Ah, beautiful Montreal. The city that has me contemplating moving my entire life with every single visit. I’ve been travelling to Montreal consistently for a few years now and beyond the beautiful architecture and the vibrant city life, there are so many scrumptious vegan food options. Seriously, a vegan haven! There are so many options to explore! Despite my countless visits, I have yet to explore all the plant-based gems Montreal has to offer.
Trips to Montreal – Tattoos + Vegan Food
I began my treks to Montreal back in 2018 when I started my back tattoo. I came across an artist’s work while browsing the booths at the Toronto Tattoo Convention (NIX) and immediately fell in love with her style. This artist’s tattoos style is such a beautiful combination of traditional mixed with realism. A perfect balance. I’d say her style has a bit of romanticism to it as well. Though, I might be projecting because that’s a big theme of the work she has done for me.
If you know anything about tattoos, you’re probably familiar with the fact that a back tattoo is quite the commitment. This mean I was also committing to traveling 5 hours (from Toronto to Montreal) for every session. And there were many of them. After my back-piece, still swooning over the skill of this artist, I added on another project. I decided to tattoo my full arm. Anyways, all this is to say that I’ve made a number of trips to Montreal. And as many vegans do, I pre-plan my food options.
8 Chickpea-Approved Vegan Food Spots in Montreal:
Over the years, I’ve explored many of Montreal’s plant-based options. I am so blown away by the number of vegan food restaurants that exist! While I still have many more to cross off my list, here are some spots I’ve tried.
1. Archway [VEGAN]
đź“Ť 3683 Wellington St, Montreal, Quebec
I specifically remember sitting at this restaurant and saying, “should I move to Montreal?”. It might be my new favourite Montreal spot to have brunch. I also peeped their lunch/dinner menu and all the other vegan food was drool-worthy too. Everything from the decor, the plants, the lighting and the architecture was stunning. It felt very cozy and “boho” which is one of my favourite vibes.
Vegan food that I tried:
For my first visit, I had a warm matcha latte with oat milk and my friend grabbed an iced vanilla latte. We both loved our drinks! For food we agreed on ordering the Fungai Toast and the Baklava Pancakes to share. These pancakes were the best pancakes I have ever had in my entire life. For real. I would drive 5 hours just to eat those again. These pancakes are topped with blueberries and a pistachio cream, and this combo had me in a trance all day. The Fungi Toast was also super tasty, and these weren’t just any ol’ basic grocery store mushrooms. These mushrooms are so beautiful and perfect, like they were plucked from an adorable enchanted forest. It also had some tomatoes, arugula, a balsamic drizzle and is topped with a fresh flower. Beautiful presentation and delicious to eat.
During my latest visit, yes I went back, and I absolutely forced my partner to try these pancakes I had been raving about for the last couple of months. We also grabbed the Gnocchi Carbonara, which was so creamy and delicious. Although it was tasty, I don’t know that I would get it again. My partner ordered the Breakfast Sandwich and was so pleasantly surprised at how big the portion was. It was not your standard vegan meat substitute, egg and cheese. It was like the premium model of breakfast sandwiches.
I highly recommend stopping at this place when you visit and suggest making a reservation if you’ll be brunching on the weekend. And if you have extra time, go stroll down the street to take in the city life while exploring some of the local shops. It’s one of my fondest memories from my latest visit.
ORDER: VANILLA OAT MATCHA, BAKLAVA PANCAKES, BREAKFAST SANDWICH
2. Livia [VEGAN OPTIONS]
đź“Ť1468 Peel St, Montreal, Quebec
Cafe Livia was another brunch spot to explore in Montreal. This place is a casual quick dining spot where you can take your options to go or opt to eat in, at a little cafe table. I seem to be drawn to food spots with gorgeous greenery. And this place had the most beautiful chandelier-type planter hanging from the ceiling with the most gorgeous array of plants.
Vegan food that I tried:
This place is a matcha-bar which is why I was eager to check it out. I hadn’t been to a match bar before so I really appreciated the experience. It was nice to see matcha being traditionally whisked and the use of a quality ceremonial grade matcha. I decided to get my matcha iced with watermelon, grapefruit, and pineapple juice and wow. Usually, I just have an oat milk matcha with vanilla so this blew my mind. I would certainly order it again. They do have other interesting matcha options on the menu such as a Raspberry Matcha, Blueberry Matcha, Livia-Monade, Island Matcha, “Dirty” Matcha or a Matcha Passion Boba. Worth checking out if you’re a matcha fan.
As for food, this isn’t a fully vegan cafe. They do have some delicious vegan food options though. They have Vanilla Chia Pudding, Avo Toast, Fattoush Salad, and the Shiitake Poke Bowl. I ordered a classic avocado toast on a nice thick slice of sourdough, with olive oil, lemon and chilli flakes. The portion was super generous too! I’m not typically a huge breakfast eater so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish my toast. But it was so delicious and I couldn’t stop.
This place is worth a stop if you’re looking for a quick vegan breakfast and high quality matcha while cruising around the city.
ORDER: ICED MATCHA, VEGAN AVO TOAST
3. Burger Fiance [VEGAN]
đź“Ť417 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec
I was really looking forward to this place because sometimes, you just want easy, greasy fast vegan food. This place totally hit the spot! I wish all my visits were longer because there is only so much time and so many great vegan options to explore. The menu at Burger Finance is one I need to revisit as my first introduction was amazing.
Vegan food that I tried:
I started with a kale caesar because I love a good creamy caesar. It had capers, synthetic bacon bits and some deliciously crunchy croutons. And while the name might be BURGER Fiance, I went out of my comfort zone and grabbed a Classic Dog. And while some might think “hey, a hot dog sounds boring”, I assure you, it was not. My hot dog was LOADED with coleslaw, green onions, and pickled red onions (which you’ll come to know is a love of mine). It was quite literally too much to handle in the best way. I feel like I had to sit for 5 minutes to just strategize my plan of attack. I think the best way to handle any loaded burger or hotdog is just to dive in and embrace the mess. So I did. My face was covered in sauce but I have zero regrets.
My friend tried the Fiance Burger and she also struggled with the epic portion but again, not a bad problem to have. We conquered our burgers and dogs and had a lovely experience. They also have some other tasty-looking vegan food options, like those on their specialties menu: pulled “pork”, souvlaki pita, gyros pita, and mac n’ cheeze. I bet you all of these are a slam dunk. I’m still kicking myself for not grabbing a shake to go. I guess that just means I’ll have to make another trip.
Overall, this is a great fast-food place that will satisfy your cravings for delicious vegan food. This is one restaurant that I will surely visit again. That hot dog was truly memorable.
ORDER: KALE CAESAR SALAD, FIANCE BURGER, CLASSIC DOG
4. LOV [VEGAN]
đź“Ť464 McGill St
đź“Ť140 Prom. Du Centropolis
One of the first places I fell in love while visiting Montreal was Lov. Back in 2018, they used to have this pulled jackfruit burger that was incredibly drool-inducing. I ordered it many times. After a long day of being tattooed, I’d sit and order one of these burgers and their crispy quinoa onion rings that are the size of my face, and eat it while curled up in a ball. Being tattooed for 6-10 hours will have that effect on you. Although they don’t carry the pulled jackfruit burger anymore – they have so many other delicious options. I have had the pleasure of eating at both locations and have never been disappointed.
Vegan food that I tried for brunch:
During another visit to Lov, I sat in for brunch and immediately fell in love with their bright, white-washed space decorated with lush greenery is a standard design across all locations. I ended up ordering the Tofu Benedict, a vegan delight that can be tricky to find, and have it done well. But Lov knows what they are doing in terms of elevated plant-based cuisine. The tofu is breaded and crisped to perfection with smoked tomatoes and the most delicious hollandaise sauce. It was so filling that I needed to recruit my friend to help me finish it!
During that visit my friend ordered the Avocado Country Bread, aka bougie avocado toast. This one is dressed to the nines, garnished with edible flowers, pickled red onions and radishes. Aesthetic-wise this place is a gem and the food is pretty great too. The portion is quite smaller compared to my Tofu Benedict feast so keep that in mind when ordering. It is a lighter breakfast option.
On another visit to Lov I switched things up and went to the McGill location for the dinner menu. I had arrived super late on a Thursday evening and it was one of the only places open. It was nice because my friend and I were able to enjoy the restaurant at a slower pace than the usual prime-time busyness. Immediately my friend and I perused the mocktail menu and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of unique options. We ended up trying a few of them but they were all tasty and came beautifully garnished.
Vegan food that I tried for dinner:
For food, we started with the Beet Tartare and Dumplings. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from a Beet tartare, it’s not something I would typically have ordered but I really enjoyed it! It is tiny bits of beets sitting perfectly on an avocado puree with some beautiful garnish and chips for dipping. I couldn’t stop going back for more. Eventually, the dumplings arrived and I hit a quick pause on the tartare and pivoted to the 7 mushroom and vegetable dumplings. They were the real highlight. They came fried accompanied with a yummy almond butter kimchi sauce that had the perfect amount of kick to it. Not too spicy, but a subtle heat.
My friend and I got full and decided to take more food back to the hotel for late-night cravings. Also because we got carried away with the menu. We grabbed the Mushroom Risotto and Truffle Fries to-go and ate them reheated. Because of this, I don’t feel like I can’t give a fair review of them. They were ok taste-wise but not amazing in comparison to what we had AT the restaurant. The risotto seemed kind of bland, but again, that could be because it wasn’t enjoyed fresh.
ORDER: Brunch – MATCHA; TOFU BENEDICT, AVOCADO COUNTRY TOAST. Dinner: BEET TARTARE, DUMPLINGS.
5. Panthère Verte / Green Panther Organic Plant-Based Restaurant [VEGAN]
đź“Ť160 St-Viateur Est, Montreal, Quebec
Another Montreal favourite is Panther Verte. It’s a cute little vegan food restaurant, with dine-in or take-out options. They serve the most yummy fresh and healthy sandwiches and bowls. While I haven’t been in a year or two, their food is always something I crave quite regularly. I’ve had their sandwiches but calling it a sandwich doesn’t do them justice. These sandwiches are made from MASSIVE pita pockets. They are overflowing with fresh veggies, falafel/jackfruit/veggie patty, and drizzled with the most delicious sauces. The perfect sauce ratio might I add. And if you’re not feeling bread, the bowls are also a great option – I’ve also had those too.
Vegan food that I tried:
I’m pretty sure I’ve tried all of their sandwich options at this point. But, the Falafel and Shawarma Sandwich/Bowl would be my recommendations. The Falafel Sandwich is a delicious option with its large pita filled with 6 falafels, tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, pickles, sauerkraut and the most amazing tahini sauce. The Shawarma option, equally as delish, has jackfruit, tomatoes, cucumber, red cabbage, white cabbage, sauerkraut, pickles and the tahini sauce as well. The bowls are similar but have an additional green sauce. So if you’re a saucy human like me, that’s also a good way to go.
This is the best place to go when you’re looking for a healthier option or looking to add a load of veggies to your system. That said, no sandwich is complete without a side poutine ;). When in Montreal right? But seriously, their poutine is a must for a vegan twist on the famous Quebec delicacy complete with vegan cheese curds. I would also suggest grabbing a Funky Monkey Milkshake as well!
ORDER: FALAFEL SANDWICH/BOWL, SHAWARMA SANDWICH/BOWL, POUTINE, FUNKY MONKEY
6. Le Maynard [VEGAN]
đź“Ť30 Prince Arthur St W, Montreal, Quebec
Le Maynard is another vegan fast food option serving all the yummy burgers and other chip shack essentials your heart could desire. I wanted to try everything on the menu but was full from all the eating I had done on this trip. I did however need something to tide me over as I was about to embark on my 5 hour journey back to Toronto. So this was the perfect opportunity to get a little taste.
Vegan food that I tried:
I went on the safe side and ordered the burger on the menu and I’m so happy I did. As soon as I took a bite I immediately recognized the familiar and classic meat-like taste of the impossible burger, the crispness of the lettuce and tomato, and the tang of the pickles with a mouth-watering burger sauce to drive it all home.
My partner also didn’t have a big appetite at that moment. I know, such a missed opportunity. But he decided to get a little something for the car ride home too. After all it is a long drive. He opted for the Mac & Cheeze and it was super tasty. I feel like they could have amped up the cheezy flavour or added some seasoning but overall it was still delicious. He also got the Fried Oreos, which is an understandable choice but these aren’t just any deep-fried Oreos. These come with a Dr.Pepper syrup that was very unique and enticing. Although they sound super delicious, they didn’t hit the spot this round.
I did see they have vegan Pogos on the menu and I am incredibly intrigued by those. I will surely get those next time. They come with mustard and vegan honey sauce and that I just know would be a heavenly match for the pogos. I would also like to try this spot for their fast-food breakfast options too.
ORDER: BURGER, FRIED OREOS, MAC & CHEEZE
7. Aux Vivres [VEGAN]
đź“Ť4631 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec
This is another spot I haven’t been back to in quite some time but I remember really enjoying my meal. It is one of those spots that offers a selection that spans beyond a typical burger and fries menu. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But sometimes you want something different and this place is perfect for those moments. With a unique and diverse menu, it would be impossible for you to not find something you wanted. Also, fun fact, it was Montreal’s first vegan restaurant. How cool is that? I am so grateful they paved the way for all of the other incredible vegan spots to follow in its footsteps.
My partner and I ordered takeout from this spot so I can’t speak to the decor. Although I looked it up and I’m just now realizing how stinkin’ cute the restaurants are! The food, that I can speak to. I have to say it was very flavourful and tasty! As I said, it’s been a while, but I looked up our order (thanks to Uber for storing all my food history) and can tell you what we had last time. Unfortunately, I don’t have photos because this trip was before I started my Instagram page.
Vegan food that I tried:
One of the orders we got was MalaĂŻ Kofta. These are deliciously baked and spiced chickpea balls served in a coconut curry sauce. A very comforting dish to eat after being tattooed all day long. We also got the Chapati Dahl because I can’t resist a Dahl if it’s on the menu. It came as a small dahl soup with an Indian flatbread, a perfect dipping companion. We also grabbed an order of the Tempeh Satay. These tempeh skewers with a Thai peanut sauce sounded like a fabulous way to supplement our already dynamite order.
Overall this is a great spot and worth checking out.
ORDER: MALAI KOFTA, CHAPATI DAHL, TEMPEH SATAY
8. Sophie Sucre [VEGAN]
đź“Ť 3770 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec
I’m ashamed that after all my visits to Montreal, I’m only just discovering Sophie Sucrée. This spot is an artisanal vegan bakery specializing in home-baked goods and French pastries. From butter tarts, cupcakes, croissants, and scones, they have you covered, whether you’re after something sweet or savoury.
Vegan food that I tried:
I wish I had gone to this place earlier in the day when they had more options available. They have an All Day Breakfast Croissant that looks out-of-this-world-delicious and really wish I got one. I didn’t have a big appetite when I went and thought I’d be going back the next day, so I passed. Long story short, I didn’t have time and deeply regret it. I did however get a Chocolatine, their version of a chocolate croissant and it was absolutely divine. I stepped outside to eat it and looked through the window with my croissant in hand. It appears I was having my own Audrey Hepburn at Tiffany’s moment.
This bakery and their menu is iconic and an absolute must if you’re heading to Montreal. And please, learn from my mistake and grab a whole bunch of their tasty treats.
ORDER: CHOCOLATINE
Other Vegan Food Options in Montreal
Here are vegan food options that I’ve looked into or have been recommended to me. I’ll be sure to check them out next time.
- Barley [VEGAN OPTIONS] – Great spot for brunch
- September [VEGAN OPTIONS] – Cafe spot with good matcha
- ChuChi [VEGETARIAN/VEGAN OPTIONS] – Thai place with mock meat
- Mimi & Jones [VEGAN] – Plant-based fast food burgers and milkshakes
Conclusion:
My adventures in Montreal have been nothing but pleasant. Not only did I leave with beautiful art forever imprinted on my body, but was been able to eat my way through this amazing city. I found so much vegan food every step of the way. I am so excited to share all of my favourite spots with you. The city is full of so many incredible plant-based restaurants and an abundance of vegan options. Despite my numerous visits, I have yet to explore them all. I will definitely be back and I’ll continue to update this list to share all my latest finds with you.
If you check out any of my recommendations please feel free to comment and let me know what you think. Or tag me on Instagram or Pinterest so I can see what your order!
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