Bakery$$mile-endWed-Sun 08:00-19:00Walk-in onlyJewish and European baking
Hof Kelsten is Jeffrey Finkelstein's bakery on Saint-Laurent in Montreal, turning out challah, rye and babka plus a lunchtime smoked-meat sandwich.
Tip: Come for the challah on Friday and the babka any day; the counter also does a serious matzo-ball soup.
Worth the queue: Challah and rye bread
Bakery$$plateauMon-Fri 06:30-20:00; Sat 07:30-20:00; Sun 07:30-19:00Walk-in onlyFrench viennoiserie
Mamie Clafoutis is a French bakery on Rue Saint-Denis in Montreal, filling its cases with laminated croissants, tarts and country loaves through the day.
Tip: The almond croissant and the namesake clafoutis are the buys; it stays open later than most bakeries.
Worth the queue: Almond croissant
Bakery$plateauWed-Fri 07:00-15:00; Sat 07:00-16:30Walk-in onlyBreton pastry
Au Kouign-Amann is the tiny Plateau pastry shop in Montreal that made the caramelised Breton kouign-amann a local ritual, baked warm in small daily batches.
Tip: Go by 09:30 for a warm kouign-amann; when the day's batch sells out, that is it until tomorrow.
Worth the queue: Kouign-amann
Bakery$mile-endTue-Sun 12:00-20:00Walk-in onlyIce cream and pastry
Kem CoBa is the Mile End ice cream shop in Montreal whose salted-butter soft serve and rotating sorbets draw a summer line down Avenue Fairmount.
Tip: The salted-butter and one fruit sorbet twist is the order; it is seasonal, so check before a winter trip.
Worth the queue: Salted-butter soft serve
Bakery$$mile-endDaily 07:00-19:00Walk-in onlySourdough and viennoiserie
Guillaume is a modern Mile End bakery on Saint-Laurent in Montreal, prized for its sourdough loaves and a chocolate croissant many rank among the city's best.
Tip: Bread sells out by afternoon; morning is best for the croissants and the seasonal fruit danishes.
Worth the queue: Chocolate croissant
Bakery$$ahuntsicMon-Fri 07:00-19:00; Sat-Sun 08:00-18:00Walk-in onlyBakery and cafe
La Bete a Pain is chef Marc-Andre Royal's bakery-cafe on Rue Fleury in Montreal, part boulangerie and part counter for sandwiches, quiche and viennoiserie.
Tip: It works as a bakery and a lunch stop; the baguette sandwiches and quiche are the midday move.
Worth the queue: Sourdough baguette