Montréal’s best late-night eats for nighthawk appetites

Gastronomy Nightlife
  • Le Saint-Houblon
  • Otto Yakitori - Brochette
JP Karwacki

JP Karwacki

Dining out at a Montréal restaurant is a bright highlight when it comes to experiencing the best of the city, but most restaurants have their limits and will eventually close up shop when it’s late. That means that if you find yourself peckish past midnight, options can seem limited beyond fast food. There are, however, many reliable addresses that have made a name for themselves for serving a good meal up until the early hours of the morning. Here’s where to find and eat up the best of them.

 

Dunn's Famous

This smoked meat chain has spread far beyond Montréal over the years, but their downtown location is where it all began in 1927. Regularly open until 5 a.m. every night of the week, it’s a reliable destination for stacked sandwiches of the city’s iconic sliced brisket (or as an ingredient in everything from classic Reubens to fried rice) alongside all kinds of other menu options both traditionally Jewish and not. 

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Restaurant Paulo & Suzanne

Paulo & Suzanne an absolutely essential spot to eat if you want to take a deep dive into what a good poutine is. Established in 1980, this Ahuntsic-Cartierville staple and its retro American décor make the perfect setting for late-night bites, particularly for anyone with a voracious appetite: Loaded hot dogs, stacked burgers, poutines dressed with burgers, huge submarine sandwiches—the works.

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Restaurant Chez La Mère

This longstanding restaurant established in 1977 is an easy winner when it to picking a place to eat late at night on the weekend. Its classic diner atmosphere has cultivated a loyal following over the years for a reason: Dig into some steamies, pizza, poutine, or some of their spins on Italian, Chinese, and even Greek dishes, and you’ll find out why.

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Fairmount Bagel Bakery

Fairmount Bagel

Fairmount Bagel hasn’t just serve the city traditional bagels baked from their wood-fired oven since 1919, but they’re doing so 24/7. Some might contest a bagel (or a bag of bagels) won’t constitute a meal, but if you’re hungry and it’s late at night, you’ll be thankful for their good when they’re coming hot out of the oven. Bonus: You’ll be indulging in the first bagel bakery in Montréal.

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Boustan

They’ve been making shawarma for Montrealers since 1986, and better yet, they’ve been doing so steadily from their late night location on Crescent in the downtown core, making them one of the great Middle Eastern restaurants of the city. Order up a trio with a drink, potatoes and garlic sauce, and one of their one-with-everything ‘creation’ sandwiches.

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La Banquise

La Banquise

La Banquise is Montréal’s poutine institution going well beyond the usual fries-cheese curds-gravy trifecta with combinations you never knew existed, using anything from Merguez sausage with hot peppers and Tabasco to guacamole and sour cream. Be warned that they amass a sizeable line-up on the weekends late at night, but they move quickly.

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Gibeau Orange Julep

Gibeau Orange Julep

A retro drive-in diner and local favourite, you can’t miss the gigantic orange perched aside the Decarie Expressway.  Opened in the 1930’s, their frothy orange julep is a classic from days when carhops on roller skates serviced diners directly at their cars.  Their menu of hot dogs and burgers still hasn’t changed, and probably never will.

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Angela Pizzeria & Restaurant

When you’ve got a craving for pizza, souvlaki, burgers or salad at an obscene hour, Angela has you covered. A Montréal institution and late-night veteran, this place is for the early bird or night owl. Chances are that if you stayed out late after dinner downtown and come here for a snack, you may run into whoever served you earlier.

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Restaurant Mon Nan

Restaurant Mon Nan never seems to close, but that’s not the only reason it’s an essential place to eat in Chinatown. They’re your go-to spot when you’ve got a hankering for Peking duck or Cantonese lobster in the wee hours of the morning. It’s not uncommon to see local chefs finishing their nights here, either.

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L'Express

L’Express

The quintessential Parisian-style bistro. Known for serving excellent French cuisine until late at night, L’Express is a popular dining destination for locals at just about any reasonable late night hour. With dishes like their famous bone marrow starter to calf liver with tarragon or steak-frites, their take on classic dishes will leave you wanting more.

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Le Saint-Houblon

Saint-Houblon

A brewpub and kitchen coming from a Saint-Bruno microbrewery, the food here can get as crafty as the beer does. Think karaage curry bowls, fried Oreos, nachos with beer sausage, and roasted tomato mac and cheese—but don’t worry, those don’t all come served together unless you want them to.

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The Burgundy Lion

Burgundy Lion

Known for bring the quintessential British pub experience to Montréal, Burgundy Lion will keep its kitchen open until the early hours, but take note that they’ll usually pare the menu down to easily made dishes. That said, the fries and burgers here are of a well-known quality among locals and out-of-towners alike.

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Restaurant A.A.

Named after its owner André Annoussos, this Saint-Henri diner is a local legend among Montréalers for its ability to serve up delightfully stomach-lining greasy eats until very, very early hours of the morning. Steamies by day and toasties by night, a unique poutine gravy recipes, and lightning speed service all come together to make for a great no-fuss late night eating experience.

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Alto Restaurant

Ask any student in the McGill Ghetto where they’re getting their late-night fuel from, and it’s likely going to be this place. Specializing in cheap pizza, burgers, poutine, the curious Montréal creation of pizzaghetti and even brunch until the earliest of hours, the reputation here is well-earned for late night eats.

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Caribbean Food Factory

The name of this restaurant should suffice for knowing what you’re getting yourself into, but if it’s not clear enough: This is where to find the spicier side of late night eats and a taste of islands. That means curry and jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, oxtail and a lot more. Just ask for more hot sauce if you need to kick it up a notch or three.

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Le Majestique

A suave destination in the Plateau, this colourful dining experience in Montréal is among the most lauded when it comes to late night eats thanks to a regularly creative menu, curated wine lists, and oysters popped open until last call. If you’re eating with a friend or date, don’t skip out on their famous hot dog. A Hof Kelsten bun gets topped with a foot-long Gaspor pork sausage, a red cabbage and apple slaw, and crispy fried shallots. Divine.

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Otto Yakitori - Tataki salad

Otto Yakitori

The charcoal doesn’t stop burning until late at night at this Japanese izakaya in the heart of downtown Montréal. Serving yakitori, the Japanese grill style that features just about every edible part of a chicken, they also regularly serve up plates of sashimi, bowls of ramen, and more; just ask for the specials that night if you don’t feel like chicken early in the morning.

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Isle de Garde

This brewpub in La-Petite-Patrie is primarily known for its beer, but the food gets just as attention—especially when it gets late. Among menu options like grilled octopus or roasted oyster mushrooms, the burger tends to get a lot of due attention, but don’t skip on ordering widely while you’re here. Everything gets crafted with a lot of love.

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JP Karwacki

JP Karwacki

JP Karwacki is a Montréal-based writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Time Magazine, the Montreal Gazette, National Post, Time Out, NUVO Magazine, and more. Having called the city home for over a decade and a half, he regularly focuses on spreading the good word about the amazing things to eat, drink and do in Montréal. One half raconteur and the other flâneur (with just a dash of boulevardier), when he wasn’t working on the frontlines of the city's restaurants and bars, he spent his time thinking about, reading about and writing about restaurants and bars.

 

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