Guidebook for Montreal

Sarah
Guidebook for Montreal

Food Scene

Chill cafe, great to sit and sip fair-trade coffee or tea, read one of the many books on the shelf or use the free WiFi, indulge in some sandwiches or baked goods, or just people-watch.
13 locals recommend
Café Expressions
5885 Avenue du Mont-Royal E
13 locals recommend
Chill cafe, great to sit and sip fair-trade coffee or tea, read one of the many books on the shelf or use the free WiFi, indulge in some sandwiches or baked goods, or just people-watch.
Delicious French three-course fondue dinners.
8 locals recommend
Restaurant La Fonderie
964 Rue Rachel Est
8 locals recommend
Delicious French three-course fondue dinners.
Great terrace in the summer, nice menu of delicious foods, and terrific cocktails and sangria.
48 locals recommend
Les Folies
371 Avenue du Mont-Royal E
48 locals recommend
Great terrace in the summer, nice menu of delicious foods, and terrific cocktails and sangria.
Gastronomical heaven. A huge open-air market with fresh local produce, specialty shops, food stands, and every flavour you could imagine. Right in the heart of Little Italy.
1744 locals recommend
Jean-Talon Market
7070 Av. Henri-Julien
1744 locals recommend
Gastronomical heaven. A huge open-air market with fresh local produce, specialty shops, food stands, and every flavour you could imagine. Right in the heart of Little Italy.
You can't go to Montreal without sampling our famous bagels. On the St-Viateur vs. Fairmount debate, I'm firmly in the St-Viateur camp. Open 24 hours, best fresh and hot.
630 locals recommend
St-Viateur Bagel Shop
263 Rue Saint- Viateur O
630 locals recommend
You can't go to Montreal without sampling our famous bagels. On the St-Viateur vs. Fairmount debate, I'm firmly in the St-Viateur camp. Open 24 hours, best fresh and hot.
Delicious Bretonne-style crepe restaurant.
13 locals recommend
Creperie bretonne Ty-Breiz inc.
933 Rue Rachel E
13 locals recommend
Delicious Bretonne-style crepe restaurant.
The all-you-can-eat mussels are what draw the crowds, but this place is worth it for the beer selection alone.
16 locals recommend
Brasserie Saint-Denis
4350 R. Saint-Denis
16 locals recommend
The all-you-can-eat mussels are what draw the crowds, but this place is worth it for the beer selection alone.
Giant sandwiches, vegetarian-friendly, giant terrace, and very chill student-y vibe.
171 locals recommend
Café Santropol
3990 Rue Saint-Urbain
171 locals recommend
Giant sandwiches, vegetarian-friendly, giant terrace, and very chill student-y vibe.
A favourite among vegans and vegetarians for their diverse and delicious menu and laid-back vibe. Try the smoothies.
365 locals recommend
Aux Vivres Plateau
4631 Boul. Saint-Laurent
365 locals recommend
A favourite among vegans and vegetarians for their diverse and delicious menu and laid-back vibe. Try the smoothies.
In every guide book, so I figured I'd better include it here even though I don't eat meat. If the lineups out the door bug you, try The Main across the street.
836 locals recommend
Schwartz's Deli - Sandwiches - Steaks
3895 Boul. Saint-Laurent
836 locals recommend
In every guide book, so I figured I'd better include it here even though I don't eat meat. If the lineups out the door bug you, try The Main across the street.
A Montreal institution. Visit for breakfast or brunch for a unique and utterly authentic experience.
131 locals recommend
Beauty's Restaurant
93 Avenue du Mont-Royal O
131 locals recommend
A Montreal institution. Visit for breakfast or brunch for a unique and utterly authentic experience.
Some of the best Thai food in the city.
14 locals recommend
Chao Phraya Restaurant
50 Av. Laurier O
14 locals recommend
Some of the best Thai food in the city.
More of the best Thai food in the city.
Restaurant Phayathai
107 Av. Laurier O
More of the best Thai food in the city.
If you're looking for sushi in Montreal, this is about as good as it gets.
26 locals recommend
Restaurant Mikado
399 Av. Laurier O
26 locals recommend
If you're looking for sushi in Montreal, this is about as good as it gets.
Deservedly famous Portuguese chicken. Doesn't look like much from the outside (it's just a counter), but a taste will win you over. Order extra spicy sauce.
229 locals recommend
Rotisserie Romados
115 Rue Rachel E
229 locals recommend
Deservedly famous Portuguese chicken. Doesn't look like much from the outside (it's just a counter), but a taste will win you over. Order extra spicy sauce.
If you're anywhere near Vieux-Montreal, don't miss the opportunity to have lunch at this sinfully delicious bakery and restaurant. Well worth the lineups and crowds. Try the espresso brownies.
254 locals recommend
Olive et Gourmando
351 Rue Saint-Paul O
254 locals recommend
If you're anywhere near Vieux-Montreal, don't miss the opportunity to have lunch at this sinfully delicious bakery and restaurant. Well worth the lineups and crowds. Try the espresso brownies.
Home-grown ice cream chain.
59 locals recommend
Le Bilboquet
1311 Av. Bernard
59 locals recommend
Home-grown ice cream chain.
Pedestrian cobblestone street full of bring-your-own-wine restaurants. In the summer, get an outdoor table on the terrace and people-watch while you eat.
9 locals recommend
Rue Prince Arthur Est
Rue Prince-Arthur Est
9 locals recommend
Pedestrian cobblestone street full of bring-your-own-wine restaurants. In the summer, get an outdoor table on the terrace and people-watch while you eat.
Mmm, chocolate. This is the ultimate chocoholic's paradise. From crepes to fondue, from brownies to sinfully delicious vintages, bring your sweet tooth.
304 locals recommend
Juliette & Chocolat
3600 Boul. Saint-Laurent
304 locals recommend
Mmm, chocolate. This is the ultimate chocoholic's paradise. From crepes to fondue, from brownies to sinfully delicious vintages, bring your sweet tooth.

Everything Else

Montreal's most famous poutine restaurant. Open 24 hours. Poutine is french fries smothered in gravy and topped with melted cheese curds, and is a delicious heart attack on a plate.
1037 locals recommend
La Banquise
994 Rue Rachel Est
1037 locals recommend
Montreal's most famous poutine restaurant. Open 24 hours. Poutine is french fries smothered in gravy and topped with melted cheese curds, and is a delicious heart attack on a plate.
The Plateau's unofficial backyard. Free concerts and events at Theatre de Verdure all summer, skating all winter, cycling and jogging paths, people-watching, picnics and yoga and circus performers.
1637 locals recommend
La Fontaine Park
3819 Av. Calixa-Lavallée
1637 locals recommend
The Plateau's unofficial backyard. Free concerts and events at Theatre de Verdure all summer, skating all winter, cycling and jogging paths, people-watching, picnics and yoga and circus performers.
Closest metro station. About a 10-minute walk. Open-air market in the summer and fall, Christmas trees for sale in the winter, and a Cabane à Sucre in the spring.
323 locals recommend
Mont-Royal station
470 Avenue du Mont-Royal E
323 locals recommend
Closest metro station. About a 10-minute walk. Open-air market in the summer and fall, Christmas trees for sale in the winter, and a Cabane à Sucre in the spring.
Center of the action for Montreal's dizzying array of festivals, including the Jazz Fest, the Comedy Fest and many more.
485 locals recommend
Quartier des spectacles
1435 Rue St-Alexandre
485 locals recommend
Center of the action for Montreal's dizzying array of festivals, including the Jazz Fest, the Comedy Fest and many more.

Essentials

Nearest supermarket, two blocks from my apartment.
163 locals recommend
Intermarché Boyer
1000 Avenue du Mont-Royal E
163 locals recommend
Nearest supermarket, two blocks from my apartment.

Sightseeing

Montreal's outdoor playground, right in the heart of the city. Snowshoe, skate, toboggan or cross-country ski in the winter; hike, bike, picnic and tam-tam in the summer.
995 locals recommend
Mount Royal Park
1260 Chem. Remembrance
995 locals recommend
Montreal's outdoor playground, right in the heart of the city. Snowshoe, skate, toboggan or cross-country ski in the winter; hike, bike, picnic and tam-tam in the summer.

Drinks & Nightlife

Friendly neighbourhood pub. Live music multiple nights a week.
6 locals recommend
Pas Sages
951 Rue Rachel E
6 locals recommend
Friendly neighbourhood pub. Live music multiple nights a week.
One of the best brunch spots in the Plateau. Expect lineups.
140 locals recommend
Réservoir
9 Av. Duluth E
140 locals recommend
One of the best brunch spots in the Plateau. Expect lineups.
The best microbrewery in Montreal. Try their unique and creative beers, and enjoy the terrace in the summer.
442 locals recommend
Dieu du Ciel!
21 Av. Laurier O
442 locals recommend
The best microbrewery in Montreal. Try their unique and creative beers, and enjoy the terrace in the summer.
Montreal's main English-style pub. Useful if you're looking for a good curry or full English fry-up, or if you're trying to find a place to watch the footy.
323 locals recommend
Burgundy Lion
2496 Rue Notre Dame O
323 locals recommend
Montreal's main English-style pub. Useful if you're looking for a good curry or full English fry-up, or if you're trying to find a place to watch the footy.
Great spot for dancing, DJs, live music and album launches. Saturday nights are 80s nights; Friday nights are 90s to today.
110 locals recommend
La Tulipe
4530 Av. Papineau
110 locals recommend
Great spot for dancing, DJs, live music and album launches. Saturday nights are 80s nights; Friday nights are 90s to today.
Live music 7 nights a week, and one of the best spots to see local indie talent. A hosting venue for the annual POP Montreal festival.
89 locals recommend
Divan Orange
4234 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
89 locals recommend
Live music 7 nights a week, and one of the best spots to see local indie talent. A hosting venue for the annual POP Montreal festival.
Non-pretentious down-to-earth bar. Great for watching the hockey games.
81 locals recommend
Bar Chez Baptiste
1045 Avenue du Mont-Royal E
81 locals recommend
Non-pretentious down-to-earth bar. Great for watching the hockey games.

Arts & Culture

Series of free summer concerts and arts events at this open-air amphitheatre in Parc Lafontaine. Check out the program online.
11 locals recommend
Verdure Theater
3939 Av. du Parc-La Fontaine
11 locals recommend
Series of free summer concerts and arts events at this open-air amphitheatre in Parc Lafontaine. Check out the program online.

Shopping

One of Montreal's primary shopping streets, rue St-Denis has an eclectic mix of independent boutiques, chain flagship stores, and loads in between.
148 locals recommend
Saint Denis Street
Rue Saint-Denis
148 locals recommend
One of Montreal's primary shopping streets, rue St-Denis has an eclectic mix of independent boutiques, chain flagship stores, and loads in between.