Complete checklist for opening a restaurant in Montreal: licensing, health inspection, Google listing, menu, and social presence.
Montreal has one of the most competitive and creative food scenes in Canada. Between Mile End, the Plateau, Griffintown, and Little Italy, new restaurants open almost every week. To stand out, your digital presence needs to be ready well before your first service, and your menu needs to meet Quebec's French language requirements from day one.
This checklist covers the online and regulatory setup for opening a restaurant in Montreal. Use it alongside your operational planning.
Opening a restaurant in Montreal means dealing with both municipal and provincial requirements. Plan for at least 10 to 12 weeks from the day you start your applications.
Every food service business in Montreal needs an occupancy certificate (certificat d'occupation) from the borough (arrondissement) where you are located. The rules vary slightly by borough, so start at your specific borough office. You will also need to confirm your zoning allows restaurant use.
Register your business with the Registraire des entreprises du Quebec (REQ). This is required for any commercial operation in the province.
If you plan to serve alcohol, you need a permit from the Regie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ). Alcohol permits typically take 8 to 12 weeks, so apply early. The RACJ requires a public notice period and a clean background check for the permit holder.
If your buildout involves significant construction, you may also need to deal with the Regie du batiment du Quebec (RBQ) depending on the scope of work.
This one is non-negotiable in Montreal. Under Quebec's Charter of the French Language, and the updates brought in by Bill 96, your menu must be in French. You can include other languages, but French must be clearly present and at least as prominent as any other language. This applies to printed menus, digital menus, signage, and your website.
When you build your digital menu, plan for a French version first, then add English or other languages as secondary. Do not treat this as an afterthought. The Office quebecois de la langue francaise (OQLF) enforces the rules and fines can be significant.
Food safety inspections in Quebec are handled by the Ministere de l'Agriculture, des Pecheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ). Every restaurant needs a MAPAQ permit before opening.
MAPAQ inspectors check:
Book your pre-opening inspection at least 3 weeks before your planned opening date. MAPAQ inspections are thorough and a failed first inspection can delay your opening by weeks.
Your Google Business Profile is the single most important listing you will create. When someone searches "new restaurant Plateau" or "brunch Mile End," Google's local results are what they see first.
Go to business.google.com and create your listing. Mark it as "opening soon" even before the doors are open. Fill in:
Target Montreal-specific keywords in your description: your neighbourhood name, your cuisine type, and words like "bring your own wine" or "apportez votre vin" if that applies.
Google now verifies most new restaurants through a video walkthrough. Plan for verification to take a few days.
A digital menu is essential in Montreal for three reasons. First, Bill 96 compliance is easier to manage when you can update French and English versions in one place. Second, Montreal diners research heavily online before choosing a restaurant. Third, you can update prices and items from your phone without reprinting anything.
Your digital menu should be hosted, mobile friendly, and shareable as a link. Add it to your Google Business Profile, your Instagram bio, and your website.
For a walkthrough of adding your menu directly to your Google listing: How to Add Your Restaurant Menu to Google Business Profile
EasyMenus lets you build a free digital menu with a QR code in under 15 minutes and update it from your phone.
Build your opening day menu freeA simple single-page website with your name, concept, address, hours, and menu link is enough to start. You can use Squarespace, Wix, or a basic WordPress site. Make sure it works in both French and English.
Instagram is the most important social platform for Montreal restaurants. Post behind-the-scenes content from your buildout, menu development, and team. Use bilingual captions and Montreal-specific hashtags like #MTLMoments, #MTLFood, #Montrealeats, #PlateauMTL, and neighbourhood-specific tags.
Create a Facebook page as well. Montreal has active neighbourhood Facebook groups, especially in the Plateau, Verdun, and Hochelaga, where restaurant openings generate real interest.
Montreal has a strong independent food media scene. Reach out to Eater Montreal, Cult MTL, La Presse's food section, and Le Devoir. Food-focused Instagram accounts like @mtlfoodsnob and @tastingmtl have real local reach.
Tourisme Montreal runs the city's official visitor platform and you can list your restaurant there as a local business. Bonjour Quebec, the provincial tourism board, is worth a listing if you cater to travellers.
Consider the seasonality of Montreal dining. Terrasses (patios) drive a huge portion of summer business and many neighbourhood streets become pedestrian only from June through September. If you have outdoor space, plan your opening around terrasse season if possible.
Finally, Montreal's bring-your-own-wine culture is unique in Canada. If you are opening a BYOW restaurant, lean into it. Apportez votre vin listings on dedicated sites drive real traffic.
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