WHERE TO EAT IN MONTREAL

If you’re a huge foodie like myself, then you have to make a trip to Montreal. Their food scene is like no other with the cutest cafés and delicious restaurants around every corner. You’ll find so much variety for every palette and craving. Here are just of few of the amazing food spots I visited; all worthy of sharing. Also scroll down to the very end for the list of restaurants that I wanted to hit, but ran out of time… I guess that means I’ll have make another trip to Montreal soon! 😉

Before I share my list, there’s one restaurant in particular that was a huge stand out for me and was by far my most memorable meal of the whole trip. It deserves a little bit of a spotlight since my friend and I are still talking about it. We can’t wait to go back to try more from the menu. This restaurant I’m raving about is called BOCATA!

The building is a historic, rustic-chic bistro with a cozy feel serving elevated seafood, steak & pasta dishes. I absolutely loved the ambience, and our waitress was so lovely she even brought us shots at the end to cheers to the night ahead of us. The restaurant is rated $$$ on Google, but to be honest, the dishes are roughly the same price as a chain steak house, similar to The Keg or Canyon Creek, and the food and experience is WAY better here, so totally worth every penny!

We ordered the Lobster Carbonara and the Squid Risotto; they were both to die for!!! Very fresh and flavourful dishes that I highly recommend. You definitely NEED to go here!

Must-eat spots in Montreal:

Cafés

Cafe ORR – A fairly new cafe in Plateau, Mont Royal. It’s a coffee shop, movie theatre, and bar combined in one stunning venue. The decor is vibrant and fun. Great chill spot to sip and relax with a cup of coffee.

Tommy – Probably the most popular and Instagramable cafe in Montreal! Try the chai latte with almond milk. It’s pretty amazing.

Crew Collective & Cafe – This historic landmark, which was once a bank, got repurposed into a cafe. The interior is gorgeous with it’s cathedral-style architecture. The cafe menu includes sandwiches, soups, quiches and of course coffee.

Brunch

Muru Crêpe – The best crêpes I’ve ever had! They have such a unique selection of both sweet and savoury crépes and not to mention they have the cutest picture-worthy latte art. I recommend the smoked salmon crêpe and the strawberry cream crème brûlée for dessert. I’m drooling just thinking about it 🙂

La Mediterranee – A Mediterranean cafe with the cutest decor. They are known for their delicious salads, so perfect for a light and healthy lunch! Lots of options for vegans and vegetarians too. They also serve smoothies which I opted for at the time, but the salads looked amazing, so I would love to go back and give one a try.

Venice MTL – They really captured the feel of Venice here. They are known for their poke bowls and other healthy options. It was a fun stop for us and we enjoyed the vibe throughly while sipping on yummy margaritas!

Dinner

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Bocata – I have to mention it again because it’s just that good!

Majestique – This is my second favourite spot! It’s a very welcoming and intimate space. It’s filled with numerous antiques and mismatching objects which some how makes the place rather charming and full of character. They have $2 oysters during happy hour and we totally took advantage of that! A great spot to be social and have a few drinks in the evening.

Escondite – If you love Mexican food, you need to check this place out. We ordered some tacos to share and my favourite was the crispy cauliflower taco.

Drinks

The Coldroom – A speakeasy-style hideaway bar known for their gourmet cocktails. It’s a super popular venue and very small, so don’t be surprised if there’s a wait to get in. The first night we were there, it was a 45 minute wait and it was way too cold to stand outside. The second night we tried again and there was still a wait, but only a 15 minutes. It was worth it though for the experience and their “Convoy” cocktail (Botanist Gin, espresso, martini dry vermouth, pineapple, toasted coconut, and egg white)!

Montreal Staples

St-Viateur Bagels – THE BEST BAGELS EVER! They are handmade with all natural ingredients and are baked in wood-burning ovens. I never knew I could love a bagel so much. lol! The All-Dressed is my favourite and Sesame a close second.

Schwartz – The world’s famous original smoked meat restaurant! I feel like this place is a MUST while you’re visiting Montreal to try their smoked meat sandwiches. It literally melts in your mouth! If you don’t feel like beating the crowds to get a table, hop over to the take-out side. It’s quick and they have chairs and tables in the back.

La Banquise – You can’t go to Montreal and not try their famous poutine! This spot is another extremely busy restaurant, so try to avoid peak hours. I went with the classic poutine… you can never go wrong with a classic.

The list I’m saving for my next visit…

• Le Passe Compose
• Kampai
• Abe and Mary’s
• Moccione
• Caffe Farina
• India Rosa
• Cafe Le VSL
• Coba bar
• Pastel Rita
• Yaourti
• Ginkgo
• Gaufres & Glaces

I’ve fallen in love with the delicious food scene in Montreal. Have you ever been? If so, what is your favourite restaurant? Please share in the comment section below.

Bon Appétit!

xo