France · UEFA
France Is in the World Cup. The 3 Best French Restaurants in Montreal.
Three group games. Three French rooms. From a Gilford BYOW to L'Express on Saint-Denis, where Montreal eats when Les Bleus play. Final-three favourites, again.
Published
France qualified for the 2026 World Cup with the same depth that took them to the 2022 final and the 2018 title. Mbappé is captain. The midfield is the deepest in the tournament. The defence has been quietly built around Saliba and Upamecano. Every Montreal French resto will be running on match days, with terrasses spilling whenever the heat permits.
Montreal's French diaspora is the largest in North America, anchored in the Plateau, Outremont, and Verdun. The community moves with the rhythms of the school year and the natural-wine scene. French is not foreign in this city. It is the language of half the restaurants we love.
These three rooms cover the spread. Le Pégase for the BYOW night with someone you actually want to talk to. Le Boulevardier for the downtown evening that still feels like an event. L'Express for the late dinner after the late match, when the kitchen is still going. Bring an opinion on the lineup.
Three group games. Three bistros. Pick one per match.
The three picks
Le Pégase
Plateau · 1831 Rue Gilford, Montréal, QC H2H 1G7, Canada
An unpretentious BYOW on a Plateau side street, set-price menus, French cooking without the performance. The starters arrive with the kind of confidence that only comes from doing the same thing for two decades. Meat-centric mains, sauces that finish on the plate, a room small enough that you'll hear the kitchen. Bring a real bottle. Book early. Stay late.
Le Boulevardier
Ville-Marie · 2050 Rue Mansfield, Montréal, QC H3A 1Y9, Canada
Downtown French in a room that takes itself just seriously enough. Steak frites the way it is supposed to be cooked. Wine list reads continental, not provincial. Lunch crowd is suits and people not pretending. Dinner is for the night you want to spend longer than you said you would. The desserts are not after-thoughts.
L'Express
Plateau · 3927 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M4, Canada
The iconic Parisian-style bistro on Saint-Denis. Checkered floor, brass bar, mirrors. The standards are kept. Steak tartare, marrow bones, pâté de campagne, the cheese plate. Service is brisk and correct. Bar seats see locals eating alone. Late-night closes are part of the brand. This is what a real bistro looks like, decade after decade.
Frequently asked questions
Where do French Montrealers actually eat?
The Plateau and Outremont are the spine of the contemporary French diaspora. Côte-des-Neiges and Le Sud-Ouest have growing pockets. The classic bistros sit downtown and along Saint-Denis. The new wave of natural-wine bars and chef-driven rooms is in Mile End and Verdun.
What should I order on a first visit to a Montreal bistro?
Steak frites or steak tartare, a green salad, the dessert that involves cream or fruit. Glass of Beaujolais or whatever the room is pouring by the carafe.
Where to watch France play during the 2026 World Cup?
Plateau cafés will be the loudest. Mansfield and Crescent Street sports bars will pack downtown. France matches draw the largest non-Canadian crowds in Montreal during World Cups. Book early for sit-down dining on match days.
Is France favoured to win in 2026?
Les Bleus reached the final in 2022 and remain on every short-list of favourites. Mbappé, Tchouaméni, and a deep midfield make them a top-three pick. Argentina, Brazil, and France are the names oddsmakers keep at the top.