Best Desserts in Montreal | Ice Cream, Pastries, Cakes

Discover a variety of the best desserts in Montreal, Canada! I've found the top spots for ice cream, pastries, cakes, pies, and more. I've made sure to include spots that are in the city center/popular areas so you won't have to go out of your way to try these desserts.

Montreal has earned its reputation as a foodie capital with an endless variety of spectacular restaurants and chefs. On my first trip to to this lively city, I focused on finding the best Montreal coffee shops and desserts.

I had no idea what I signed up for when my list quickly grew to around 20+ high-quality dessert spots to discover! Narrowing my list down was no easy task and finding my favorites was even harder. 

In the end, these ended up being my five favorite dessert spots in Montreal. Places I'll make a beeline for every return trip to the city.

This map shows where to find the best desserts in Montreal. Click the icon in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.

A quick note about these Montreal desserts

When researching the best desserts in Montreal, I found most websites and blogs listed restaurants. That was not what I was looking for nor what this blog post is focused on.

Typically when I'm on the hunt for a sweet treat, I want something quick and casual. Not the whole sit-down, lengthy experience where you get an annoyed look when all you order is dessert.

Most of these spots have a casual area to sit while enjoying your ice cream or pastry. Some are best for grab-and-go. If that's what you're looking for, then this post is for you!

1. Sachere Desserts - cakes and soft-serve twists

Sachere Desserts is a European-Asian inspired cakeshop. The creations here are incredible. If you're looking for an Insta-worthy dessert, this is it!

The individual cakes are a must. Both beautiful and unique in flavor combinations, which change with the season.

In the fall you may find a chocolate sponge cake made with creamy maple and chai tea ganache or a chiffon cake made with green tea, pear, and ginger.

Spring brings flavors like cherry blossom honey and yuzu and summer brings fresh strawberries, raspberries, hibiscus, and mascarpone. Ingredients like amaretto with cherries and chestnut mousse make a debut.

Other treats like Bomboloni donuts filled with an assortment of creams, macarons, and cream puffs are available on rotation.

Now, one of the best parts...Sachere's soft serve swirls. My oh my is this stuff amazing. I'm not usually a soft-serve girl, gelato is more my style, but the flavor combinations are insanely good. And beautiful.

Some examples of flavor combinations are raspberry with hazelnut, mandarin and chai, sesame and passionfruit...is your mouth watering yet?

AND these soft-serve swirls are vegan!

Sachere Desserts also has gluten-free and vegan pastries, cakes, and other treats.

Sachere Desserts is hands down one of my favorite spots for a treat. Their ice cream, cakes, and pastries are some of the best desserts in Montreal.

2. Fous Desserts - croissants and pastries

Fous Desserts is known for its viennoiseries. Most notably the pain au chocolate and almond croissant. Many say this is where to find the BEST almond croissant in Montreal. Buttery, flakey, and not too sweet. Just as it should be.

Feeling something else? No problem! Fous Desserts has a large assortment of treats to go with their pastries including artisan chocolates, ice cream, and some intriguing rotating pastry flavors like a sesame, raspberry, and white chocolate combination that was quite delicious!

A nice selection of Japanese tea is also available, which makes for a nice pairing with your sweet of choice. Matcha fans will appreciate not only an assortment of matcha drinks but also rotating matcha cakes and other desserts.

The interior is warm with natural wood tones throughout and several small tables and chairs. 

Patisserie Rhubarbe is just down the street from Faus Desserts. It has a smaller menu of beautiful French pastries. The eclairs are particularly popular.

It's a good alternative if Fous Desserts is crowded, but is more expensive and take away only.

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3. Patisserie Rustique - pies and tarts

This pie shop may seem a bit out of the way when looking at a map, but I highly recommend making a trip to the Saint Henri neighborhood if you have time.

I rode a BIXI bike (Montreal's bike program) from downtown Montreal and enjoyed riding along the riverside bike path and getting some wonderful views of downtown Montreal on my way back.

Saint Henri is laid back, quiet, and residential and is a nice contrast to the other neighborhoods of Montreal.

Patisserie Rustique reminded me of my grandma's homemade pies. And that's saying something. It easily makes the list for the best desserts in Montreal.

I highly recommend trying the apple pie or one of their mini tarts.

There is limited seating and an endless supply of locals grabbing treats to take home.

If there's no seating available, grab a slice and walk across the street to the park.

4. Boulangerie Cheskie - chocolate Babka

A tiny Jewish bakery featuring the famous chocolate Babka. A sticky, gooey, chocolatey piece of heaven. Locals and tourists alike rave about Boulangerie Cheskie's Babka.

The shop is plain with no seating and meant for grab-and-go orders only. 

5. Kem CoBa - ice cream

My fellow ice cream and gelato enthusiasts must visit Kem CoBa. Easily the best ice cream in Montreal. It's more like Italian gelato than American ice cream. Ultra-creamy, full of flavor, and served in small tins.

You'll find some unique flavors here. The salted butter is a must. Pandan is also very popular as is the Vietnamese coffee, lychee-rose, and dates.

Kem CoBa also offers soft serve, sorbet, and vegan options.

It's cash only and there's usually a line. Don't worry though...it moves fast and is worth it.

In Summary

And there you have it! These are the spots I head to when looking for the best desserts in Montreal. They never disappoint and are worth every single calorie.

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Best Desserts in Montreal | Ice Cream, Pastries, Cakes

MONTREAL HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS:

LUXURY

• The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
• Le Mount Stephen

MIDRANGE

• Hotel Le Germain Montreal
• Hôtel Bonaparte
• Humaniti Hotel Montreal Autograph Collection
• Le Petite Hotel
• Hotel Place d'Armes Old Montreal
• Hotel Gault

BUDGET-FRIENDLY

• Hotel Le Dauphin Montreal Centre Ville
  
• AC Hotel Montreal Downtown

See my other Canada blog posts

Have suggestions of your own for the best desserts in Montreal? Let me know in the comments below!