Delicious Vegetarian Restaurants Montreal: 20 Recommendations
From “Meatless Mondays” to full-on diets, vegetarianism and veganism have practically gone mainstream. Now, more and more people are embracing a plant-based lifestyle both for their own health, and the planet’s. To keep up with the demand, Montreal’s culinary scene has gotten creative and countless meat-free alternatives now available in every niche of the market. Check out our recommendations below to discover the Montreal restaurants serving up delicious vegan and vegetarian meals sure to entice everyone from vegans to curious carnivores alike.
For some post-mealtime fun, check out these Super Exciting Things to Do in Montreal
1. Bloom Sushi
Bloom Sushi is a brand new vegan venture in Old Montreal from the minds behind two of Montreal’s most famed vegan establishments: LOV and Sushi Momo. This new spot offers artfully crafted vegan maki and other izakaya-style dishes for a complete plant-based experience that’s bursting with flavour. Artfully balancing umami, saltiness and freshness, you won’t even miss the fish as you savour these unique creations. More than just imitations of old classics, the menu at Bloom Sushi is made up of dishes that are works of art in their own right.
Vegan with wheat-free options
368 Saint-Paul W
bloomsushi.com
2. Restaurant Radis
Located on Bernard in the heart of trendy Mile End, Restaurant Radis is a relatively new venture that has set out bring the taste and feeling of Italy to Montreal’s vegan dining scene. Instead of catering only to the most health-conscious diner, the restaurant’s owners want the food to taste good for everyone who tries it – even non-vegan Italian food aficionados. The result is an inventive and comforting menu that’s sure to entice, indulge, and have you coming back for more as the offerings are always evolving with the seasons and with the chef’s creative spirit. Theirs is the best vegan pizza you’ll find in the city, and the list of natural and organic wines is sure to have the perfect pairing for whatever you choose to dine on.
Vegan
361 Rue Bernard O
restaurantradis.com
3. Lola Rosa
Lola Rosa serves up vegetarian fare with global influences that is hearty enough to satisfy even the most voracious of carnivores. Their comforting food has become a favourite of many Montreal residents and can now be found at 4 distinct locations from Old Montreal to Mile End, each with its own unique offerings and ambiance. When you’re there, make sure you check in the drawers of the table and you’ll find tender and quirky notes left behind by past diners. Make sure you leave your own and who knows, your little limerick might just make some other diner’s day.
Vegan and vegetarian with gluten-free options
545 Milton, 4581 Parc, 276 Saint-Catherine and 727 William
lolarosa.ca
4. Tendresse
Adorned with striking, colourful decor, Tendresse is an undoubtedly contemporary take on vegan dining with creativity infused in everything they do. Even the signature cocktails reflect its joyous approach; made with fresh juice they’re both bright and nourishing. Similarly, the food is inventive and loaded with vegetables, taking its influence from several cuisines. Both casual and elegant, this bistro is the perfect place for everything from a quick stop-in, a plant-based brunch or a late-night dinner with a glass of biodynamic wine.
Vegan
1259 Sainte-Catherine E
bistrotendresse.com
5. Résonance
The quintessential artists’ hangout spot for a coffee or a cocktail, Resonance is a cozy, casual cafe offering 100% vegan fare, made in-house. They also have plenty of gluten free options among their menu of sandwiches, bowls, chilli and other vegan goodies, as well as smoothies. The atmosphere is industrial-chic with lots of wood and steel, and the unpretentious space means the food is totally affordable – there are no gimmicks here! Lively and warm, its the perfect place to have a chat, get some work done, or hide away from the elements. They’re open until midnight every day, so come and take advantage of local live music acts every night after 9 p.m.
Vegan with gluten-free options
5175a Parc Ave
resonancecafe.com
6. LOV
Making its home in several locations around Montreal, and beyond, LOV stands for Local, Organic, Vegan and brings its ethical approach to food to a more mainstream audience. Their botanic creations will wow even the most die-hard meat lovers. With hanging whicker seats and botanical prints that reflect the plant-based menu, it’s easy feel right at home in the sleek and cozy dining rooms at any time of day. In addition to their regular menu they serve up a delicious vegan brunch, as well as a selection of organic wine, organic beer and creative cocktails made with liquors from small manufacturers.
Vegan
464 McGill, 1232 de la Montagne & more
lov.com
7. Bowhead Pub
Bowhead Pub is Montreal’s first completely plant-based pub, and it’s not exactly what you’d expect from a vegan restaurant. They aren’t trying to change the game or preach an ideology, but simply offer a space where people can be loud, watch the game, and enjoy a night out without consuming animal products. They’ve made plant-based versions of all your favourite pub classics, so if you’re looking to initiate a hesitant carnivore into the world of vegan food, this is the perfect place to ease them in.
Vegan
3723 St Laurent
facebook.com/lebowhead
8. Le Watson
Bowls, smoothies, salads and sandwiches define the menu at Le Watson, a bright and colourful lunch spot in Little Italy. All the food may be vegan, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. Simple, trendy decor lets the good food simply stand out. If you’re looking for a nourishing, delicious vegan lunch that won’t break the bank, this is the place to go.
Vegan
26 Bélanger
lewatson.com
9. LIV Salades
The award for freshness on this list goes to the gourmet salad bar, LIV Salades. The menu centers around eight main salads which are the creations of Marie-Josée Elchab who’s always had a passion for coming-up with new and original ways to make salads taste great. This bright, small, Mile-End restaurant is committed to serving fresh ingredients with many produce grown right in their rooftop garden. A great place to bring a date or your family, LIV Salades takes gourmet greens to a whole new level.
Vegetarian and vegan options
5350 St Laurent Blvd & more
livsalades.com
10. Aux Vivres
Bringing vegan dishes to Montrealers since 1997, the pioneering team at Aux Vivres is committed to cooking up creative, globally-inspired, healthy dishes with fresh and local ingredients. Drawing inspiration from Indian, Mediterranean, Moroccan, and Thai cuisines, they pack each plate full of guilt-free flavour. Their fresh-fruit-and-vegetable smoothies and pressed juices are the perfect addition to wraps as large as your head and rice bowls so big you could bathe a small child in them. Aux Vivres is a big player in the plant-based restaurant game and you’ll find their products sold in stores around the city.
Vegan
4631 St Laurent
auxvivres.com
11. ChuChai
For the vegetarian who likes the taste of meat while not actually eating meat, ChuChai will fool the best of you with their expertly prepared Thai dishes with faux duck, chicken, and shrimp. More upscale than most of the other eateries on this list, the atmosphere is hip and caters to a young professional crowd (with the occasional influx of hipster-types). Their cocktail list is almost as expansive as their dinner menu, making this a great choice for a night out.
Vegetarian with vegan options
4088 St-Denis
chuchai.com
12. Le Cagibi
Now relocated to Little Italy, this cozy and quirky cafe is favoured by local creatives for its mismatched vintage decor, knick-knack filled walls and veggie-filled eats. They offer lunch and brunch specials every day, using local, seasonal and organic ingredients when available, and the food is all meat-free of course. Le Cagibi also operated as a coop meaning no single person is the boss, and you’ll feel the care that each member puts into the space in everything they do.
Vegetarian with vegan options
6596 St Laurent
facebook.com/le.cagibi
13. Invitation V
A vegan bistro with a sleek, trendy atmosphere, this is a great place for dinner or lunch. Invitation V is a labour of love from its three co-founders, who have expertly curated everything in the space from the menu to the design to the music to offer patrons a welcoming dining experience. The dishes are all made in-house, drawing inspiration from international cuisine that the co-founders tasted during their many travels and they strive to use organic ingredients and local suppliers to make their food as ethical as possible.
Vegan
201 St Jacques
invitationv.com
14. The Green Panther
Vegan, organic, and using recyclable materials when possible, The Green Panther is the perfect place to grab a quick lunch and feel good about it too. All six locations are bright, airy, and filled with plants, beckoning patrons in with the smell of freshly-baked vegan treats. Student-friendly with locations right next to Concordia’s SGW campus, in the Plateau and Mile End, why not fuel your brain with a delicious pita, then reward yourself for all your hard studying with a coconut-milk chai latte and a piece of homemade carrot cake?
Vegan
2153 Mackay, 160 Saint-Viateur W, 145 Mount Royal E, 1735 Saint-Denis & more
thegreenpanther.com
15. Le Kitchen
With predominantly vegan and gluten-free fare, but vegetarian options as well. Le Kitchen serves up home-style fresh and healthy meals just like your mom would make (if your mom was a really, really good cook). Everything is made in-house, and is prepared daily for pick-up and delivery. Due to the high demand for takeout and delivery, you can call to order what you want early in the day to ensure that it’s ready for you.
Vegan, gluten-free, organic
1806 William
lekitchen.ca
16. Café Chat l’Heureux
Crazy cat ladies (and gentlemen) rejoice! Montreal’s second cat cafe opened this year, serving up gourmet vegetarian salads, sandwiches, and baked goods with a side of feline companionship. The seven cats who call this cafe home (Luzerne, Gustave, Milady, Luciole, Chopin, Boris, Luna and Sheldon) were all adopted from local animal shelters. It’s the purr-fect place to spend an afternoon with a new furry friend.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free
172 Duluth E.
cafechatlheureux.com
17. Copper Branch
Who said fast food had to be synonymous with artery-clogging crap? Copper Branch is taking healthy, plant-based dishes and making them accessible for the lunch-time rush or to grab and go (even serving breakfast options that’ll put your usual muffin to shame). With their ten locations around downtown Montreal and Dix30, there’s really no excuse to ever go to McDonald’s again. To quench your thirst they’ve also got an array of fair trade coffees, teas, and fresh juice smoothies. Plus they’re one of a handful of places in the city to serve Fentiman’s sodas (which have inspired many lustful dreams in me).
Vegan and vegetarian
Several locations
copperbranch.ca
18. Yuan Buffet
If you love Asian food but not the meat, Yuan Buffet may your personal oasis. Offering all-you-can-eat Thai, Japanese and Chinese dishes at an affordable price, there’s no better place to get your fill of that umami goodness. Fried, rolled and covered in sauce these plant-based dishes are brought right to your table. Bring a friend or a few to try a bit of everything – sharing is easy when there’s no food restrictions to get in your way!
Vegetarian with vegan options
2115 St Denis
yuanvegetarien.com
19. Sophie Sucrée
For the vegan with a sweet tooth, Sophie Sucrée mixes up homemade cakes and baked goods with a healthy dose of love. Sophie, the bakery’s namesake, was owner Milene Laoun’s grandmother, who instilled in her a love of baking and a pride in serving up creations that are as artful as they are delicious. They also host weekend brunches and high tea services in their quintessentially-feminine and whimsical cafe.
Vegan with gluten-free options
167 Ave des Pins E.
sophiesucree.com
