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celery root sandwich
Keela’s celery root, cheddar, and truffle aioli sandwich
Keela/Facebook

Where to Eat in Montreal’s Gay Village

From bakery to bistro, and everything in between

by Tim Forster, Daniel Bromberg, and Valerie Silva Updated
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Keela’s celery root, cheddar, and truffle aioli sandwich
| Keela/Facebook
by Tim Forster, Daniel Bromberg, and Valerie Silva Updated
1 comment / new

Despite its proximity to Downtown Montreal, the Village (and the surrounding Centre-Sud district) hasn’t had nearly the same restaurant boom as other inner-city areas like Griffintown. And in the past year, we’ve seen the loss of what was perhaps its biggest draw: Arcade Fire-backed Haitian restaurant Agrikol. There remain plenty of culinary gems to check out in the hood nonetheless, including newcomers like Keela and Aperitivo and more established spots like beloved BYOB O’Thym.

This map looks at eateries in the area enclosed by Berri to the west, Papineau to the east, Sherbrooke to the north, and the river to the south. If you’re looking for something further east, check out our Hochelaga-Maisonneuve map.

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Pamika

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It’s traditional dishes all the way at this homey Thai spot, as chef Pamika Sukla dreamed of showcasing the wide range of flavours Southeast Asian cuisine can offer. Its fresh salads, soups and curry dishes are all winners, and its cocktails — when on-site dining resumes — add to the impressive menu.

901 Rue Sherbrooke, Montréal, QC H2L 1L3, Canada
(514) 508-9444
(514) 508-9444

Keela

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Quietly opening mere weeks before the city went into its first lockdown in 2020, this cozy Village bistro is building a loyal following enamoured by its main draw: flatbreads cooked in a wood-burning oven and served with a variety of toppings, from veggie and cashew cheese to ham and béchamel. A lineup of sandwiches and salads, also catering to both vegans and carnivores, round out the offering, along with a weekly rotation of ice cream and sorbet.

1237 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3K9, Canada
(514) 528-7617
(514) 528-7617

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Pataterie Chez Philippe

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Around since 1962, Pataterie Chez Philippe offers up the casse-croûte classics: hamburgers, poutine, club sandwich, and a highly regarded Michigan hot dog.

1877 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L7, Canada
(514) 528-5957
(514) 528-5957

Le Mousso

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Chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard’s first restaurant (he previously honed his skills at the Contemporary Art Museum’s in-house resto) has induced many a rave from critics and civilians alike. (So has his second, more casual spot next door, Le Petit Mousso.) And throughout the pandemic, the restaurant’s creative tasting menus — most recently featuring lobster in Armoricaine sauce, and rhubarb and saffron doughnuts — have been boxed up for a splurge-worthy night in.

1023, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, QC
(438) 384-7410
(438) 384-7410

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Aperitivo Village

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Le Blind Pig and Bar Minéral owner Mathieu Ménard’s new Italian grocery store has shelves stocked with imported preserves and oils, charcuterie and cheese, and house-made pasta. Looking for something that doesn’t require cooking? Try the mushroom arancini or a “focapizza,” a cross between a focaccia and pizza, featuring toppings like truffle ham and ricotta.

1701 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L4, Canada

Pho Viet

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Slurp the night away with a Tonkinese soup from this small family-run Vietnamese operation. It’s been around for years, and its fried noodles are a crowd favourite, too.

1663 Rue Amherst, Montréal, QC H2L 3L4, Canada
(514) 522-4116
(514) 522-4116

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O'Thym

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One of Montreal’s most beloved BYOW restaurants is this neat spot from Nadine Tessier and chef Noé Lainesse. Hearty dishes showcase Quebec meats in a way that feels rustic but with a level of complexity beyond what the descriptor “rustic” implies. It’s currently offering three-course takeout meals for $35.

1112 boul. de Maisonneuve E, Montreal, QC
(514) 525-3443
(514) 525-3443

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Kamé Snack Bar

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Kamé hit the ground running with its Instagram-friendly pink décor and well-designed plates. This Hawaiian snack bar is a great stop for poke and acai bowls, spam musubi, smoothies, and ice cream.

1190 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2G7, Canada
(514) 303-0550
(514) 303-0550

Also featured in:

Le Red Tiger

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Vietnamese street food that goes well beyond regular ol’ pho reins at this cool pub on de Maisonneuve, where papaya salad, noodles, and fresh flavours like lemongrass abound. Delivery is handled through Resto Loco.

1201 de Maisonneuve Est, Montreal, QC
(514) 439-7006
(514) 439-7006

Also featured in:

Café Sfouf

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The primary food offering at this bright, easygoing neighbourhood café is its tartines — toast topped with options like labneh, za’atar, and mint; or goat cheese, pistachios, and honey — that are all worth a try.

1250 rue Ontario, Montreal, QC
(514) 507-8777
(514) 507-8777

Arte & Farina

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One of very few Italian bakeries on this side of town, Arte & Farina’s wagon is firmly hitched on its panettone (a 72-hour labour of love). If you don’t need a loaf of the sweet bread, there’s no shortage of biscotti, focaccia, bombolone, and sandwiches with charcuterie.

1256, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, QC
(514) 806-5185
(514) 806-5185

Sachère Desserts

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Sweets specialist Sonya Sammut has been running her Gay Village bakery for about three years now — and it just keeps getting better and better. Go for a tartlet, gorgeous cake, or, in the summer, a weekly soft serve twist.

1274 Boul. de Maisonneuve E, Montréal, QC H2L 2A3, Canada
(514) 357-8390
(514) 357-8390

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Restaurant Tendresse

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Open since winter 2019, this vegan bistro caters to more than just herbivores. Tendresse serves brunch, lunch, and coffee, and its eye-catching pink bar stools compliment the leafy, minimalist décor. The food skips the granola vegetarian stereotypes in favour of menu items like mushroom waffles, gazpacho, and General Tao tofu.

1259 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2H3, Canada
(438) 387-1471
(438) 387-1471
Tendresse/Facebook

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Palme

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The carefully crafted Caribbean menu at Palme covers islands from Jamaica to Haiti, offering everything from jerk chicken to tropical ceviche — currently available for delivery in picnic baskets fit for four.

1487 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2H9, Canada
(514) 529-8480
(514) 529-8480

Also featured in:

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Pamika

901 Rue Sherbrooke, Montréal, QC H2L 1L3, Canada

It’s traditional dishes all the way at this homey Thai spot, as chef Pamika Sukla dreamed of showcasing the wide range of flavours Southeast Asian cuisine can offer. Its fresh salads, soups and curry dishes are all winners, and its cocktails — when on-site dining resumes — add to the impressive menu.

901 Rue Sherbrooke, Montréal, QC H2L 1L3, Canada
(514) 508-9444
(514) 508-9444

Keela

1237 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3K9, Canada

Quietly opening mere weeks before the city went into its first lockdown in 2020, this cozy Village bistro is building a loyal following enamoured by its main draw: flatbreads cooked in a wood-burning oven and served with a variety of toppings, from veggie and cashew cheese to ham and béchamel. A lineup of sandwiches and salads, also catering to both vegans and carnivores, round out the offering, along with a weekly rotation of ice cream and sorbet.

1237 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3K9, Canada
(514) 528-7617
(514) 528-7617

Pataterie Chez Philippe

1877 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L7, Canada

Around since 1962, Pataterie Chez Philippe offers up the casse-croûte classics: hamburgers, poutine, club sandwich, and a highly regarded Michigan hot dog.

1877 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L7, Canada
(514) 528-5957
(514) 528-5957

Le Mousso

1023, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, QC

Chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard’s first restaurant (he previously honed his skills at the Contemporary Art Museum’s in-house resto) has induced many a rave from critics and civilians alike. (So has his second, more casual spot next door, Le Petit Mousso.) And throughout the pandemic, the restaurant’s creative tasting menus — most recently featuring lobster in Armoricaine sauce, and rhubarb and saffron doughnuts — have been boxed up for a splurge-worthy night in.

1023, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, QC
(438) 384-7410
(438) 384-7410

Aperitivo Village

1701 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L4, Canada

Le Blind Pig and Bar Minéral owner Mathieu Ménard’s new Italian grocery store has shelves stocked with imported preserves and oils, charcuterie and cheese, and house-made pasta. Looking for something that doesn’t require cooking? Try the mushroom arancini or a “focapizza,” a cross between a focaccia and pizza, featuring toppings like truffle ham and ricotta.

1701 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC H2L 3L4, Canada

Pho Viet

1663 Rue Amherst, Montréal, QC H2L 3L4, Canada

Slurp the night away with a Tonkinese soup from this small family-run Vietnamese operation. It’s been around for years, and its fried noodles are a crowd favourite, too.

1663 Rue Amherst, Montréal, QC H2L 3L4, Canada
(514) 522-4116
(514) 522-4116

O'Thym

1112 boul. de Maisonneuve E, Montreal, QC

One of Montreal’s most beloved BYOW restaurants is this neat spot from Nadine Tessier and chef Noé Lainesse. Hearty dishes showcase Quebec meats in a way that feels rustic but with a level of complexity beyond what the descriptor “rustic” implies. It’s currently offering three-course takeout meals for $35.

1112 boul. de Maisonneuve E, Montreal, QC
(514) 525-3443
(514) 525-3443

Kamé Snack Bar

1190 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2G7, Canada

Kamé hit the ground running with its Instagram-friendly pink décor and well-designed plates. This Hawaiian snack bar is a great stop for poke and acai bowls, spam musubi, smoothies, and ice cream.

1190 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2G7, Canada
(514) 303-0550
(514) 303-0550

Le Red Tiger

1201 de Maisonneuve Est, Montreal, QC

Vietnamese street food that goes well beyond regular ol’ pho reins at this cool pub on de Maisonneuve, where papaya salad, noodles, and fresh flavours like lemongrass abound. Delivery is handled through Resto Loco.

1201 de Maisonneuve Est, Montreal, QC
(514) 439-7006
(514) 439-7006

Café Sfouf

1250 rue Ontario, Montreal, QC

The primary food offering at this bright, easygoing neighbourhood café is its tartines — toast topped with options like labneh, za’atar, and mint; or goat cheese, pistachios, and honey — that are all worth a try.

1250 rue Ontario, Montreal, QC
(514) 507-8777
(514) 507-8777

Arte & Farina

1256, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, QC

One of very few Italian bakeries on this side of town, Arte & Farina’s wagon is firmly hitched on its panettone (a 72-hour labour of love). If you don’t need a loaf of the sweet bread, there’s no shortage of biscotti, focaccia, bombolone, and sandwiches with charcuterie.

1256, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, QC
(514) 806-5185
(514) 806-5185

Sachère Desserts

1274 Boul. de Maisonneuve E, Montréal, QC H2L 2A3, Canada

Sweets specialist Sonya Sammut has been running her Gay Village bakery for about three years now — and it just keeps getting better and better. Go for a tartlet, gorgeous cake, or, in the summer, a weekly soft serve twist.

1274 Boul. de Maisonneuve E, Montréal, QC H2L 2A3, Canada
(514) 357-8390
(514) 357-8390

Restaurant Tendresse

1259 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2H3, Canada

Open since winter 2019, this vegan bistro caters to more than just herbivores. Tendresse serves brunch, lunch, and coffee, and its eye-catching pink bar stools compliment the leafy, minimalist décor. The food skips the granola vegetarian stereotypes in favour of menu items like mushroom waffles, gazpacho, and General Tao tofu.

1259 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2H3, Canada
(438) 387-1471
(438) 387-1471
Tendresse/Facebook

Palme

1487 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2H9, Canada

The carefully crafted Caribbean menu at Palme covers islands from Jamaica to Haiti, offering everything from jerk chicken to tropical ceviche — currently available for delivery in picnic baskets fit for four.

1487 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC H2L 2H9, Canada
(514) 529-8480
(514) 529-8480