Where to brunch in Montreal: morning rooms worth the queue.
Where to brunch in Montreal. The morning rooms worth the queue, and the kitchens still doing it right at noon.
Beautys has served its lox-and-bagel Special from a turquoise Plateau luncheonette in Montreal since 1942, a family-run brunch institution on Mont-Royal.
Order: The Beautys Special: bagel, lox, cream cheese and onion.
Tip: Weekends bring a long sidewalk wait; go on a weekday morning to slide straight onto a counter stool.
Arthurs Nosh Bar is a sunny modern Jewish diner in Saint-Henri, Montreal, updating latkes, matzo-ball soup and challah French toast for a weekend brunch.
Order: Latkes with smoked salmon, or the challah French toast.
Tip: Put your name down and grab a coffee nearby; the wait on weekends is real but the latkes are worth it.
L'Avenue is the graffiti-walled Plateau brunch spot in Montreal famous for enormous, over-the-top plates and a weekend line that stretches down Mont-Royal.
Order: Loaded eggs benedict with a mountain of fruit and potatoes.
Tip: Expect a long queue and huge portions; come hungry and split a plate if you want to survive the day.
Regine Cafe is a cheerful Rosemont brunch room in Montreal on Rue Beaubien, plating generous, playful egg dishes and towering waffles to weekend regulars.
Order: The over-the-top waffles or the eggs Benedict of the day.
Tip: Weekends fill fast and it is walk-in only; a weekday visit skips the queue for the same kitchen.
Olive et Gourmando doubles as one of Old Montreal's best casual brunches, its Rue Saint-Paul bakery-cafe plating tartines, the Cubano and pastries all day.
Order: The Cubano sandwich or the ricotta and fig tartine.
Tip: The lunch rush is long but quick; come before noon for tables and the full pastry case.
Larrys runs an easy all-day brunch from its Mile End cafe in Montreal, the Lawrence team turning out pastries, eggs and a daily changing board.
Order: Shakshuka or whatever egg dish is chalked up that morning.
Tip: Mornings are calmer than the wine-bar evenings; the daily specials board is where the kitchen shows off.
Faberge is a busy Mile End brunch spot on Avenue Fairmount in Montreal, known for towering pancake stacks, savoury waffles and boozy brunch cocktails.
Order: The pancake stack or a loaded savoury waffle.
Tip: Weekends bring a long wait; go on a weekday or add a spiked coffee to soften the queue.
Le Passe-Compose is a gourmet French brunch room on Rue William in Old Montreal, serving a leisurely multi-course brunch of eggs, pastries and fresh fruit.
Order: The three-course gourmet brunch with eggs benedict.
Tip: It is a sit-down, multi-course brunch, not a quick bite; book ahead and give the meal some time.
Le Cartet is a bustling market-cafe and grocer in Old Montreal, packed at weekends for a generous brunch platter of eggs, charcuterie and pastries.
Order: The big brunch platter with eggs, charcuterie and cheese.
Tip: Weekend brunch means a wait at the communal tables; the loaded brunch platter is built for sharing.
Cafe Cherrier is a timeless French bistro on Rue Saint-Denis in Montreal, a Plateau institution since 1983 with a beloved weekend brunch and terrasse.
Order: Eggs benedict on the terrasse, with a cafe au lait.
Tip: The corner terrasse is the place to be for weekend brunch; book ahead on sunny Sunday mornings.