The Best Carrot Cakes in Montreal
Today we’re talking about one of our favourite desserts: carrot cake. If, like us, you have a sweet tooth, you’re likely to succumb to the gourmet addresses on this list.
Carrot cake is originally a European specialty, which we have all (or almost all) adopted with enthusiasm today. According to historians, it would have been a kind of pudding popular in medieval times, made with marrow, flavoured with rose water and covered with a flaky pastry. Many pudding recipes can be found in cookbooks from this period.
Why carrots? At the time, it was used as a substitute for sugar. During the Second World War, this sweet root vegetable was an alternative to rationed sweeteners in the United Kingdom. A few years later, this cake was even considered a “health food” despite the amount of butter or oil that it contained. This delicious cake hit the shores of the United States after the war and since then has made waves across the kitchens and restaurants of the continent. With its icing, the carrot cake is not always light but it is oh so delicious! Be sure to save room for dessert.
We don’t know why, but we’ve always been fascinated by this dessert. Maybe because its primary ingredient is a vegetable, which naturally sweetens, lends moisture, and is simply extremely tasty. And so, we’ve put this fascination to work by preparing a list of addresses where you can enjoy a slice of some of the best carrot cakes in the city!
For all with a sweet tooth: be sure to check out our lists of the best desserts in Montreal, as well as the best pastry shops in Montreal.
Rustique
La pâtisserie Rustique opened in 2013 in the neighbourhood of Saint-Henri and serves excellent and comforting pies. They offer delicious seasonal pies, which change according to the availability and quality of market products. Everything here is delicious, including, of course, their superb carrot cake! Photos Alison Slattery
Montréal
Montréal Plaza
The Montreal Plaza is the famous restaurant of Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson on the Plaza St-Hubert, a staple address in Montreal and one of our favourites! On the menu, you will find delicate and delicious dishes that adapt to seasonal products, including a succulent carrot cake for dessert. photos Montreal Plaza IG
Montréal
Venice MTL
Venice MTL is a charming little restaurant that opened its doors in Old Montreal, as well as in Saint-Henri and downtown. On the menu you’ll find healthy Californian-inspired dishes that are very affordable. We’re talking about salads, sandwiches, tartines, tacos, and more. And for dessert, we enjoy, among other things, a carrot cake with walnuts and cranberries. Photos Alison Slattery
Montréal
Santropol
Open since 1976, Santropol has been an institution on the Plateau! For over 40 years this cafe has been welcoming its clientele in a colourful, eclectic and warm space at the corner of Duluth and St. Urbain. Here, we savour good sandwiches, irresistible salads and a delicious carrot cake. We love their charming terrace in summer, perfect for relaxing with a good book or chatting with friends under the trees. Photos Santropol IG
Montréal
Mlles Gâteaux
Opened since April, 2013, Mlles Gâteaux is a small artisanal pastry shop located on Villeray Street that offers delicious pastries to the neighbourhood. Among its specialties are the Queen Elizabeth, the very light lime cheesecake, the lemon pie and, of course, the carrot cake! Alison Slattery
Montréal
Brasserie Harricana
In a magnificent location, on the border of Little Italy and Mile-Ex, Harricana has everything to please. In fact, it is on our list of the most beautiful bars in Montreal. On the menu, they offer a panoply of small well-executed comfort food dishes, and for dessert, you’ll be spoiled with a delicious carrot cake! Photos Alison Slattery
Montréal
Campanelli
Charming little address on Notre-Dame Street West, the cafe Campanelli is a classic space in the Saint-Henri neighbourhood where you can drink good coffee and savour good cakes. It has one of the best carrot cakes in the city! Photos Alison Slattery
Montréal
Café Pista
Café Pista is a beautiful address on Beaubien that is on our list of the most beautiful cafes in Montreal. We go for a good coffee with a pastry, but we also go to enjoy their delicious brunch. The cafe has also opened a second location on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in the Quartier des Spectacles. The carrot cake served here – a creation from the wonderful Sachère Desserts – is as beautiful as it is good! Photos Café Pista
Montréal
Fugazzi Presto
Most comforting, the menu is identical to their location in Pointe-Saint-Charles. The specialty of the house is of course the Neapolitan pizza, but you can also try a few appetizers such as meatballs and caciocavallo, panzanella or burrata. They also offer an excellent carrot cake!
Montréal
