Auberge Saint-Gabriel

What Auberge Saint-Gabriel does

Auberge Saint-Gabriel is a privately held historic restaurant and event venue located at 426 Saint-Gabriel in Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal), Quebec, Canada. Established in 1688 by a French soldier, it is recognized as the first inn in North America to have received a liquor license in Canada on March 4, 1754, and has operated continuously as a hospitality venue for over 270 years. The company operates an integrated hospitality offering that combines a fine-dining restaurant serving Quebec-focused comfort cuisine in the evening hours (Monday–Wednesday 17h–22h, Thursday–Saturday 17h–23h) with three distinct private event spaces — Grenier (up to 250 cocktail/150 seated), Truteau (150 cocktail/110 seated, redesigned by Quebec designer Bruno Braën), and Dulong (80 cocktail/60 seated) — alongside a separate Velvet nightlife venue and a newer Dômes dome-dining experience.

The business generates revenue through three primary streams: à la carte restaurant dining, private event venue rental for corporate events, weddings, and celebrations (with capacities ranging from 60 to 250 guests), and special events including Race Week programming and nightlife operations at Velvet. Customers are reached through direct sales (walk-ins, phone reservations, dedicated Events Director and Coordinator), online reservation platforms (Bookenda, Libroreserve, Tixr), and organic social media (Facebook, Instagram). The venue serves individual diners, corporate clients, wedding and celebration parties, and nightlife patrons, with no public revenue disclosure.

The venue is owned by a three-person partnership comprising Marc Bolay (Swiss-born Montreal hospitality operator since 1984), Canadian singer Garou (joined 2001), and Guy Laliberté (Cirque du Soleil founder, joined 2009). The company employs approximately 23 people across restaurant, events, nightlife, and administrative functions. Technology adoption is limited to third-party booking, ticketing, and 3D virtual tour integrations; there are no proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Auberge Saint-Gabriel

Legal name

Auberge Saint-Gabriel

Website

https://aubergesaint-gabriel.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Auberge Saint-Gabriel is a historic Old Montreal restaurant and event venue, founded in 1688, operating a fine-dining restaurant, three private event spaces (60–250 guests), a Velvet nightclub, and dome dining experiences for individual diners, corporate clients, and wedding parties under ownership of Marc Bolay, Garou, and Guy Laliberté.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320), Special Food Services (7223), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Venue & Banquet Hall Catering (THAFAIAC), Supper Clubs & Dinner-Theater Restaurants (THAFACAL), Rooftop Bars & Outdoor Nightlife Venues (MPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Historic restaurant dining
• Private event venue
• Wedding event spaces
• Quebec gastronomy services
• Nightlife dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant dining: Food and beverage sales from à la carte dining service. Restaurant serves comfort cuisine featuring local products during evening service hours.
2. Private event venue rental: Rental of historic event spaces (Dulong, Truteau, Grenier) for corporate events, weddings, and private gatherings. Revenue from space rental and associated catering.
3. Special events and nightlife: Hosting of special events including Race Week, dinner shows, and nightlife programming at Velvet venue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Auberge Saint-Gabriel operates a historic restaurant in Old Montreal serving comforting Quebec-inspired cuisine for evening dinner service, alongside three private event spaces (Dulong, Truteau, Grenier) accommodating 60 to 250 guests for corporate events, weddings, and private gatherings. The venue also operates a nightlife destination (Velvet) and offers seasonal dome dining experiences. The business is fundamentally a hospitality operation providing dining, event space rental, and nightlife services.

Product overview

Auberge Saint-Gabriel is a historic hospitality venue offering an integrated experience combining fine dining restaurant services with multiple event spaces and nightlife venues. The core offerings include the main restaurant serving local Quebec cuisine, three distinct event halls (Grenier, Truteau, and Dulong) with varying capacities for corporate events and weddings, the Velvet nightclub for nightlife, and dome dining experiences. The venue, built in 1688, is North America's first inn to receive a liquor license (1754) and serves as a premier destination for both gastronomy and nightlife in Old Montreal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Restaurant Fine dining restaurant featuring comforting Quebec cuisine with local products. Open for evening dinner service Monday–Wednesday 5pm–10pm and Thursday–Saturday 5pm–11pm. Serves individual diners and social groups.
• Grenier Event Space Largest event hall on the top floor, accommodating up to 250 cocktail guests or 150 seated guests. Suitable for large-scale events with separate cocktail and meal service areas.
• Truteau Event Space Event space redesigned by Quebec designer Bruno Braën, located immediately to the right of the main entrance. Capacity for 150 cocktail or 110 seated guests. Marketed for weddings and large-scale events.
• Dulong Event Space Intimate first-floor event space, more private than Truteau. Fully equipped for conferences and ideal for corporate meetings and private events. Accommodates up to 80 cocktail guests or 60 seated guests.
• Velvet Nightlife Venue Nightlife destination occupying the site of an old fur trading post within the Auberge Saint-Gabriel property. Considered one of Montreal's trendiest nightlife destinations.
• Dôme Dining Experience Seasonal dome dining experience offering private dining under domes, available for reservation through the Libroreserve booking platform.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VelvetminorOthersNightlife venue located within or associated with Auberge Saint-Gabriel, previously housed an old fur trading post. Separate branding with logo visible on Auberge website.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Holder: Long-established Montreal brasserie-style restaurant with a strong regular-clientele following and event capabilities. Comparable as a heritage Montreal dining-and-events venue with similar customer mix.
• Vieux-Port Steakhouse: Established Montreal steakhouse in the Old Port district offering private dining and event packages. Comparable as a heritage-area restaurant with private event capabilities serving similar clientele.
• Le Club Chasse et Pêche: Boutique fine-dining restaurant in Old Montreal known for refined French-leaning cuisine in a heritage-feel setting. Comparable premium-dining positioning and Old Montreal location.
• Joe Beef: Iconic Montreal fine-dining institution known for elevated comfort food and local sourcing. Comparable as a high-end Quebec-focused restaurant with strong cultural cachet in the Montreal dining scene.
• Restaurant Toqué!: One of Montreal's most acclaimed fine-dining restaurants, serving contemporary Quebec-inspired cuisine in a premium setting. Directly comparable to Auberge Saint-Gabriel's restaurant positioning as a destination culinary venue in Montreal.
• Bonaparte: Historic Montreal restaurant offering French cuisine with private event rooms in Old Montreal. Closely comparable in combining heritage ambiance, French-leaning cuisine, and event hosting in the same district as Auberge Saint-Gabriel.

Broad incumbents

• Le Château Frontenac: Quebec's most iconic historic hotel, operating multiple restaurants, bars, and event spaces in a heritage property. Comparable as a heritage hospitality destination combining lodging, dining, and events — though at far larger scale and a different category.

Others

• Cirque du Soleil: Co-owner Guy Laliberté's flagship enterprise. Relevant ecosystem connection through shared ownership rather than direct competition; represents the entertainment-scale brand Auberge's nightlife could leverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lauberge.saintgabriel
• Instagraminstagram.com/aubergesaintgab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auberge-saint-gabriel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Auberge Saint-Gabriel