There's a new space for your Montréal events: The fabled Art Deco icon, Le 9e, atop the Centre Eaton de Montréal, has reopened after being meticulously restored to its former glory. Inspired by the dining room in the Île-de-France transatlantic ocean liner and designed by French architect Jacques Carlu, the glittering space includes a restaurant with two private rooms, a cocktail bar, a café, and a grandiose ballroom, all available for your most glamorous events.
From Art Deco icon to today's new hot spot
It all began when Lady Flora Eaton, whose family owned Eaton's department store, became a passenger on the 1927 maiden voyage of the Île-de-France liner. She was so struck by the ship's aesthetic that she commissioned Carlu—a leading practitioner of Art Deco in North America who helped design the ship's interiors—to recreate the decor of the vessel's elegant dining room on the 9th floor of the Montréal Eaton store.The restaurant spent decades as the "it" place for ladies who lunch, as attested to by the Galafilm documentary Ladies of the 9th Floor, which looks back over more than 60 years of the beloved restaurant, before closing, to the great chagrin of many Montrealers, in 1999. The iconic space was classified as a heritage property under Québec's Cultural Heritage Act in August 2000, and Le 9e was then basically mummified for nearly a quarter-century before it was meticulously restored and reopened in 2024.
Backed by the best and ready to host you
Today, Le 9e is operated by a group of Montréal entrepreneurs that includes Jeff Baikowitz (co-owner of the Joe Beef group), Marco Gucciardi (Bar George, Burgundy Lion, Milos), Just For Laughs co-founder Andy Nulman, event designer Madeleine Kojakian, and the 7 Doigts creative collective.The new Le 9e comprises the 120-seat Île-de-France restaurant, overseen by executive chef Liam Hopkins (Hopkins, McKiernan, Park) and culinary director Derek Dammann (Maison Publique, McKiernan, Fifteen). Andrew Whibley (Cloakroom Bar, Dominion Bar) heads up the cocktail bar and Dominique Jacques (MELK) manages the café.
In addition to the ĂŽle-de-France restaurant, Le 9e comprises the multipurpose Gold and Silver rooms with a capacity of 20 each; and La Grande Salle, the ballroom, is equipped to host live shows, exhibitions, and private functions for up to 500 guests.
A jewel of Montréal's architectural heritage, Le 9e is an important part of the city's large Art Deco legacy. Montréal ranks among the top cities in the world for Art Deco architecture.
Cheat sheet
Venue: Le 9eLocation: Centre Eaton de Montréal, 1500 rue Robert Bourassa, Suite 900
Website: le9montreal.com
Maximum capacity: 660 guests
