This 1950’s style diner — complete with checkered floors, vinyl chairs, and a long retro snack counter — prides itself on being a neighbourhood gathering place. While its large menu serves every diner staple, like burgers, hotdogs, and grilled cheese, Paulo & Suzanne is known best for its poutine and its 24-hour breakfast (including crepes and omelettes).

Named after the founder’s hometown, Salerno is an authentic Italian bakery with a vast array of cakes, breads, pizzas, and grab-n-go bites. On the sweeter side of things, Salerno sells cannoli, tiramisu, and doughnuts; on the savoury side, it serves calzones, sandwiches, and deli meats.

Right next to the Botanical Gardens, Chez La Mere is a family diner with an enormous menu items including and beyond the traditional greasy spoon (think: Chinese food, surf-n-turf, and kebabs). Portions tend to come large here, and if you find yourself with late night cravings, but aren’t in the area, Chez La Mere delivers daily between 11 a.m. and 5 a.m.

A go-to for poutine (and one that draws a hefty tourist crowd at that), La Banquise has something for any dietary preference — as long as you’re happy with poutine. Patrons can swap their meat gravy for a vegan sauce or a tomato meat sauce, and pile any number of toppings on their fries, curds, and gravy: think guacamole, smoked meat, or red onion. But perhaps the best part of La Banquise is its energy, as waiters and line cooks alike dance along to vibrant jams at all hours of the day and night. Be warned: Banquise draws line-ups late into the night, especially after bars close.

Another vintage diner, this one boasting smoked meat, Fameux’s is conveniently located alongside much of the Mont-Royal and St-Denis nightlife. Its menu leans somewhat towards the breakfast side of things, serving a diversity of egg dishes, hearty breakfast sandwiches, crepes, and pancakes make this a good pit stop on late nights that become early mornings. Note: open 24 hours on Thursday to Saturday nights only; Fameux closes at 3:30 a.m. other nights.

As the first bagel bakery in Montreal, Fairmount serves these hand-rolled dough treats in flavours including onion, all-dressed, and chocolate chip. With standard sesame bagels priced at less than a dollar a piece, Fairmount makes for a cheap, speedy stop on the way home. As any good Montrealer should know, bagels can only be bought to go: patrons must dress them at home or outside on the street.

A block north of its counterpart (or some would say its competition), St-Viateur bagel offers a similar no-frills bagel experience to Fairmount. The difference between the two is subtle, and a point of contention for many Montrealers, but in any case, St-Viateur makes an equally quick, similarly affordable pit stop for hand-rolled bagels in many flavours. A tip: These bagels are best ordered warm, and plain sesame have more often come straight out of the oven, while the fancier counterparts tend to be made just once a day.

Located within proximity of much of the Gay Village nightlife, le Resto du Village prides itself on its 24-hour breakfast menu of pancakes, french toast, sandwiches, and omelettes. It also has a range of poutines available as a main or a side.

Joe’s Panini is a quick, affordable spot to grab a bite on the way home from a downtown night out. Joe’s knows its specialty and sticks to it: The menu has a broad range of sandwiches — Philly Cheesesteak, gyro, and tofu ginger paninis, to name a few — but little else. While seating room is minimal, service is fast, making this an easy spot to grab a sandwich before jumping in a cab.