Montréal’s best late-night eats for nighthawk appetites
Gastronomy Nightlife
Dining out at a Montréal restaurant is a bright highlight when it comes to experiencing the best of the city, but most restaurants have their limits and will eventually close up shop when it’s late. That means that if you find yourself peckish past midnight, options can seem limited beyond fast food. There are, however, many reliable addresses that have made a name for themselves for serving a good meal up until the early hours of the morning. Here’s where to find and eat up the best of them.
Dunn's Famous
This smoked meat chain has spread far beyond Montréal over the years, but their downtown location is where it all began in 1927. Regularly open until 5 a.m. every night of the week, it’s a reliable destination for stacked sandwiches of the city’s iconic sliced brisket (or as an ingredient in everything from classic Reubens to fried rice) alongside all kinds of other menu options both traditionally Jewish and not.
1249 Metcalfe Street
Restaurant Paulo & Suzanne
Paulo & Suzanne an absolutely essential spot to eat if you want to take a deep dive into what a good poutine is. Established in 1980, this Ahuntsic-Cartierville staple and its retro American décor make the perfect setting for late-night bites, particularly for anyone with a voracious appetite: Loaded hot dogs, stacked burgers, poutines dressed with burgers, huge submarine sandwiches—the works.
5501 Boulevard Gouin Ouest
Restaurant Chez La Mère
This longstanding restaurant established in 1977 is an easy winner when it to picking a place to eat late at night on the weekend. Its classic diner atmosphere has cultivated a loyal following over the years for a reason: Dig into some steamies, pizza, poutine, or some of their spins on Italian, Chinese, and even Greek dishes, and you’ll find out why.
4028 Rue Masson
Fairmount Bagel
Fairmount Bagel hasn’t just serve the city traditional bagels baked from their wood-fired oven since 1919, but they’re doing so 24/7. Some might contest a bagel (or a bag of bagels) won’t constitute a meal, but if you’re hungry and it’s late at night, you’ll be thankful for their good when they’re coming hot out of the oven. Bonus: You’ll be indulging in the first bagel bakery in Montréal.
74 Fairmount Avenue West
Boustan
They’ve been making shawarma for Montrealers since 1986, and better yet, they’ve been doing so steadily from their late night location on Crescent in the downtown core, making them one of the great Middle Eastern restaurants of the city. Order up a trio with a drink, potatoes and garlic sauce, and one of their one-with-everything ‘creation’ sandwiches.
2020 Crescent Street
La Banquise
La Banquise is Montréal’s poutine institution going well beyond the usual fries-cheese curds-gravy trifecta with combinations you never knew existed, using anything from Merguez sausage with hot peppers and Tabasco to guacamole and sour cream. Be warned that they amass a sizeable line-up on the weekends late at night, but they move quickly.
994 Rachel Street East
Gibeau Orange Julep
A retro drive-in diner and local favourite, you can’t miss the gigantic orange perched aside the Decarie Expressway. Opened in the 1930’s, their frothy orange julep is a classic from days when carhops on roller skates serviced diners directly at their cars. Their menu of hot dogs and burgers still hasn’t changed, and probably never will.
7700 Décarie Boulevard
Angela Pizzeria & Restaurant
When you’ve got a craving for pizza, souvlaki, burgers or salad at an obscene hour, Angela has you covered. A Montréal institution and late-night veteran, this place is for the early bird or night owl. Chances are that if you stayed out late after dinner downtown and come here for a snack, you may run into whoever served you earlier.
1662 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Restaurant Mon Nan
Restaurant Mon Nan never seems to close, but that’s not the only reason it’s an essential place to eat in Chinatown. They’re your go-to spot when you’ve got a hankering for Peking duck or Cantonese lobster in the wee hours of the morning. It’s not uncommon to see local chefs finishing their nights here, either.
43 De la Gauchetière Street East
L’Express
The quintessential Parisian-style bistro. Known for serving excellent French cuisine until late at night, L’Express is a popular dining destination for locals at just about any reasonable late night hour. With dishes like their famous bone marrow starter to calf liver with tarragon or steak-frites, their take on classic dishes will leave you wanting more.
3927 Saint-Denis Street
Burgundy Lion
Known for bring the quintessential British pub experience to Montréal, Burgundy Lion will keep its kitchen open until the early hours, but take note that they’ll usually pare the menu down to easily made dishes. That said, the fries and burgers here are of a well-known quality among locals and out-of-towners alike.
2496 Notre-Dame Street West
Restaurant A.A.
Named after its owner André Annoussos, this Saint-Henri diner is a local legend among Montréalers for its ability to serve up delightfully stomach-lining greasy eats until very, very early hours of the morning. Steamies by day and toasties by night, a unique poutine gravy recipes, and lightning speed service all come together to make for a great no-fuss late night eating experience.
3702 Notre-Dame Street West
Alto Restaurant
Ask any student in the McGill Ghetto where they’re getting their late-night fuel from, and it’s likely going to be this place. Specializing in cheap pizza, burgers, poutine, the curious Montréal creation of pizzaghetti and even brunch until the earliest of hours, the reputation here is well-earned for late night eats.
3469 Park Avenue
Caribbean Food Factory
The name of this restaurant should suffice for knowing what you’re getting yourself into, but if it’s not clear enough: This is where to find the spicier side of late night eats and a taste of islands. That means curry and jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, oxtail and a lot more. Just ask for more hot sauce if you need to kick it up a notch or three.
5311 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest
Le Majestique
A suave destination in the Plateau, this colourful dining experience in Montréal is among the most lauded when it comes to late night eats thanks to a regularly creative menu, curated wine lists, and oysters popped open until last call. If you’re eating with a friend or date, don’t skip out on their famous hot dog. A Hof Kelsten bun gets topped with a foot-long Gaspor pork sausage, a red cabbage and apple slaw, and crispy fried shallots. Divine.
4105 St Laurent Boulevard
Otto Yakitori
The charcoal doesn’t stop burning until late at night at this Japanese izakaya in the heart of downtown Montréal. Serving yakitori, the Japanese grill style that features just about every edible part of a chicken, they also regularly serve up plates of sashimi, bowls of ramen, and more; just ask for the specials that night if you don’t feel like chicken early in the morning.
1441 Saint-Mathieu Street
Isle de Garde
This brewpub in La-Petite-Patrie is primarily known for its beer, but the food gets just as attention—especially when it gets late. Among menu options like grilled octopus or roasted oyster mushrooms, the burger tends to get a lot of due attention, but don’t skip on ordering widely while you’re here. Everything gets crafted with a lot of love.
1039 Beaubien Street East
JP Karwacki
JP Karwacki is a Montréal-based writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Time Magazine, the Montreal Gazette, National Post, Time Out, NUVO Magazine, and more. Having called the city home for over a decade and a half, he regularly focuses on spreading the good word about the amazing things to eat, drink and do in Montréal. One half raconteur and the other flâneur (with just a dash of boulevardier), when he wasn’t working on the frontlines of the city's restaurants and bars, he spent his time thinking about, reading about and writing about restaurants and bars.