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Private tour in Montreal Mélissa S

Montreal Jewish Food Experience

5.0

(8) reviews

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Mélissa S.

5.0

Guide rating

16

Reviews

Tours delivered

20 hrs

Avg. response time

I want to unfold Montreal for you by showing you its beauty, telling its stories and tasting its food. Where these things intersect is where you will find me and where you will really get a feel for the city and how unique and delicious it is as well as the people that have made this city what it is. I am originally from British Columbia but have been in Montreal my whole adult life (20 years) and although my first language is English, my heritage is mainly French Canadian and I am fluent in french and Spanish as well. I did a multi-disciplinary program in Canadian Studies at McGill; I am a certified professional cook and was in the restaurant industry and taught cooking for many years. I am an accredited Montreal tour guide and I broke the mould in terms of food tours in Montreal using the food scene and the personal stories of chefs, farmers, artisans and tasting as a way to experience the city with my touring company that I have been running since 2012. I also like to incorporate the voices and stories of women into what I do. I have a Master's in Educational Technology and coach female entrepreneurs. I am also a trained birth doula and fight for birth and reproductive justice and housing rights. Come and get access to the city in a way that you will not get on your own and let me share my love of food, people, learning, humour and transformative events and stories! Please contact me with any questions or to personalize a tour for you. BA from McGill University with honours with a major concentration in Canadian Studies 2007 Montreal Tour Guide and bicycle guide Certification 2015 Professional Cooking Diploma 2009 On the cover of the business section of the Montreal Gazette in 2015 Winner of best female entrepreneurial award of Montreal in 2013 Quebec entrepreneurship contest Second place winner of services to businesses for my corporate food tours Quebec entrepreneurship contest Operating Tours since December 2012 Selected for trade missions to Paris and Atlanta 2013/2016 Currently undertaking an MA in Educational Technology Trained doula No Restrictions

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Mélissa S.

Overview of your Montreal tour

Montreal is said to have two solitudes: the English and French, but many say there is a third solitude: the Jewish community. Two of the three of Montreal's edible food icons are Jewish: smoked meat and bagels. I want to get you to taste them, more than one and compare, but also many other classic Jewish Montreal dishes! The history of the Jewish Community in Montreal is a key thread of the history of the city and illuminates the political and religious contexts through the reality of Jews in the city. I designed the first Jewish Food Tour in Montreal. I am also a certified guide of Montreal and am able to both talk in detail about the Jewish community but also about the larger context. I have long-standing relationships with the business and a culinary background myself. This tour is a mix of nostalgic eateries, fresh trendy new spots, walking in picturesque neighbourhoods with historic visuals all around. The food, punctuated by poetry and story is on-point, generous and allows you to compare a rivals.

Recent Reviews

Wendy M.United States
June 2026

This was such a great tour! We are from the NYC area so have high standards for great Jewish food. This tour did not disappoint! The food was all great and many of the restaurants were so cool and old school. Melissa was the best. She’s sweet and knowledgeable. Not only did she give us great info on the restaurants we visited, she also gave us great history on Montreal in general. She added a special touch by showing us pictures and reading us poems. Truly a great tour. Come hungry!

Debra P.United States
August 2025

This was a great tour. We started and ended the tour with smoked meat sandwiches from rival delis, and had bagels (from rival stores), babka, falafel, "Wilensky's Specials" and more in-between. It was a ton of delicious food with lots of stories, poems, and history sprinkled in. Melissa was a delight to tour with.

Elise S.United States
June 2025

What a fabulous experience - Melissa was absolutely fantastic! Melissa’s knowledge of Montreal and the Jewish neighborhoods was voluminous with interesting antidotes and stories. The foods she chose were outstanding! The three hours flew by - HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Stacy L.United States
October 2023

Mélissa is a great tour guide and knows a lot about the history of Montréal. This tour of Jewish Montréal was fun -- amazing food! The tour is set up to compare famous smoked meats, bagels, and sweets. As a special treat, we got some falafel! In addition to the food, we saw where Jewish businesses were founded, learned about the Jewish population of Montréal and their contributions to the city, and saw the oldest continually operating synagogue in the city. Don't eat before you go!

Becky B.United States
August 2023

Melissa was amazing. She was so knowledgeable about the Jewish history and all the events that took place in Montréal. We ate so much delicious food. She even read us poetry from some of the famous Jewish residents. Wonderful education and delicious tour!

Nancy L.United States
August 2023

Great guide extremely knowledgeable and fun to be with. I would strongly recommend this tour to anyone who likes to eat.

Your Montreal tour itinerary

This is a walking tour and we will walk 3 kilometres and eat an insane amount of food on a tour that s packed with history and stories. - We will meet at a smoked meat establishment in Outremont, the most affluent French neighbourhood, but also a neighbourhood with a strongwomen Hassidic population. - We will visit 6-8 stops depending on the day of the week. - The tour includes beverages, sweets and savoury classics - We will compare rival bagel factories and smoked meat delis - We will tell the story of Jews in Montreal from their earliest arrival to the present. - We will visit Outremont, the Mile-End and the Plateau Mont-Royal - There will even be poetry along the way - Visit of Jewish landmarks and murals connected to the community

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Transport details
Type: Walking

Walking .. about 3 km of walking

What's included
Other: Bag and reusable water bottle Food and drink
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Meeting location

1057 Avenue Bernard, Montréal, Québec, H2V 1V1, Canada

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: The Meeting point is Lester's Deli at 1057 Bernard ave in Outremont. I recommend taking a taxi or public transit to get here. You can get off at Outremont subway station on the blue line or the 80 bus on Parc avenue on the corner of Bernard. I don't recommend taking your car as parking can be tough and we finish far from where we started.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
History
Food And Drink
Tour reference number
805828
Languages
French
English
Activity level
Light
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
5.0

Traveller reviews for this private tour in Montreal

8 reviews

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Montréal best suited for?

This private tour in Montréal is perfect for food enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone interested in exploring the Jewish cultural heritage of the city. It's also ideal for those who enjoy walking tours and want to experience iconic Jewish dishes like smoked meat and bagels while learning about the history of the Jewish community in Montréal. Families with kids will find it suitable as well, given its light activity level.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in Montréal be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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