Montreal Family Restaurant Guide: 6 Local Gems We Love (and Your Kids Will Too!)
Our Quest for Authentic Family Dining in Montreal
Looking for a Montreal family restaurant guide that includes local gems, not just tourist traps or chains? Here are five places we’ve truly enjoyed as a family. Since moving to Montreal, our family has been on a mission to discover restaurants and cafés that feel cozy, local, and satisfying for both adults and kids — but not necessarily designed for kids. While there are plenty of family-friendly chains like Allô! Mon Coco, we tend to seek out more local, character-filled places that still work well with children in tow.
If you’re looking for spots with real flavour and charm — from brunch to Korean dinner to cozy fall cafés — here are 6 places in and around Montreal that we’ve visited (some more than once!) and would genuinely recommend.
📝 Note: These aren’t theme restaurants with high chairs or playgrounds. But if your kids are fairly adaptable eaters like ours, you’ll do just fine — and enjoy it too!
🍳 1. Péché Matinal – Beautiful Brunch, No Chains Attached
📍 Location: 337 Rue Saint-Charles O, Longueuil, QC J4H 1E7
If you’re craving a beautifully plated, fresh and delicious brunch, Péché Matinal is a gem. It’s not a big space and doesn’t take reservations, so I recommend arriving close to opening hours, especially on weekends.
Their menu has something for everyone — from decadent French toast to eggs Benedict with seasonal sides. Our kids loved the fruit bowls and buttery toast. It feels cozy but elevated — the kind of brunch place you’d take visitors to impress them and feed them well.
🍽️Family Tip: No reservations mean long waits after 9 AM. Go right at 8 AM. Parking is street-side and can be tough. Look for spots a block or two away. They do not have a dedicated change table, so plan accordingly.
🍚 2. MoonSikdang – Korean Flavours That Feel Like Home
📍 Location: 2001 Victoria Ave #105, Saint-Lambert, Quebec J4V 1M6
As a Korean family(I know there is a French guy at home), we miss the authentic flavours of home, and MoonSikdang is the one place on the South Shore that truly delivers. The dishes here are deeply flavorful and remind us of what we’d eat back in Korea.
It’s only open for dinner, and it’s definitely popular — reservations are a must. From classic bulgogi to spicy soups and side dishes that taste just right, this is where we go when we want comfort food.
🧒 Our kids are always happy with fried chicken, and at Moonsikdang, the crispy boneless pieces were a big hit. The portion wasn’t huge, but the crunchiness was excellent. They loved dipping the chicken into the sauce on the side.
☕ 3. Quartier Général du Vieux La Prairie – Charming Café Vibes
📍 Location: 206 Rue Ste Marie, La Prairie, Quebec J5R 1G2
This small café, Quartier Général Du Vieux La Prairie, has become one of our go-tos when we want a quiet coffee outing or a light lunch with the kids. Their sandwiches and baked snacks are surprisingly good, and the coffee is consistently excellent.
The atmosphere is warm, with lots of locals passing through, and it’s a great place to pause on a walk through the old village.
👨👩👧 Family Tip: Because the café is small and often busy, leave the large stroller in the car and bring a carrier (or a small, compact travel stroller) if possible. It’s a great spot for a walk, and the kids love watching the street from the window while munching on pastries.
🍣 4. Park – For That One Special Night Out (No Kids This Time)
📍 Location: 378 Victoria Ave, Westmount, Quebec H3Z 1C3
This one’s not for the kids, but it absolutely deserves a spot on this list because it’s one of the most well-known fine-dining sushi restaurants in Montreal. Park is where we go for anniversaries or celebrations.
Yes, it’s pricey — but the quality of fish, the presentation, and the overall experience are truly worth it. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and attentive.
🍶Special Occasion Tip: Reservations are absolutely essential, often booked weeks in advance. Since this is your ‘date night’ spot, book a sitter well in advance and consider using a ride-share service to enjoy the wine and the experience fully without worrying about the Westmount street parking. The sommelier recommendations are fantastic and truly elevate the meal.
🍂 5. Crêperie Bretonne – Fall Café Feels in the North Shore
📍 Location: 396 Rue Principale, Saint-Sauveur, QC J0R 1R0
Every fall, when we go leaf-peeping in the North Shore area, we always stop by Crêperie Bretonne. The crêpes are perfect, and the cozy, rustic atmosphere feels like something out of a storybook.
🍁Family Tip: Perfect stop after hiking in the Laurentians. The place gets packed in the fall, so order for take-out and eat it picnic-style at a nearby park to avoid the wait with hungry kids.
🥯6. St-Viateur Bagel — A True Montreal Experience
📍Location: 263 Saint-Viateur Ouest, Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1
You can’t write a Montreal food guide without mentioning the city’s iconic bagels. While Fairmount Bagel is also famous, we prefer St-Viateur. Note: This is not a sit-down ‘restaurant’ in the traditional sense; it’s a 24/7 working bakery. Visiting the Mile End location is a crucial Montreal experience that works perfectly with kids.
This is a working shop, where you can watch the entire process: the dough being rolled by hand, boiled, and baked in the famous wood-fired oven. The smell alone is worth the trip! The bagels come out hot and slightly sweet. Grab a bag of fresh sesame or poppy seed bagels and a tub of cream cheese.
🍁Family Tip: It’s a great activity for a cold day, and the kids are mesmerized by the giant oven. Plus, it’s cheap! Grab a picnic bench outside in the summer or take them home for a simple, authentic Montreal brunch.
💭 Personal Thoughts: Finding Our Montreal Food Favourites
Compared to other cities we’ve lived in—especially those in Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand—we honestly found Montreal’s food to be a bit heavier and less balanced at first. It took us time to find places that felt “right” for our tastes. But that wait was absolutely worth it! Discovering these local cafés and bistros has truly helped us feel connected to this city. Sometimes, it’s not just about what’s on the plate, but the memories you make in these spaces, with family, over time. I hope this little Montreal family restaurant guide helps you find new favourite spots to enjoy with your kids (even picky eaters like mine!).
💬 Have you found any unexpected gems in Montreal? Let me know your favorites!
