24 Best Restaurants in Montreal, Quebec

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, Hymie, the original owner, still sat at the counter and directed patrons to their seats.

The mastermind behind this photogenic bakery had been making bread for Montréal's best restaurants for years before he decided to open up his own place. His own shop is a favorite with locals, who line up every weekend for fresh baguettes. In addition to serving a delicious rye-and-caraway-seed loaf and chocolate babka, Hof Kelsten also makes sandwiches—like homemade gravlax with seasoned cream cheese or chopped liver with crispy onions—that make for an excellent lunch or early evening meal (the shop closes at 5). The bakery serves brunch on weekends.

One part pâtisserie, one part café, one part 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 pâtissier by profession, and the pâtisseries 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.   

A veritable institution in Little Italy, this modest cafe hasn't changed much since it first opened in 1956; think terrazzo flooring, half-wall plywood panelling, authentic retro barstools, and lots of photos and vintage posters on the walls. The one difference is that now there is a much wider range of coffees available to cater to the more demanding drinking habits of today's consumer. The friendly, welcoming cafe is a family affair, with daughter Luciana and granddaughters Nadia and Laura who manage the Tuscan patriarch's caffè.

Step inside Caffettiera and you just might be convinced you've entered a caffè in Italy circa 1994. Here in this faux-wood-paneled space with its stand-up espresso bar, beige and blue banquettes, and formica tabletops, you'll drink flavorful coffee made from arabica coffee beans roasted in Rome by Fantini and brewed from Vittorio Arduini Lever machines or classic aluminum Bialettis. At the bar, you'll choose from an assortment of panini and Italian dolci, such as brioches, crostate (jam tarts with a lattice pastry top), and bomboloni (ball-shaped doughnuts filled with jam or Nutella). And, since Caffettiera is an authentic Italian bar, not just a café, you'll see bottles of Aperol, Campari, Fernet Branca, and Amaro Nonino behind the bar. There's no detail Italian-Canadian owner Andreas Vecchio and his partner and cousin Diego Lovino haven't thought of. Imported Italian chocolates and bonboni? Check. Italian chips and snacks for aperitivi? Check. Cheap-quality Fantini paper napkins (they also have higher-quality napkins) in Fantini dispensers? Check. Just like in Italy.

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 34 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.

The self-proclaimed "un coin perdu de Paris" (a lost corner of Paris) is famous for its wraparound patio, Parisian vibe, century-old corner building featuring stained glass and woodwork, and Art Nouveau bar. Although this is a full bistro serving three meals every day of the week, it shines brightest in the morning. Order a croissant while nursing a large bowl of café au lait.

You'll want to keep coming back again and again to this charming little gourmet convenience store and café with its mint-green façade and single-origin coffee. Le Petit Dep proudly stocks local products, including prêt-à-manger (ready-to-eat) 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.

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. Crowd pleasers include the Cuban panini sandwich and the #24 salad with pickled daikon, peanuts, roasted marinated tofu, fresh herbs, and soba noodles.  There is now a second location in the new Royalmount mall.

Named after the gourmand father of one of the owners, this all-day breakfast spot quickly became a favorite breakfast/brunch destination for Montrealers. The luminous green and white eatery with terracotta brown banquettes and bar seating, serves up Eastern European Jewish fare with Middle Eastern influences. A wine list of mostly private imports and classic brunch cocktails like mimosas, Caesars, and peach Bellinis round out the weekend brunch experience.

Inspired by Paris’s golden-age brasseries, Brasserie 701's spectacular setting features high ceilings, neoclassical architecture, giant arched windows, and lovely chandeliers. The menu incudes the usual suspects expected at a brasserie, from tartares to filet mignon, ratatouille, escargot, and foie gras.

Open since 1920, this iconic eatery bordering the western edge of Downtown is popular with locals for its old-school diner ambience, friendly staff, and consistent quality of its food.

Located on a quiet side street in Old Montréal, you can't miss the bright tangerine doors and windows of this small, new, retro-style panini joint. If simple Italian sandwiches are your jam, Ciccio's is your place. From the primo (mortadella, tomato, mozzarella) and the tacchino (smoked turkey, mozzarella, bacon, tomato, red onion) to the caprese (with or without prosciutto) with pesto, the parmigiana (breaded eggplant, mozzarella, tomato confit, pesto), and the capo (capocollo stagionato, spicy gabagool, burrata, marinated peppers, basil), Ciccio's makes it all. They also make salads and prepare antipasto and charcuterie platters, in addition to a few desserts.

Undoubtedly the most strikingly beautiful café in Montréal, perhaps even in North America, Crew Collective and Café is housed inside a former 1920s-era bank that's fitted with 50-foot-high vaulted ceilings, multiple arches, marble flooring, intricate tiling, and bronze chandeliers. It's no wonder Forbes named it one of the five most beautiful coworking spaces in the world. The café doubles as a coworking space for Web start-ups, so it’s only fitting that patrons be able to order their coffee and nibbles directly online, in real time, without ever having to queue. Expect barista-approved brews, gourmet sandwiches, and an appetizing range of baked goods, including vegan, soy-free, and nut-free options. 

A light croissant or rich pastry from the city's oldest pâtisserie makes for a nice break after visiting the Parc Mont-Royal or Oratoire St-Joseph. For lunch, try the avocado toast with goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil; the onion soup; or the mushroom or lobster risotto, followed by a tartelette aux abricots (apricot tart). If you're taking pastries home, try to snag an almond-paste (as opposed to almond-cream) croissant (or roulé) before the shop runs out.

Long held in disdain by Montréal food critics, the restaurant at the Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) has upped its epicurean game. These days the restaurant’s top-notch cuisine pays homage to Québec’s terroir with enticingly presented dishes served in a contemporary yet elegant setting (think white tablecloths, cloche plate covers, and impeccable service). There is an à la carte menu, in addition to a table d’hôte (starting at C$62) and a five-course tasting menu (C$89). The optional wine pairing is an additional C$57.

This lovely little bakery, which magically transports its patrons (or at least their taste buds) 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 cannoli, filled with a light and sweet ricotta cream, are also delicious. Meat eaters who prefer savory bites should, however, try the speck-and-stracchino (a mild, fresh Italian cheese) sandwich on homemade focaccia.

As a gourmet grocery shop, take-out counter, and French bistro 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 boutique for gourmet souvenirs to take home.

Opened in Spring 2024, this rococo-inspired tea room feels a little like attending a real-life, Disneyfied Mad Hatter tea party. Think bubblegum pink walls, checkerboard floor, thick coral pink velvet curtains, salmon pink and burgundy button back seat banquettes, quirky tableaux, and lots of chandeliers. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a kooky Quebecois take on the English High Tea experience, finger foods on tiered platters and a tea sommelier and all. Go with your friends, your mother, daughter, or grandmother. And don't be afraid to take the kids; they're sure to delight in the fanciful children's menu.

This 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 and native 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.

Sophie Sucrée was the first vegan bakery to open in Montréal in 2013. Owner Milène Laoun, a self-taught pastry cook, developed her skills by cooking and baking for her loved ones. The quaint space is very small, with no seating, but of course Laoun's decadent confections—croissants, cakes, cupcakes, bars, cookies, and tarts—can be purchased to go. She prioritizes the use of unprocessed plant-based ingredients as well as organic and local products. Gluten-, nut-, and soy-friendly options are available as well, and the pâtisserie offers a small savory menu featuring items like fennel "sausage" and mozza puff, "tuna" salad croissant, and gourmet grilled cheese.

It may be in the heart of trendy Mile End, but this "phyllo bar" looks like it was transported directly from Athens, with food arriving on checkered cobalt-blue wax paper. The spanakopita, with a perfect crispy exterior, makes for an excellent lunch on the go, as does the Melina sandwich, with its spicy feta spread, kalamata hummus, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Another must, the bougatsa, is a warm custard-filled phyllo pastry with cinnamon. It's all about takeout here, though warm temperatures allow for a small deck out front.

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 Montréal 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 rue 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.

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 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.