Panettone is a sweet Italian bread invented by a Milanese bakery and eaten during the festive season in Italy and around the world.
Traditionally, panettone is baked with candied fruit and raisins. It is served with coffee, hot chocolate or sweet Italian wine such as Moscato.
Today, panettone is baked with chocolate, pistachios, vanilla, cherries… and many variations of this bread-cake are filled with cream or covered with powdered sugar.
Luckily for us, Montreal has some of the best artisanal panettones we’ve tasted, and picking up one (or two) before they run out is a serious business. After all, the height of chic is to offer guests who drop in for coffee an espresso and a slice of panettone…
Montreal’s best panettone
1.Hof Kelsten
Hof Kelsten’s ultra-classic handcrafted pannetone comes in a pastel cardboard box reminiscent of Wes Anderson films.
Where? Boulangerie Hof Kelsten, 4524 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
When? daily, 8am to 5pm
*panettone not yet available, expected mid-December
2.bakery Miette
Boulangerie Miette’s artisanal sourdough panettone with pralines and chocolate is so popular that it can be pre-ordered, and its limited quantities have many Montrealers anxious.
To reserve a panettone, click here! The panettone is $54.
Where: Boulangerie Miette, 317 rue de Lévis
When?
Wednesday to Sunday – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
closed Mondays and Tuesdays
*to pick up your panettone, it will be on December 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2025.
3.Café Olimpico
Café Olimpico, Montreal’s temple to Italian coffee culture since 1970, obviously makes one of the city’s best panettones-a great classic.
Where? Café Olimpico, 124 rue Saint-Viateur Ouest
When? Open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.
*panettone not yet available, expected mid-December
4 Viva Panettone
The Viva Panettone bakery, which makes panettones and only panettones and makes panettones all year round, offers a maple one for Italian-Canadians and for those who want to mix influences in their bread.
On the menu;
- signature panettone; raisins, candied citrus and vanilla
- le bec sucré; maple flavour
- le phénix; strawberry, morello cherry and vanilla
Prices are around $60-75 per panettone.
Where? Viva Panettone, 8248 rue du Creusot, Saint-Léonard
When?
Monday to Thursday – 10am to 5pm
Friday – 9am to 4pm
closed Saturday and Sunday
5.Arte & Farina
Orange-Cedarwood, Maple-Apple or Chocolate-Apricots; Arte & Farina’s panettones are super sophisticated and a perfect hostess gift when meeting the in-laws for the first time.
Where? Arte & Farina, 1550 rue Sainte-Catherine Est
When?
Monday to Friday – 8am to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday – 9am to 6pm
Happy Holidays! And don’t wait too long to pick up your panettone…