Montreal Brunch Hot Spots

1. Cosmo's

Cosmo's lives up to the legend: amazing service, the best in greasy breakfast fare, cheap prices and the spatial ability to listen in on any conversation in the diner, right in the heart of N.D.G. With ten stools, one counter top and modest terrace space out front, customers are served fast and with family-run warmth that should never go out of style. Be aware, weekend lineups are probable by 10 a.m. and guaranteed by noon but they wind down by mid-afternoon before closing time, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Be sure to order Cosmo's Creation Sandwich, made with eggs, cheese, bacon, thick salami, tomato, lettuce AND the bread of your choice.

Location: 5843 Sherbrooke West, corner of Draper; (514) 486-3814
Get there: Vendôme Metro

3. Deli Joe

Four words: smoked meat eggs Benedict. It's heavy, it's hardcore, it works. The rest of the menu is standard fare with charming extras and twists. Granted, Little Italy's Deli Joe is not the cheapest breakfast/lunch joint in town but it goes the extra mile for patrons: the walls are bright, the portions are big and every details counts. Just the side fruit, for example, is laid out with such panache, that you spend half of brunch staring at it and the other half devouring every juicy piece.

Location: 7143 St. Dominique, corner of Jean-Talon; (514) 342-4563
Get there: De Castelnau Metro

5. Lotte

A nice alternative to traditional brunch. Some of Montreal's best dim sum is just at the outskirts of Chinatown at Lotte, the Days Inn Furama Hotel restaurant. And with over 200 seats, it's a great spot to gather with friends and enjoy some traditional pork and chicken dumplings as well as variations with coriander, scallops and more.

Location: 215 René-Lévesque East, corner of De L'Hôtel-de-Ville; (514) 393-3388
Get there: Champ-de-Mars Metro

6. Boccacinos

I don't know if it's their large high-ceiling dining rooms, the way they grate their hash browns or the fact they serve not one but two poached eggs per Benedict dish, but there's something delightful, comfortable and consistent about Boccacinos brunches. With five locations on the island of Montreal, Boccacinos has enough tables to accommodate groups and large families with a craving for a casual and generous Montreal brunch.

Location: Five locations in Montreal. Consult the Boccacinos website for details.
Get there: Depends on location. Consult the STM website for public transit directions.

7. Le Jardin Nelson

Yes, it's very touristy, in the heart of Old Montreal's Place Jacques Cartier, but so what? The breakfast menu is a little limited but good. Besides, the pièce de résistance is sitting near the crabapple tree or other coveted spot in Le Jardin Nelson's breathtaking courtyards and gardens. It's the perfect place for a mimosa, crêpe and long relaxing sigh.

Location: 407 Place Jacques Cartier, corner of St. Paul East; (514) 861-5731
Get there: Champ-de-Mars Metro

8. Ty-Breiz

Montreal's first crêperie opened its doors over four decades ago and Ty Breiz has been packed ever since. Breton-style thin crêpes, either with traditional buckwheat or white flour, are served all day as main dishes and desserts, starting at 11:30 a.m. Warm chalet-like ambiance, Ty Breiz fits the bill for two, small groups and anyone looking for a late breakfast that's a little different from the norm.

Location: 933 Rachel East, corner of Mentana; (514) 521-1444
Get there: Laurier Metro