Canada's insider blog

It’s not just the diamonds and crystal decanters sparkling in the BIRKS store on Philips Square in downtown Montréal, QC these days, it’s also brimming wine glasses and melt-in-your mouth gems on your plate like smoked salmon tartare or handmade vanilla and pistachio ice cream at their BIRKS Café par Europea.

Just in time for Christmas, the flagship of 33 luxury jewellery stores across Canada has opened a chic resto-boutique on their mezzanine level, in the high end style of in-store eateries like Harrods of London (UK). Open for weekday lunches, they switch to traditional Afternoon Tea mode at 2 pm, complete with mini-sandwiches and foie gras finger snacks. Weekends are the domain of sumptuous mimosa-fuelled brunches, poached eggs with Quebec’s own Abitibi Témiscamingue  caviar and such.

Didn’t leave room for those zany rainbow-coloured macaroons? Pick up a box for later at the café boutique before heading back into the store to take one more look at those emerald earrings you’ve been eyeing…

www.bonjourquebec.com