Eat in Villeray, Montreal

Casavant ★ 4.3

Casavant is a warm Bib Gourmand bistro near the Jean-Talon Market in Villeray, Montreal, pairing convivial French-Quebecois plates with a lively natural list.

OrderThe daily plats and a bottle from the growers' list.

TipIt is a genuine neighbourhood room; book midweek and settle in for the night.

Le Petit Alep ★ 4.5

Le Petit Alep is the beloved Syrian-Armenian bistro by the Jean-Talon Market in Montreal, a Bib Gourmand pouring Lebanese wine over warm mezze.

OrderMuhammara, sujuk and the garlicky grilled meats.

TipThe casual Petit Alep next to formal Alep is the one you want; it takes no reservations.

Moccione ★ 4.3

Moccione is a tiny, charming Italian trattoria on Saint-Denis in Villeray, Montreal, hand-rolling pasta and pouring Italian wine in a snug neighbourhood room.

OrderThe cacio e pepe or whichever pasta is fresh that night.

TipIt seats barely thirty; book ahead or aim for an early weeknight table.

Chez Tousignant ★ 4.2

Chez Tousignant is a retro snack bar in Villeray, Montreal, upgrading the casse-croute with a griddled cheeseburger, steamed hot dogs and hand-cut fries.

OrderThe cheeseburger with a side of fries and a maple milkshake.

TipIt nails the diner classics with better ingredients; the burger and a shake is the whole point.

Cafe Larue & Fils ★ 4.0

Cafe Larue & Fils roasts its own beans for a small family of Villeray cafes in Montreal, a welcoming neighbourhood roaster near the Jean-Talon Market.

BeansColombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala

BrewsEspresso, Filter, Whole bean retail

TipThe Castelnau cafe near Jean-Talon is the flagship; the house roast is sold by the bag at the counter.

Brasserie Harricana ★ 4.2

Brasserie Harricana is a bright Villeray brewery and restaurant in Montreal near the Jean-Talon Market, brewing a broad house range beside a full kitchen.

TipIt is a full restaurant as much as a taproom; the house IPAs pair well with the fried snacks.

Moccione ★ 4.5

Why locals goA thirty-seat Villeray trattoria hand-rolling pasta on upper Saint-Denis, well outside the tourist map yet booked out by in-the-know Montrealers.

TipBook ahead or aim for an early weeknight; the fresh pasta of the night is the thing to order.

Casavant ★ 4.5

Why locals goA warm Bib Gourmand bistro tucked by the Jean-Talon Market in Villeray, easy to miss but pouring one of the city's liveliest natural-wine lists.

TipBook midweek and let the room steer the wine; the daily plats change with the market next door.

Le Petit Alep ★ 4.7

Why locals goThe casual, cash-friendly sibling beside formal Alep in Villeray, a Bib Gourmand mezze counter that tourists routinely walk straight past.

TipOrder muhammara, sujuk and the grilled meats; it takes no reservations, so arrive a touch early.