Montreal takes brunch seriously. On weekends, locals flock to restaurants for plates stacked high with eggs and hollandaise, maple-doused pancakes, mimosas, and more. And they’ll often wait over an hour for a table—even in the city’s notorious winters—thanks to many restaurants’ no-reservations policies during brunch time. Fortunately, there’s a solid batch of dining rooms that now take bookings. From laid-back cafés to romantic destinations for brunch dates and buzzing hotspots to kick off a day of partying with free-flowing drinks, the best brunch in Montreal can be found throughout the city.
A lobster bar in Old Montreal serves a formidable seafood brunch menu. Pasta crowned with a sunny egg yolk draws crowds to a market-like Italian spot in Griffintown. Montreal’s only Lebanese brunch—featuring eggs with sumac and foul mudammas— awaits at a cozy spot near Concordia University.
These standout spots give Montrealers many reasons to look forward to weekends. Read on for a guide to the best brunch in Montreal and restaurants to book now on OpenTable.
The best brunch in Montreal – read on for a guide
For a special occasion – book a table at Brasserie 701 in Old Montreal
This elegant Hotel Place d’Armes destination draws inspiration from classy Parisian brasseries. So it’s fitting that its brunch menu features a continental platter, classic pastries, and eggs benedict. But Brasserie 701 also colours outside the lines with dishes such as French toast with pan-seared foie gras and calabrese-topped breakfast poutine. For those looking to get the party started, there’s also a mimosa bar to keep the bubbles flowing.
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For one of the best brunch spots in Montreal for curing a hangover – visit Maggie Oakes in Old Montreal
The in-house restaurant at the boutique Hotel William Gray is a great choice for the health-conscious, thanks to options such as hemp seed and berry-strewn oatmeal. But the hangover crowd is equally well-served at Maggie Oakes with steak and eggs or smoked salmon benedicts. Whatever your choice, the vibes here are on-point too, courtesy of an Art Deco-inspired dining room adorned with mahogany and brass touches, plus a heated terrasse.
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For an outstanding Sunday brunch buffet – don’t miss Rosélys in Downtown
For a supremely decadent brunch experience, head to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth’s chic in-house bistro Rosélys for a hearty crowd-pleasing buffet. Expect a phenomenal spread that includes pastries, cheese and charcuterie, a raw bar, a carvery section (with options such as strip loin and ham on the bone), and even a pizzeria. Prices are fixed at $85 per person, including a mimosa or non-alcoholic drink. Take note that brunch only takes place on Sunday (not Saturday) and there are two seatings, 11 am and 1:30 pm.
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For a full Québécois brunch menu – try Caribou Gourmand in Mile End
Caribou Gourmand serves up a quintessentially Québécois brunch, starring bacon, ham, and maple. Expect cameos from creative dishes such as eggs benedict served with pink peppercorn hollandaise and chocolate chip waffles for those with a sweet tooth. Other highlights from the menu include a must-try pulled pork cooked in beer and maple syrup, topped with raclette cheese. Devour it all in the restaurant’s woodsy dining room or on the street-side terrasse .
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For one of the best brunch in Montreal for crêpes – book at Crêperie Chez Suzette Inc in Old Montreal
It’s hard to go wrong with crêpes for brunch, and Crêperie Chez Suzette Inc gets it right in a myriad of ways. Take the savoury route with spinach, brie and bechamel or classic ham and Swiss cheese, or go sweet with hazelnut cocoa spread and berries—and pair it all with a sangria pitcher or a hot, cold or sparkling cider from the dedicated cider menu. If you’re not feeling the crêpes, there’s also fondue on the menu, available in chocolate and cheese form.
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For a unique Lebanese brunch in Montreal – visit Garage Beirut in Downtown
This cozy restaurant near Concordia University’s downtown campus serves what may be Montreal’s only Lebanese brunch. Garage Beirut‘s petite brunch menu is all about classic Levantine flavors, such as foul mudammas, a lemony bean dish, and eggs with sumac or sujuk (a spicy Lebanese sausage). The main menu is also available at brunch and includes juicy shish taouk and plenty of mezzes, including garlicky hummus and creamy labneh. Pro tip: to do justice to the generous spread, go with a crew and order a bunch to share.
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For one of the best brunch destinations in Montreal with a lobster bar – try Pincette Bar à Homard in Old Montreal
As a lobster bar, it should come as little surprise that Pincette Bar à Homard’s brunch menu is heavy on seafood, with hits such as Nordic shrimp shakshuka and smoked mackerel toast. Though there are enticing fish-free options too, including a loaded avocado toast with pico de gallo and baby kale salad. If it’s lobster you’re after, order lobster rolls or a snow crab-lobster poutine from Pincette’s lunch menu (served at the same time). Fittingly, the rustic-chic restaurant is decked out like an eastern Canadian crab shack with nautical accoutrements—wood accents galore—that pair especially well with the menu.
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For a romantic brunch date – book a table at Café Holt Ogilvy in Downtown
Brunching in a downtown Holt Renfrew department store may seem like an out-of-the-box choice, but any skepticism will be put to rest when you tuck into Café Holt Ogilvy’s creative contemporary Canadian dishes in a glamorous 1920s-inspired space. The brunch menu leans into fresh takes on classics and pancakes with berry compote and a unique benedict that combines ham, hollandaise, and fluffy brioche—the ultimate Montreal mashup.
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For one of the best vegan brunch spots in Montreal – don’t miss LOV McGill in Old Montreal, Brossard and Laval
LOV McGill is all vegan, but you wouldn’t necessarily know from looking at the menu, which features smashed avocado, a stellar crisp-fried tofu benedict, and “chicken”—aka a meaty fried oyster mushroom—and waffles. Consider a botanical cocktail to go with your plant-based meal, featuring ingredients such as lavender bitters and housemade rhubarb syrup. A gorgeous green-and-white dining room matches the menu’s green energy. If you find yourself in the suburbs, visit LOV’s other outposts in Brossard or Laval (at Centropolis).
📍 Old Montreal — Check availability
📍 Brossard — Check availability
📍 Laval — Check availability
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For an innovative Italian breakfast – visit Marché Italien Le Richmond in Griffintown
This innovative Griffintown spot is part casual bistro and part specialist grocery store, stocked with 2,000 carefully chosen Italian imports (alongside a selection of top-notch local products). That penchant for quality ingredients extends to Marché Italien Le Richmond’s brunch menu, filled with plenty of Italian-accented classics such as a breakfast poutine adorned with prosciutto, and a breakfast pasta topped with guanciale and egg yolk. Enjoy it in a stylish market-inspired space and you’ve got a brunch for the books.
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For one of the best Spanish brunches in Montreal – try Ibéricos Taverne à Tapas Espagnoles in Plateau
Skip the eggs and avocado and consider kickstarting your day with classic tapas at this excellent Spanish restaurant. While there’s no official brunch menu, there’s plenty to work with here: Hearty Spanish tortilla, grilled octopus, croquetas, and fried eggplant with yogurt, honey, and feta cheese, plus churros and a Catalan-style crème brûlée, among other choices. Steered by chef Haissam Souki Tamayo who comes armed with experience from MICHELIN-starred restaurants in Spain, Ibéricos Taverne à Tapas Espagnoles is a guaranteed good time.
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Tim Forster is a freelance writer and editor focusing on food, culture and technology.
Whether you’re heading out on a brunch date or planning an exciting get-together with friends, the best brunches in Montreal are scattered around the city and promise a memorable time. From bottomless brunches to laid-back neighbourhood gems, the best brunch spots in Montreal suit any taste or budget, from elegant breakfast buffets to all-day brunch menus. Start your culinary adventure today, the best brunch places in Montreal await.
