La Boqueria is a tapas bar in Old Montreal where warm atmosphere and Mediterranean authenticity meet. From fresh seafood to Iberian cold meats and paellas, Boqueria will take you on a journey with every bite.
Boqueria comes across as a lively Spanish spot with a warm, stylish interior and a bright terrace that creates a festive mood; the cuisine is praised for fresh seafood, tapas, croquettes, and paella with flavors that feel authentic, and cocktails and sangria are frequently highlighted as well; service is described as attentive and friendly by many, contributing to a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere, though a few visits note menu items being unavailable and pacing that can be slower at peak times; overall the impression is of a vibrant, flavorful dining experience in the old port with good value and a memorable sense of hospitality.
Had a brunch at this excellent Spanish restaurant last summer in Montreal, & the paella is cooked to the perfection, from the tender of the seafood to the divine mixture of the paella rice & sauce.
Raw oysters are fresh. Spanish style foccacia with tomato & garlic spreads taste is excellent, good for an appetizer!
We went to Boqueria in the summer & had a wonderful experience. The terrace was great, & the food was genuinely delicious. We ordered gambas al ajillo, anchovies, & paella, & everything was on point.
That's why I was so surprised & disappointed when I brought friends back last night (we were 6).
The ambience & interior design are beautiful-boho, Mediterranean style-& the background music was a fantastic selection. I didn't drink, but my friends really enjoyed the cocktails.
The food was honestly terrible, & it felt like a completely different restaurant compared to the summer.The gambas al ajillo had nothing to do with what we had before. The patatas bravas were basically just fries.& the paella was the worst I've had in my life.
I lived in Spain for four years, & I'm not exaggerating when I say: please don't call that paella. More broadly, the food last night didn't resemble what you'd expect from Spanish cuisine at all.
I truly hope the owners take this comment seriously, because I left feeling really disappointed-& honestly, embarrassed in front of my friends after recommending the place based on my previous experience.
Jan 11, 2026
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I just didn't like the paella rice, has nothing to do with the spanish paella rice 🥲, but the restaurant is really comfortable & the crew was super nice at all time.
Went to this restaurant to celebrate a friend's birthday & the service as well as the food was exceptional!! A must visit if you are looking to get a taste of authentic & fresh Spanish dishes. The manager working that Friday provided an amazing service, will definitely be going again.
Great spot for delicious Spanish food right in Montreal.
The service was top-notch, & Manuel, the manager, really went out of his way to make us feel at home.
Super friendly vibe - we'll definitely be back!
So much to say … but the octopus is a 10 out of 10
Clean space
Very good service
Very nice ambiance
& the plates we had are 100% Spanish plates. So fresh, so good
I will come back & I highly recommend it
When your Spanish grandmother & mother validate the paella... You know you're in the right spot 🥘 Thank YOU for the discrete & warm service - if you have anything to celebrate it's the perfect place to take people ✨ We were 6 & we ordered everything we could on the menu, shared everything & LOVED it. Big BIG up for the desserts, keep a hungry spot for them 🤭 (+ Look at the beauty of these meals 📸)
Had this place saved & happened to be in the area. In reading the reviews, didn't realize that Spanish food was such a polarizing topic. In our experience, we thoroughly enjoyed everything. We are well travelled domestically & internationally & found this to be as good & tasty as multiple cities in Spain & no I'm not comparing it to touristy restaurants near popular locations. Each dish was legitimately tasty. Our favorite was the squid ink paella with the pulpa con patatas a very close second. Service was excellent, courteous & prompt. I also noticed a quality control reviewing before each dish was served. Recommended with enthusiasm.
Sep 3, 2024
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Mediocre. The service was friendly but a bit forgetful. The fries were over seasoned like a cheap fast food restaurant. The Croquetas were not very good, & seemed like they came from a box. The pan con tomate had a nice idea for seasoning, but half of the tomatoes were a bit spoiled. Overall, it has the feeling of an over-priced tourist trap rather than anything authentic or Spanish. Still, the interior decor was pleasant, & the outdoor terrace has a nice view of the port.
The food was just average - nothing special. Service was extremely slow & we had to ask multiple times for napkins & to remove empty plates of the table. I have nothing to say about atmosphere either - didn't understand boho decorations for Spanish tapas place tbh.
Aug 11, 2024
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We came for a later meal at 9, & despite that their website says they close at 12, & we asked to pace our dishes as per traditional tapas they rushed & dumped all the plates of food onto our table. There were very few clients there, but we later noticed that the predominantly male staff were flirting with 2 girls inside at the bar instead of tending to their other clients. The food was otherwise relatively tasty although they ran out of multiple ingredients & gave us lesser substitutions at the same price. The most shocking however was paying 36$ for 6 very thin pieces of cheese & a smear of goat cheese with 4 tiny drops of fig spread... that was clearly a total rip off given we've eaten at multiple spanish tapas restaurants in the city as well as even knowing prices of very well filled cheese plates offered in the old port. Spare yourself & go somewhere else.
I'll refrain from being overly negative since I visited this restaurant during its first week of opening. While there were some issues I noticed that I could address with the restaurant owner personally, I'll focus on the food & service for now. The location is ideal for tourists, especially during the summer. We chose to sit inside, although there's also a terrace available. My friends enjoyed their sangria while I opted for a beer. Unfortunately, the food was rather mediocre. It didn't meet the standard of Spanish cuisine I've experienced, both in Montreal & in Spain itself. Our waiter mentioned it was his first day, so while he was friendly, he lacked menu knowledge, which is understandable for a new employee. However, when I expressed my dissatisfaction, they promptly removed the item from the bill & handled the situation courteously. I appreciate that they sought feedback, indicating a willingness to improve. I was more than happy to share my thoughts on what could be enhanced. I'm not giving up on this restaurant just yet & will revisit to see if there's been any improvement before forming a final opinion. For now, I removed 2 stars for the food. Of course, like any restaurant in the Old Port, parking can be an issue (useful information for tourists), but the ambiance of the place is charming. The prices are ok compared to other restaurants in the area.
