Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet, like many working professionals and busy students, my weekday breakfasts largely consist of cup after cup of lukewarm coffee and maybe a banana if I’ve felt like meal prepping. But when the weekend rolls around, there’s no excuse not to take advantage of the many amazing breakfast joints that Montreal has to offer.
As the largest city in Quebec and the world’s leading producer of maple syrup, Montreal is arguably the unofficial maple syrup capital of the world. And yet, what’s the point of all this maple syrup without a pile of crepes, pancakes, and sausages to drench in the sweet nectar of the trees? What’s that old idiom? “If a maple tree falls in the forest and there isn’t a stack of pancakes around to soak in syrup, is it even breakfast at all?” Or something like that.
So put down that lukewarm coffee and spend your weekend indulging in these top Montreal breakfast spots:
L'Avenue
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: "Decadent breakfasts"
Address: Multiple locations
Why You Need To Go: If you want to fill your Instagram feed as much as you want to fill your belly, look no further than Montreal’s trendy L’Avenue. L’Avenue’s flagship location on Mont-Royal Ave. in the heart of the plateau is particularly worthy of the ‘gram. It features colourful graffiti art, stunning light fixtures, and a bathroom that boldly dares you not to take a mirror selfie.
The true star, though, is the eclectic menu, featuring creative spins on classic breakfast fare like the Sweet, Savoury and Crunchy Eggs Benedict, complete with poached eggs, maple syrup, honey and orange-glazed ham, Emmental cheese, and hollandaise sauce all piled on top of panko-crusted French toast, or the Tiramisu-Style French Toast filled with mascarpone and coffee coulis and topped with homemade whipped cream.
For those with both a sweet and savoury tooth, check out The Indecisive, which pairs decadent pancakes and French toast with any savoury side dish of your choosing. Go to L’Avenue for the photo op, but stay for the delectable food served with unlimited Quebec maple syrup.
Beauty’s Luncheonette
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Breakfast/brunch
Address: 93, av. du Mont-Royal O., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Established in 1942, Beauty’s is the oldest restaurant on this list, but even at the ripe old age of 82, Beauty’s is still, well, a beauty. Decorated with retro blue booths, vintage tables, and a stool-lined counter that feels straight out of a 1950s diner, Beauty’s will leave you nostalgic for a Montreal you never knew.
But the real stand out is the extensive menu, which hasn’t changed much in 80 years (but if it’s not broken, why fix it?). Featuring classics like the Mish-Mash omelette, a delicious mix of hot dogs, salami, green peppers, and onions, and Jewish staples like blintzes, challah, matzoh brei, latkes, bagels, lox, and cream cheese, Beauty’s is as much a feast for your stomach as it is for your eyes.
The Beauty’s Green smoothie (blended with spinach and tropical fruits) and the recent edition of fresh fruit-topped frozen Greek yogurt will satisfy the most health-conscious diner, but indulge yourself with your fan-favourite apple pie smoothie (more milkshake than smoothie).
Café Orange
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Canadian
Address: 4011, boul. Décarie, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: First opened in 2002, Café Orange is a relative newcomer to the Montreal breakfast scene, but it has quickly become an NDG and citywide favourite.
Tucked away on the quieter, more residential and non-freeway section of Decarie, Café Orange’s unassuming presence belies its thorough and impressive menu. With no less than 17 varieties of Eggs Benedict (lobster Benedict, anyone?) and countless toppings for its pancakes, French toast, and crepes (they had me at caramelized banana rum pancakes), the options feel limitless.
And while the café’s name is a likely nod to the refreshing freshly squeezed orange juice, Café Orange boasts drink and smoothie options that are as extensive and delicious as its food. Whether you choose a glass of freshly squeezed orange mango juice, opt for a healthful strawberry kiwi smoothie, or get a little tipsy on the strawberry watermelon mimosa, you can’t make a wrong choice here. Orange you glad you went to Café Orange?
The Famous Cosmo’s
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Breakfast
Address: 5843, rue Sherbrooke O., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Although pint-sized and no frills, this Montreal greasy spoon is an NDG institution, proving that good things really do come in small packages. For nearly six decades, hungry patrons have cozied up on the diner stools while being served the best comfort food and greasiest hangover cures this side of the St. Lawrence River.
During the warmer months, you can grab a seat on the front terrace and enjoy the lively Sherbrooke St. action as much as the hearty food. Whether hungover or not, treat yourself to the legendary Creation Sandwich, piled high with fried egg, bacon, salami, cheese, lettuce, and tomato and served with coffee, toast, and a generous portion of Cosmo’s famed hash browns.
To cure the worst hangover, opt for the Mish Mash omelette, a calorie-laden and deliciously indulgent jumble of eggs, tomato, onion, cheese, bacon, ham, salami, and sausage.
Greenspot Restaurant
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Québécois
Address: 3041, rue Notre-Dame O., Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: For almost 80 years, this Saint Henri landmark has offered up traditional diner foods and breakfast staples to locals and tourists alike. The food is as delicious as it is unpretentious, featuring classic American-style pancakes, omelettes, waffles, French toast, and eggs Benedict.
Greenspot’s vintage diner décor with tabletop jukeboxes at each booth pumping out good ole rock-and-roll and extensive yet minimalist menu harkens back to a simpler time.
Although Greenspot is also a popular lunch and dinner spot known for its poutine and smoked meat, it’s one of the rare gems in Montreal serving up all-day breakfasts. Whether you’re a night owl, a late riser, or just want breakfast for dinner, Greenspot’s got you covered with its special all-day breakfast menu. While this menu is less extensive than its morning and weekend brunch counterparts, it is no less delicious and includes many favourites like eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and French toast. So when you want your eggs sunny side up once the sun goes down, head straight to Greenspot.
Greenspot website
Saint-Houblon
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Microbrewery
Address: Multiple locations
Why You Need To Go: At first glance, a local microbrewery may seem like an odd choice for a top breakfast spot, but it’ll all make sense once you try Saint-Houblon’s impressive all-you-can-eat brunch.
Each Saturday and Sunday, Saint-Houblon serves up an endless supply of breakfast favs like Cajun scrambled eggs, red beer bacon, sausage, maple ham, garlic potatoes, pancakes, fresh fruit, and bread. And not to exclude vegetarians and vegans, all the egg and meat options can be replaced with scrambled tofu, coconut bacon, beet sausage, and fried cauliflower.
However, the true standouts are the bottomless beer and bottomless Saint-Houblon’s mimosas, a brewery spin on the classic cocktail made with refreshing orange juice and cider.
For only $35 plus tax with reservation (or $40 without reservation), you can eat and drink to your heart’s content, making Saint-Houblon the perfect place to nurse last night’s hangover while getting an early start on tomorrow’s.
