Food itinerary: Mile End
Indulge in the cafés, bakeries, restaurants and other gourmet hot spots of Mile End. Have fun being a tourist in your own city!
Mile End
Departure point: Laurier métro station
Total distance: 4.5 kilometres
Where to stop to enjoy your snacks: Parc Saint-Michel, Parc Lahaie or Marché des Possibles
Guillaume Boulangerie
5134 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | website
For your first stop of the day, point yourself in the direction of Guillaume Boulangerie for a staggering, swoon-worthy selection of breads and viennoiseries. To still your beating heart (and those kick-started cravings), pick up a few pastries to devour later and a couple of loaves of bread to bring home.
What to order: Mini pain de fesse patate-cheddar (a tantalizing tiny loaf of cheese bread, my absolute favourite), the champignon vanille-chocolat (a vanilla/white chocolate mushroom-shaped brioche) and the Queen Elizabeth cupcake.
Larry’s or Chez ta Mère
5201 Boulevard Saint-Laurent | website
15 Fairmount Avenue East | website
With your goodies from Guillaume carefully tucked in your bag, now would be a great time to stop for a snack on the street furniture/installations of Fairmount Street. But what to eat? Get one of Larry’s delectable dishes or a sandwich from Chez ta Mère. Better yet: order something from both.
What to order: From Larry’s, a burger, breakfast sandwich, beef tartar and/or the veggie inspiration. At Chez ta Mère, the star of the menu is the merguez sandwich.
Éclair Café
12 Maguire Street | website
If the combination of book-reading/coffee-sipping is right up your alley, then Café Éclair is worth the detour. Not only does it offer a carefully curated selection of literature in its microbookstore, but its coffee beans come from the world-renowned Berlin company The Barn. Slide onto the banquette if there’s a spot open, sit back, relax and pore…
What to order: Any kind coffee you’re craving, to sip as you flip.
Kem Coba
60 Fairmount Avenue West | website
Kem Coba is one of the first ice cream shops in the city to offer a rotating choice of soft ice cream flavours. In fact, back in 2010, when the owners bought the property, they turned it into a summer sensation and Montréal must practically overnight. Loyal patrons love the fact that the owners not only offer traditional flavours, but that years ago they had the guts to go off the beaten path and serve up far-out flavours for the time.
What to order: The swirl of the day, the salted butter or 72% dark chocolate ice cream, or the Vietnamese coffee.
Brioche à Tête or Kamenitsa
122 Fairmount Avenue West | website
107 Fairmount Avenue West | website
Since they’re practically neighbours, here’s a chance to double your foodie fun. While Joe the pastry chef who founded Brioche à Tête is recognized city-wide for his lusciously baked brioche à têtes (those perfectly pillowy little bun sensations), pastry maker Kamenista has created a fanbase for her authentic, out-of-this-world Greek pastries.
What to order: At Brioche à tête, the fluffy and buttery brioche à têtes. At Kamenitsa, bougatsa, baklava and the cheesecake.
Caffe in Gamba
5263 Du Parc Avenue | website
If you are looking for the prettiest, artiest latté in the city, go straight to Caffe in Gamba. Simon-Pierre and Xavier, two barista brothers, definitely have a flair with the froth. Challenge them to their creative best with your order!
What to order: A latté
Pizza Toni or Falafel Yoni
54 Saint-Viateur Street West | website
104 Saint-Viateur Street West | website
Located just a block apart and boasting the same proprietors, Toni and Yoni have quickly become two Saint-Viateur Street hotspots. They like to keep things simple: you go to Toni’s for pizza and to Yoni’s for falafels. Easy peasy! You’ll not only love the logo, but Tony’s extra tasty tomato sauce or the falafels with extra tahini sauce and salsa verde. Personally, I am crushing on the salad!
What to order: At Pizza Toni, a slice of margherita and/or marinara pizza. At Falafel Yoni, a falafel pita (or the half) as well as the falafel salad.
Café Olimpico
124 Saint-Viateur Street West | website
Another coffee? Yes, but this time it’s at the legendary Café Olimpico, which is certainly worth the wait – and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll have to join the line to order. Soak up the festive, more-the-merrier Italian ambiance as you relax with a delicious cup of java.
What to order: Le Remix.
Bernie Beigne
23 Bernard Street West | website
Sticky, melt-in-your-mouth, light and fluffy, deliciously iced, topped with yummy sprinklings … there are endless ways to describe Bernie’s doughnuts. Tell all your friends about this little gourmet go-to, which opened on the corner of Clark and Bernard in the spring of 2021.
What to order: A half a dozen doughnuts to take home – see if you can make it that far before cracking open the box.
Butterblume and Pastel Rita
5761 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | website
5836 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | website
Two stops are on the agenda. First, at Butterblume to pick up some homemade products and bottles of wine or cider. Then, at Pastel Rita to sip a coffee/cocktail, a lemonade or glass of pet-nat (natural sparkling wine) on its pretty outdoor patio.
What to order: Butterblume: a bottle of natural wine and/or cider with some homemade goodies. Pastel Rita: Watermelon milk and/or a glass of natural wine.
Bar Waverly
5550 Saint-Laurent Blvd. | Website
Waverly offers a unique continuity between indoors and out, and its new menu includes dishes influenced by Asian flavors and offers plenty of vegetarian options to share as well as non-alcoholic cocktails to suit all tastes, with a particular favorite being the fried chicken.
What to order: Their famous fried chicken
Now that you’re hydrated and refreshed, head back down Saint-Laurent Boulevard and pop into its pretty boutiques for amazing finds by local artisans.
Other suggestions on where to get take-out or have a drink: Dieu du Ciel, Le Sparrow, Pizzeria Magpie, Keste, Milos, Ile Flottante, Parasol.
Tommy Dion
Tommy is 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 brand, always related to food and gastronomy.