Food itinerary: Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Indulge in HoMa’s cafés, bakeries, restaurants and other gourmet hot spots. Have fun being a tourist in your own city!
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Starting point: Pie IX métro station. Arrival point: Joliette métro station
Distance: 9.1 kilometres
Where to enjoy a snack: Place Simon-Valois, Marché Maisonneuve
Marché Maisonneuve
Marché Maisonneuve, Montréal’s third largest public market, is also chock full of local producers and businesses. In summer, you can choose from an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, but you can scoop up some fresh fish and seafood there too. Add to that some delicious cheeses from the cheese shop, you’ll have everything you need, from picnic nosh to cocktail nibbles!
What to order: This is the perfect time to fill up on in-season fruits and veggies!
4445 Ontario Street East
Hélico Café or Aube Boulangerie
I love stopping by Hélico Café for a piping hot coffee or matcha latté with scrumptious viennoiserie fresh from the oven. In warmer weather, you can grab a seat on their sunny terrasse and enjoy your menu in its tranquil oasis. Their take-out menu, from the “older brother” Hélicoptère restaurant, always has homemade, seasonal and local fare that’s palate-popping delicious. If you have time, I highly recommend visiting Boulangerie Aube, owned by the same team. Here, you'll find a seasonal selection of sweet and savoury creations — from danishes, kouign-amann and turnovers to topped focaccia, tartines and sandwiches.
What to order: A coffee or matcha with a yummy homemade treat
Aube Boulangerie: Breakfast sandwich and a danish.
2009 De la Salle Avenue
4715 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Place Simon-Valois
When you get to Place Simon-Valois, be sure to stop by sausage maker William J. Walter not only for traditionally made sausages and microbrewery beers, but the more unlikely choice of ice cream!
The Arhoma bakery is also right next door, so you can pop over to pick up bread (they have a great selection to choose from) and oodles or artisanal products ranging from dried sausages and olives to cheeses.
Les Givrés
When it comes to Montréal’s ice cream parlours, Les Givrés is always top of mind for me. Patrons love it for its use of local, in-season ingredients (rhubarb, strawberry, maple, corn and more) and the fact that the owners don’t add any artificial products or colours. Its menu is pretty original too, and includes treats like “roteux” (an ice cream hotdog - who knew?) and “pitounes” (a nod to the ride La Pitoune at La Ronde). It offers a few vegan ice cream options too.
What to order: I am smitten with their soft homemade ice cream, and with flavours changing every two weeks, it’s hard to stay away. My favourite has to be the strawberry and vanilla pear sorbet, but the chocolate, matcha and pistachio ice creams also get top honours.
3681 Ontario Street East
Supernat
This neighbourhood wine bar is the perfect spot to wind down at the end of your day. In the summer, grab a seat on the patio with a glass of natural wine and enjoy a variety of Vietnamese-inspired small plates.
By day, Supernat serves up coffee creations worth the trip — think robusta coffee with condensed milk custard and cocoa, iced matcha with a salted vanilla foam or a pandan latte — all alongside a lunch menu teeming with world flavours.
What to order: The warm Vietnamese pâté, the breakfast banh mi, the banh khot (mini pancakes), and the tofu dip
4316 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Copilote
Le Copilote rounds out the trio at the corner of Ontario Street and De la Salle Avenue. Kick off your day at Hélico, wrap it up at Hélicoptère, and drop by Le Copilote in between for some of the neighbourhood’s top cocktails and snackable dishes that change with the seasons.
What to order: Le Beurre (a hazelnut butter–infused Old Fashioned) pairs perfectly with whisky butter financiers and a whipped foie gras mousse.
4263 Ontario Street East
Original article in French by Tommy Dion, adapted into English by Dawn Bessey-Gans.
Tommy Dion
Tommy is a journalist, food critic, and the founder of the blog and gourmet guide Le Cuisinomane, whose mission is to showcase Québec’s local products and gastronomy. With an in-depth knowledge of Montréal’s food scene, his expertise and professionalism make him a trusted source for all the best food spots and experiences in Montréal. In addition to tasting and writing about food, Tommy also creates content for brands, always related to food and gastronomy.