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panettone being cut into Elena/Supplied

8 Excellent Panettone Purveyors Selling the Sweet Bread in Montreal Right Now

It’s that time of year again

by Valerie Silva Updated
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by Valerie Silva Updated
Elena/Supplied

The appeal of panettone — much less where to procure the best one — can be a divisive topic among family and friends. There are those who insist they “just don’t get it,” while some start stocking up as soon as the sweet holiday bread hits shelves mid-fall. Others still maintain that they have no qualms with the idea of a boxed, cellophane-wrapped Italian treat but would much prefer a slice of pandoro, the star-shaped, powdered sugar-dusted cousin of the panettone. Even once you think you’ve found the right person to share in your panettone passion, chances are you disagree on whether the bread should be studded with bits of crystallized fruit or chunks of chocolate. And then there’s still one more knotty conversation to be had: where do we buy it?

Montreal is home to many small local spots, like Little Italy café San Gennaro or Old Montreal sandwich counter Dispensa, that feature stellar selections of imported bread. Otherwise, consider visiting an Italian grocery store, such as Fruiterie Milano, Cavallaro in Les Halles d’Anjou, or Berchicci in St-Leonard, where shelves are lined with so many brightly hued packages of the sweet bread that it couldn’t hurt to have a cognoscente in tow. But this map is dedicated to Montreal bakeries, restaurants, and cafes selling their own gift-worthy takes on the Italian classic.

Want to take care of more of your holiday shopping at local food spots? Check out this gift guide composed entirely of Montreal restaurant merch.

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Viva Panettone

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After perfecting his panettone at popular Montreal bakery Les Co’pains d’abord’s, pastry chef Eric Goeury has opened a separate venture dedicated entirely to the festive treat. Pick between the standard version spotted with citrus and raisins or one laced with three types of chocolate and another made to taste like cappuccino. Available at Viva Panettone’s St-Leonard headquarters, online, or at several Montreal stockists.

8248 Rue du Creusot, Saint-Léonard, QC H1P 2A4, Canada
(438) 350-0904
(438) 350-0904
panettone on stand Viva Panettone/Facebook

Automne Boulangerie

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The hype surrounding this Petite-Patrie bakery run by award-winning baker Julien Roy is entirely warranted. Now that Automne has come out with its own raisin, apple, and blueberry studded panettone, it may well be among the most coveted on this list. Traditional panettone gets its height from sourdough starter, not commercial bakers yeast, and if the loaves of fermented dough that Automne has been churning out since 2016 are any indication, they’re adept at working with it.

6500 Ave Christophe-Colomb, Montreal, QC H2S 2G8, Canada
(514) 274-8111
(514) 274-8111

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Fous Desserts

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This Laurier East dessert shop leans traditional with its panettone offering, which is sprinkled with dried fruit and conveniently available in three sizes: small (180 g), medium (420 g), or large (700 g).

809 Avenue Laurier E, Montréal, QC H2J 1G2, Canada
(514) 273-9335
(514) 273-9335

Café Olimpico (multiple locations)

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Montreal’s premier coffee purveyor is now also a panettone creator. Olimpico-branded sweet bread is available in two classic favourite flavours: chocolate or pistachio cream.

124 Rue Saint- Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2T 2L1, Canada
(514) 495-0746
(514) 495-0746
panettone wrapped in green packaging Olimpico/Facebook

Arte & Farina

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Armed with years of culinary training in Italy, where he was born, Sandro Carpene doesn’t shy away from blending traditional craftsmanship with local ingredients. Classically flavoured panettone is on offer, but so is one flavoured with chocolate and a more home-brewed take featuring Quebec maple syrup and cranberries.

1256 Rue Ontario E, Montréal, QC H2L 1R6, Canada
(514) 999-8922
(514) 999-8922

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Hof Kelsten

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Since opening Hof Kelsten to the public in 2013, Jeffrey Finkelstein has gathered praise for his now-legendary babka and challah bread, as well as his gravlax, chopped liver, and other deli grub. But come December, he moonlights as an Italian baker dishing out some of the city’s most sought-after panettone in gift-worthy wrapping.

4524 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4, Canada
(514) 649-7991
(514) 649-7991

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Elena

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Elena’s take on the tall sweet bread is naturally leavened with the same sourdough culture used for its famed pizza. It is freckled with dark chocolate, orange zest, and amaro-soaked cranberries and finished with a chestnut-almond crumble on top — available online and perfect for holiday gifting.

5090 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1T1, Canada
(514) 379-4883
(514) 379-4883
panettone in front of box Elena/Supplied

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Boulangerie Le Toledo (multiple locations)

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With an outpost in Verdun and another in the Plateau, Le Toledo makes it easy for Montrealers to grab one of their panettones — all made with dark chocolate and then paired with either orange, salted caramel, or raspberry cream.

4448 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC H4G 1W5, Canada
(438) 380-2248
(438) 380-2248
person holding panettone cut through the center Le Toledo/Facebook

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Viva Panettone

8248 Rue du Creusot, Saint-Léonard, QC H1P 2A4, Canada

After perfecting his panettone at popular Montreal bakery Les Co’pains d’abord’s, pastry chef Eric Goeury has opened a separate venture dedicated entirely to the festive treat. Pick between the standard version spotted with citrus and raisins or one laced with three types of chocolate and another made to taste like cappuccino. Available at Viva Panettone’s St-Leonard headquarters, online, or at several Montreal stockists.

8248 Rue du Creusot, Saint-Léonard, QC H1P 2A4, Canada
(438) 350-0904
(438) 350-0904
panettone on stand Viva Panettone/Facebook

Automne Boulangerie

6500 Ave Christophe-Colomb, Montreal, QC H2S 2G8, Canada

The hype surrounding this Petite-Patrie bakery run by award-winning baker Julien Roy is entirely warranted. Now that Automne has come out with its own raisin, apple, and blueberry studded panettone, it may well be among the most coveted on this list. Traditional panettone gets its height from sourdough starter, not commercial bakers yeast, and if the loaves of fermented dough that Automne has been churning out since 2016 are any indication, they’re adept at working with it.

6500 Ave Christophe-Colomb, Montreal, QC H2S 2G8, Canada
(514) 274-8111
(514) 274-8111

Fous Desserts

809 Avenue Laurier E, Montréal, QC H2J 1G2, Canada

This Laurier East dessert shop leans traditional with its panettone offering, which is sprinkled with dried fruit and conveniently available in three sizes: small (180 g), medium (420 g), or large (700 g).

809 Avenue Laurier E, Montréal, QC H2J 1G2, Canada
(514) 273-9335
(514) 273-9335

Café Olimpico (multiple locations)

124 Rue Saint- Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2T 2L1, Canada

Montreal’s premier coffee purveyor is now also a panettone creator. Olimpico-branded sweet bread is available in two classic favourite flavours: chocolate or pistachio cream.

124 Rue Saint- Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2T 2L1, Canada
(514) 495-0746
(514) 495-0746
panettone wrapped in green packaging Olimpico/Facebook

Arte & Farina

1256 Rue Ontario E, Montréal, QC H2L 1R6, Canada

Armed with years of culinary training in Italy, where he was born, Sandro Carpene doesn’t shy away from blending traditional craftsmanship with local ingredients. Classically flavoured panettone is on offer, but so is one flavoured with chocolate and a more home-brewed take featuring Quebec maple syrup and cranberries.

1256 Rue Ontario E, Montréal, QC H2L 1R6, Canada
(514) 999-8922
(514) 999-8922

Hof Kelsten

4524 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4, Canada

Since opening Hof Kelsten to the public in 2013, Jeffrey Finkelstein has gathered praise for his now-legendary babka and challah bread, as well as his gravlax, chopped liver, and other deli grub. But come December, he moonlights as an Italian baker dishing out some of the city’s most sought-after panettone in gift-worthy wrapping.

4524 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4, Canada
(514) 649-7991
(514) 649-7991

Elena

5090 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1T1, Canada

Elena’s take on the tall sweet bread is naturally leavened with the same sourdough culture used for its famed pizza. It is freckled with dark chocolate, orange zest, and amaro-soaked cranberries and finished with a chestnut-almond crumble on top — available online and perfect for holiday gifting.

5090 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1T1, Canada
(514) 379-4883
(514) 379-4883
panettone in front of box Elena/Supplied

Boulangerie Le Toledo (multiple locations)

4448 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC H4G 1W5, Canada

With an outpost in Verdun and another in the Plateau, Le Toledo makes it easy for Montrealers to grab one of their panettones — all made with dark chocolate and then paired with either orange, salted caramel, or raspberry cream.

4448 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC H4G 1W5, Canada
(438) 380-2248
(438) 380-2248
person holding panettone cut through the center Le Toledo/Facebook