La Cave à Manger: A wonderful bakery in a wine cellar

This fabulous hidden cellar in Old-Montreal will transport you with its exclusive selection of natural wines, as well as its breads and pastries masterfully prepared by a team dedicated to achieving the highest possible quality, from baguettes to pizzas.

Raphaël Creton, the owner of La Cave à Manger, grew up above his father’s restaurant in Old Montreal, where he learned the ropes of the restaurant trade. As he grew older, he dabbled in a bit of everything, but discovered a real passion for baking. He honed his skills with a number of patisserie and bakery stalwarts before opening his own establishment. The result is La Cave à Manger, which has won us over with its outstanding yet affordable products.

At La Cave à Manger, you’ll find the classics of a good bakery made with top-quality ingredients. The breads, focaccias and pizzas are made with organic, carefully-sourced flour and filtered water, and benefit from a long fermentation process to ensure the product lasts longer and is more easily digested. The jambon beurre sandwich is also a house classic, with white ham, 6-month cheddar from Isle-aux-Grues, New Zealand butter and French gherkins on the house’s famous sourdough baguette. The place is very small and encourages take-out, but in the summer, their terrace is ideal for savouring their delicacies accompanied by a good bottle of wine. At the same time, the team is busy making croissants and viennoiseries. You absolutely must try their famous rolls, especially the pistachio and orange blossom roll – we’re still salivating! For lunch, we suggest the pepperoni pizza with lots and lots of pepperoni and cornmeal covering the crust; a real delight from tip to crust.

Raphaël’s attention to detail is evident right down to the wine he offers in the cellar. The wines he presents are reasonably priced and of remarkable quality. “I want people to discover wines that I enjoy drinking”, explains this lover of good juices. He offers wines that can be found in some of Montreal’s top restaurants, available in the cellar for much less than in the restaurant. This is what has earned La Cave à Manger a place on our list of the best wine shops in Montreal.

“Above all, I’m looking to build relationships. For me, baking is a laboratory and I aspire to offer the best. Every day, I’m touched and amazed to see people enjoying the product, and it’s fantastic to be able to make a living from your passion. I’ve definitely won life’s lottery,” Raphaël points out fervently.

We wish you all the success!

Written by Fabie Lubin
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: November 23, 2023

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