Sabor Latino has been a cornerstone of Montreal’s Latin American community for decades, offering a taste of home for those craving authentic ingredients, fresh meats, and baked goods. What started as a single grocery store has grown into a full-fledged mercado, with a butcher shop, bakery, and restaurant serving traditional dishes from across Latin America.

The shop has played a key role in shaping the city’s culinary landscape. Its shelves are stocked with everything from freshly made pupusas and empanadas to rare spices, imported sweets, and house-made chorizo. Whether it’s longtime residents making the trip from the suburbs for hard-to-find staples or newcomers discovering flavors for the first time, Sabor Latino remains a vital hub for food, culture, and community in Montreal.

Omnivore has been serving up Lebanese-inspired plates in Montreal since 2010, bringing together grilled meats, fresh mezzes, and bold spices in a casual setting. Owners Charbel Yazbeck and Akram Sleiman took cues from their mothers’ kitchens and adapted classic recipes into a fast, flavour-driven menu that balances tradition with a modern, multicultural touch.

The menu covers a lot of ground—pita wraps, vibrant salads, and hearty plates loaded with kafta, shawarma, rice, and lentils. Vegetarians aren’t an afterthought here, with plant-based mezze platters and falafel options that hold their own. Their approach is simple: quality ingredients, balanced flavours, and generous portions without the markup.

Ripples has been a fixture in Montreal’s ice cream scene since 1984, when Richard Bernett—armed with a refrigeration mechanics diploma but no experience in frozen desserts—decided to dive headfirst into the craft. The early years were full of long hours and trial and error, but his persistence paid off. Ripples became known for its rich, house-made ice creams, from classic French vanilla to more adventurous flavours like kulfi and green tea—long before they became mainstream.

After 35 years on Boulevard St-Laurent, Bernett finally gave in to the constant demand for a second location, opening a new shop at St-Viateur and Jeanne-Mance in 2019. Larger than the original, it introduced soft-serve, dip cones, and hybrid creations like the “yorbet,” a swirl of sorbet and frozen yogurt. Today, with his son by his side, Bernett continues to experiment, balancing nostalgia with innovation.

Picado is a no-frills, all-flavour Portuguese grocer with an impressive selection of olive oils, canned fish, and other pantry staples that capture the essence of Portugal. The shelves are lined with everything from bacalhau and Delta coffee to Azorean cheese, religious trinkets and kitchenware, making it part market, part cultural hub.

The draw here isn’t just the variety—it’s the prices and the “décor” to match. While supermarket produce might set you back, here you’ll walk away with the same for less nearly every time. If you’re serious about finding the right Portuguese stuff, say olive oil for example, you’ll find familiar Portuguese labels like Victor Guedes and Saloio, though knowing your oils helps when making a pick.

Bar Suzanne’s a laid-back spot perfect for socializing over drinks. Equal part quality fare and libations in its offerings, the bar exudes warmth with its airy design of plant life and tons of natural light streaming in through skylights during the day. Named after Leonard Cohen's muse, the bar features diverse wines, cocktails, and spirits, while the kitchen serves up dishes like inventive dumplings and other small plates for sharing late into the night.

La Vieille Europe has been a fixture on Saint-Laurent Boulevard since 1959, a holdout from a time when neighbourhood shops were the backbone of the city’s culinary landscape. It started as a butcher shop but evolved into a European-style grocer, known for its deep selection of imported cheeses, cured meats, specialty coffees, and hard-to-find pantry staples. If you’re looking for a wedge of Stilton, a tin of Ortiz sardines, or a bottle of 100-year-old balsamic vinegar, this is where you’ll find it.

The store’s in-house coffee roasting operation, one of the first of its kind in Montreal, fills the air with the scent of freshly ground beans. Over the years, they’ve even added beehives to the roof to produce their own honey. The clientele is as loyal as they come—regulars who’ve been coming for decades, greeted by name by the longtime staff. It’s a holdout of a different era, proving that quality and character still matter.

Ma Poule Mouillée is Montreal’s bustling Portuguese Plateau rotisserie where locals and visitors alike have been wowed since its opening in 2013. The restaurant is celebrated not just for its expertly charcoal-grilled chicken but also for offering one of the best poutines in the city. This particular dish stands out due to its inventive use of São Jorge cheese, flavorful grilled chorizo, and a signature homemade sauce that the chef proudly claims makes all the difference.

Beyond its famed poutine, Ma Poule Mouillée features a menu brimming with Portuguese classics from sandwiches to fried squid, all served in a vibrant, no-frills, cafeteria-style setting. For those on the go, the entire menu is available for takeout.

Capitaine Sandwich, anchored on Duluth Avenue, is a small but mighty spot for sandwich lovers. Opened in 2017 by Samir Benzeguir, this counter-service eatery has redefined the sandwich game in Montreal. With a menu that goes far beyond the basic ham-and-butter baguette, it offers inventive creations like the Big Nan (a beef-and-pork patty with “big nan” sauce, lettuce, and pickles), the Halloumi (grilled halloumi, cabbage, herbs, and spicy mayo), and the Cubano (smoked loin, ham, Gruyère, magical sauce, and pickles).

The small space, designed by Samir himself, is bright and welcoming, with a turquoise wood counter, lush green plants, and playful neon signage. While seating is limited, the sandwiches are perfect for grab-and-go lunches, and the accompaniments—potato salad, soup, or house-made lemonade—are equally worth a try. Don’t miss the dessert cannolis, which round out the experience with a sweet flourish.

Café Dispatch’s commitment to exquisite coffee and transparent sourcing is unparalleled. Owner Chrissy Durcak's journey from mobile café on wheels to a roastery and multi-location café brand reflects her dedication to the craft. Dispatch's largest outpost on St-Laurent Boulevard epitomizes minimalist elegance, with a sleek design that accentuates its primary focus: Exceptional coffee. Baristas engage patrons in lively conversations at the long, Apple Genius Bar-like counter, sharing insights and techniques. It’s perfect for their farm to cup approach to meticulously brewed coffee in a warm ambiance.

Coco Rico has been spinning birds on the Main since 1970, claiming the title of Montreal’s first Portuguese rotisserie. Whether or not that’s strictly true, what’s undeniable is that it’s one of the longest-running, most reliable spots for a quick hit of roast chicken, ribs, or home-style roast pork. Their signature potatoes, soaking up every last drop of rendered fat from the spits above, are the essential side.

Unlike its charcoal-grilled counterparts, Coco Rico slow-roasts its chickens in full rotation, letting the skin crisp to deep amber while the meat stays impossibly tender. The takeout counter is as straightforward as it gets—step inside, point to what you want, and walk out with a bag heavy with comfort. For many in a city obsessed with Portuguese chicken, this is where it all started.

Bagel Etc. has been fuelling Montreal mornings since the 1940s, back when it was Cookie’s Main Lunch. These days, it’s a well-worn institution on the Main where regulars squeeze into booths or take their chances with the mirror-lined bar, and Leonard Cohen’s former seat remains a quiet relic. The neon glow and Formica tables may have aged, but the breakfasts—huevos rancheros, buttery bagels, and eggs with house-made hollandaise—have stayed timeless.

It’s a spot that runs on routine. The same faces return day after day, from judges to students to parents who once sat in highchairs here themselves. On weekends, the place is packed, a low hum of conversation rising over coffee cups and plates of eggs. The menu hasn’t changed much, because it doesn’t need to—Fairmount bagels, hearty omelettes, and diner classics hold their own.

The charm is in the details. A hot sauce collection that’s as much a dare as a condiment selection. A lineup of daily specials scrawled on a board. Servers who know your order before you do. Bagel Etc. isn’t just about breakfast; it’s about the ritual of showing up, taking your seat, and being part of something bigger than just another meal.

Patati Patata’s a casse-croûte fixture that’s been in Montreal for over two decades. Originally founded by Louis Dumontier in 1996, it’s thrived on Saint-Laurent Boulevard ever since with good, cheap food in an unpretentious atmosphere. The concept here is straightforward: Affordable snacks from morning until the early hours when bars close. A cozy interior and a facade painted by artist Étienne Martin gives it an old-world charm, and the menu features a range of comfort foods like burgers, grilled cheese, poutines, and soups, with breakfast options throughout the day. Small in size, you may have to wait during busy hours, but it won’t take long to get a table and get a taste of local life in the Plateau.