Specializing in a wide range of desserts, this homey café uses a large blackboard to showcase daily Czech breakfast specials — known as chlebicky — and pastries. Have a seat at the counter or grab a table by the window for a leisurely breakfast as you people watch the Outremonters stopping by for a quick hello and coffee to-go.

A favourite for anyone who thrives on A to Z dining experiences, Provisions is a true force to be reckoned with. The name speaks for itself: the restaurant uses a chalkboard to inform guests of everything the kitchen has in stock and systematically utilizes each ingredient (unless otherwise notified) to serve creative five- and seven-course dinners for $65 or $75 respectively. The wine selection, loaded with private imports, is impressive, too. Check out the Provisions butcher shop down the street as well, open daily.

There’s little else to be said about Damas other than “wow”. Impressing diners and critics alike since moving to its Van Horne location in 2015, the Syrian restaurant excites guests with cold and hot mezzes (think baba ghannouj, fattouch salad, mouhammara, and kibbé stuffed with lamb, pistachio and pomegranate), an epic mixed grilled platter, and numerous Syrian specialties such as braised lamb over saffron rice. Cocktail lovers are also well-served by an extensive list. Save room for dessert and mint tea with orange blossom to finish it all off.

As one of the early adapters on the slowly trend-ifying strip of new Van Horne restaurants, Les Fillettes consistently delivers on both quality and style. With a notable wine list to back its brunch, lunch and dinner services, this French bistro focuses heavily on seafood and meats, with colourful splashes of vegetables — think tuna, salmon and duck tartares, marinated octopus with confit tomatoes and Israeli couscous, and Quebec lamb seasoned with mint and coriander. The brunch menu is simple and straight to the point, dollar oysters are available every Tuesday night, and a private room is available for special occasions. The beautiful, sprawling terrasse is also arguably one of Montreal’s best.

Having hit the scene in the sizzling summer of 2017, this Congolese rotisserie chicken spot is confident in its spicy recipes. Beyond the chicken, sides also hail from the Congo and Côte d’Ivoire, including attieké (fermented cassava — a nutty, starchy root vegetable) and alloco (fried plantains with chile and onion). They’re worthy add-ons to your quarter, half, or full chicken order.

When owner Rivka Cymbalist imagined a space where people of all walks of life were welcome, she came up with the concept of Caffè della Pace (the Peace Café). With her son Giacomo running the kitchen, there’s house-made treats, such as bread, pastries, jams and sauces, as well as several soups, sandwiches and salads, and a decent espresso.

As one of the hottest new restaurants to hit the scene in 2018, Alma self-identifies as a Catalan wine bar, serving plates of sustainable seafood, mid-sized fresh pasta and organic vegetable dishes. At the helm is Juan de Dios Lopez Luna, owner of Mile End bakery Farine, alongside sommelier Lindsay Brennan. Having opened on a quiet residential street, Alma aims to please, and can do so easily with its sunny terrasse in the summer months. Drop by Sunday afternoons for a classic Catalan vermut — a set-price tapas and cocktail combination.

If you’ve ever walked down the western end of the Bernard strip in the sizzling heat, there’s likely a crowd here. With creative ice cream flavours like King Kong (banana ice cream with chocolate chunks), Cacaphonie (dark chocolate ice cream with chunks of white chocolate and whole cashew nuts) and the ever-popular Brou Ha! Ha! (vanilla ice cream with brownies, caramel swirl, pieces of chocolate covered toffee and praline bits), and sorbets too, Bilboquet is one of those crèmeries that’s become synonymous with summer in Montreal. Its products are also available in some grocery stores and markets.

Now with a total of six restaurants in Montreal and beyond, this part-French, part-Québécois bistro has evolved from one sidewalk-style brasserie into a small empire. While their restaurant atop Place Ville Marie may be more of an attention-seeker, the original location on Bernard is still well-known for its sizeable terrasse, which gets nothing short of over-crowded once the warmer weather hits. Lunch, dinner, brunch and kids’ menus are all available, with generally comforting items such as tartares, grilled fish, short ribs and bavette taking the cake.  

Since 1951, this deli has dished out countless smoked meat sandwiches and platters to patrons of all types. Having famously served former Canadian Prime Minister Daniel Johnson and former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard at the same time (without a political battle erupting on the spot) long-time owner Billy Berenholc notably referred to Montreal’s most iconic meat as “the equalizer, the peacemaker.” While there are some outdoor seats in summer, it’s best to sit at the counter and to enjoy the full experience. Closed Sundays.

The jury is still out on whether Leméac is best known for its lunch service, its late-night after-10 p.m. menu (appetizer and main for $28), or its spectacular brunches that earned the restaurant celebrity-like status on its social media. The regular menu focuses heavily on classics like beef tartare with matchstick potatoes, duck leg confit, mussels and fries, and Cornish hen, while brunch attracts drooling diners with its Norwegian plate, made up of salmon gravlax, Nordic shrimp caraway bread and cucumber salad, or the crowd favourite, poached eggs, smoked salmon and Spanish caviar on blinis.