Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie and Villeray
Mon Lapin
150, Saint-Zotique Street | Website
Vin 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.
Alep and Le Petit Alep
191 Jean-Talon East Street | Website
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.
Bar Mamie and La Cave de Mamie
328 Beaubien East Street | Website
Cozy and quirky Bar Mamie and La Cave 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.
Hélicoptère
4255 Ontario East Street | Website
Hochelaga restaurant Hélicoptère has garnered quite the loyal following with its great food, pastries, artisanal breads and natural wines.
Vinvinvin
1290 Beaubien East Street | Website
Rosemont’s Bar vinvinvin is what you get when you cross a beautiful and seasonal menu with a fantastic wine list and a great, unpretentious ambiance. This Nordic wine bar should definitely be on any wine lover’s radar.
Pumpui and Pichai
5985 St-Hubert Street | Website
Thai streetfood and natural wines os 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.
Knuckles Cantine et Vins
241 Jarry Street East | Website
Villeray’s Knuckles is a cozy little cantine serving Italian food in a relaxed and laid-back ambiance. The wines here are beautiful and the food just happens to be vegetarian.
Lundis au soleil
801 Jarry Street East | Website
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.
Paloma
8521 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
A father/daughter collab, Paloma specializes in the cuisine of the Southern France with some Italian influences added in for good measure. The staff and service are the loveliest and so are some of the low-intervention wines served here from some of the best private importers in town.
Downtown, Quartiers du canal and Old Montréal
© Amielle Clouâtre
Pullman and Moleskine Restaurant
3424 du Parc Avenue | Website
As one of the best wine bars in Montreal, Pullman knows its way around natural wines and has transferred that passion to its new sister restaurant and pizzeria, Moleskine Restaurant.
Candide
551 Saint-Martin Street | Website
Designed by wine director Emily Campeau, Candide’s list is one of the best in town and the perfect match to chef John Winter Russell’s uncompromising dedication to local and seasonal produce.
© foodlab
Foodlab
1201 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
Foodlab’s seasonally driven menu is very sought after by food lovers and the rooftop terrasse is one of the most beautiful in town. The wine list, composed of natural and biodynamic wines, is a pleasure to explore.
Elena and Gia Vin & Grill
5090 Notre-Dame West Street | Website
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.
© Dominique Lafond
Foxy and Un po’ di più
Foxy : 1638 Notre Dame Street West | Website
Un po’ di più : 3, de la Commune Street | Website
Whether you’re grabbing a flame cooked meal at award-winning Foxy in Little Burgundy or enjoying an authentic Italian aperitivo at sister restaurant Un po’ di più in Old Montréal, the wines will always be interesting and on point.
BarBara
4450 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
Open from 8am “until late in the evening” Saint-Henri’s BarBara is a gem of a neighbourhood spot where great Italia-inspired pastries, food and more shine bright, along with wonderful bottles of wine.
Verdun Beach Bar
4816 Wellington Street | Website
Over 100 natural wine bottles are on the menu of this trendy Verdun guinguette. 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.
Plateau Mont-Royal, Mile-End and Outremont
© Sarah Babineau - Kara Bino
Lawrence and Larrys
9, Fairmount Street East | Website
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.
© Two Food Photographers (Alison Slattery)
Alma and Tinc Set
1233 Lajoie Avenue | Website
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.
Buvette Chez Simone and Bar à Flot
4869 du Parc Avenue | Website
“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.
Pastaga
6389 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
Pastaga is one of the precursors of the natural wine movement in Montréal. Chef Martin Juneau and partners have been favouring these natural and biodynamic wines for years at their Petite Patrie restaurant and through their private import company.
Majestique
4105 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
Funky and quirky Majestique has been a staple on the Main for the past few years. The festive ambiance, the astounding tchotchkes all around, the exceptional food and wines and the flawless service make this restaurant an absolute must. And it’s open until 3am 7 days a week!
© Two Food Photographers
There are many other Montréal restaurants with great selections of natural wines on their menus, including Henrietta, Boxermans, Le Diplomate, Café Denise, Buvette Pastek, Bar St-Denis, Butterblume, Oregon, Place Carmin, 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 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.
