Where to enjoy natural wines in Montréal
The natural wave hit Montréal a few years ago and the city has since become one of the best in the world to enjoy these funky wines. Several restaurants in town boast great cartes de vins natures that are fun to explore. Below are some of our favourites.
Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie, Hochelaga, Villeray & Ahuntsic
Mon Lapin
Mon Lapin’s sommelier Vanya Filipovic’s passion for great wines and fantastic winemakers is evident in the care and research that goes in the creation of the restaurant’s outstanding wine menu, one of the best in Montréal. Mon Lapin has just been nominated the best restaurants in Canada for 2023 so you’ll definitely want to move it to the top of your Montréal dining list.
150 Saint-Zotique Street
Alep and Le Petit Alep
It’s rather surprising that these two unassuming neighbouring restaurants have one of the most sophisticated and elaborate wine cellars in town. Alep and its more casual bistro, Le Petit Alep, are best known for their outstanding Syrian cuisine, but their extensive wine list shouldn’t be overlooked.
191 Jean-Talon Street East
Bar Mamie, La Cave de Mamie & La boucherie de Mamie
Cozy and quirky Bar Mamie, La Cave de Mamie and La Boucherie de Mamie have become a part of the neighbourhood scenery as if they’d always been there. The “planches et apéros” inspired menus are rooted in French cuisine. Let Mamie take care of you and be surprised by some of the great wines they have in their cave.
328 Beaubien Street East
Pumpui and Pichai
Thai streetfood and natural wines is the name of the game at Pumpui, a no-frills grocery store and excellent curry counter. Its sister establishment Pichai is located on Plaza Saint-Hubert and serves amazing food and the same delectable bottles in a more sit-down setting.
Pumpui: 83 Saint-Zotique Street East
Pichai: 5985 St-Hubert Street
Polari
Behind an unassuming garage door in Villeray is the neighbourhood latest outstanding wine bar from sommelier Keaton Ritchie (Larry’s, Lawrence) and his 2 partners. The simple yet cozy dining room of this converted garage is always buzzing with a happy crowd that spills onto pedestrian De Castelnau come summertime. The bottles here are carefully curated and the beautiful selection, from wallet-friendly choices to more celebratory findings, are always on point.
375 De Castelnau Street East
Hélicoptère
Hochelaga restaurant Hélicoptère has garnered quite the loyal following with its great food, pastries, artisanal breads and natural wines.
4255 Ontario Street East
Lundis au soleil
Local and privately imported wines share space in the Lundis au soleil cellar, a much beloved neighbourhood spot that has managed to thrive since it opened a couple of years ago. Head there for lunch, dinner or a 4pm to 6pm apéro and enjoy.
801 Jarry Street East
Restaurant Jaja
Restaurant Jaja serves local and seasonal ingredients grown in a sustainable manner and plated beautifully. They take just as much care in selecting the natural wines on their list. In popular culture, “jaja” means table wine or an “everyday” wine and in Latin, it means laughter and fun and Jaja perfectly blends these two meanings.
6389 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Le Elsdale
A café by day and a wine bar by night, Le Elsdale is a neighbourhood restaurant that’s perfect for lunch, brunch, or dinner. Their menu is composed of simple and fresh seasonal specials that pair nicely with their collection of natural wines.
2381 Beaubien Street East
Buvette Pompette
“Natural, organic and biodynamic wines, and all that, mainly privately imported” – that’s the claim on Buvette Pompette’s website. The food here is Iberian-inspired, the terrasse is lovely, the ambiance casual and fun and the wines top-notch.
414 Saint-Zotique Street East
Downtown, Quartiers du canal, Verdun and Old Montréal
Candide
Located in a renovated church seminary along a back alley in Griffintown, Candide’s uncompromising dedication to local and seasonal produce have made it a destination for food lovers looking to enjoy a taste of Québec’s terroir. The cellar here is filled with beautiful bottles from winemakers who work in harmony with nature. You will surely make some great discoveries.
551 Saint-Martin Street
Elena and Gia Vin & Grill
Elena perfects the classic and effortless combination of pizza and wine. Easy drinkable wines from small, mostly Italian producers go hand in hand with the chic yet casual vibes and seasonal cuisine. Sister restaurant Gia Vin & Grill adheres to the same principle when it comes to its wine list.
Elena: 5090 Notre-Dame Street West
Gia: 1025 Lenoir Street
Monopole Café
“Open from early to late”, this charming Old Montréal establishment is a specialty coffee shop by day and a great buvette at night. The airy, minimalist design and cozy ambiance make Monopole the perfect place to grab a glass of wine from their extensive collection.
782 Wellington Street
Verdun Beach Bar
200+ natural wine bottles are on the menu of this trendy Verdun guinguette (a type of popular tavern). Verdun Beach Bar has the atmosphere of a beachside establishment. It serves market forward dishes and the gorgeous terrasse is THE hot spot to hang out at.
4816 Wellington Street
KROOD
This poké and tartar bar, situated in Pointe-Saint-Charles, is a nice hidden gem that overlooks the Canal Lachine. The decor is inspired by Californian style, making it aesthetically pleasing. You can customize your order, and their selection of natural wines will perfectly complement your poké or tartar.
2606 Saint-Patrick Street
Plateau Mont-Royal, Mile-End, Outremont and Mile-Ex
Lawrence and Larrys
Lawrence’s reputation as one of the best restaurants in Montréal has been set since its opening day. The Mile End restaurant also boasts a great wine list with many natural wine options to pair with its nose to tail market cuisine. Around the corner you’ll find its younger sibling Larrys, open from early morning to late at night. It serves everything from breakfast sandwiches to delicious small plates to share and, most importantly, a great natural wine selection.
Lawrence: 9 Fairmount Street East
Larry’s: 5201 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Alma and Tinc Set
With an emphasis on mostly Catalan and Spanish “hand-selected artisanal wines”, Alma and sister roast chicken slinger Tinc Set are the perfect neighbourhood restaurants. It helps that the sommelière and co-owner is also behind private import company Vin I Vida.
Alma: 1231 Lajoie Avenue
Tinc Set: 1233 Lajoie Avenue
Pastel Rita
“Café, vins, tattoo” summarizes well what this iconic Mile End establishment is all about. With a décor straight out of a Wes Andersen movie, Pastel Rita is a beautiful space to visit at any time of day.
5761 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Buvette Chez Simone and Bar à Flot
“Buvette” has been a Montréal favourite for the past decade and a half. The Park Avenue establishment is famous for its French-inspired small plates to share, its cheese and charcuterie boards and its well curated wine list. Next door, sister buvette “Bar à Flot” run by sommelière Florence Pelland-Goyer is also a great spot to enjoy a glass or two of natural wine.
Buvette Chez Simone: 4869 Du Parc Avenue
Bar à Flot: 4857 Du Parc Avenue
Majestique
Funky and quirky Majestique has been a staple on the Main for the past few years. The festive ambiance, the fascinating tchotchkes all around, the exceptional food and wines and the flawless service make this restaurant an absolute must.
4105 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Café Denise
Unassuming Café Denise has become a reference when it comes to low intervention wines. This Beaumont Street eatery’s diminutive space is only offset by the impressive size of its natural wine collection, which is always full of nice surprises.
386 Beaumont Avenue
Boucherie Provisions
Part butcher shop, sandwich haul and wine bar, Boucherie Provisions is all kinds of delicious. This casual and fun Outremont spot is the perfect destination to share a meal featuring local ingredients, their own meats and a glass of natural wine from their extensive list.
1142 Van Horne
There are many other Montréal restaurants with great selections of natural wines on their menus, including Henrietta, Buvette Pastek, Rouge Gorge, Bar St-Denis, Butterblume, Place Carmin, Vin Papillon, and Les Cavistes Restaurant Wine Bar.
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.