It’s been seven years since we lost ourfavorite foodie,the great Anthony Bourdain,Tony tohis friends. The chef and host of culinary discovery shows (and localpoetic zeitgeist) was not only one of our firstinternet boyfriends—the bad boy chef.
He visited Montreal for his showParts Unknown in2013, for his showNo Reservations in2006, and for his showThe Layover in2011.He called Montreal a “very dangerous place for chefs” (a good thing) and his favorite place in Canada. So, obviously, we trust him if we only have one dish to try when we’re visiting Montreal, right?
We’re looking at one of Anthony Bourdain’s most enthusiastic recommendations during one of his visits to Montreal: Schwartz’s deli.
Schwartz’s
Schwartz’s, opened in 1928, is a Montreal institution and, as Bourdain said,“you can’t not come here when you’re in Montreal,“ before biting into one of theirsmoked meatsandwiches…
This deli’s smoked meat is famous around the world. Be warned, you’ll have to wait in line—but it’s worth it.
Thesmoked meatsandwichthatAnthony Bourdainloved is $16.25 —not expensive for the quality that has made Schwartz’s famous amongfoodies andmeat connoisseurs everywhere.
@schwartzsdeliofficial
Where?Schwartz’s, at 3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
And for a history lesson…
You can see vintage items from Schwartz’s, as well as hundreds of other photos, plates, matchboxes, and menus from Montreal restaurants by visiting the exhibitionAu Menu: A History of Restaurants at theMcCord Stewart Museum.
The exhibition opens with colorful paper menus from the 1960s, cutlery from the Queen Elizabeth restaurant,photos of rooms filled to capacity with Montrealers in bell-bottoms during the 1970s, and videos of news reports on the city’s restaurant scene.
Where?McCord StewartMuseum, 690 Sherbrooke Street West
When?The exhibition runs until October 18, 2026
How?Adult admission is $22. To reserve tickets and learn more about the exhibition, click here!
Bon appétit!