FUN PLACES TO EAT IN MONTREAL WHILE VISITING WITH KIDS

If you are a foodie, it will come to no surprise that there are plenty of wonderful places in Montreal where you can eat at with kids while you are visiting.

My mother told me that she and my father never took us to eat out in restaurants while we were kids.  It wasn’t so much of a question of money but more so of behavior.

Personally, since Junior was a baby and Blondie Bear as well, as a matter of fact, I have always taken my kids to restaurants.  The experience shouldn’t be stressful if you are prepared (mentally and logistically).  

Table of Contents hide

1. Rosemont- Petite Patrie

2. Le Plateau

3. Mile End

4. Center City

5. Old Montreal

6. Quartier Saint-Henri

Eating out with kids

Here is what you should know on how to eat out with kids without losing your sanity. Find out the ways on how to prepare yourself to enjoy your meal out with kids.

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We’ve lived in Montreal for 11 years now, so we’ve tested out a few places along the way.  Of course, there is nothing better than a home cooked meal.  However, when you are visiting a city like Montreal, knowing a good place to eat with kids will make your exploring a lot more fun.

When my father would take me to visit museums in places such as London or Paris, we always went to McDonald’s. Ok, it wasn’t the most of healthiest options, but at the time as a kid, all I was craving was a happy meal.

Here are a few places you can eat at with kids in different areas on the island of Montreal.

Rosemont- Petite Patrie

When you come to the neighbourhood of Rosemont-Petite Patrie, it’s most likely to come and check out the Marché Jean-Talon.  This is a great place to open up your taste buds, for FREE.

The stalls are set up in a way where you can help yourself to some fruits and vegetables to taste before buying.  The Jean-Talon market is located in the Italian area of Montreal.  What rhymes with Italy?  Pizza!

Pizzeria Napoletana

Pizzeria Napoletana has supposedly the best Pizza in town.  Due to its popularity, it’s often packed. They don’t accept reservations.  If you’re lucky, you can enjoy your meal at the back of a truck.  Sounds gross but it’s actually really sought after.

A great substitute to this place, just on the other corner of the block is Gema Pizzeria.

Dinner on the Go

Grab some comfort food to go, along with a picnic basket from Dinette Triple Crown.  It even comes with the red and white plaited table cloth!  There is a park nearby where you can enjoy it, even if it’s not the nicest of parks.  This restaurant is located near Jean-Talon Market.

Madame Dumplings

Located close to metro stop Beaubien, if you are in the mood for some fresh dumplings, stop by this tiny place called Madame Dumplings. It’s hard not to miss as they prepare them right behind the front window.

It’s fresh and delicious.  You can also buy some frozen ones to bring back home.  We especially like the Szechuan style which we add rice to when we order as a take out.  Also, it’s the closest place to our house where we can buy shrimp flavored chips.  

When you eat in Chinese restaurants in France, they serve you (for free) these huge shrimp flavoured shrimps. I love them!  So I was happy to find them in this tiny place near our home.

If you are catching a movie in the last neighborhood theater of Montreal, Cinéma Beaubien, here are some places to eat at with kids before or after the movie.

FUN TIP: From June to August, every weekend there is a FREE showing of a kid’s movie at 10 a.m.

Calaveras

Real Mexican food in a restaurant run by real Mexicans.  Calaveras is a super family-oriented restaurant and a hidden gem of our area.  On weekends, you even get live music.  I particularly like their burritos, guacamole et mini tacos.

Side note:  the only set back, as they are victim of their popularity, is that the service can be long.  We now take the food to go just to make life easier.

La Boulette

A great place to eat various types of Burgers with real homemade fries is at La Boulette.  However, my favorite thing to eat there is the salmon tartare.  Why not take it to go and eat it in Molson Park nearby? Don’t forget your reusable utensils!

During the summer months, they have movie nights in the park for FREE.

Froment et de Sève

If you are more in the mood for a picnic at Molson Park before catching a movie or playing a game of pétanque (bocce) or ping-pong, grab a delicious sandwich at Froment et de Sève.

Also, I suggest grabbing one of their Quiche Lorraine to enjoy when you get back home with a side salad and a glass of wine or grape juice.  

L’Affaire est chocolat

After the movie or chilling in the playground of Molson Park, eat a crêpe or an ice cream at L’Affaire est Chocolat.  

In exchange for $5, you can get a reusable cup.  You can use it as you please, exchange it for a new one at your next visit or get your money back when you bring it back.  This is part of a project Réseau de cafés formidables. So, you don’t have to bring it back to the same spot.

Le Plateau

The Plateau is where all the French people like to live and hang out.  It’s also where you can sunbathe in La Fontaine Park, play Pétanque or a game of volleyball, hop on a little train that goes around the park, assist at a puppet show or catch a show at the outdoor theater.  Also, at the tail end of Le Plateau lies the Mont-Royal where you can hike up and enjoy the view of Montreal.

MONTREAL ACTIVITIES

September

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October

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Burgers

When we lived on the Plateau, next to Fullum Park (corner of Marie-Anne and Fullum) which is a wonderful place to take the kids to, we loved to eat burgers.  

There are two places worth mentioning that are family-friendly: Madame Bolduc and Les Belles Soeurs.  Les Belles Soeurs is located really close to Fullum Park which is perfect if you want to take your burgers to go.

Also, it’s important to note that Fullum Park has two play areas for the kids pending their ages and sprinklers to play in during the hot summer months.

Péché Glacé

The Péché Glacé is my favorite place in Montreal to grab ice cream as it has plenty of delicious choices to pick from.  So grab a cone before heading down to Lafontaine Park.

Les Glaceurs

There are three of them that I know of in Montreal.  If you are in the mood to eat some of the best cupcakes Montreal has to offer with your kids, Les Glaceurs is the place to go.  I strongly suggest that you try out the Red Velvet.

You can grab one on your way back from Lafontaine Park.

These cupcakes are so good, that we even served them at our wedding that took place 3 hours away from Montreal!

Santropol

I have yet to try this place.  While coming back down from the Mont-Royal one day, back to our car, we came across Santropol. What struck me was their very private yet cozy outdoor terrace where even dogs are allowed!

As it’s a very popular place, which draws crowds, it’s best to get there early for your Sunday brunch.

Portuguese Chicken

Lafontaine Park is located close to the Portuguese area of Montreal.  The closest Portuguese Rotisserie Chicken I know of is at Ma Poule Mouillée.  We ate there after catching the annual fireworks in Lafontaine Park in December.  The place was jammed packed!

The portions are really generous, and one plate can be plenty to be shared between two kids or one adult and one kid depending on their age.  I can only assume that you can also take it to go in which case do so and have a picnic in the park.

Mile End

The Mile End is a great place to go to for checking out some of the best murals in Montreal.

Also, if you’re looking for a fun family activity to do with kids that are 10 years and older, try your thinking skills with an outdoor Escape Game.  It’s a great way to discover the Mile End and its hidden treasures.

Did someone say bagels?

Start of the day with the best fresh bagels in Montreal at Fairmount Bagels or at Saint-Viateur Bagels, both at a walking distance from each other. 

This place (Saint-Viateur) has been around for over 60 years.  It was started by a Polish immigrant, a survivor of a death camp in World War II, around 1957.  The business was then passed on to the new actual owner who started working there when he was just 15 years old.

Don’t forget your reusable travel utensils to spread your cream cheese if you plan to eat it on the go.  However, just remember that they only accept cash in this place (Fairmount Bagels).

Pasta

Next stop, the Drogheria. Only a street separates Saint-Viateur Bagels from the Drogheria.  It’s a hole in the wall type of place where all they serve are gnocchi in a delicious tomato sauce, both homemade.

The gnocchi cost $5 and are plenty for two people.  They are served in the same packaging we see people eat out of in the movies when they order Chinese food.

Once again, don’t forget your travel utensils and take a lot of napkins as it drips all over.  If you want to, they sell their tomato sauce for $10 a piece.  Word of warning: it’s heavy!

What’s for dessert?

On the same sidewalk as the Drogheria is an ice cream place, Kem Coba.  We didn’t eat there as the line was through the roof the last time we were in that area.  It must be good!

This is a good place to stop at after a dip in the pool of Laurier Park or hanging out in the playground of same.

Center City

Whether you are visiting the Olympic House, the indoor ice skating rink at 1000 de la Gauchetière, or making your way down La Promenade Fleuve-Montagne of Montreal, you can still grab a bite to eat with the kids to hold them over.

Les Enfants Terribles

What kid doesn’t like to ride in an elevator all the way up top and feel like on top of the world?  Ok, no quiet, but you do get a 360-degree view of the city of Montreal.  

When you eat at Les Enfants Terribles, you get discount access to the observatory deck.  How sweet is that?

They offer a brunch on weekends which is perfect if you are doing a family outing in that area.  It doesn’t come cheap but sometimes it’s nice to splurge a little.

Food Court

Now, now.  Hold your horses!  Located close to the Scotia Bank Movie Theater and Lasertag is a state of the art food court.  The Time Out Market is a food court that brings together 16 well-known chefs and restaurants from Montreal.

You won’t find your typical food there. Instead, there is an oyster bar and Bahamian-style conch fritters, among other things.  It’s quite fancy actually.  However, if you want to eat with kids in Montreal, enjoy a good meal and not stress about it, this food is the place to go.

Les Glaceurs

As mentioned before, the Glaceurs is where you’ll find your cupcake heaven.  It’s a great place to take your dessert on the go.  Also, if you go there on the day of your birthday, you get a FREE cupcake.

Old Montreal

There is always something going on in Old Montreal.  You can walk on the cobbled streets all year long and visit Pointe à Caillère Museum or Montreal Science Center when it’s cold outside.

It’s also possible to rent a paddle boat during the summertime or ice skate during the wintertime on the pond, right behind the ferris wheel.

There are other things to do there and you can check out our September or October list of activities for more ideas.

Venice Montreal

Pokie or Poké bowl?  My kids make fun of my pronunciation.  The interior of Venice Montreal is decorated with a California vibe.  It’s as inviting as the food it serves.  The portions are generous, the food is delicious and filling.

Don’t you just love it when your kid’s bellies are full? I recommend the Indian style Poke bowl.  It’s vegetarian but filling nonetheless.

If you enjoy their food and want to recreate it at home, here is their recipe book.

Mom, can I have desert?

I don’t know about your kids, but mine never seem to forget about their afternoon snack or as we call it in French, ‘l’heure du goûter’.  It doesn’t matter if they finished eating their lunch only two hours ago, l’heure du goûter is precious.

So, do you want cupcakes, ice cream or both?

On the main square of the Old City of Montreal, you’ll find a Ben & Jerry’s.  I especially like their mint chocolate chip ice cream which goes along well with one of my favorite flavors: raspberry.

On your way back to the subway, close to Notre-Dame, you’ll find another Les Glaceurs, where you can once again grab a cupcake to eat on your way home.

Quartier Saint-Henri

Last but not least, is the Quartier Saint-Henri with its outdoor Market Atwater and canal.  You can also play go and play an escape game at A-Maze in that area.  It’s actually the first one we ever went to.  You have to reserve ahead of time to play there though. 

Atwater Market functions in a similar way as Jean-Talon Market where you can taste food for FREE but is smaller.

There is another Venice Montreal in that area to eat some poke bowls, but I haven’t personally been to that one.

If you are more in the mood for some Asian food, try Satay Brothers.  The interior alone is worth making a pit stop there.  However, it does get crowded and if you are going to eat there with kids while roaming the streets of Montreal, it’s best to get there before lunch hour starts.

So, there you have it.  As you can see, there are plenty of places where you can eat with kids in Montreal while visiting this beautiful city we like to call home.