A guide to brunch in Montréal
Breakfast and Brunch
Brunch is a very Montréal affair. Montrealers partake in this culinary tradition quite regularly with complete abandon – and at a leisurely pace – to start the weekend on the right note. While there are many delicious brunch options all over the city, here are some of our favourites, listed by neighbourhood.
OLD MONTRÉAL
Restaurant Gault
Hotel Gault's historic nineteenth century building houses 30 minimalist-style lofts and suites with stunning views of the city on a quiet, cobblestone street. In the gorgeous and luminous lobby of this hidden Old Montréal gem is Restaurant Gault, a sleek and chic space that's open to the public. You can have breakfast here on weekdays or brunch on weekends from 7:30am. The Montréal Bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onions and capers is always a good classic choice but the mushroom Benedicts are an excellent brunch choice.
449 Sainte-Hélène Street
Olive et Gourmando
A classic all-day breakfast option in Old Montréal, Olive et Gourmando’s pastry counter and delicious sandwiches have garnered a well-earned reputation of being some of the best in town. Special brunch items are available on the weekends but the always available “poached egg on your face” panini, homemade ricotta plate, and granola bowl are great options all week long.
351 Saint-Paul Street West
Le Cartet
Part restaurant, part fine food store, Le Cartet has a very New York feel to it. It’s open every day from breakfast until late lunch but is especially nice for weekend brunch. Fromt heir hearty “Canton” breunch plate with eggs, sausage, ham, and baked beans to healthier options such as the avocado sandwich, everything here is well executed and beautifully presented.
106 McGill Street
Brasserie 701
Saturday and Sunday brunches at Brasserie 701 are a laidback affair. The brunch menu includes items such as lobster or duck confit benedicts and croque monsieur as well as your traditional omelets and egg dishes. Make it extra special with a signature house cocktail.
701 Côte de la Place-d'Armes
Restaurant Mélisse
It is an absolute joy to dine in Restaurant Mélisse’s charming Instagram dream of a décor or on its lovely summertime terrasse. Available on weekends only, the elaborate brunch menu is market-inspired and includes flaky pastries, light choices and hearty dishes, including many vegetarian options.
719 William Street
Pub Wolf & Workman
The successful Burgundy Lion Group is behind this handsome Old Montréal English gastropub. Named after two former Montréal mayors, Pub Wolf & Workman’s weekend brunch menu offers items such as a full English Breakfast and a duck Scotch egg. If you can, grab a table on their gorgeous patio.
139 Saint-Paul Street
DOWNTOWN
Café Parvis
Adjacent to the Quartier des spectacles, downtown Montréal’s “festival centre”, Café Parvis is a lovely spot any time of day. Start your weekend brunch at Parvis with a delicious latté, then dig into their breakfast pizza, a house specialty with pork sausage, smoked tomato sauce, grilled fennel, cheddar, mozzarella, poblano chimichurri, sweet pepper, and jalapeno, and topped with a fried egg.
433 Mayor Street
Brasserie Le Pois Penché
A big bustling brasserie right in the heart of downtown Montréal, Le Pois Penché’s brunch menu is two pages long and will have you hesitating between the tartares, the fresh seafood platter, the classic egg dishes and the warm homemade pastries.
1230 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West
Marcus Montréal
Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson’s eponymous restaurant is located inside the stunning Four Seasons Hotel. Marcus’ contemporary décor is gorgeous and the beautiful terrasse has stunning views of the downtown core and the Leonard Cohen mural. The cuisine is modern American and features a raw bar among other brunch specialties.
1440 de la Montagne Street
Maison Boulud
Restaurant ChinaTown Kim Fung
If you fancy traditional dim sum fare, head to Chinatown’s Restaurant ChinaTown Kim Fung for some of the best in Montréal. Get there early if you don’t want to wait, but the line-up is well worth it for the dozens of delicious dim sum baskets and plates circulating around the room.
1111 Saint-Urbain Street
Universel Déjeuners et Grillades
With two locations in downtown Montréal, Universel Déjeuners et Grillades is a classic all-day, breakfast restaurant serving a large variety of the usual omelettes, egg dishes, waffles, crêpes, etc. as well as some more elaborate options like fried chicken or breakfast poutines. They also offer healthy and vegetarian options.
2055 Peel Street & 359 Sainte-Catherine Street West
Bar George
Elegant Le Mount Stephen Hotel and its restaurant, Bar George have mastered the art of hospitality. The restaurant’s weekend brunch is British-inspired and features a full English breakfast as well as some other interesting options such as the scrambled eggs with black truffles or the Acadian sturgeon caviar with blinis.
1440 Drummond Street
Renoir
Hotel in the heart of Montréal’s Golden Square Mile district. The cuisine by award-winning chef Olivier Perret and award-winning pastry chef Paul Peyrat is rooted in French and inspired by the seasons. They serve a weekend brunch and the copious, fixed-price Sunday buffet is especially delicious.
1155 Sherbrooke Street West
Dame-Tartine
Dame Tartine is a restaurant that specializes in breakfasts and lunches with a focus on using prime, healthy, and fresh ingredients. The varied menu appeals to all tastes and includes almond milk, gluten-free bread, veggie pâté and a wide variety of teas, as well as a selection of beers and wines.
1653 Ontario Street East
Café Holt
Chic Café Holt serves brunch all day long on Saturdays and Sundays. Breakfast staples, sandwiches and dishes such as burrata eggs Benedict and smoked salmon tartine are on the menu of this beautiful Parisian-inspired restaurant located inside the elegant Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store.
1300 Saint-Catherine Street West
Tiramisu
An Italian and Japanese fusion restaurant, Tiramisu’s gorgeous decor is only rivaled by its great food. For their “più che perfetto” (more than perfect) brunch elaborated with brunch masters Passé Composé, enjoy a breakfast Carbonara pizza or an arrabiata toast with one of their signature cocktails.
989 Saint-Laurent Blvd.
QUARTIERS DU CANAL
Pub Burgundy Lion
Pub Burgundy Lion blends traditional British pub fare with a modern lounge bar atmosphere for a unique twist on British pub cuisine. Brunch options range from Scotch eggs to a full English breakfast, in addition to all the usual staples. Wash it down with a King Cole Mimosa or a Burgundy Julep. Hey, it’s the weekend.
2496 Notre-Dame Street West
Le Bird Bar
Funky Le Bird Bar is in the heart of Griffintown. This is where the trendy crowd gathers to chow down on chicken and waffles, avocado toast or truffle mac and cheese. Forget the latté and order a glass of bubbly.
1800 Notre-Dame Street West
Café Bloom
Deep in the heart of Pointe St-Charles is the lovely and eclectic Café Bloom, a great space to sit and eat, nurse a cup of coffee and spend a little time. Café Bloom serves colourful plates for any meal and loads of vegetarian and vegan options.
1940 Center Street
Perles et Paddock
A dreamy space located inside a garage that’s been converted into a greenhouse of sorts in the heart of Little Burgundy, Perles et Paddock is French- and market-inspired with items like roast lobster on toasted sourdough bread and Pavlova with lemon custard vying for your attention. Order one of their great cocktails to start your weekend right.
403 des Seigneurs Street
Shay
Junior Filipino
Fancy a trip to the Philippines for brunch? Junior Filipino’s brunch menu is outstanding! If the exotic sounding coconut waffle with lechon (crispy ork belly) doesn’t do it for you, try one of the silogs. The traditional Filipino dish includes garlic rice topped with a fried egg with a side of meat.
1964 Notre Dame Street West
THE VILLAGE
Tendresse
With its elegant, breezy décor inside and a cozy patio to enjoy in the summer, Tendresse is a great addition to the Village’s dining scene. The brunch menu is filled with delicious and sometimes decadent options that include burgers, waffles, Benedict and breakfast tacos. Everything just happens to be vegan
1259 Sainte-Catherine Street West
PLATEAU/MILE END/OUTREMONT
Bistrot La Fabrique
La Fabrique’s dining room is designed around the open kitchen that takes centre stage in this dynamic bistro where the food is based on local and seasonal products. The brunch menu is always an elaborate affair here. Try the brioche with halloumi, cherry, soft-boiled egg, and zaatar or the pulled pork focaccia with 67º egg.
3619 Saint-Denis Street
Leméac
A favourite among Montrealers who are looking for that French bistro feel, Leméac’s brunches are French inspired and include such classics as rillettes and boudin as well as omelets. The 3-inch-high French toast with caramelized bananas and chocolate sauce is a jaw-dropping dish and one of their classics. If you can, grab a seat on their charming patio.
1045 Laurier Avenue West
Bloomfield
The menu at Bloomfield has a definite Mediterranean feel, exotic flavours like tahini, pomegranate and halva front and centre. Try the Palestinian eggs with tomato sauce, lamb kefta, feta and labneh or the Persian koukou sabzi frittata.
1199 Van Horne Avenue
Le Sparrow
Mile End’s Le Sparrow serves a brunch inspired by international flavours in a cozy décor with plush seating and dark wood accents. Choose among the Turkish breakfast platter, the morning bánh mì or the naan sandwich with fried egg, bacon, tomato and chilli jam, tarragon labneh, and cilantro.
5322 Saint-Laurent Blvd.
VILLERAY/ROSEMONT
Fanfare
This Villeray boulangerie has garnered a loyal following thanks to its amazing baked goods. Fanfare’s daily brunches are just as delicious with French toast and the croissant croque-madame being among the most popular dishes. The lovely patio adds to the charm of this quaint spot.
751 Jarry Street East
Le Red Tiger
Le Red Tiger enlisted the brunch knowhow of Le Passé Composé’s chef Arnaud Glay to create a new menu blending their take on Vietnamese street food with classic North American fare. The result is the unique new brunch at Le Red Tiger’s Angus Shop location. With a focus on local produce, these brunches are serving up delights such a panko French toast, breakfast banh mi and iced Vietnamese coffee.
4051 Molson Street
WEEKDAY CHOICES
Greenspot Restaurant
Greenspot Restaurant is a Saint-Henri institution that’s been around since 1947 while managing to keep its original décor, right down to the tabletop jukeboxes. It opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays (7 a.m. on weekends) and serves a classic diner / greasy spoon menu.
3041 Notre-Dame Street West
Le Vieux Vélo
A Petite Patrie classic, Le Vieux Vélo excels at the all-day breakfast game and serves classics such as traditional egg dishes, Benedicts and more in an unpretentious and friendly ambiance.
59 Beaubien Street East
Régine & Janine Cafés
Régine and Janine have built a reputation as Montréal weekday brunch authorities of sorts and for good reason! Their elaborate brunches include dishes such as corn waffles with trout gravlax and poached eggs with mushrooms. Their vertical plate with homemade pastries and jams is a must as well.
1840 Beaubien Street East
Website
3900 Wellington Street
Beautys Luncheonette
Beautys Luncheonette is an iconic Montréal institution that’s been serving breakfast and lunch for the past 70 years in a diner setting. The Beauty Special, a bagel with cream cheese, lox, red onions and tomatoes on a toasted bagel, is legendary.
93 Mont-Royal West
Le Elsdale
This charming little café is open for brunch from 9 a.m., 6 days a week with a more elaborate menu on weekends. Le Elsdale’s breakfast sandwich with Île aux Grues cheddar or Turkish eggs are great options to start your day or your weekend on the right foot.
2381 Beaubien Street East
Bagel etc.
Open every day from early morning until late afternoon, Bagel etc. is a classic retro looking diner in the heart of the Portuguese ghetto of Montréal. It serves your classic Jewish-inspired specialties including excellent blintzes with a variety of fillings.
4320 Saint-Laurent Blvd.
Le Toasteur Villeray
This is a classic all-day breakfast restaurant serving all your favourite classics from omelets to eggs Benedict to crêpes and waffles. Located in Villeray, Le Toasteur is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Tuesdays.
767 Villeray Street
L’Entre-Pots
L'Entre-Pots is a small and charming Rosemont restaurant that serves brunch and lunch every day of the week. The staff is friendly, the space cozy and the generous dishes are market inspired. The adorable sunny terrasse is the perfect place to enjoy one of L’Entre-Pots’ sandwiches or bowls.
1995 Masson Street
Maamm Bolduc
Although best known for its poutine, Maamm Bolduc is a great place for a weekday breakfast or weekend brunches starting at 9 a.m. Eggs, crepes, bagels and other morning delights are all part of the colourful menu.
4351 De Lorimier Avenue
Restaurant Antipode
Antipode, a restaurant located on Laurier Street East near Papineau Avenue, has brunch served daily, elaborate coffee concoctions and much more. Begin the day with one of their specialty lattes that come in a variety of flavours. Their Antipode specials such as brown butter eggs, eggplant croquettes or shashukas (including a vegan one) are all excellent.
1602 Laurier Avenue East
Millmans
Open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Mondays, Millmans is an unpretentious, diner-style establishment with an old-school look but a great menu. All the diner classics are prepared using excellent ingredients such as bread from Miette Boulangerie for the BLT and beautiful local berries on the fluffy pancakes.
3779 Wellington Street
La Binerie
Quaint casse-croûte La Binerie is legendary in Montréal. Operating since 1938, it is the most quintessential Québec diner in the city. From black pudding to cold pork roast, La Binerie serves traditional quebecois breakfast items. The fèves au lard or baked beans are a specialty here and an absolute must.
4167 Saint-Denis Street
ON THE WATER
Croisière AML’s Signature Brunch Cruise
Hope on Croisière AML’s Cavalier Maxim ship and cruise around Montréal for a very special brunch time. The signature brunch cruise includes a glass of mimosa, a three-course menu cooked on board and featuring local and seasonal ingredients and breathtaking views of Montréal as you’re cruising on the St-Lawrence.
200 De la Commune Steet West
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.