The best new cafés, bakeries and pastry shops of 2024
One could certainly say the dough has risen in 2024! Despite inflation continuing to climb and ever-thinning margins for restaurateurs, nothing seems to curb the passion and determination of people in the industry – nor the public’s appetite for novelty, for that matter! Here, we present our list of favourite cafés, bakeries, and pastry shops that have opened over the past year.
Coffee, good bread, and sweets enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate, as it has been quite an exciting year for them. There were many new arrivals (the excellent Café Ohayo, Sunday Cuisine, Paparmane, Beigne Habitude, etc.), but also several beloved classics expanding (Olimpico in Westmount, Mollo in the South-West, Clarke in the West Island, Olive et Gourmando at Royalmount, Iconoglace in Mile-End, and Hof Sucrée, the little sister of Hof Kelsten in Mile-Ex). We even witnessed the resurrection of sublime Café Constance, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ gem of a café, imagined by designer Zébulon Perron and pastry chef Bertrand Bazin, of which we hadn’t heard in over a year. Of course, there were closures, like the much-missed Trou de beigne and Dinette Nationale, but we can rejoice at the rather staggering number of new openings this year in the metropolis and its surroundings. The South Shore didn’t miss out either: we happily crossed the bridge to try Riverside Café in Saint-Lambert, Café Papilles in Boucherville and Deux Becs donut shop in Brossard, among others.
In short, this past year brought troves of wonderful new places to discover and add to your address book. On that note, make sure to also pore over our lists of the best new restaurants and best new bars of 2024 (coming soon). And, to kick off the new year on a good note, check out this list of restaurant openings to watch in 2025 (coming soon). Every address on those lists can also be found in our mobile app, Tastet+.
Here’s wishing you wonderful Holidays and a very Happy New Year, filled with gourmet delights and beautiful moments shared around the table!
Café Olimpico - Westmount
Opened in 1970 by an Italian immigrant named Rocco Furfaro, the first Café Olimpico has over time become a Mile-End icon. The place is always packed, full of old regulars, young Mile-End families, and tourists—especially during the FIFA World Cup and Euro. There are now four Olimpico locations: the original on Saint-Viateur, one in the Old Port, another downtown near Promenades de la Cathédrale, and finally the newest one on the very chic Victoria Street in Westmount. With its elegant and cozy décor, this one is particularly suited to the neighborhood’s clientele. It’s expected to be a huge success.
Westmount
Olive et Gourmando Royalmount
Speaking of Montreal institutions, Dyan Solomon’s must-visit café-bakery now has a branch at Royalmount. This new Olive & Gourmando location, tucked away from Fou Fou on the esplanade, features its own beautifully decorated dining room by Atelier Zébulon Perron. All the classics we love from the original are here, plus a few surprises.
Montréal
Hof Sucrée
Riding on its success, Hof Kelsten bakery opened a new production space in Mile-Ex this year, where its delicious pastries and baked goods are now prepared (bread is still made on Saint-Laurent) and distributed to cafés across the city. The new location, called Hof Sucrée, also has a large café-shop space where you can pick up all these tasty creations or enjoy a bite with a coffee. Here, Jeffrey Finkelstein gives full reign to his partner, pastry chef Suyin Wong, who oversees the daily production of thousands of croissants, danishes, and cookies—all handmade with love.
Montreal
Café Constance signé Bazin
After many months of uncertainty, the magnificent café of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, a collaboration between designer Zébulon Perron and pastry chef Bertrand Bazin, finally reopened this fall. Chef Bazin and his team have totally revamped the food offerings – which is great news, as it wasn’t always on par with the beauty of the space before.
Montreal
Ohayo Café
In Japanese, “ohayo” simply means “good morning.” A perfect name for this new morning and lunch spot from chef Hiroshi Kitano and his friend Samath Mom, located right next to their restaurant Kitano Shokudo, in the former location of the defunct Panthère Verte. The menu is inspired by yōshoku cuisine, which blends Japanese and Western influences. We love the crispy fried chicken burger, the Ebi shrimp burger, and the Tamago sando (egg sandwich on Japanese milk bread), but it’s undoubtedly the incredible spicy veggie ramen with creamy sesame broth that blew us away. Yum!
Montréal
Fleurimont Café & Vin
Formerly called Rose Café, this micro-café on Rosemont Street – a bit of history here, the segment of Rosemont where the café sits was once called Fleurimont, hence the name – was revamped this year with the arrival of a new partner, Iouri Philippe Paillé, a young entrepreneur behind the climate-positive micro-roaster Binocle and the microbrewery Le Ketch in Sainte-Flavie. It now offers their coffee and craft beers, along with a nice selection of privately imported wines and one of the best breakfast sandwiches in town.
Montréal
Clarke Café (Kirkland)
After relocating and expanding its original Pointe-Saint-Charles location (now on Shearer Street near Nordelec) in fall 2023, Clarke Café turned its attention to the West Island, specifically Kirkland. Located in the Must Société store, the new café offers everything we love about the original: excellent Italian-roast coffee, some of the best sandwiches in town, and pastries imported straight from the motherland.
Kirkland
Le Riverside Café
Sisters Héléna and Mégane McKenzie, who also run Café Webster with their father just a few steps away, are back with a younger, trendier concept on Victoria Street in Saint-Lambert. In addition to their signature coffee blends, you’ll find bread and pastries from Le Pain dans les voiles and salads from Mandy’s.
Saint-Lambert
Tordu Cafe et Cremerie
This charming little café-ice-cream-shop on Rachel Street could have easily flown under our radar, if it weren’t just steps from our offices. But once we stepped inside, we immediately fell in love with the colourful illustrations on the walls, created by the co-owner Daniel Safi. Then we tried the frozen tiramisu, and that sealed the deal. We’re hooked!
Montréal
Junco Café-Buvette
There aren’t many good spots near Frontenac metro, which might partly explain our excitement when we learned about not one, but two new places opening in the Mellem rental condo project: a wine bar called Éléonore and café-buvette Junco. A charming, bright café with Italian vibes during the day, Junco—named after a small bird nesting along nearby train tracks—turns into an intimate and cozy wine bar in the evening. A delightful find!
Montréal
CAFÉ Le NIGIRIZ
Nigiriz is the little brother of Ramen Nakamichi. In a serene, almost meditative setting, you can enjoy excellent onigiri (rice balls stuffed with meat, eggs, or fish and wrapped in nori, a popular snack in Japan) and delicate Japanese teas.
Montreal
Paparmane
The team behind uber-popular brunch spots Régine Café and Janine Café opened a new spot in Old Montreal this April: Paparmane. This lovely tea salon with eclectic, colourful décor is the perfect place for a unique outing, whether with a partner, friends, or family.
Montréal
Sunday Cuisine Café
Lélia Vincent and Thomas Vernis, a well-known couple on the Montreal restaurant and nightlife scene, are behind several establishments including Buvette Pastek, Bar Santos, and restaurants Mignon, Mati, and June Buvette. Sunday Cuisine Café is located right across from the latter, on Centre Street in Pointe-Saint-Charles. An ode to wellness and health, the café offers salads, bowls, wraps, smoothies, and freshly pressed juices packed with vitamins.
Montréal
Café Papilles
After the closure of restaurant Ubora in Boucherville, where they shared the role of chef, Chloé Desruisseaux and Marie-Ève Lemieux rolled up their sleeves and decided to launch their own project—more modest in scale, but incredibly charming: Café Papilles. In their lovely café on Mortagne Boulevard, the two friends serve excellent coffee, delicious ready-to-eat dishes, and a selection of artisanal breads and pastries from Automne bakery.
Boucherville
Café Le Rusé
In a neighbourhood lacking in good spots to grab coffee or a bite, Le Rusé fills the gap perfectly, and people keep coming back with pleasure. Great coffee, excellent sandwiches, a cozy atmosphere, and friendly service.
Montréal
Mollo Boulangerie - Café
Already well-established in Pointe-Saint-Charles with a café and bakery on Wellington Street, Mollo is expanding its reach in the South-West with a new location in Saint-Henri, on Notre-Dame West. Here, they combine the offerings from their other locations: fresh bread and pastries delivered every morning from the bakery, along with coffee and other hot or cold beverages. A great addition to the neighbourhood!
Montréal
BBagels
New York-style bagels in Montreal? A bodacious idea to be sure, but we’re down for it! Inspired by popular New York bagel shops like Popup Bagels, Bbagels’ concept boils down to two words: rip and dip. The bagels—big, plump and chewy—are served hot with a choice of “schmears” that are perfect for dipping.
Montréal
Beigne Habitude
Rachel and Michael met in the kitchens at Larrys and Lawrence. She was the head baker, and he was the pastry chef. Together, they reinvent the art of the donut, applying French pastry techniques that Michael learned from Patrice Demers. The result? Truly gourmet doughnuts with unique and carefully crafted flavour combinations. These are miles away from the likes of Tim Hortons or Dunkin’ Donuts.
Montréal
Deux Becs
Half-hidden in a strip mall in Brossard, this artisanal doughnut shop could easily go unnoticed, if it weren’t for the irresistible aroma of fresh donuts that greets you as soon as you step out into the parking lot. Pastry chef Art Romero discovered his passion for doughnuts at McKiernan Luncheonette and has since spent his time perfecting his craft. His creations are original, sometimes surprising, but always decadent and absolutely delicious. A true favorite!
Brossard
Iconoglace Mile-end
Year after year, the lines keep growing in front of incomparable ice cream shop Iconoglace on Bélanger Street. And for good reason—Anabelle Berkani’s masterful ice cream creations are unmatched in Montreal. It was only inevitable that a second location would open to meet the demand. The new shop, located on Laurier West at the corner of Clark, was an instant hit. We can’t wait for spring to return!
Montréal
Brebis - Fromagerie
This small neighborhood cheese shop on Fairmount Avenue in the Mile-End is the project of two friends who love food (and especially Quebec cheeses!), Gabrielle and Fabien. They offer an appealing selection of local cheeses—mostly sheep’s milk, but not exclusively—as well as bread from Automne bakery, treats from Le P’tit Creux pastry shop in Eastman, and excellent sandwiches.
Montréal
