Guidebook for Montréal
Food Scene
The local. My second home. Open from noon to 3, good for lunch, afternoon study session, drinks all night. Excellent tacos, serve food till 2ish…but you must order food if you want to drink!
106 locals recommend
Else's
156 Rue Roy EThe local. My second home. Open from noon to 3, good for lunch, afternoon study session, drinks all night. Excellent tacos, serve food till 2ish…but you must order food if you want to drink!
Nice tapas and cocktails, good for 5 a 7, gets loud and dancey later on…Has a food truck night on Thursdays with featured guest food truck.
30 locals recommend
Mme Lee
151 Rue Ontario ENice tapas and cocktails, good for 5 a 7, gets loud and dancey later on…Has a food truck night on Thursdays with featured guest food truck.
Excellent new Japanese isakaya. Very interesting food, lots of cooking at the table. My old chef Yutaka Abbe (who started the Big in Japan kitchen) runs it. He is very very talented and cool as hell.
9 locals recommend
Izakaya Kabocha
3627 Boul. Saint-LaurentExcellent new Japanese isakaya. Very interesting food, lots of cooking at the table. My old chef Yutaka Abbe (who started the Big in Japan kitchen) runs it. He is very very talented and cool as hell.
Cute little restaurant, family owned and run by some positively lovely people. North Indian Cuisine. The Thali is cheap and delicious.
10 locals recommend
Darbar
2027 Boul. Saint-LaurentCute little restaurant, family owned and run by some positively lovely people. North Indian Cuisine. The Thali is cheap and delicious.
Upscale french food. On the pricier side, but one of the best tables in town. Nestled between sketchy electronic stores.
96 locals recommend
BOUILLON BILK
1595 Boul. Saint-LaurentUpscale french food. On the pricier side, but one of the best tables in town. Nestled between sketchy electronic stores.
hipster tex-mex joint. nice patio. serve food til late-ish. Have to eat to drink.
61 locals recommend
Icehouse
51 Rue Roy Ehipster tex-mex joint. nice patio. serve food til late-ish. Have to eat to drink.
Good food, nice spot to study, great for people watching, especially in the window, or if its nice, tables outside on St-Laurent. DJ’s at night, food til 11 or 12.
66 locals recommend
Laika
4040 Boulevard Saint-LaurentGood food, nice spot to study, great for people watching, especially in the window, or if its nice, tables outside on St-Laurent. DJ’s at night, food til 11 or 12.
Tiny diner. Another plateau institution. Great vibe. Excellent poutine and mini-burgers. If there are no seats, get your food to go and walk west on Rachel to the park.
224 locals recommend
Patati Patata Friterie de Luxe
4177 Boul. Saint-LaurentTiny diner. Another plateau institution. Great vibe. Excellent poutine and mini-burgers. If there are no seats, get your food to go and walk west on Rachel to the park.
Not to be confused with the bar up the street. Casual isakaya with an oldschool Quebecois diner feel (But not as good as Isakaya Kabocha)
109 locals recommend
Big in Japan
3723 Boulevard Saint-Laurent Not to be confused with the bar up the street. Casual isakaya with an oldschool Quebecois diner feel (But not as good as Isakaya Kabocha)
Soups and sammies. Lots of cream cheese and pumpernickel bread. Great patio. Get the Killer Tomato. Also excellent for takeout on the way to the park.
171 locals recommend
Café Santropol
3990 Rue Saint-Urbain Soups and sammies. Lots of cream cheese and pumpernickel bread. Great patio. Get the Killer Tomato. Also excellent for takeout on the way to the park.
Mediterranean eatery…great wraps and mezze and hummus. Fresh juices. Responsibly sourced, hormone-free local meat. Ali’s a real peach as well.
69 locals recommend
Omnivore St Laurent
4306 Boul. Saint-LaurentMediterranean eatery…great wraps and mezze and hummus. Fresh juices. Responsibly sourced, hormone-free local meat. Ali’s a real peach as well.
Another institution on the Montreal brunch scene. Leonard Cohen’s favourite brunch spot.
89 locals recommend
Bagel Etc
4320 Boul. Saint-LaurentAnother institution on the Montreal brunch scene. Leonard Cohen’s favourite brunch spot.
Café Nocturne
19 Rue Prince Arthur OSome of the best coffee in town. 'Nuff said.
Great restaurant, ridiculously opulent Quebecois food. Butter, cream, maple syrup, bacon, foie gras...all of the richness you could imagine. The foie gras poutine is insane.
341 locals recommend
Au Pied de Cochon
536 Av. Duluth EGreat restaurant, ridiculously opulent Quebecois food. Butter, cream, maple syrup, bacon, foie gras...all of the richness you could imagine. The foie gras poutine is insane.
Hipster taqueria. Mostly organic, responsibly sourced and local with their organic rooftop garden (which I helped to plant!) Lots of tequila, lots of hip hop. Also I work here, come visit me!
5439 Boul St-Laurent
5439 Boulevard Saint-LaurentHipster taqueria. Mostly organic, responsibly sourced and local with their organic rooftop garden (which I helped to plant!) Lots of tequila, lots of hip hop. Also I work here, come visit me!
Beautiful tea room above Sparrow. Open 11-7 Thursday through Sunday
54 locals recommend
Cardinal Tearoom
5326 Boul. Saint-LaurentBeautiful tea room above Sparrow. Open 11-7 Thursday through Sunday
Delicious very meaty, British(?) food. Great for opulent brunch. No reservations, but you can give them your number and stroll around Mile-End waiting for your table.
175 locals recommend
Lawrence
9 Av. Fairmount EDelicious very meaty, British(?) food. Great for opulent brunch. No reservations, but you can give them your number and stroll around Mile-End waiting for your table.
Cafe by day, chill bar by night. Delicious food. Operate their own radio station (Green room radio) from the bar. Decor loosely inspired by The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Maison Sociale
5386 Boul. Saint-LaurentCafe by day, chill bar by night. Delicious food. Operate their own radio station (Green room radio) from the bar. Decor loosely inspired by The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Great stone-fired pizza. They just opened another location in the village as well.
117 locals recommend
Pizzeria Magpie Mile End
16 Rue MaguireGreat stone-fired pizza. They just opened another location in the village as well.
Japanese fusion with traditional French Guidiron service. Mackerel seared at the table and other such shenanigans
12 locals recommend
Thazard Taverne Asiatique
5329 Boul. Saint-LaurentJapanese fusion with traditional French Guidiron service. Mackerel seared at the table and other such shenanigans
Upscale french food. Pricey, but also one of the best restaurants in town.
45 locals recommend
Hotel Herman
5171 Boulevard Saint-LaurentUpscale french food. Pricey, but also one of the best restaurants in town.
Old school Italian coffee shop. Great patio for people watching. Cash only.
455 locals recommend
Café Olimpico
124 Rue Saint- Viateur OOld school Italian coffee shop. Great patio for people watching. Cash only.
One of the best new restaurants in town. Focus on wild and foraged meats and veggies. Great selection of natural wines. Little patio: excellent place for lunch.
88 locals recommend
Manitoba
271 Rue Saint-Zotique OOne of the best new restaurants in town. Focus on wild and foraged meats and veggies. Great selection of natural wines. Little patio: excellent place for lunch.
Southern style comfort food. They have a fancy picnic service which is a blast. Make your choices and they set you up with a cute picnic basket which you can enjoy in the park across the street.
140 locals recommend
Dinette Triple Crown
6704 Rue ClarkSouthern style comfort food. They have a fancy picnic service which is a blast. Make your choices and they set you up with a cute picnic basket which you can enjoy in the park across the street.
Spanish/French cuisine, great seafood, fabulous oysters. Extensive wine list and many wines by the glass. (Lobster Carbonara is to die for). Also I work here too, come visit me!
27 locals recommend
Super Loco
5417 St Laurent BlvdSpanish/French cuisine, great seafood, fabulous oysters. Extensive wine list and many wines by the glass. (Lobster Carbonara is to die for). Also I work here too, come visit me!
Seriously the best cafe in town. Sandwiches, salads, home-made pastries and sweets. so pretty. Open Tuesday through Saturday during the day. Expect to wait at lunchtime. No reservations.
254 locals recommend
Olive et Gourmando
351 Rue Saint-Paul OSeriously the best cafe in town. Sandwiches, salads, home-made pastries and sweets. so pretty. Open Tuesday through Saturday during the day. Expect to wait at lunchtime. No reservations.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fancy cocktails served in mason jars. Original location on Ontario just west of St-Denis, cozy, very crowded.
145 locals recommend
Distillery no.1
300 Rue Ontario EFancy cocktails served in mason jars. Original location on Ontario just west of St-Denis, cozy, very crowded.
Simply beautiful. Hidden behind a non-descript door on St-Laurent just south of Rachel (and Patati Patata). Japanese whisky, fancy cocktails or cheap beer on tap, velvet curtains and lots of candles.
4175 Boul St-Laurent
4175 Boulevard Saint-LaurentSimply beautiful. Hidden behind a non-descript door on St-Laurent just south of Rachel (and Patati Patata). Japanese whisky, fancy cocktails or cheap beer on tap, velvet curtains and lots of candles.
Some of the most coveted outdoor seating in town. great patio in a courtyard replete with bricks and copious vines. Cheap Boreale on tap on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
103 locals recommend
Le Sainte-Élisabeth
1412 Rue Sainte-ElisabethSome of the most coveted outdoor seating in town. great patio in a courtyard replete with bricks and copious vines. Cheap Boreale on tap on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
New dance bar, good DJ’s, usually no cover before midnight. Go early, get stamped and then cross the alley to have drinks at Ste Elisabeth until the dance floor heats up.
1403 Rue Sainte Élisabeth
1403 Rue Sainte-ElisabethNew dance bar, good DJ’s, usually no cover before midnight. Go early, get stamped and then cross the alley to have drinks at Ste Elisabeth until the dance floor heats up.
Co-op concert venue. lots of cool little acts, cheap drinks, no attitude
89 locals recommend
Divan Orange
4234 Boulevard Saint-Laurent Co-op concert venue. lots of cool little acts, cheap drinks, no attitude
Chic french brewpub, delicious bar snacks, 6 priceless seats on their mini rooftop terrasse (although no smoking allowed!)
140 locals recommend
Réservoir
9 Av. Duluth EChic french brewpub, delicious bar snacks, 6 priceless seats on their mini rooftop terrasse (although no smoking allowed!)
ultra hipster tiki bar in sub-basement in Chinatown. They serve drinks carved out of coconuts and the like. Look for the giant green pineapple at the entrance.
84 locals recommend
Bar Le Mal Nécessaire
1106B Boul. Saint-Laurentultra hipster tiki bar in sub-basement in Chinatown. They serve drinks carved out of coconuts and the like. Look for the giant green pineapple at the entrance.
Deliciously dirty dive bar. Super cheap. Typically very young and rowdy but lots of fun. Always good for a shot on the way out for the night, or at last call. Pool tables. Cash only
21 locals recommend
Bar Bifteck St-Laurent
3702 Boul. Saint-LaurentDeliciously dirty dive bar. Super cheap. Typically very young and rowdy but lots of fun. Always good for a shot on the way out for the night, or at last call. Pool tables. Cash only
Divey hipster bar. Right next to Blizzart’s, which is more of the same. The most fun to be had is standing outside in front of both establishments in the pack of smokers.
16 locals recommend
Blue Dog
Divey hipster bar. Right next to Blizzart’s, which is more of the same. The most fun to be had is standing outside in front of both establishments in the pack of smokers.
Great intimate venue, a throwback to the glamour sin-city days of Montreal. Burlesque and variety shows nightly.
15 locals recommend
The Wiggle Room
3874 Boul. Saint-LaurentGreat intimate venue, a throwback to the glamour sin-city days of Montreal. Burlesque and variety shows nightly.
Equally pretty and dirty, great for a sweaty dance party. Right down the street from Else’s. Looking to get inked on the fly during your stay? Tuesdays are Tattoo Night with guest tattoo artists.
15 locals recommend
Bar Salon Officiel
351 Rue Roy EstEqually pretty and dirty, great for a sweaty dance party. Right down the street from Else’s. Looking to get inked on the fly during your stay? Tuesdays are Tattoo Night with guest tattoo artists.
The dirtiest dive on the Main. Live music, pool, ridiculously cheap scotch.
30 locals recommend
Barfly
4062 Boul. Saint-LaurentThe dirtiest dive on the Main. Live music, pool, ridiculously cheap scotch.
Beautiful easy-going cocktail bar. Nice brunch option. Especially nice back up plan if you can't get into Lawrence.
240 locals recommend
Sparrow
5322 Boul. Saint-LaurentBeautiful easy-going cocktail bar. Nice brunch option. Especially nice back up plan if you can't get into Lawrence.
Great dive--Massive record collection, cutest little elderly man spinning. And free chips and candy. And pool. basically everything.
58 locals recommend
Snack'n Blues
5260 Boul. Saint-LaurentGreat dive--Massive record collection, cutest little elderly man spinning. And free chips and candy. And pool. basically everything.
AKA no-name bar. Seriously just so pretty, The front is full of huge ferns and the back room is all antique couches and lanterns. Like a really chic opium den.
26 locals recommend
The Emerald
5295 Av du ParcAKA no-name bar. Seriously just so pretty, The front is full of huge ferns and the back room is all antique couches and lanterns. Like a really chic opium den.
Vices & Versa
6631 Boul. Saint-LaurentExtensive selection of beers. Cheap snacks. Great patio
Bocata’s older sister. Great cocktails, more meat dishes. Simply beautiful. In one of the oldest buildings in the Old Port.
55 locals recommend
BARROCO
312 Rue Saint-Paul OBocata’s older sister. Great cocktails, more meat dishes. Simply beautiful. In one of the oldest buildings in the Old Port.
Everything Else
Chez José Café
173 Av. Duluth EPlateau institution. Great sammies, smoothies, coffee. Cash only.
Named after the milk bar in A Clockwork Orange. Young and dirty, but great for a dance party, especially Thursday and Friday. Also, they have a photo booth-which beats the hell out of selfies.
9 locals recommend
Bar Korova
3908 Boulevard Saint-LaurentNamed after the milk bar in A Clockwork Orange. Young and dirty, but great for a dance party, especially Thursday and Friday. Also, they have a photo booth-which beats the hell out of selfies.
Shopping
Eva B.
2015 Boul. Saint-LaurentMassive secondhand store, costume rental, snacks and coffee. So much fun.
PJC Jean Coutu
6940 Av. PapineauPharmacy just a few blocks away. Open 24 hours
warehouse type store with all sorts of jeans for cheap. Don't try to do it by yourself, just tell them what you are looking for and they will bring you all the jeans you could possibly want.
24 locals recommend
Jeans Jeans Jeans
5575 Av. Casgrainwarehouse type store with all sorts of jeans for cheap. Don't try to do it by yourself, just tell them what you are looking for and they will bring you all the jeans you could possibly want.
Essentials
Another veritable plateau institution. Cheapest groceries in town. (AKA the 'push’n’shove' because it is always teeming). Closed Sundays.
150 locals recommend
Segal's Market
4001 Boul. Saint-LaurentAnother veritable plateau institution. Cheapest groceries in town. (AKA the 'push’n’shove' because it is always teeming). Closed Sundays.
Four Brothers
3697 Boul. Saint-LaurentOutrageously overpriced groceries, but open all night. Always interesting.
Open 24 hours for takeout. Great drunk snack on the way home. Cash only.
521 locals recommend
Fairmount Bagel
74 Av. Fairmount OOpen 24 hours for takeout. Great drunk snack on the way home. Cash only.
Outdoor market. Peruse (and taste!) local produce, and gourmet meats and cheeses. Lots of plants. Surrounded by cute restaurants and food stalls.
1744 locals recommend
Jean-Talon Market
7070 Av. Henri-Julien Outdoor market. Peruse (and taste!) local produce, and gourmet meats and cheeses. Lots of plants. Surrounded by cute restaurants and food stalls.