Where to eat in Montreal

Restaurants, cafés and street food in Montreal, Canada that locals actually go to — plus the local names for the chains you already know.

• Ma Poule Mouillée — Portuguese, The Plateau (1). Order the Poutine galinha. Rotisserie chicken poutine that ended arguments about fusion.
• Fairmount Bagel — Bagels, Mile End (1). Order the Sesame bagel. The 1919 original — the other side of the rivalry. Try both, pick a camp.
• Wilensky's Light Lunch — Lunch counter, Mile End (1). Order the The Wilensky Special. Since 1932: the Special comes with mustard, no cutting, no exceptions.
• St-Viateur Bagel — Bagels, Mile End (1). Order the Sesame bagel, hot from the oven. Wood-fired 24/7 since 1957 — one side of the great bagel rivalry.
• La Banquise — Poutine, The Plateau (1). Order the La Classique poutine. Open 24h with 30+ poutines; the post-midnight institution.
• Beautys Luncheonette — Diner / brunch, The Plateau (2). Order the The Mish Mash omelette. The 1942 brunch counter that made the Mish famous.
• Olive et Gourmando — Café / bakery, Old Montreal (2). Order the Cuban sandwich + chocolate brioche. Old Port's beloved bakery-café; worth the queue.
• Gibeau Orange Julep — Roadside stand, Namur / Décarie (1). Order the Orange Julep + steamé hot dog. The giant orange sphere off the Décarie — a Montreal landmark you drink.
• Au Pied de Cochon — Québécois, The Plateau (4). Order the Duck in a can. Martin Picard's temple of excess — foie gras on everything.
• Schwartz's — Smoked meat deli, The Plateau (2). Order the Smoked meat sandwich, medium. The 1928 smoked-meat shrine on the Main; order medium-fat like you know.

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