Located north of Mile End, in a quadrilateral formed by Bellechasse Street to the south, and Jean-Talon Street to the north, Saint-Laurent Boulevard to the west, and Saint-Denis Street to the east, lies a culinary attraction known as Piccola Italia, or Little Italy. It owes its name to the massive arrival of Italian immigrants in this corner of Montreal at the beginning of the 20th century. This neighborhood is known for the gourmet attraction since the fact that it is full of restaurants, cafés and patisserie. Today, La Petite Italie is a multicultural territory with plenty of exciting activity’s, colorful and vibrant energy.
Little Italy MTL Map
- Color code
- Green = Main attraction of the neighborhood
- Red = Whole neighborhood
Jean-Talon Market, a big attraction in Little Italy
Little Italy, home to the Jean-Talon Market. This market stands as one of Montreal’s largest and most beautiful year-round public markets. Surrounded by residential streets, many of the buildings are duplexes, typically well-preserved with exterior staircases, originally constructed for Italian railway and quarry workers in the vicinity. The neighborhood is served by mainly three metro stations (Jean-Talon, Beaubien, and De Castelnau), as well as by bus number 55 along Saint-Laurent Boulevard.
Here is the official website of the J-T market : https://www.marchespublics-mtl.com/en/marches/jean-talon-market/
Yearly Activities in Little Italy
The main commercial strips in Little Italy exude a vibrant and bustling atmosphere, whether it’s the lively brunch spots, cozy cafes, and local bars along Beaubien East, the flavorful Vietnamese culinary scene on Saint-Denis, or the charming Italian shops and stylish boutiques lining Saint-Laurent. During FIFA and Grand Prix F1 seasons, this stretch of the Main transforms into a vibrant party hub, with the street closed off to traffic, creating an open-air car exhibition. This dynamic blend of excitement and tranquility offers the perfect balance for residents, with community celebrations contrasting the peaceful charm of the quieter side streets, adorned with lush greenery. Little Italy truly embodies the essence of both worlds.
Upcoming activities
UEFA EURO 2024, June 14 – June 24
The Champions of Europe, Italy was the last UEFA EURO winner back in 2020 against England. A final score of 1-1 but Italy managed to bring the trophy home by winning the pens (3-2). After the win, Little Italy was vibrant and joyful for the rest of summer. You could see Italian’s honking their car with their flags out celebrating everywhere in Little Italy. Insane vibes. This year, will it happen again? All bars in Little Italy will be filled with the local fans when they will be playing. If the Italian’s go far, it is a must visit this summer.
ItalfestMTL, 31st edition, August 2 to 11, 2024
“Little Italy explodes in celebration of Italian culture, with music, gastronomy, art and folklore.”
Mtl.org
More then a week of interesting and fun Italian Culture on Saint-Laurent Blvd. It is a must to spend at least a day at this festival. For more info, visit Mtl.org : https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/montreal-s-italian-week
Cuisine
Italian cuisine is almost everywhere in Montreal, not only in Little Italy. From pasta to pizza, it is a great culinary culture for the munchers in Montreal. If we focus on coffee shops in Little Italy, we would recommend “Caffe San Simeon“, “Caffe Italia” and “Café Conca D’Oro“. These 3 coffee shop are authentic and offer you the best Italian experience. For food, we would recommend you to just walk around and try it yourself. Too many great restaurants for us to name. Here’s some of our favorite : “Restaurant Corneli” , “Unami Ramen and Izakaya” and “Bottega”