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14 Super Spanish Restaurants In and Around Montreal

Where to eat hearty paella loaded with shellfish, salty jamon, tasty tapas, and much more.

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Montreal may not be considered a destination for Spanish food, yet there’s quite a number of restaurants serving up the paprika-tinged flavours of the Iberian Peninsula with flair.

Tapas is perhaps one of Spain’s best-known exports, so restaurants serving those small plates (and its relatives, like Basque pintxos) are well represented — this map only considers those that serve Spanish-style tapas (as opposed to restaurants using “tapas” as a euphemism for “small plates”). Beyond those tiny bites, there’s also a number of more general Spanish restaurants, some regional specialists (for example, venues serving Catalan cuisine), and some fusion options — here are the best bets.

Looking for more food from the region? Check out our guide to Portuguese food in Montreal.

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In the heart of Villeray, Tapeo’s broad menu includes hot and cold tapas offerings, and a wide range of Spanish wines. If you’re coming as a group, the chef’s table (seating up to 18 people) allows guests to see chef-owner Marie-Fleur St-Pierre in action. The desserts — including hot, mouthwatering churros and crème catalane — are especially recommended. Mondays are reserved for private groups. 

Bo' Dégât

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Keeping it simple and tasty, Bo’ Dégât, near Beaubien metro, serves tapas and wine in a sleek modern setting. Choices include spicy pork rolls, omelettes, and Spanish-Portuguese bacalao (salted cod). The desserts have a Montreal flair, with churros in the shape of the city’s logo. All up, it’s a fun menu with several vegetarian options, and a great place to go with friends. 

The younger sister restaurant to Marie-Fleur St-Pierre’s excellent Tapeo, Villeray’s Mesón is a casually elegant bistro offering weekend brunch, and lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday. Dishes include octopus with paprika, and mussels in a piri piri marinade, but the rarity here is cocas, a Catalan flatbread that can be sweet or salty. 

Ibéricos

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A snazzy Plateau resto-wine bar with a fun vibe, Ibéricos has an artful interior with blackboard art, warm lighting, and plates from chef Haissam Souki Tamayo, who hails from Venezuela, and has honed his culinary expertise around the world. Each part of the menu has at least one vegetarian option. 

Taza Flores

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Though Taza Flores isn’t strictly Spanish, its tapas menu maintains a Mediterranean flair, blending Spanish and Moroccan influences. The casual elegance of the interior design reflects the tastes of founders Gilbert and Harry Marciano, restauranteurs with international experience but an affinity for Montreal. It’s got a warm atmosphere, friendly vibes, and a great location in Mile End. 

La Sala Rosa

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A restaurant and event space, La Sala Rosa is well-named — the décor is mostly vivid red. From the bar, serving (among other things) orange sparkling wines, and upscale cocktails featuring artisanal gins, to the wide-ranging menu, it’s a Plateau institution. It’s the host to the Flamenco festival each year, along with weekly Flamenco shows. Not to be confused with La Sala Rossa (with two S’s), a music venue upstairs.

With a name that translates to “the soul”, Outremont wine bar Alma delivers on its promise of a menu with spirit. Chef Juan Lopez Luna and sommelier Lindsay Brennan deliver artful plates made with local ingredients, paired with a plethora of Catalan wines. The duo have created an experience in elegant dining that brings together the best of Quebec and Catalonia. 

Hispania

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This cosy side-street niche in Outremont dresses up toast with chorizo and quail eggs, and infuses paella with squid ink. New to the Montreal scene, it is rapidly coming into its own, with attractive blue tile and exposed brick, making for a lively and welcoming interior.

Paella 1334

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The aptly-named Village eatery Paella 1334 has several variations on that classic Spanish rice dish. These range from a lush five-vegetable options to chorizo, seafood, and chicken versions. The kitchen is open late, and a table d’hôte menu is available. They also deliver. 

Casa Galicia

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Casa Galicia is a culinary tour of Spain, with Valencian-style mussels, Gallegan scallops, and Galician zarzuela (a seafood stew) — and, of course, the ubiquitous paella. Weekends liven up the place with a Spanish guitarist and flamenco dancing. Its cellar proffers a range of fine Spanish wines, many of which are tough to find in North America. 

L’Española (Libreria Española)

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Ideal for grabbing a bite on St-Laurent, L’Española serves mouthwatering paella and a range of sandwiches on the go — they’re simple, yet loaded with flavour courtesy of prime ingredients like jamon. It’s also a grocery store and importer of goods, making it a great place to find ingredients for Spanish cuisine that can be hard to source in North America. 

Les Pyrénées

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Serving a blend of Basque and Catalan cuisines, Les Pyrénées sources fresh ingredients, including Manchego cheese, smoked paprika, and mussels. Dishes are carefully-spiced and prepared artfully, and it’s all served up in an elegant atmosphere in Old Montreal. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are many and varied. 

Cordova

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A fairly new addition to St-Henri, Cordova experiments with classic ingredients to make creative open sandwiches, croquettes, and other small plates. Its menu also sports quite a range of conservas — high quality canned, preserved seafood that will make you rethink any aversion to tinned fish. The cocktails are equally playful; it’s also a café by day, and comes with a dog-friendly terrasse. 

La Bodega

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OK, this one’s outside Montreal (about an hour away by car, in Dunham), but it’s worth the trip. Located in the wine region of Brome-Missisquoi, La Bodega is located in a historic building, with a sunny, relaxed patio surrounded by greenery. Whether it’s tapas dishes such as grilled sardines, aubergine gratinée, or variations on paella, this place has all options covered. 

Tapeo

In the heart of Villeray, Tapeo’s broad menu includes hot and cold tapas offerings, and a wide range of Spanish wines. If you’re coming as a group, the chef’s table (seating up to 18 people) allows guests to see chef-owner Marie-Fleur St-Pierre in action. The desserts — including hot, mouthwatering churros and crème catalane — are especially recommended. Mondays are reserved for private groups. 

Bo' Dégât

Keeping it simple and tasty, Bo’ Dégât, near Beaubien metro, serves tapas and wine in a sleek modern setting. Choices include spicy pork rolls, omelettes, and Spanish-Portuguese bacalao (salted cod). The desserts have a Montreal flair, with churros in the shape of the city’s logo. All up, it’s a fun menu with several vegetarian options, and a great place to go with friends. 

Mesón

The younger sister restaurant to Marie-Fleur St-Pierre’s excellent Tapeo, Villeray’s Mesón is a casually elegant bistro offering weekend brunch, and lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday. Dishes include octopus with paprika, and mussels in a piri piri marinade, but the rarity here is cocas, a Catalan flatbread that can be sweet or salty. 

Ibéricos

A snazzy Plateau resto-wine bar with a fun vibe, Ibéricos has an artful interior with blackboard art, warm lighting, and plates from chef Haissam Souki Tamayo, who hails from Venezuela, and has honed his culinary expertise around the world. Each part of the menu has at least one vegetarian option. 

Taza Flores

Though Taza Flores isn’t strictly Spanish, its tapas menu maintains a Mediterranean flair, blending Spanish and Moroccan influences. The casual elegance of the interior design reflects the tastes of founders Gilbert and Harry Marciano, restauranteurs with international experience but an affinity for Montreal. It’s got a warm atmosphere, friendly vibes, and a great location in Mile End. 

La Sala Rosa

A restaurant and event space, La Sala Rosa is well-named — the décor is mostly vivid red. From the bar, serving (among other things) orange sparkling wines, and upscale cocktails featuring artisanal gins, to the wide-ranging menu, it’s a Plateau institution. It’s the host to the Flamenco festival each year, along with weekly Flamenco shows. Not to be confused with La Sala Rossa (with two S’s), a music venue upstairs.

Alma

With a name that translates to “the soul”, Outremont wine bar Alma delivers on its promise of a menu with spirit. Chef Juan Lopez Luna and sommelier Lindsay Brennan deliver artful plates made with local ingredients, paired with a plethora of Catalan wines. The duo have created an experience in elegant dining that brings together the best of Quebec and Catalonia. 

Hispania

This cosy side-street niche in Outremont dresses up toast with chorizo and quail eggs, and infuses paella with squid ink. New to the Montreal scene, it is rapidly coming into its own, with attractive blue tile and exposed brick, making for a lively and welcoming interior.

Paella 1334

The aptly-named Village eatery Paella 1334 has several variations on that classic Spanish rice dish. These range from a lush five-vegetable options to chorizo, seafood, and chicken versions. The kitchen is open late, and a table d’hôte menu is available. They also deliver. 

Casa Galicia

Casa Galicia is a culinary tour of Spain, with Valencian-style mussels, Gallegan scallops, and Galician zarzuela (a seafood stew) — and, of course, the ubiquitous paella. Weekends liven up the place with a Spanish guitarist and flamenco dancing. Its cellar proffers a range of fine Spanish wines, many of which are tough to find in North America. 

L’Española (Libreria Española)

Ideal for grabbing a bite on St-Laurent, L’Española serves mouthwatering paella and a range of sandwiches on the go — they’re simple, yet loaded with flavour courtesy of prime ingredients like jamon. It’s also a grocery store and importer of goods, making it a great place to find ingredients for Spanish cuisine that can be hard to source in North America. 

Les Pyrénées

Serving a blend of Basque and Catalan cuisines, Les Pyrénées sources fresh ingredients, including Manchego cheese, smoked paprika, and mussels. Dishes are carefully-spiced and prepared artfully, and it’s all served up in an elegant atmosphere in Old Montreal. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are many and varied. 

Cordova

A fairly new addition to St-Henri, Cordova experiments with classic ingredients to make creative open sandwiches, croquettes, and other small plates. Its menu also sports quite a range of conservas — high quality canned, preserved seafood that will make you rethink any aversion to tinned fish. The cocktails are equally playful; it’s also a café by day, and comes with a dog-friendly terrasse. 

La Bodega

OK, this one’s outside Montreal (about an hour away by car, in Dunham), but it’s worth the trip. Located in the wine region of Brome-Missisquoi, La Bodega is located in a historic building, with a sunny, relaxed patio surrounded by greenery. Whether it’s tapas dishes such as grilled sardines, aubergine gratinée, or variations on paella, this place has all options covered.