Food itinerary: Little Italy
Indulge in the cafés, bakeries, restaurants and other gourmet hot spots of Little Italy. Have fun being a tourist in your own city!
Little Italy
Departure: Beaubien métro station
Distance: 2.4 kilometres
Where you can stop to enjoy your meal, drink or snack: Parc de Gaspé, Parc de la Petite-Italie, Parc Dante, Jean-Talon Market
Café Pista
Nothing beats starting the day with a gorgeous cup of coffee from Café Pista, which proudly offers “farm-to-cup” blends. A lighter roasting technique allows the coffee beans to express their full terroir flavour, leaving you with earthy, aromatic choices.
What to order: Whatever coffee you’re craving: you can’t go wrong here.
500 Beaubien Street East
M. & Mme Chocolat
A quick stop at M. & Mme Chocolat is in order, whether it’s for a gourmet ice cream bar, a frozen treat or some yummy ice cream. Jenny Ann and Emmanuel, the passionate and dedicated couple and chocolatiers behind this sweet enterprise, use the finest ingredients and local products available.
What to order: A refreshing praline/yuzu coated ice cream bar or a decadent hot chocolate.
273 Beaubien Street East
Pizza Bouquet
What started out in a corner of the Notre-Dame-des-Quilles bar became such a huge hit that soon Pizza Bouquet was in search of bigger digs. The owners found the perfect spot right next door, in the space occupied by their former neighbour, the Petit Coin micro grocery store. Order a slice of their New York-style pizza, which is sliced piping hot and popped into the display counter, letting its delicious aromas waft out and tempt you. The crust is just right: not too thin, not too thick. Simply delicious!
What to order: A slice of potato pizza and the Upside Down. Be sure to give one of their dips a try too.
45 Beaubien Street East
Alambika and Crocodile
Anyone who enjoys the occasional cocktail or has a passing fancy or a full-blown crush on mixed drinks will want to drop by Alambika. This boutique stocks everything you need to craft your favourite drinkie, not to mention an array of unique and inspiring products. And this smart little shop is not exclusive, giving wine, beer and spirit lovers lots to choose from also. Need to spiff up your kitchen – or maybe you? Check out the knives, personal care and shaving products on its shelves too.
If it’s after 4 p.m. and you’re in the mood for a tipple, the Crocodile mixes the best cocktails in the city.
6484 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Caffè Italia / Piazza Salumi/ Fruiterie Milano
Here’s a can’t-miss food trio. It starts with a nice strong espresso at Caffè Italia which, at over 60 years old, shows absolutely no signs of aging. Then, you cross the street to Piazza Salumi for charcuterie, cheeses, pizza and other imported Italian products. Lastly, head to Milano to pick up groceries like any good Italian. While there, be sure check out their extensive and delish olive and antipasti counter.
6862 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
6833 Boul. Saint-Laurent
6840 Boul. Saint-Laurent
San Gennaro
This swoon-worthy Italian café serves up crackly, thin-crust Roman-style pizza you devour in minutes, as well as decadent creations and videos from its young and dynamic team. Devour a gelato-stuffed brioche, bombolone or cornetto that you dunk in a cappuccino, affogato pistachio, caffè crema… Check out their Insta feed for more inspiration.
What to order: Potato pizza, pistachio bombolone and/or an affogato
69 Saint-Zotique Street East
Pasticceria Alati-Caserta
More than 50 years of family tradition and the savoir-faire of Italian pastry chefs have turned the Alati-Caserta pastry shop into a Little Italy must. People who have already traveled to Sicily will certainly recognize the cassata, frutta martorana, granita (in summer only) and, of course, the cannolo. Having spent two weeks in Sicily scouting out its best pasty pastry shops and cannoli, I returned on a mission to find Montréal’s best—and my search stopped here. Each time I bite into their delicious pastries and classic ricotta cannoli, my brain is flooded with sun-soaked memories of Sicily.
What to order: A classic ricotta cannolo (go all out and get the large one).
277 Dante Street
Jean-Talon Market
If you ask me, this is THE must stop in Little Italy. Treat your senses to the sheer abundance of stalls chock full of the freshest fruit, vegetables, meat and fish from local producers and artisans who showcase the bounty of our local terroir. Take a minute to stop and chat with them before setting out with bags overflowing with the crispest, juiciest and lushest products out there.
Where to stop : Les Jardins Sauvages, Boucherie Prince Noir, Chez Birri, Les Cochons tout ronds, Le Marché des Saveurs, Café Saint-Henri, Ferme des Quatre-Temps.
7070 Avenue Henri-Julien
Chez Tousignant
Is there anything better than a yummy pogo or poutine to show your pride in Québec? No matter that Chez Tousignant belongs to an Italian family (Pizzéria Géma, Impasto and Vesta from the Stefano Faita/Michele Forgione duo), they serve up the best roadside food ever—from poutine to burgers to pogos to hotdogs and more. Best of all, everything is made in-house from the bread to the sausages and sauces, proving that if we take our time making our “fast” food, we reap the rewards much longer.
What to order: Burger Tousignant, hotdog Tousignant, pogo.
6956 Rue Drolet
Other suggestions for take-out or a drink: Gema, Impasto, Marconi, Petit Alep, Bar Mamie, Vin mon Lapin, Ratafia, Mucca, Il Bazzali, Bar St-Denis
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.