Lundis au soleil
801 Jarry Street East | Website
This sun-drenched Villeray spot opened its doors a few years ago and has gathered a loyal following. Lundis au soleil has a winning formula of great plates to share, an amazing wine list that includes a lot of local Québec wines and an adorable staff that makes everyone feels right at home.
© Two Food Photographers (Alison Slattery)
vinvinvin
1290 Beaubien Street East | Website
Rosemont’s vinvinvin is a popular choice in the neighbourhood and beyond. This “Nordic wine bar” serves a handful of season-centric dishes that include its homemade sourdough bread. The natural wine card is a curated list of eclectic and affordable bottles that are a pleasure to share.
© Two Food Photographers
Le Elsdale
2381 Beaubien Street East | Website
Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Le Elsdale is an unpretentious neighbourhood buvette. The evening menu offers snacks such as a charcuterie platter or accras as well as more generous dishes such as pastas and burgers.
Taverne Atlantic
6512 Parc Avenue | Website
Taverne Atlantic legendary rooftop terrasse makes waves all summer long. This popular Park Ex “tavern” is open every day from 4pm on. The food menu includes their now-famous pizza pies and some favourite “casse-croûte” fare such as hot dogs and shrimp rolls. The drink menu is a fully loaded affair with wine, cocktails, ciders, and beers.
© Two Food Photographers
Bar Cicchetti
6703 Parc Avenue | Website
A Venetian specialty, cicchetti are small snacks or plates served with a glass of wine or a cocktail before dinnertime. They’re the inspiration behind the Mile Ex’ Bar Cicchetti, a lovely spot that welcomes diners to their sunny terrasse in the summer or their gorgeous dining room in the winter.
© Alison Slattery
Café Denise
386 Beaumont | Website
Tiny Park Ex’ Café Denise is the perfect definition of a buvette. Serving seasonally focused small plates to share and a beautiful array of natural wines, the 20-seat dining room is basically one big bar counter for people to gather around and chat.
© Alison Slattery - Tourisme Montréal
Bar Mamie
328 Beaubien Street East | Website
Bar Mamie’s Beaubien Street terrasse was buzzing with crowds of happy patrons all summer long. This Montréal neighbourhood bar specializes in generous charcuterie and cheese boards as well as comforting, Mamie (or grandma) style dishes to share.
© NELLI Café + Vin nature
NELLI bistro
104 Saint-Paul Street West | Website
NELLI bistro is open all day long. It starts as a coffee shop that transforms into a wine bar come nighttime. Their wine list is elaborate and has something to offer everyone. It specializes in private imports and natural, low intervention bottles.
Brouillon
6580-A St-Hubert Street | Website
Recently opened on Plaza St-Hubert, Brouillon is in business from early morning to late night, as a coffee and lunch spot that turns into a buvette in the evening. They serve seasonal and local fare and a beautiful list of local beers and ciders as well as great bottles of natural wine.
© Elizabeth Gartside
Buvette Pastek
209 Saint-Paul Street West | Website
At Old Montréal’s Buvette Pastek, you can snack on specialties such as imported seafood conservas and charcuterie platters as well as feast on more elaborate dishes such as beef tartare, seared scallops or hanger steak. It’s open from early morning until late night as well as for weekend brunch.
Buvette chez Simone
4869 Parc Avenue | Website
Certainly one of the city’s most famous buvette, Buvette Chez Simone has been beloved for years. Small dishes, charcuterie and cheese platters, their famous roast chicken and a well-curated wine list are on the menu in a relaxed and unpretentious ambiance.
Bar à Flot
4857 Parc Avenue | Website
The team behind Buvette chez Simone is also behind this new spot located right next door. Cocktails, excellent bottles and a few plates to share are on the menu. Bar à Flot (“afloat Bar” or “Flo’s Bar”) is a play on words on sommelière Florence Pelland-Goyer’s name, since she’s taking the lead on this project.
© Alison Slattery - Two Food Photographers
Bar Verdun Beach
4816 Wellington Street | Website
With a list of 100 or so natural wine bottles, Bar Verdun Beach is a great place to gather and celebrate. In addition to the wines, the menu of beautiful small plates and the charming space (and terrasse in summer) contribute in creating a great dining experience.
Motel Motel
1276 Sainte-Catherine Street East | Website
Motel Motel, the Village's newest addition, is a stunning wine bar and buvette with a menu featuring seasonal ingredients. At first glance, this place may seem like a normal buvette, but its true essence resides in the spectacular nightclub concealed in the back.
Le Plongeoir
5350 Saint Laurent Boulevard | Website
Le Plongeoir, an unpretentious drinking spot in Mile End, combines the charm of a classic neighbourhood dive bar with natural and low intervention wines, as well as delicious snacks from local purveyors like Aliments Viens. Enjoy a game of billiards while indulging in some of drinks and bites the area has to offer.
Bon Délire
4855 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
Bon Délire is a unique and vibrant bar with a quirky and colorful aesthetic that incorporates elements from the 2000s. Located in Saint-Henri, this laid-back establishment provides the ideal atmosphere to unwind with a delicious fancy drink or classic cocktail while playing a game of pool on the table adorned with leopard print. They even offer Italian-inspired sandwiches such as muffuletta, chicken cutlet, and polpette.
© Le Rouge Gorge
Here are some other notable Montréal buvettes:
Rouge Gorge : 1234 Mont-Royal Avenue East | Website
Monopole Café & Buvette : 782 Wellington Street | Website
Café Cerise : 234 Fleury Street West | Website
ETNA : 244 Jarry Street East | Website
PULLMAN bar à vin : 3424 du Parc Avenue | Website
Cafécoquetel : 426 Faillon Street East | Website
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.