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Montreal’s food scene just earned more global recognition, with two of the city’s premier restaurants landing on Forbes’ Travel Guide Star Awards 2025 list of the world’s top restaurants.
The annual rankings are compiled by anonymous inspectors who evaluate fine dining establishments based on 900+ criteria, including food quality, service, ambiance, and even the aesthetics of their cocktails.
This year’s results prove that Montreal remains a top-tier culinary destination, offering cutting-edge gastronomy and plenty of French luxury options without the flight to Paris.
With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the pair of Montreal spots that earned a well-deserved nod.
Toqué!
Address: 900, place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montreal, QC
Cuisine: French
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Forbes rating: Four-Star
According to Forbes, Toqué! has “undoubtedly raised the bar in Montreal’s thriving upscale dining scene,” with the restaurant setting itself apart with inventive dishes that showcase Quebec’s best ingredients.
Highlighted menu staples included their marinated princess scallops in blueberry water, bluefin tuna loin glazed with tomato and herb mayonnaise, and duck magret with yellow foot mushrooms and black garlic puree.
Forbes notes that “though the dress code at this Four-Star restaurant is humbly listed as casual, we think this is one occasion worth dressing up for.”
Maison Boulud
Address: 1228, rue Sherbrooke O., Montreal, QC (Inside the Ritz-Carlton)
Cuisine: French-Canadian
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Forbes rating: Recommended
Maison Boulud inside the Ritz-Carlton Montreal was praised for blending “Canadian comfort with French luxury,” to offer an elegant yet relaxed fine dining experience.
The menu, led by chef Daniel Boulud, is built around exceptional ingredients, sublimated by a touch of creativity and fantasy. Staple dishes like potato gnocchi with fresh Madeleine Islands lobster and coral emulsion and duck served with seared foie gras and bigarade sauce both earned shoutouts.
As for dessert, the publication singled out the chocolate coulant with liquid caramel, fleur de sel, and caramelized milk ice cream, noting that “no one tastes it without raving about it for weeks.”
Montreal wasn’t the only Quebec town with top-tier dining. Chez Muffy in Quebec City also earned a Four-Star rating from Forbes this year. Located in the Auberge Saint-Antoine, Chez Muffy is known for its farm-to-table concept, featuring seasonal ingredients from Île d’Orléans and beyond. Forbes praised the restaurant’s intimate and sophisticated atmosphere, calling it an “ideal setting for a business date or a romantic meal.”
If you’re curious about which other Canadian spots made the cut, you can check out the full list of Travel Guide Star Awards winners on Forbes’ website.
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