This luxe, long-lost downtown Montreal restaurant and venue reopens next month (FIRST LOOK)

The mysterious top floor of Montreal's Eaton Centre has been silent for almost a quarter century. But the well-preserved space that once housed a magnificent Art Deco restaurant will soon spring back to life with the clink of glasses and murmur of diners.

Sealed like a time capsule since its close in 1999, Le 9e is a vision of streamlined shapes and bold colours, designed by French architect Jacques Carlu, whose other major works include the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.

Original art, furniture, and even dining utensils have been restored, retaining the venue's original glamour, now polished up and ready for the Instagram era.

The Silver Room is room adjoining the main hall, with floor to ceiling lights and stainless steel accents. Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

Deco the halls

Canadian socialite Lady Eaton and her son, Timothy, commissioned Carlu to design the architectural gem in 1931. The result was a dining hall fit for royalty, or at least for the titans of retail and their patrons.

Le 9e serves up Art Deco with a side of ocean liner chic, inspired by the SS Île-de-France. Massive porthole-like windows greet guests disembarking from one of the five grand elevators that lead from the ground hall of the shopping mall (near Time Out Market) to the resplendent ninth floor.

There are also huge recessed portions of the ceiling that resemble the base of a steam pipe, only far more elegant.

A large circular window at the entrance to Le 9e.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

The main hall itself is like the grand salon of a historic ship brought to life, outlined in contrasting black and white trim that epitomizes the Art Deco style, complete with stainless steel elements from doors to ventilation grilles.

Floor-to-ceiling murals by Natacha Carlu, the architect's wife, anchor the room at each end. They've been updated from their original orange and green to a more modern palette of blue and beige. In classic Art Deco fashion, they feature pastoral scenes of women in leisurely posing with horses, dogs and even gazelle.

Meanwhile, bas-relief chickens, Canada geese, and teapots encircle the dining area, which has a chessboard-patterned floor, drawing your eye around the space.

Chairs facing one mural in the dining room of Le 9e.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

What's old is new

The Île de France restaurant of Le 9e is set to begin serving as of May 1 (by reservation). The menu, curated by Executive Chef Liam Hopkins (Hopkins, McKiernan) and culinary director Derek Dammann (Maison Publique, McKiernan), draws from historical menus and recipe books, some of which date back to the restaurant's original opening and were found during renovations.

"As I dove into the rich history behind the inception of the Eaton’s 9th floor restaurant in the 1930’s, the unmatched accessibility over it’s (first) 68 years of operation, and the dedication and effort that have been devoted to it’s revival, I realized what this space means to this city and why it’s so important that it comes back to life," Hopkins wrote in a post on Instagram.

"As a born and bred Montrealer of Irish descent who takes immense pride in his roots (and comes from a culture known for its story tellers)… I’m aware of the responsibility that we have to create a space that welcomes those who are looking for a nostalgic experience while looking forward to being a part of an atmosphere where generations of Montrealers can make new memories with a nod to our past," he said.

Chefs in the kitchen of Le 9e, as seen through a foyer with old photographs of Montreal. Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

Adjacent to the main dining room, the Gold and Silver rooms are available for private gatherings, hosting up to 20 guests each. The rooms differ in decor; the Silver Room incorporates metallic accents while the Gold Room features warmer tones.

For events that require more space, La Grande Salle is designed to accommodate a variety of functions, including live shows and exhibitions.

The ground floor houses a cocktail bar and café that will be managed by Andrew Whibley and Dominique Jacques, offering high-quality drinks and casual meals.

The main foyer of Le 9e prior to closure. Right: The same areas now feature a new bar and zig-zag flooring.Courtesy of Le 9e, Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

A blast from the pastel

The interior of Le 9e showcases original wood furniture throughout. The walls of the main foyer are painted in light pink and green with trim that looks like cake icing, which contrast with the modern black built-ins and countertops. The contemporary elements also highlight the distinctive zig-zag pattern of the wood-panelled floors.

The bathrooms are equally as stunning, overlooking the Bay on one side with a top-down view of the church next door. Art Deco sinks gleam across from with striped tile accents.

The view from one Le 9e bathroom.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

Grand opening

The restoration of Le 9e is a collaboration between Ivanhoé Cambridge and EVOQ Architecture, who are also behind the Montreal ring and new top-floor restaurants in Place Ville Marie.

"This project is the logical continuation of our recent investments in PVM, the Montreal Eaton Centre, and Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, and is sure to bring yet more vitality to our downtown core," said Annik Desmarteau, who oversaw the project for Ivanhoé Cambridge.

The goal is to offer accessible dining options that encourage more Montrealers to visit the restored architectural landmark, she said.

Le 9e opens to the public on May 17.

Le 9e

The indoor entrance to Le 9e from Centre Eaton.

Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

When: Opens May 17. Reservations for the Île de France restaurant are available now for dates beginning May 1.

Where: 1550, boul. Robet-Bourrassa, 9th floor

More at le9montreal.com