© Alice Gao/Commission Canadienne du Tourisme
“X” marks the spot
These must-visit spots are found on any travel itinerary to the island of Montréal. Discover these local claims to fame and follow the arrows that all point to bagels, smoked meat and poutine on the iconic Montréal food treasure map.
Pick up a baker’s dozen any time of day at the legendary Fairmont Bagel or St-Viateur Bagel, the city’s favorites for generations.
© Eva Blue
It’s common to see a lineup at the famous Schwartz's on any day of the week for smoked meat. But gems like Smoked Meat Pete, Reuben’s and Dunn’s Famous, make it easy to get your smoked meat fix wherever you’re exploring around the city.
If you’re up for adventure, make sure you check out the different variations of poutine - the dish of French fries, squeaky fresh cheese curds and brown gravy at La Banquise, Patati Patata, Ma Poule Mouillée, and Paul Patates.
© Alison Slattery - Two Food Photographers
Taste the world one plate at a time
Prepare to set sail and taste worldly flavours when you visit Montréal - it’s easy to see why the city is proud of its rich cultural diversity when it comes to food.
Discover the amazing cuisine of the Caribbean (islands of another kind) at restaurants like, Kamúy and Mango Bay where they elevate classic Caribbean dishes with a unique Quebecois flair. Spots like Caribbean Curry House, Boom J’s Cuisine and Kwizinn keep their feet planted with no-frills comfort food.
© Alison Slattery
Enjoy the flavours of Japan with a fine dining omakase experience at Restaurant Park, Juni or pub grub at Imadake Izakaya, Kazu, Bar Otto and Hanzo Izakaya.
From slurping copious amounts to southeast Asian soup noodles at Nguyen Phi, Pho Tay Ho or Mae Sri, Pho Jean Talon and Satay Brothers to chowing down on street tacos and ceviche from Escondite, Tiradito and Chifa, food from the four corners are well represented in Montréal.
© Alison Slattery
Local legends
You need to eat at these places, otherwise you never really visited Montréal.
Make your reservations at Joe Beef, Au Pied de Cochon and L’Express early. World-acclaimed and made popular by celebrity chefs, these institutions have been juggernauts in the Montréal food scene for years, offering fine dining Québécois cuisine highlighting local and seasonal produce.
On the haute-cuisine flipside there is Wilensky’s Light Lunch, Beautys and Montréal Pool Room for famous casual fare.
© Susan Moss
Don’t forget about the celebrated and most recognizable giant orange beacon of sunlight; Gibeau Orange Julep. It might not be a piña colada along the beach, but this orange julep drink is the nectar of our island and it overlooks the steady waves of traffic on the Decarie express way.
Whether you’ve washed ashore, or plotted a map, the island of Montréal is a delicious destination.
Jason Lee
Jason is a food eater and picture taker. As the blogger behind Shut Up and Eat, he covers everything food, from recipes to reviews. Jason has vowed that he will not stop until he has officially eaten his way across Montréal. It’s a big claim, and it’s one he’s making.