Montréal’s best King cakes
King cakes are a festive treat linked to the Epiphany, a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Three Kings. Each cake, unique in form and flavor, hides a special surprise in the form of a small bean or figurine. After the cake is cut, whoever gets the bean, or the figurine, wins a prize.
A King cake, or a galette des rois, is a traditional French dessert served on January 6th to celebrate Epiphany, the day that the three kings (les rois) are said to have visited the newborn Jesus. The traditional galette consists of a frangipane (almond filling) spread between two circular layers of puff pastry and baked until golden brown. A small ceramic or plastic fève (bean) is inserted in the almond cream before baking. The person who finds the bean in their slice is crowned queen or king for a day and wears a paper crown (usually provided by the bakery). Custom dictates that the youngest person in the room hides under the table and names the recipient of each portion as it is cut, to ensure the random distribution of the galette.
As you will notice in this article, most bakeries will make the traditional version of this cake, as well as more creative ones by changing the filling and sometimes even the puff pastry. The bean can also get an upgrade by choosing a hand-made trinket from a local ceramic shop or something of equal significance. Some Montréal bakers have hidden valuable gold trinkets in their galettes that are fit for royalty. Most pastry shops have King cakes available until the end of January.
Les 3 Patapoufs
This neighbourhood spot is a local favourite for their sweet and savoury delights. They’re making a classic King cake this year with a hidden surprise. Find the golden bean and win a bottle of champagne to celebrate the beginning of the year! The cakes are available in individual portions as well as large ones for 6 or 8 people.
3227 Ontario Street East
Automne Boulangerie
Petite-Patrie bakery Automne has been testing their inverse puff pastry methods for a crispier, more flaky King cakes (galettes) that are available online right away and in their two bakeries starting January 4. Automne uses local flours in the making of their delicious baked goods. The filling is a classic frangipane infused with rum.
6500 Christophe-Colomb Avenue and 1470 Bélanger Street
Première Moisson
This year, Première Moisson will be offering a classic King cake (galette des rois) as usual made with a pure butter puff pastry filled with frangipane cream, made from 52% rum-flavoured almond paste. They are also offering a new orange and gianduja flavour with a pure butter puff pastry filled with frangipane cream, made from 52% almond paste, and a layer of gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut paste). The cake is decorated with homemade gianduja, caramelised walnuts and candied orange strips. Both cakes have a collectible ceramic charm inside.
Several locations
Pâtisserie Rhubarbe
The highly popular Rhubarbe closed their Plateau shop but opened an atelier in Pointe-Saint-Charles. They may not have a storefront anymore but you can order your goodies and pick up. They are offering two flavours of galettes des rois this year. An apricot and pistachio Swiss style very crispy galette, and a more classic galette with almond cream, vanilla, and rum. Both contain charms by local ceramic artists Atelier Make. Rhubarbe’s galettes serve 6 people and it’s highly recommended that you order yours on their website as early as possible.
1320, Charlevoix Street
De Froment et de Sève
De Froment et de Sève's classic King cake (galettes des rois) is made with 66% almond paste in a pure butter, flaky puff pastry that gives the confection a truly special taste. They are sold with a crown. The lucky finders of the three Froment Man gold beans hidden in random galettes will win $400 in cash! The cakes are usually ready 2 to 4 days after ordering and the pick-ups are from 2355 Beaubien Street East.
Several locations
Boulangerie Arhoma
The Arhoma King cake (galette des rois) contains an almond frangipane infused with Québec-made Avril amaretto liqueur. The beautiful little croissant-shaped “beans” inside each galette are made by local ceramic artist Atelier Inédit. The cakes come with a crown. You can buy your Arhoma cake cooked or raw and frozen to bake at home. The smell of the butter puff pastry baking at home will surely add a layer of festive cheer to the occasion.
Several locations
Chez Potier
French pastry shop Chez Potier is making 3 different flavours of King cakes (galettes des rois) this year using an inverted fleur de sel puff pastry. The classic with a vanilla flavoured frangipane with a touch of dark rum; the chocolate with a special chocolate frangipane; and a third one with roasted pineapple and passion fruit. Each galette comes with a crown and a bean from an exclusively imported French collection.
630 Wellington Street
Aube Boulangerie
Aube Boulangerie will be making 3 flavours of galettes this year: a traditional almond one with vanilla from local spice providers Épices de cru; a revisited maple, Avril amaretto liqueur and pecan; and a third one with Qantu chocolate, hazelnuts, blueberries and maple dulce de leche. The ceramic beans were handmade by the Aube team during a ceramic workshop at Argile Atelier. The King cakes (galettes) are for 8 to 10 people and available for pre-order on their website until stocks run out!
4715 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Maison Bonbec
Bonbec specializes in pink pralines and their King cakes (galettes des rois) are an ode to those delicious pink specks. Their puff pastry is rolled out three times to achieve the desired thinness and crispiness. Their 2026 galettes come in 2 flavours: the first classic one is made with almond frangipane and an added layer of glazed chestnut syrup at the end of baking while the second flavour adds pink praline to the classic almond frangipane. This year there may be a special flavour with chocolate for the last week of the season. These galettes are only available for order and pick up and quantities are limited so place your orders now.
6525 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Joe La Croûte
Located in the Jean Talon Market, Joe La Croûte is well known for its excellent breads and flaky pastries. In addition to offering a classic almond frangipane King cake this year, they’re also making a signature Dubaï chocolate one. You can even pick up a slice to snack on while shopping at the market.
7024 Casgrain Avenue
Ritz-Carlton Montréal
The ritzy downtown hotel is the epitome of luxury and a gilded lifestyle. For this year’s Epiphany, the hotel’s team has created a gorgeous, silky King cake (galette des rois) to indulge in. The galettes are available for a limited time and must be ordered in advance by phone at (514) 905-0787 or email at roomservice@ritzmontreal.com.
1228 Sherbrooke Street West
Pâtisserie Mélilot
Laurier Street West’s chic Pâtisserie Mélilot makes absolutely beautiful and unique desserts all year round. For Epiphany, they are offering a classic almond frangipane galette made with a buttery and shatteringly flaky puff pastry filled with a nutty frangipane.
1062 Laurier Avenue West
Feuilleté Café
Charming Rosemont café/pastry shop Feuilleté specializes in all matters of shatteringly crispy laminated doughs. Their traditional golden King cake is filled with almond frangipane infused with local amaretto liqueur April. The galettes are available until January 11 and you can order them on their website starting now.
2450 De Bellechasse Street
Un Instant en Provence
Your taste buds will be happy to take a virtual trip to the south of France with all the baked treats at Un Instant en Provence. Their King cake consists of an inverted pure butter puff pastry filled with homemade frangipane cream and a Provençal Santon figurine, a traditional, hand painted figurine.
4835 Notre Dame Street West
Le Paltoquet
This little café and bakery in the heart of Outremont has been a favourite since it opened its doors in 1990. The croissants are often cited as some of the best in Montréal and their savoury creations are just as delicious as their sweet ones. Their “Parisian” King cake is an elegant and traditional creation. The buttery puff pastry is filled with a creamy almond cream and hides a beautiful charm, chosen with care.
1464 Van Horne Avenue
Mollo
Mollo is a family affair with 3 locations in the southwest, each dedicated to a sweet treat, from pastries to gelato. Their King cake is a traditional one with a beautifully engraved golden crust and a classic frangipane filling. Note that the galettes will be available from January 3rd in store only at their Saint-Henri location (4357 Notre-Dame West) as well as the Pointe-Saint-Charles one (2001 Wellington Street).
4357 Notre-Dame West, 2001 Wellington Street, and 2035 Wellington Street
Boulangerie Jarry
A busy Villeray spot, Boulangerie Jarry is always buzzing with locals flocking here for their breads and pastries. In addition to their classic almond galette, they’re also offering a pistachio and raspberry confit one for a fruitier flavour. The cakes can be purchased fully baked or raw to be cooked at home.
380 Jarry Street East
Blés de Pays
Blé de Pays makes their baked goods exclusively with quality ingredients that are local and traceable and their King cake is no exception. The almonds in the filling are the only ingredients that are not local. Every other ingredient’s provenance is listed thoughtfully, from the bio-regenerative flour from Moulin des Cèdres, to the eggs from Ferme Point du Jour to the butter from Laiterie de la Baie and more. Thegaletteis made with exceptional ingredients from around the province and is as delicious as it is nutritious.
6525 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Le Toledo
The two lovely Toledo locations have mastered the art of bread and pastries. Made with pure butter puff pastry filled with a rum-flavoured frangipane cream, their galette serves 6-8 people and is available until the end of January or while stocks last. The Toledo tip: reheat your galette in the oven for 5 minutes at 350°F before serving for a better and crispier experience.
351 Mont-Royal Avenue East and 4448 Wellington Street
La Bête à Pain
With 2 boutiques in Montréal, one in Laval and a fourth on the way, La Bête à Pain is a true carb-loaded haven with a great variety of breads and pastries on display. Their classic frangipane galette are encased in a buttery, golden crispy pastry. They’re available until the end of January at all 3 shops. It’s recommended to order yours at least 24 hours ahead since they fly off the shelves quickly!
114 Fleury Street West and 195 Young Street
You can find more King cakes (galettes des rois) at the following bakeries:
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.