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$$ | The Plateau |
The Schkolnick family has been serving brunch at this Montréal landmark since 1942 and very little here has changed, including the menu. On weekends, the line out front can be daunting. The Beautys Special—bagel, lox, and cream cheese—is the ultimate classic. Standard picks also include the Mish Mash omelet, with sliced frankfurters, salami, green peppers, and fried onions; and the Superbeautys 2 with two eggs, pancakes, bacon and sausage, and a toasted bagel. Until he passed away in 2017 at the age of 96, Hyman, the original owner, still sat at the counter and directed patrons to their seats.
93 av. du Mont-Royal Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2T 2S5, Canada
Known For
- Historic venue
- Bagel with lox
- Long lines on the weekend
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | The Plateau |
This iconic Montréal bistro hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1980, and it’s just as well—regulars would throw a fit if it did. Quintessential French fare is fairly priced and appetizing, outstanding even, with dishes like steak tartare with fries, salmon with sorrel, and calf's liver with tarragon. Tiny tables sometimes struggle to accommodate the ever-present crowds (including local chefs, who congregate here for dinner after hours and breakfast before hours), but the lively atmosphere is part of the charm. Kids are warmly welcomed.
3927 rue St-Denis, Montréal, Québec, H2W 2M4, Canada
Known For
- Steak tartare
- Lively atmosphere
- Late-night dining
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$ | The Plateau |
Québec is notorious for poutine—French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy—and La Banquise has been the place for an authentic experience since 1968 with an extensive menu featuring 31 varieties. Neophytes might want to stick with La Classique, but mouthwatering novelties like La Taquise (guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes), L'Obélix (smoked meat), La Veggie Reggie (pickles, tomatoes, creamy coleslaw, and Banquise sauce), and La Véganomane (vegan sauce and cheese) are quite alluring. On the odd sunny day, have your poutine to go and enjoy it alfresco in nearby Parc Lafontaine.
994 rue Rachel Est, Montréal, Québec, H2J 2J3, Canada
Known For
- Open 24 hours
- Cash only
- Smoked-meat poutine
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$$ | Outremont |
The self-proclaimed "un coin perdu de Paris" is famous for its wraparound patio, Parisian vibe, an 100-year-old corner building featuring stained glass and woodwork, an art deco chandelier, and an art nouveau bar. Although this is a full bistro serving three meals every day of the week, it shines brightest in the morning. Order the croissant with almond paste (increasingly hard to find in Montréal as most local patisseries and cafés make croissants with almond cream only) while nursing a large bowl of café au lait.
5200 rue Hutchison, Montréal, Québec, H2V 4B3, Canada
Known For
- Charming setting
- Croissant with almond paste
- Opens early and closes late
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$ | Old Montréal |
You'll want to keep coming back again and again to this adorable little gourmet convenience store and café with its mint-green facade and single origin coffee. Le Petit Dep proudly stocks local products, including prêt-à-manger soups, salads, and comfort foods such as chili, pasta, and vegan shepherd's pie. There are also mouthwatering home-baked goods and candy in bulk. There is a second Old Montréal location at 461 rue St-Sulpice.
179 rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 1Z5, Canada
Known For
- Prêt-à-manger meals
- Delightful setting
- Delicious sweets
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Old Montréal |
Influential types arrive at lunchtime en masse for a table at this bustling bakery and sandwich shop where vegetables are organically grown in a nearby garden and fresh crab is flown in for salads. Crowd pleasers include Le Cubain panini (pancetta, roasted pork, Gruyère with lime, cilantro, and chipotle) and the vegan sandwich with chickpea and harissa spread, pickled beets, creamy sauce, and minty slaw. Baked goods are also consistent winners.
351 rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2A7, Canada
Known For
- Organic produce
- Affordable sandwiches
- Popular brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
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$ | The Plateau |
Even New Yorkers have been known to (collective gasp!) prefer Montréal's light and crispy bagel to its bulkier Manhattan cousin, due to the dough of the Montreal version being boiled in honey-sweetened water before baking in a wood-burning oven. St-Viateur Bagel & Café is a great place to get them, especially with smoked salmon. For a novel experience, try the rosemary and sea salt version. Be sure to check out St-Viateur's original location at 263 St-Viateur Ouest, where the bagel-magic has been happening since 1957. That venue does not have a dining area, but you can pick up bagels fresh out of the oven until midnight.
1127 av. Mont-Royal Est, Montréal, Québec, H2G 1X9, Canada
Known For
- Delicious bagels
- Classic and creative options
- Local favorite
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$$ | Westmount |
A melange between a patisserie, a café, and a French bistro, this little restaurant has been a darling of food critics since it opened in 2017. Serving deftly executed French dishes like quiche, vol au vent, and tartines niçoises in a fresh, modern setting of white subway tiles, decorative brass struts, richly patinated wooden tables, and mint green–velvet seating, Café Bazin is a little corner of France in the heart of Anglo Westmount. You'll likely feel sated after your main course, but don't make the mistake of passing on dessert. Bazin is originally a patissier by profession and the patisseries here are exquisite. Try the tartelette choco café, a chocolate flan with Chantilly coffee cream, or the Paris brest, a choux pastry with hazelnut praline mousseline.
380 av. Victoria, Montréal, Québec, H3Z 1C3, Canada
Known For
- French classics
- Exquisite pastries
- Charming decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Downtown |
What was once a fur showroom in the 1970s now hosts Café Parvis, a stylish yet eclectic eatery with floor-to-ceiling windows, half-stripped mint-green paint, and luxuriant plants hanging from the ceiling. If morning visits are for artisan coffee and pâtisserie du jour, dinner is for ordering shareable wood-oven baked pizzas enhanced by fresh salads and the on-point selection of organic wines.
403 rue Mayor, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1N9, Canada
Known For
- Quality coffee
- Wood-oven baked pizzas
- Organic wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun., Dinner reservations essential
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$$$ | Côte-des-Neiges |
A light croissant or rich pastry from the city's oldest patisserie makes for a nice break after visiting the Parc Mont-Royal or Oratoire St-Joseph. For lunch, try the quiche du jour, the onion soup, or the mushroom risotto followed by a tartelette aux abricots (apricot tart). Try to snag an almond paste (as opposed to almond cream) croissant (or rouleau) before the shop runs out.
5002 Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal, Québec, H3V 1G6, Canada
Known For
- Parisian-style pastry shop and bistro
- Ample patio
- Almond paste croissant (rouleau)
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$ | Little Italy |
This lovely little bakery, which magically transports its patrons (or at least, their tastebuds) to Italy, specializes in the cornetto, the Italian version of the croissant. Freshly baked every morning, these delightful pastries are available plain or filled with Nutella, ricotta cream, or almond paste. The traditional cannolis, filled with a light and sweet ricotta cream, are also delicious. Those who prefer savory bites should, however, try the speck and stracchino (a mild, fresh Italian cheese) sandwich on homemade focaccia.
6528 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2S 3C6, Canada
Known For
- Nutella cornetto
- Traditional cannoli
- Stracchino sandwiches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Old Montréal |
As a gourmet grocery shop, takeout counter, and French restaurant rolled into one, this splendid space was quickly adopted by local foodies. Instead of being dejected by the brunch queues on Saturday and Sunday, visitors should take advantage of that time to browse the restaurant’s inviting grocery shop for gourmet souvenirs to take home.
106 rue McGill, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2E5, Canada
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | Old Montréal |
This elegant patisserie is housed in a historic, beautifully renovated three-story graystone in Old Montréal. Baskets of buttery brioches and flaky croissants await, and the prominent pastry display holds rows of seasonal fruit tarts and classic French desserts like mille-feuilles (made of delicate layers of puff pastry and airy vanilla-scented custard) and Paris-Brest (made of choux pastry and a praline-flavored cream). The acclaimed pastry chef here, Christian Faure, is the recipient of France's highest culinary honor, Meilleur Ouvrier de France. A pastry school takes up space on the upper floors, while the ground floor is dedicated to various delectable take-out or eat-in sweet and savory options. There are two other locations, one in Westmount and one downtown.
355 Place Royale, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2V3, Canada
Known For
- French-style pâtisseries
- Historic building
- Acclaimed pastry chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed., Reduced hours due to pandemic; takeout only.
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$ | The Plateau |
The compact bakery serves some of the best croissants in Montréal, but the specialty here is the eponymous kouign amann, a multilayered butter and sugar cake originally from Brittany. The aroma of freshly baked bread is alluring to say the least and the passion for pastries is evident and sometimes demonstrated by perfectionist owner Breton Nicolas Henri. In fact, if he sees you eating your croissant the "wrong" way, Nicolas will even suggest the proper way to eat it—broken in half so you can bite through the many layers; according to him, it tastes better that way.
316 av. du Mont Royal Est, Montréal, Québec, H2T 1P7, Canada
Known For
- Kouign amman
- Perfect croissants
- Tiny gem
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | The Village |
This lovely new bistro, with its minimalist interior in coral pink, seafoam green, and golden ochre, attracts locals for its casual yet stylish atmosphere, appetizing vegan cuisine, gourmet cocktails and mocktails, and natural and organic vegan wines. So flavorsome and satisfying are dishes like the seared cauliflower with panisse and green goddess sauce; the cabbage, bok choy, and tofu dumplings served with sesame sauce and cilantro; and the sautéed mushroom waffles sprinkled with dill, mint, cilantro, and maple and truffle mayo, that even hardcore meat advocates will soon forget they're eating plant-based dishes.
1259 rue Ste-Catherine E., Montréal, Québec, H2L 2H3, Canada
Known For
- Sautéed mushroom waffles
- Some gluten free dishes
- Inspired cocktails/mocktails and vegan organic wines
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$$ | Outremont |
Film producers and poets congregate at this corner café-bistro, sitting on the terrace to sip award-winning espresso. Although there's a hearty lunch and dinner menu of tofu salads and grilled meat, brunch is the big draw. It features soft-boiled eggs with strips of toast for dipping, fruit, and cheese. Regular breakfast is served seven days a week. Try the Baklava Coffee topped with toasted almonds and honey.
244 av. Laurier Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2T 2N8, Canada
Known For
- Single-origin specialty coffees
- Student and artist crowd
- Exclusive blends like baklava coffee
