are always fresh and a great start to a meal at this trendy Old Montréal restaurant.
94 Saint-Paul Street East
Chez Delmo
If you’re looking for quality seafood “unadorned and unembellished”, head to Delmo where fresh catch has been on the menu for the past 80 years.
275 Notre-Dame Street East
Maggie Oakes
A contemporary steakhouse with quite a few vegetarian options, Maggie Oakes’ menu contains all the classics, including some dry-aged meat aged inhouse and a not-to-be-missed raw bar.
426 Place Jacques-Cartier
Restaurant Solmar
Solmar is the first Portuguese restaurant to open in Montréal in 1972. Since then, they’ve been serving excellent classic Portuguese fare with a focus on seafood and fish specialties.
111 Saint-Paul Street East
Gibbys
Located inside an 18th century stable in Old Montréal, Gibbys is one of the city’s most venerable institutions. It serves steakhouse classics such as onion soup, surf and turf, lamb chops and more. Fresh (and Rockefeller) oysters are, of course, always on the menu.
298 place D'Youville
Seasalt
A seafood restaurant par excellence, Seasalt offers a great selection of fresh fish, shells and more in an eclectically decorated, light filled space.
351 Place Royale
Other Old Montréal restaurants where you can enjoy oysters:
Restaurant Pangea, Vieux-Port Steakhouse, Fish Bone, Jellyfish Crudo + Charbon, Le Garde-Manger, Le Butterfly
DOWNTOWN
Brasserie Le Pois Penché
Classic French brasserie cuisine is the focus at Le Pois Penché, where fresh oysters are always on the menu by the dozen or as part of their great seafood platters.
1230 Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Bar George
Located in a heritage mansion, Bar George pairs history with creativity in one perfect package. Grab a nosh at the bar or book a table at the restaurant where classic British cuisine is served.
1140 Drummond Street
Bar Dominion
Bar Dominion is the perfect spot to grab a great signature cocktail and a platter of oysters in an inimitable fun ambiance and a gorgeous old-world décor.
1243 Metcalfe Street
Marcus Restaurant + Terrace
Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Montréal restaurant is a fun and elegant place to dine. With an elaborate raw bar on the menu that includes great East Coast oysters, this is a great spot to enjoy a dozen with a glass of bubbly.
1440 De La Montagne Street
Another Downtown restaurant where you can enjoy oysters:
PLATEAU MONT-ROYAL & OUTREMONT
Maestro SVP
For over 30 years now, Maestro SVP has been THE spot for fresh oysters for those in the know. With a selection of 10 varieties on a daily rotation, it’s always a pleasure to embark on an oyster tasting experience by ordering a platter of different types.
3615 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Joséphine
The bistro cuisine at Joséphine has a serious penchant for seafood. The giant oyster neon sign is a great omen of their love of the mollusk that they serve raw or cooked.
4007 Saint-Denis Street
Le Filet
Le Filet is one of Montréal’s best fine dining establishments specializing in fish and seafood. Try their plain raw oysters or go for the garnished ones with toppings such as jalapeno craklingor miso gratin.
219 du Mont-Royal Avenue West
Le Majestique
The festive ambiance, the quirky tchotchkes, the exceptional food and wines and the flawless service have made Majestique a favourite among food lovers. Their oysters are exceptional but for a little extra flavour, try the oysters with caviar, cucumber and ponzu sauce.
4105 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Milos
Now an international empire, the first Milos location opened in 1979 on Parc Avenue. The Greek taverna prepares its fish in the simplest way, which is why freshness is key when it comes to all the catch, including the oysters.
5357 Parc Avenue
Other restaurants where you can enjoy oysters:
Bar Henrietta, Brasserie Bernard, Chez Victoire.
LES QUARTIERS DU CANAL, SUD-OUEST & VERDUN
P2 Cocktails et Cru
P2 offers an unpretentious atmosphere where people can come together and relax over drinks and great food. The bar features an evolving menu of signature cocktails, a great wine list and a selection of beer. The food is created using local and seasonal ingredients and features everything from tartares, oysters, vegetarian dishes and more.
4847 Wellington Street
Lucille’s Oyster Dive
With several restaurants across Montréal and its suburbs, Lucille’s is famous for its oysters and seafood. Dive headfirst into one of its impressive seafood platters or order a dozen raw bivalves to start your meal.
5669 Monkland Avenue & Atwater Market
Tuck Shop
Self-described as a “casual fine dining” establishment, Tuck Shop has been a staple neighbourhood spot on the Saint-Henri dining scene for years serving beautiful seasonal fare.
4662 Notre-Dame Street West
Liverpool House
The only way to start your evening at Liverpool House is by ordering one of their legendary seafood platter paired with a great bottle from their cellar.
2501 Notre-Dame Street West
Bar Loïc
Plush seating, dim lighting and a bustling ambiance await patrons at Bar Loïc, along with some wonderful, elevated bar fare (best burgers in town!) and beautiful bottles of wine.
5001 Notre-Dame West
VILLERAY, LITTLE ITALY & PETITE-PATRIE
Palomar
Located at the Jean-Talon Market, Palomar is a fish monger as well as a restaurant where you can enjoy, brunch, lunch or dinner. They specialize in fish and seafood and have a beautifully displayed raw counter with a few varieties of oysters.
200 Jean-Talon Street East
Huis Clos
Villeray’s oyster slingers Huis Clos have been serving everyone’s favourite fresh mollusk for the past 10 years. Their “5@Huîtres” are legendary and a destination for those in the know.
7659 Saint-Denis Street
Jaja
The seasonal, creative cuisine of Jaja is always on point and their wine cellar is one of the best in town so starting off with some oysters and a glass of bubbly is the best way to enjoy a great evening at this Little Italy restaurant.
6389 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Restaurant Gus
Chef David Ferguson’s cuisine is big and bold and operating in the cozy neighbourhood spot that is Gus. The Caesar salad, the steak, the onion soup and the chocolate cake are classics but we recommend you start your evening with a platter of fresh oysters and a Bloody Gus cocktail.
38 Beaubien Street East
La Boîte aux huîtres
Not a restaurant per say but rather a counter with the widest variety of oysters in Canada (over 60 types!), this Jean-Talon Market stand is where you’ll want to head to try a great selection of fresh mollusks as you’re doing your weekly market run.
7070 Henri Julien Avenue (inside the Jean Talon Market)
Another restaurant where you can enjoy oysters:
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.