Montréal now has nearly 5,600 restaurants, 8% more than in 2025. After the pandemic closures, that’s a number worth paying attention to. According to the Association des restaurants du Québec, Montréal’s restaurant market is picking up again, with restaurateurs returning and an increasingly prestigious offer. That’s a pretty big change for a city that lost so many places.
For diners, more restaurants means more choice. Montréal isn’t finished surprising us with new addresses, different concepts and restaurants looking for ways to stand out. The arrival of Michelin-starred restaurants also shows how far the city’s food scene can go. But behind that growth is a less glamorous reality: opening a restaurant doesn’t guarantee it will last, especially with costs climbing.
That’s probably the most interesting part of this statistic. A consultant quoted by the media says more than 80% of restaurants fail within three to five years. Costs remain high, competition is strong and customers are watching what they spend. So yes, 8% more restaurants is good news for Montréal. But the real test will be seeing which ones are still here in a few years. That’s when this story gets interesting, because opening day is always the easy part.