Curious where to find some of Montreal’s best spots? Lebanese Egyptian singer Zeina is happy to share her list of favorites.
Less“This place is called Afran Sara (in Arabic), and it has the best Lebanese man’oushes. Man’oushe is a Lebanese flatbread topped with za’atar or cheese. I grew up going here all the time with my mom, and their man’oushes are always fresh. Try a Bonjus or yogurt drink alongside your meal to really top it off.”
“This fruit and vegetable store is iconic. It’s where I shot the music video for ‘Whatever.’ But if you’re a local Montrealer, you definitely know about this place. Best quality fruits in town.”
“I went to school next to this diner, and for lunch, I always went here and got a poutine. I love this place, and they’re open super late, so after the club, we definitely hit this place up too. In my opinion, it’s the best poutine in Montreal.”
“Best Lebanese fast-food place. It doesn’t even feel like fast food. It’s fresh, healthy, and consistent. You can never go wrong. I love ordering a mixed plate: half shawarma, half shish taouk, with a side of tabbouleh and a lot of pickled turnips.”
“I love designer stuff. When I book an appointment to shop with my friends, I feel like I’m in an episode of Sex and the City. Little tip, though: Definitely make an appointment before going with all the clothes you want to try on.”
“For a simple, quick meal, I love this place. The pizza is amazing—thin crust and made with such good quality ingredients. I also love the apricot soda. If you’re a cheese lover, go for the four-cheese pizza, but the regular Margherita is also great.”
“I am a nut girl. I love me some cashews and krikri. This place has all kinds of Middle Eastern sweets and all the kinds of nuts you could want in the world. I love going there with my mom because she shares the same passion for nuts as I do. They also sell ashta ice cream here, which I LOVE.”
“I love this bubble tea spot. The tapiocas are so good—they have the perfect consistency. My bestie and I always order the mango green tea with boba, half sweet. You can never go wrong here.“
“My friends and I are obsessed with escape rooms, especially my friend Damini. We go almost every month, and I’m kind of sad that we’ve almost completed most of these escape rooms, but they’re so fun, and the set design is incredible.”
“This is a library-bookshop where you can find a lot of gems, from Arabic literature to Arabic magazines and from the history of hip-hop to artist development books. You can even find some rare vinyls here and enjoy a good read while sitting in the majlis.”