Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Québec Montreal Schwartz's

Schwartz's

A Montreal deli that was so beloved that it was allowed to circumvent their laws of language.

Montreal, Québec

Added By
Jennifer Richardson
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Schwartz’s   krista on Flickr
Schwartz’s   krista on Flickr
The usual line out front.   Schwartz's Deli
One of Schwartz’s signature dishes.   Schwartz's Deli
  45rpm / Atlas Obscura User
People lined up   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

If you are a resident of Montreal's hip neighbourhood the “Plateau” on the Main, you're fated to spend at least a few moments of your day dodging tourists lined up outside Schwartz's, a historic Montreal deli. 

The area now houses a slew of coffee shops, local theatres, fancy boutiques and a few pharmacies while Schwartz's stands as a representation of Montreal at the beginning of the 20th century. Schwartz's has been proud to serve as a Montreal establishment for over 90 years. It was founded in 1928 by Reuben Schwartz, a Jewish immigrant from Romania. The deli hasn't changed locations since, and still displays its original name, "Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen" beneath its newer moniker.

Walking through its doors is a time warp, as well as a sensory overload. The potent smell of decades of meat marinating fill the air while black and white photos of past patrons adorn the walls, between which tourists and some locals alike munch on cheap grub. The deli is proud to serve all chemical- and preservative-free items. While a few other delis remain in the area, Schwartz's continues to be one of the most frequented in the city. The secret is in the Schwartz's speciality spices, not to mention the timely process of cooking the meat. The meat is smoked daily and then marinated for ten days. 

So beloved is the restaurant that when Quebec declared the official language of the province to be French, Schwartz's was specifically allowed to retain the apostrophe in its name despite no such grammar mark being used in the language. The gesture may seem small, but it is quite telling in the fiercely Francophone province.  

Celine Dion and her husband Rene Angelil, along with the well-known restauranteur Paul Nakis, bought the establishment for 10 million dollars in 2012. There is no news yet on whether the new ownership will change anything about this iconic deli. 

 

Related Tags

Restaurants

Community Contributors

Added By

Jennifer Richardson

Edited By

DeepFriedDuck, EricGrundhauser, Gavin, 45rpm

  • DeepFriedDuck
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Gavin
  • 45rpm

Published

April 4, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwartz's
Schwartz's
3895 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montreal, Québec, H2W 1Y2
Canada
45.516201, -73.577675
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jackie Robinson Mural

Montreal, Québec

miles away

The Murals on Saint Laurent Boulevard

Montreal, Québec

miles away

McPherson and Rutherford Physics Collections

Montreal, Québec

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Montreal

Montreal

Québec

Places 39
Stories 8

Nearby Places

Jackie Robinson Mural

Montreal, Québec

miles away

The Murals on Saint Laurent Boulevard

Montreal, Québec

miles away

McPherson and Rutherford Physics Collections

Montreal, Québec

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Montreal

Montreal

Québec

Places 39
Stories 8

Related Stories and Lists

12 Extraordinary Jewish Restaurants Around the World

List

By Sam O'Brien

Related Places

  • This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Gai Tord Jae Kee

    Bangkok’s most beloved fried chicken spot lets its garlic-burrowed birds do the talking.

  • Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Charmgang

    This neon-lit back-alley spot deals in good vibes and curries that pack a punch.

  • The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Gedhawa

    For more than 30 years, this stalwart has been one of the few restaurants in Bangkok specializing in northern Thai cuisine.

  • At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Nai Mong Hoi Thod

    This Chinatown hole-in-the-wall serves what might be the ultimate oyster omelet.

  • Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Rung Rueang

    The porky tom yum soup at this Sukhumvit Road institution has a cult following.

  • The local catch is delicious fried as well.

    Charlevoix, Michigan

    Terry's of Charlevoix

    Line up for ample portions of freshly caught whitefish, walleye, and perch from the Great Lakes.

  • The Cathedral Café has been serving its community for more than 120 years.

    Fayetteville, West Virginia

    Cathedral Café

    Soak in the sacred vibes at this beloved food and coffee hangout inside a former church.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.

    Onekama, Michigan

    The Glenwood

    Savor Great Lakes produce, fish, and spirits at this local favorite in a century-old warehouse.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.