Old Montréal
Le Cartet
106 McGill Street | Website
Part restaurant, part fine food store, Le Cartet has a very New York feel to it. It’s open almost all day, every day but is especially nice for weekend brunch. Le Cartet also doubles as a fine food store with an impressive collection of chocolates.
Brasserie 701
701 Côte de la Place-d'Armes | Website
Saturday and Sunday brunches at Brasserie 701 are a laidback affair. The brunch menu includes items such as fried chicken, mac and cheese as well as your usual omelets and egg dishes. Make it extra special with a signature house cocktail.
Olive et Gourmando
351 Saint-Paul Street West | Website
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.
Dandy
244 Saint-Jacques Street | Website
Open for brunch every day of the week, Dandy’s menu options include a variety of delicious dishes, from a fried chicken sandwich to a stack of ricotta pancakes served with maple brown butter.
Restaurant Mélisse
719 William Street | Website
It is an absolute joy to dine in Restaurant Mélisse’s charming Instagram dream of a décor or on its lovely terrasse. The elaborate menu is market-inspired and includes flaky pastries, light choices and hearty dishes, including many vegetarian options.
Pub Wolf & Workman
139 Saint-Paul Street | Website
This Old Montréal restaurant has the same team as Burgundy Lion behind it. The mostly British-inspired 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.
Downtown
Brasserie Le Pois Penché
1230 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West | Website
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.
Maison Boulud
1228 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
Chef Daniel Boulud’s eponymous “Maison” is located inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and serves weekend brunch in the elegant dining room. In the summer, enjoy your brunch in the courtyard, a veritable garden oasis right in the heart of downtown Montréal.
Marcus Montreal
1440 de la Montagne Street | Website
Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson’s eponymous restaurant is located inside the stunning Four Seasons Hotel. The dining room’s 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.
Café Parvis
433 Mayor Street | Website
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.
Restaurant ChinaTown Kim Fung
1111 Saint-Urbain Street | Website
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.
Universel Déjeuners et Grillades
2055 Peel Street | Website
359 Sainte-Catherine Street | Website
With two locations in downtown Montréal, Universel Déjeuners et Grillades is a classic breakfast restaurant serving usual breakfast dishes made really well, in addition to healthy and vegetarian options.
© Cindy La
Renoir
1155 Sherbrooke Street West | Website
Renoir is located inside the Sofitel Hotel in the heart of Montréal’s Golden Square Mile district. The cuisine by an award-winning chef and an award-winning pastry chef is rooted in French and inspired by the seasons. They serve a weekend brunch and the copious, fixed-price Sunday buffet is especially delicious.
Café Holt
1300 Saint-Catherine Street West | Website
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 upscale Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store.
Bar George
1440 Drummond Street | Website
If you find yourself in search of a weekly breakfast in downtown Montréal, head to Le Mount Stephen Hotel and its restaurant, Bar George. The menu is British-inspired and features a full English breakfast.
Barranco
4552 Saint-Denis Street | Website
Los Andes bagel sound intriguing? If you fancy something more unique for brunch, head to Barranco. This Peruvian restaurant’s surprising flavours will add a note of sunshine to your mornings.
Tiramisu
989 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | Website
An Italian and Japanese fusion restaurant, Tiramisu’s gorgeous decor is only rivaled by its great food. Enjoy a breakfast Carbonara pizza or an arrabiata toast with one of their signature cocktails.
Quartiers du Canal
The Burgundy Lion
2496 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
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.
Le Bird Bar
1800 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
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.
Foiegwa
3001 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
A self-proclaimed “Americanized French diner”, Foiegwa’s retro décor is a feast for the eyes. For brunch, dig into some of the best ricotta pancakes in town or order a Périgourdine omelet with duck confit.
Café Bloom
1940 Center Street | Website
Deep in the heart of Pointe St-Charles is the lovely and eclectic Café Bloom, a great space to sit and eat, have coffee and spend a little time. Café Bloom serves colourful plates for any meal and loads of vegetarian and vegan options.
Perles et Paddock
403 des Seigneurs Street | Website
A dreamy space located inside a converted garage in the heart of Little Burgundy, Perles et Paddock is French- and market-inspired with items like leek tartine and pear French toast vying for your attention. Order one of their great cocktails to start your weekend right.
Shay
1414 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
Indulge in the revisited and modernized Lebanese dishes at this beautiful Griffintown restaurant. Try the eggs and shawarma, avo and halloom toast or the labneh tartine with zaatar.
© Two Food Photographers
The Village
Tendresse
1259 Sainte-Catherine Street West | Website
With its elegant, breezy décor inside and a cozy patio to enjoy in the summer, Tendresse is a welcome addition to the Village’s dining scene. The brunch menu is filled with delicious and sometimes decadent options that just happen to be vegan.
© Alison Slattery
Plateau/Mile End
Bistrot La Fabrique
3619 Saint-Denis Street | Website
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 an elaborate affair that includes dishes such as French toast with clove caramel.
Leméac
1045 Laurier Avenue West | Website
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.
Bloomfield
1199 Van Horne Avenue | Website
The menu at Bloomfield has a definite Mediterranean feel, exotic flavours like tahini, pomegranate and halva front and centre. Try the Jerusalem platter for two, a sort of personal Middle Eastern meze spread served with eggs and pita.
Le Sparrow
5322 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | Website
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 or the morning banh mí and naan B.E.L.T (bacon, eggs, lettuce, tomato).
Maison Publique
4720 Marquette Street | Website
Maison Publique is an English-style pub serving one of the best brunches in Montréal. You must try a stack of their famous chili maple bacon pancakes, a perfect balance of fluffy, sweet, spicy and salty.
Le Réservoir
9 Duluth Street East | Website
One of the most sought-after brunches in town, Le Réservoir’s menu features local and seasonal produce that shine in their simplest form. Skip the coffee and try one of their craft beers.
Petite Patrie/Villeray
Santa Barbara
6696 de Saint-Vallier Street | Website
If you’re looking for a great vegetarian brunch, head to Santa Barbara where the generous portions and delicious flavour combinations are sure to win you over. Meat-lovers will also enjoy this lovely, understated restaurant.
Mesón
345 Villeray Street | Website
Neighbourhood restaurant Mesón is a popular destination for many locals for its great Spanish brunch. Patatas bravas, pan con tomate and other specialties are on the menu. Don’t forget to order some churros to end your meal.
Fanfare
751 Jarry Street E | Website
This Villeray boulangerie has garnered a loyal following thanks to its amazing baked goods. Its 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.
© Alisson Slattery
Weekday choices
Don’t know where to go for brunch during the week? Below are a few options you may want to check out.
Le Vieux Vélo
59 Beaubien Street E | Website
A Petite Patrie classic, Le Vieux Vélo excels at the all-day breakfast game and serves classics such as eggs, Benedicts and more in an unpretentious and friendly ambiance.
Régine & Janine Cafés
1840 Beaubien Street E | Website
3900 Wellington Street | Website
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.
Larrys
5201 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | Website
Larrys is a hybrid space in the heart of the Mile End that’s open all day, 6 days a week. Coffee, pastries, small plates to share (or not), breakfast items, excellent wine and more are available for your eating pleasure.
Beautys Luncheonette
93 Mont-Royal West | Website
A classic Montréal establishment, Beautys Luncheonette has been serving Montrealers breakfast, brunch and lunch for the past 70 years.
Arthurs
4621 Notre-Dame Street W | Website
Located in the west part of Saint-Henri, Arthurs serves a Jewish-classics inspired menu with items such as the traditional bagel and salmon plate, a latke smorgasbord and challah bread with butter.
Bagel etc.
4320 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | Website
Open every day from early morning until late afternoon, Bagel etc. is a classic retro looking institution in the heart of the Portuguese ghetto of Montréal. It serves your classic Jewish-inspired specialties including excellent blintzes with a variety of fillings.
Le Toasteur Villeray
767 Villeray Street | Website
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, it is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day.
© Two Food Photographers
Le Passé Composé
1310 de Maisonneuve Bldv. E | Website
Open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Wednesday to Monday, Le Passé Composé serves breakfast in its convenient Village location. Its generous portions and elaborate eggs Benedict creations will surely hit the spot.
Greenspot Restaurant
3041 Notre-Dame Street W | Website
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. every day and serves a classic diner / greasy spoon menu.
L’Entre-Pots
1995 Masson Street | Website
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.
Restaurant Well
4567 Wellington Street | Website
Verdun’s Restaurant Well offers great and elaborate brunches every day of the week from 8 a.m. on. The tall pancake stacks are a must, but so are all the creative dishes on the menu.
Maamm Bolduc
4351 De Lorimier Av. | Website
Although best known for its poutine, Maamm Bolduc is a great place for a weekday breakfast starting at 9 a.m. Eggs, crepes, bagels and other morning delights are all part of the colourful menu.
Le Elsdale
2381 Beaubien Street E | Website
This charming little café is open for brunch from 9 a.m., 6 days a week. Their breakfast sandwich, merguez burger or grilled halloumi sandwich are all great options to start your day or your weekend on the right foot.
Hélico Café
4255 Ontario Street E | Website
Open every day form 7:30 a.m., Hélico’s menu combines classics (hello, fried chicken) with a few seasonal dishes featuring market fresh local produce such as fiddle heads. Do grab a couple of pastries, their bakery is outstanding.
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 30 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.