If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Montreal, I’ve got ya covered.
Montreal’s food scene is pretty dang great, and they’ve got so many incredible restaurants across the city.
When Adam and I visited for a week last summer, we pretty much just ate our way through Montreal.
We managed to hit up a ton of awesome food spots and cool restaurants in Montreal, but I’ve listed our absolute faves.
Here’s my guide on where to eat and drink in Montreal!
Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!
Hotels in Montreal
There are plenty of great hotels in Montreal you can stay at:
- Hotel Monville is a chic and contemporary 4-star hotel located right in the middle between downtown and the Old Port.
- Hotel Omni Mont-Royal is a beautiful 4-star hotel with an incredible rooftop terrace and pool, and it’s located near Mount Royal Park.
- Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is a luxurious 4-star hotel that’s located right downtown by the Bell Centre. Fun fact: John Lennon & Yoko Ono recorded “Give Peace a Chance” in one of the suites here, and you can stay in it!
If you’d prefer to stay in an Airbnb, check out my guide on how to find good Airbnbs!
Plan your Montreal trip
If you’re planning a trip to Montreal, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- Searching for places to eat? Hit up the best Montreal ice cream spots.
- Looking for cute spots? Visit the most Instagrammable spots in Montreal.
- Going to the Osheaga Music Festival? Here’s what to wear at Osheaga.
If you’re looking for fun activities to do in the city, there are plenty of awesome tours in Montreal, like this walking tour of Old Montreal or this guided bike tour.
Best breakfast & brunch restaurants in Montreal
There are plenty of amazing places to eat breakfast and brunch in Montreal.
Here are some of my favourite restaurants to hit up when I’m in Montreal!
Chez José Café
This tiny little café is probably my most favourite brunch restaurant in all of Montreal.
I first discovered Chez José when I stayed at an Airbnb nearby for Osheaga (I have a post all about music festival outfit ideas if you’re interested).
Their incredible Mexican omelette is worth going out of your way for if you’re not staying in the area!
It comes with a side of salad and guac, and it’s oh-so-delicious.
A forewarning that they don’t have air conditioning in the restaurant, but at least they keep all the windows open so you can breathe just a little.
LOCATION: 173 Avenue Duluth E, Montréal, QC | Website
Restaurant L’Avenue
If hip decor and cool street art are your thing, L’Avenue is the quirky little brunch spot for you.
Expect to wait in long lineups out the door because it’s just that good.
If there’s one thing you must try on their menu, it’s their guava pancakes – they’re as divine as they sound.
A tropical escape in the heart of downtown Montreal? Count me in!
LOCATION: Various locations | Website
Le Passé Composé
Le Passé Composé is actually Adam’s fave brunch restaurant in Montreal, and he visits every time he comes to the city.
Their duck confit poached eggs are amazing.
I also love the touch of the teeny tiny smoothies with every meal – so adorable!
LOCATION: 1310 Boul de Maisonneuve E, Montréal, QC | Website
Best lunch & dinner restaurants in Montreal
From smoked meat sandwiches to poutine, there are just some things Montreal does best.
Here are some of the best restaurants to visit in Montreal for lunch and dinner!
Schwartz’s Deli
Schwartz’s is famous for their smoked meat sandwiches.
They’re the oldest deli in Canada, and they’ve been around for over 90 years!
And you can’t visit Montreal without trying some authentic smoked meat sandwiches.
Pro-tip: order takeout, or you’ll be waiting ages to get a table.
Even if you order takeout, there’s limited seating inside, so you’re better off eating outside on a bench.
LOCATION: 3895 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC
Poutine Centrale
Poutine Centrale is heaven for poutine lovers.
They’ve got all kinds of unique and drool-worthy poutines, from General Tao to Buffalo Chicken.
I think we got the Sloppy Joe poutine, which came with ground beef, tex-mex seasoning, and cheddar!
We happened upon this spot after visiting the Montreal Botanical Garden because it was the closest restaurant with good reviews.
It was definitely worth a visit!
LOCATION: 3971 Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC | Website
Burger Bar Crescent
Burger Bar is probably one of the best burger spots I’ve ever visited in my entire life.
If you’re a burger lover, you have to come by here!
This is another spot Adam frequents when he goes to Montreal.
It’s definitely one of the best restaurants in Montreal, period.
LOCATION: 1465 Crescent St, Montréal, QC | Website
Deville Dinerbar
Deville Dinerbar is a fun retro spot serving up delicious burgers and milkshakes.
While the burgers didn’t beat Burger Bar for us, we still really loved the food here!
As you can tell, it’s also got some pretty Instagram-worthy decor.
In case you’re also looking for Instagrammable places in Montreal 😉
LOCATION: 1425 Stanley St, Montréal, QC | Website
Kinka Izakaya
Originally start off in Toronto in 2009, Kinka now has locations even in Japan and Korea.
Kinka Izakaya is one of my fave restaurants here in Toronto, and it’s just as amazing in Montreal.
Grab some Sapporos, order some Japanese tapas, and enjoy the summer patio!
I love ordering the Kakimayo (cheesy baked oysters) and Chicken Karaage every time I visit Kinka.
LOCATION: 1624 Saint-Catherine St. W, Montréal, QC | Website
Kazu
Located just down the street from Kinka is Kazu, another great Japanese restaurant in Montreal.
They were on vacation (for 2 months!) when we tried to visit so I didn’t get to try it.
Adam comes here every time he visits Montreal – it’s one of his top places to eat!
LOCATION: 1844 Saint-Catherine St W, Montréal, Quebec | Website
LOV
LOV is a vegan restaurant known for its lush, Instagrammable interiors and delicious brunch.
All three of their restaurants are gorgeous, with plenty of plants and pretty details around.
Enjoy a Tofu Benedictine for brunch or their Big LOV Cheeseburger for lunch – all completely vegan.
They’ve also got a mix of classic and house special cocktails on the menu!
Their original restaurant is located in downtown Montreal, and they’ve also got two restaurants in Laval and Brossard.
LOCATION: 464 McGill St, Montreal, QC
Montreal has an incredible food scene, and it’s one of my favourite cities to visit in Canada.
I love visiting the city just to try new restaurants and eat at my old fave spots!
Have you tried any of these Montreal food spots? Where are some of the best restaurants in Montreal in your opinion? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
If you’re looking for fun activities to do in the city, there are plenty of awesome tours in Montreal, like this walking tour of Old Montreal or this guided bike tour.
Plan your Montreal trip
If you’re planning a trip to Montreal, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- Searching for places to eat? Hit up the best Montreal ice cream spots.
- Looking for cute spots? Visit the most Instagrammable spots in Montreal.
- Going to the Osheaga Music Festival? Here’s what to wear at Osheaga.
Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest if you aren’t already!
Feel free to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get my blog posts delivered straight to your inbox.
Like this post? Pin it for later!
