Inside Montreal’s Sleek New Restaurant Inspired by Vintage Limousines
Moody and refined.
Montreal has no shortage of standout dining destinations, but a new restaurant is drawing visitors a bit farther afield. Across the river in the heart of Saint-Lambert, a residential suburb on the city’s South Shore, the newly opened Limousine is a bold and captivating draw. The first restaurant from Montreal chef Laurent Dagenais, the bistro is glowing beacon on the quiet street. Sleek, moody, and atmospheric, the design from Montreal’s Ivy Studio is inspired by the interiors of vintage luxury limousines.
The has an unusual diamond-shaped floor plan, and Ivy Studio leaned into the distinctive shape through a central bar that echoes the building’s geometry. The 20-seat diamond-shaped bar has a façade of warm wood and mirrors, with a glossy green-marble countertop that reflects the overhead light. Surrounding the bar, plush red velvet stools provide a textural contrast.
Above the central bar, soft, warm light is diffused throughout the restaurant by a monumental lightbox. “The central bar and the lightbox is the heart of the project, and we wanted the glow from that amber light throughout the restaurant,” Ivy Studio founding partner Philip Staszewski explains. “Rather than a fixture suspended high above, we pulled the lightbox lower to put more emphasis on the bar counter itself. We had the image of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks in our minds and wanted to bring that essence to the space with this glow on the bartender.”
The material use and colour palette are moody and refined, with a bronze-toned ceiling and cream walls providing a warm backdrop. Dark millwork, natural stone, velvet finishes, and chrome accents combine to evoke the richness and comfort of a vintage limousine interior. Warm-brown tubular banquettes recall easing into the seats of a limousine, while vintage chairs refinished in a mint green velvet upholstery add a retro touch. Custom glossy black tables with a chrome trim provide another tactile layer and softly reflect the amber light.
A custom millwork installation acts as a wine cellar and coffee counter, built from dark-stained wood with chrome detailing and smoked-glass panels. “The piece has this vintage feel and is very unique,” Staszewski says. “The wine cellar is custom-lit and has that same glow found throughout the restaurant.” A green-marble backsplash adds a refined touch and matches the central bar.
Soft lighting from wall sconces, table lamps, and candlelight adding to the overall glow from the lightbox. “When you walk in, you feel like you’re immersed in this welcoming, cozy atmosphere,” Staszewski says. “We wanted to have indirect sources of light as much as possible so that the lighting is ambient instead of just functional.”
To echo the celebratory nature of a limousine, small details such as playful artwork, vintage family photographs, and memorabilia infuse the elegant design with a sense of fun and ease. Toy-size limousines dot the shelves and tables, reminiscent of the original inspiration. Warm, welcoming, and decidedly atmospheric, Limousine allows diners to feel easily transported.
Photographs by Alex Lesage.
