Guidebook for Montréal
Food Scene
Delicious, cheap, quick, gluten-free. And don't forget to order the chocolate cake for dessert!
62 locals recommend
Arepera
73 Rue Prince-Arthur EDelicious, cheap, quick, gluten-free. And don't forget to order the chocolate cake for dessert!
Dinette Triple Crown
6704 Rue ClarkPicnic baskets to go sit in the park!
Jean-Talon Market
7070 Av. Henri-Julienhuge fresh market with many different kinds of vendors
The best greasy spoon in town. If you want gourmet poutine, go to La Banquise. If you want authentic, eat here. Open all night Thurs-Sat nights, so its a great way to end a late night out.
109 locals recommend
Restaurant Chez Claudette
351 Avenue Laurier EThe best greasy spoon in town. If you want gourmet poutine, go to La Banquise. If you want authentic, eat here. Open all night Thurs-Sat nights, so its a great way to end a late night out.
Hasidic-run bakery. Try the puff-pastry crowns and the chocolate babka is to die for.
Closed Friday afternoons and Saturdays
72 locals recommend
Boulangerie Cheskie
359 Rue Bernard OHasidic-run bakery. Try the puff-pastry crowns and the chocolate babka is to die for.
Closed Friday afternoons and Saturdays
Underrated smoked meat. Better and way less touristy than Schwartz's
39 locals recommend
Lester's Deli
1057 Av. BernardUnderrated smoked meat. Better and way less touristy than Schwartz's
Hot&fresh bagels 24 hours a day. The biggest mistake you can make is not getting a hot bagel. 95% of the time the freshest batch will be sesame seed, but just order "whatever just came out of the oven"
If you want cream cheese with it, grab a container of Western (in a yellow package); it's much better than Philadelphia. Also no need to cut & spread, just rip & dip your hot bagels in the cream cheese.
630 locals recommend
St-Viateur Bagel Shop
263 Rue Saint- Viateur OHot&fresh bagels 24 hours a day. The biggest mistake you can make is not getting a hot bagel. 95% of the time the freshest batch will be sesame seed, but just order "whatever just came out of the oven"
If you want cream cheese with it, grab a container of Western (in a yellow package); it's much better than Philadelphia. Also no need to cut & spread, just rip & dip your hot bagels in the cream cheese.
Arthurs Nosh Bar
4621 Rue Notre Dame ORestaurant Manana
3605 R. Saint-DenisAuthentic Mexican
Nil Bleu (Le)
3706 R. Saint-DenisDelicious mid-scale Ethiopian restaurant
Drinks & Nightlife
Else's
156 Rue Roy EGreat for spot for drinks with a date
If you like contemporary house & techno, Datcha consistently hosts renowned DJs in an intimate and dance-y club space
141 locals recommend
Bar Datcha
98 Av. Laurier OIf you like contemporary house & techno, Datcha consistently hosts renowned DJs in an intimate and dance-y club space
Go and see Kalmunity Vibe Collective on Tuesdays at Petit Campus (it's in the same entrance as Cafe Campus but the two venues are QUITE different).
Amazing improvised jazz/hip-hop
39 locals recommend
Café Campus
57 Rue Prince-Arthur EstGo and see Kalmunity Vibe Collective on Tuesdays at Petit Campus (it's in the same entrance as Cafe Campus but the two venues are QUITE different).
Amazing improvised jazz/hip-hop
Café Résonance
5175A Av du ParcLive jazz every night, Sunday nights are my favourite
Groove Nation
410 Rue Rachel EGreat spot for latin dancing
Bar/cafe/music vanue that has local shows quite often and is also a good spot to go for coffee/drinks
281 locals recommend
Casa Del Popolo
4873 Boul. Saint-LaurentBar/cafe/music vanue that has local shows quite often and is also a good spot to go for coffee/drinks
THE microbrewery. Gets a bit crowded on Fridays/Saturdays. Ideal on weeknights
442 locals recommend
Dieu du Ciel!
21 Av. Laurier OTHE microbrewery. Gets a bit crowded on Fridays/Saturdays. Ideal on weeknights
Vices & Versa
6631 Boul. Saint-LaurentEssentials
The cheapest place I have ever gone grocery shopping. It's not at all clean or fancy looking, but it's always full of neighbourhood residents doing their weekly shopping.
150 locals recommend
Segal's Market
4001 Boul. Saint-LaurentThe cheapest place I have ever gone grocery shopping. It's not at all clean or fancy looking, but it's always full of neighbourhood residents doing their weekly shopping.
Getting Around
STM sells 24h, weekend, 3-day, or 7-day passes that work on all buses and metros.
178 locals recommend
Sherbrooke station
STM sells 24h, weekend, 3-day, or 7-day passes that work on all buses and metros.
Bixi stations are everywhere, making them convenient for getting most places in Montreal on a summer day. You can download the app to check station locations and availabilities, but typically there is a station within 2 minutes walking throughout downtown and the plateau.
Buy a 24h or 72h pass and you can use your phone or credit card to unlock bikes at any station
Bixi
Bixi stations are everywhere, making them convenient for getting most places in Montreal on a summer day. You can download the app to check station locations and availabilities, but typically there is a station within 2 minutes walking throughout downtown and the plateau.
Buy a 24h or 72h pass and you can use your phone or credit card to unlock bikes at any station
Entertainment & Activities
Cinéma L'amour
4015 Boul. Saint-LaurentThe museum offers four different walking tours of the Plateau and Mile End, in addition to an indoor tour and a walking tour in Cote des Neiges.
Check out their website (imjm.ca) for more information on the tours and how to book them!
Eat lunch at Fletchers (inside the musuem) before or after a tour for 15% off. Try the gefilte club sandwich; you won't regret it if you like fish.
Museum of Jewish Montreal
5220 Boul. Saint-LaurentThe museum offers four different walking tours of the Plateau and Mile End, in addition to an indoor tour and a walking tour in Cote des Neiges.
Check out their website (imjm.ca) for more information on the tours and how to book them!
Eat lunch at Fletchers (inside the musuem) before or after a tour for 15% off. Try the gefilte club sandwich; you won't regret it if you like fish.
Arts & Culture
Station 16 Gallery
377 Rue Saint-Paul Ouest street art
Very cool exhibitions that switch frequently
108 locals recommend
Canadian Centre for Architecture (Centre Canadien d'Architecture)
1920 Rue BaileVery cool exhibitions that switch frequently
McCord Museum
690 Rue Sherbrooke OEnglish-language theatre with many productions every year. Also known for their Yiddish theatre productions
Centre Segal
5170 Chem. de la Côte-Sainte-CatherineEnglish-language theatre with many productions every year. Also known for their Yiddish theatre productions
Parks & Nature
La Fontaine Park
3819 Av. Calixa-LavalléeRue du Square Saint Louis
Rue du Square-Saint-Louissmall neighbourhood park
A nice walk, not too steep, that gets you the best view of Montreal, day or night.
995 locals recommend
Mount Royal Park
1260 Chem. RemembranceA nice walk, not too steep, that gets you the best view of Montreal, day or night.
Walk along the Lachine canal. There's a great bike path and the whole canal passes through a stunning post-industrial sector.
36 locals recommend
Peel Basin
Walk along the Lachine canal. There's a great bike path and the whole canal passes through a stunning post-industrial sector.
Montreal Botanical Garden
4101 Rue Sherbrooke EGreat place to walk around outdoors
A beautiful linear park that stretches for several miles along the riverfront. Great bike path and also a lower path for pedestrians to walk at water level.
26 locals recommend
Arthur Therrien Park
3750 Bd Gaétan LabergeA beautiful linear park that stretches for several miles along the riverfront. Great bike path and also a lower path for pedestrians to walk at water level.