MONTREAL, CANADA
Montreal is a wonderful cross between the metropolitan Toronto and a cosy town in France. It's actually quite small and easy to navigate, especially if you familiarise yourself with the neighbourhoods. The streets follow a grid-map, making it even easier to walk around. As a student hub, Montreal has a fun and youthful vibe to it; with lots of restaurants, bars, activities, and events to liven things up. There's almost always something going on, so make sure to keep up. It's a ghost-town in winter, so plan your visit around spring/summer time.
FOOD & DINING
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH:
LA SOCIETÉ: A great place for breakfast and light lunch in the Golden Square Mile; it's also nice for brunch on Sundays. The Lobster Eggs-Benedict is a must have. The Chicken Schnitzel and Roast Beef Panini are also great.
BUCK 15 ESPRESSO BAR: This place is a toast-boss on Atwater-Notre Dame, offering a creative selection of toasts that range from Avocado and Ricotta, to Peanutbutter Banana, Grilled Cheese, and more. Their Sleepover Porridge is also delicious.
CAFÉ REPLIKA: A small bagel spot in the Plateau, famous for their creamy Bulgarian feta and grilled Halloumi panini. Their cookies are also to die for (ask for one from the fresh batch!)
CAFÉ NEVE: This place has some of the chunkiest, most chocolatey cookies in Montreal. Great with some tea or coffee.
CAFÉ AUNJA: A very warm and homey Persian place with a large selection of exotic tea blends, pastries, and sandwiches.
MLTDWN: Incredible grilled cheese toasts in the Plateau; you can create your own sandwich from a variety of toppings, and also enjoy dessert toasts like Strawberry Cheesecake and Nutella S'mores. So good.
MAISON BOULUD: A fancier breakfast/brunch place with delicious Salmon Benedict and Scrambled Eggs. The outdoors patio is beautiful for brunch.
SUITE 88 CHOCOLATERIE: A sweet-tooth breakfast option in the Golden Square Mile if you're craving chocolate-y waffles and coffee.
AU PAIN DORÉ: Grab some warm, fresh pastries on Peele-St.Catherine from this bakery.
LA DIPERIE: Craving ice-cream? Head over to La Diperie on Avenue des Pins, where you can dip your vanilla cone in any flavor and add the toppings you'd like.
ARTS CAFE: A cute and artsy spot in the Plateau for breakfast/brunch. Their Eggs Benedict and French Toast are delicious.
LUNCH & DINNER:
ANTON & JAMES: Great spot to grab a quick lunch on Stanley; everything they have is delicious and the staff is so friendly. Excellent pizzas and wrap sandwiches, boxed salads, fruits, and fresh juice. Their special inside-out Grilled Cheese is a must have.
MANDY'S: Probably Montreal's best salad bar, where you can choose from dozens of ingredients to build your own. Their Tamari dressing is amazing, and their cookies are unmissable.
CAFÉ PARVIS: A hipster lunch spot that gives off a garden-like feel. For salads, try the Pesto Tomatoes and the Beets; as for pizzas, their Avocado, Salmon, and White Margherita pizzas are all delicious.
BIIRU: Close to Café Parvis, this small Japanese bar offers great food and creative cocktails. Try the Don Chicken and Salmon Tarutaru bowls.
OLIVE ET GOURMANDO: Delicious cold and warm sandwiches in the Old Port. Also a nice spot to study or read. Make sure you catch it before closing at 5 PM.
MANGIAFOCO: Modern Italian spot in the Old Port, mainly for pizza. The Lasagne is a must-have.
BRIT & CHIPS: A small fish n' chips place on Rue Mcgill. Try the Maple Haddock.
MUVBOX: Old Port food truck that inspired my Lobster obsession. Some of the best lobster rolls and lobster pizza ever - don't miss it in the summer!
BRASSERIE T: Stop by if you're in Place Des Arts for fresh Salmon Tartare, crispy fries, and my favorite Shrimp Guedille (baby shrimps tossed with salad and creamy dressing, served in baguette bread).
BRASSERIE LUCILLE'S: Incredible Lobster Rolls, Veal Milanese, and sweet potato fries in Wesmount. Their mini burgers are also great. Usually loud and busy.
M-BURGER: Their burgers are alright, but my personal favorite is the Cajun Chicken sandwich, Jalapeno Tacos, and sweet potato fries. They also have an amazing Cookie pan.
DEVILLE DINER: Good burgers and lobster rolls. Amazing Kopanisti parmesan chips with red pepper cheese dip.
L'GROS LUXE: Delicious Poutine Grilled Cheese sandwich in Griffintown.
JUN I: Good sushi place in Griffintown. Rolls to try: the B-52, Lucky Maki, Funny Maki, and the Spicy Carry.
MILOS: Excellent Greek seafood restaurant in Griffintown. Incredibly light salt-crusted Sea Bass, good Lobster Tagliatelle, and the best Zuchini Chips with tzatziki dip.
LE SERPENT: A cool place for dinner in Griffintown or drinks by the bar. Try the Grilled Octopus, Lobster Risotto, and Linguini.
JATOBA: Modern Asian cuisine on Place Phillipes. Try their Crab Dumplings, Scallops, Duck Confit Rice, Salmon Roll, and the Lobster.
SOFIA: On Peel-Maisonneuve, this place serves one of the best Veal Milanese cuts in Montreal. The super tender meat is breaded in crispy crust, topped with fresh tomato sauce and melted mozarella. Amazing.
LA PANTHERE VERT: A vegan place just behind Concordia University that serves delicious falafel pitas; try their yogi sauce.
LOLA ROSA: Another vegan place closer to McGill with a more diverse menu, including quesadillas and curry bowls. Hearty and fulfilling burritos.
CRUDESSENCE: More vegan options! Your go-to place for something healthy and wholesome. They serve great lunch bowls, salads, and Açai.
IMPASTO: Drop by Little Italy for this place and try their creamy yet light tagliatelle, tossed in butter sauce and truffle shavings with a subtle hint of citron.
SUMAC: A popular place on Notre-Dame for authentic Middle Eastern food in a modern setting. Great Chicken Pitas, Falafel, and fries. Don't forget the hummus. Usually very crowded, but worth the wait.
AMELIA'S: By far one of if not the best pizza place in Montreal. Their famous white five-cheese pizza is a must-try. They also deliver.
LE BREMNER: Great for dinner in the Old Port. An upscale but cosy restaurant modelled after a rustic cabin. The Lobster-Labneh Chips is a delicious starter; the Lamb Cavatelli is heavenly; and the Pancakes for dessert are like a stack of clouds.
HOLDER: Stop by for lunch if you're on your way to the Old Port. Delicious Shepherd's Pie with a bed of juicy and tender lamb meat.
LE RICHMOND: This place has a great setup with a big bar in the middle, medieval chandeliers, and large suede chairs. The Burrata and Lobster Spaghetti are good choices for dinner.
RYU: Excellent sushi. The Spicy Tuna Tartar on a bed of cripsy rice is a must-try. Order different dishes and share.
DAMAS: Comforting Syrian food. The Maqlouba and Fetteh Maqdous are especially good. Don't miss their Kanafeh for dessert!
LE FILET: One of Montreal's best upscale restaurants, with a modern-chic vibe and excellent fish-based cuisine. For starters, the Smoked Mackerel and Seared Scallops were fresh and full of flavor. The Lobster Risotto was smooth and creamy, while the Braised Veal Cavatelli was tender and generous. As for dessert, we ordered all five options - all so heavenly!
DRINKS & NIGHTLIFE:
TERASSE NELLIGAN: A good hangout spot on the roof of Hotel Nelligan, where you can enjoy cold drinks, good music, and a beautiful view of Old-Port. Try the White Sangria and Raspberry Mojito.
HARROW: A chic, Parisienne café-bar in the Old Port square where you can enjoy lunch and drinks. Good sangria and truffled mash potatoes.
NEWTOWN: Rooftop bar on Crescent; nice for chill music and drinks by the sunset.
FLYJIN: A well-hidden Japanese restaurant that also doubles as an underground club in Old Port. Incredible atmosphere and probably the best playlist. The music is usually so good I leave my phone on auto-Shazam all night.
APARTMENT 200: Going to Apartment 200 is like stepping into a cool loft party; it's always buzzing with a young and trendy crowd. Their music interchanges depending on the night. Try the Purple Rain drink.
SANTOS: An upbeat bar in Old Port with good music and Sangria. Ladies' Night every Tuesday (gentlemen are still welcome!)
SOUBOIS: A new club on Maisonneuve, Soubois has a nice atmosphere, but can get extremely crowded and difficult to get into on the weekend. Also ask about the DJ playing beforehand because the music can vary.
NEW CITY GAS: A more deep-house/electro-rave experience, hosting different DJs and performers. Look out for their events. The Cinq-a-Sept summer parties are also nice.
NEWSPEAK: A hidden deep-house nightclub in the Quartier des Spectacles. Very minimal layout, crowded with non-showy teenagers who just want to dance. I personally didn't like it because the place and crowd were a little sketchy, but the music wasn't bad.
LE PRIVÉ: Another hidden nightclub on Sherbrooke, this place has a more lounge-like atmosphere with a huge dancefloor in the middle and a little room with walls covered in pornographic photos. Deep-house music.
VELVET: A good option for a nightout in the Old Port. I love the venue's concept - it takes you through a stone tunnel into a cave-like room with a dancefloor, lounge tables, and a sexy candle-light vibe. Mostly dark, deep-house music.
BIIRU: A laidback Japanese bar with a large selection of sake and creative cocktails.
BIG IN JAPAN: A sophisticated and mellow bar hidden behind an obscure gray door on St Laurent. Great drinks and a romantic atmosphere, this place is ideal for a date.
PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO
MOUNT ROYAL: A hill that overlooks downtown Montreal and it is actually where the city's name originates from. There are several pathways and trails that lead you through breath-taking forest scenery to the top of the hill where the Chateaux is located, and you can enjoy a full view of the city's skyline. If you're up for a good exercise, I really recommend paying this hill a visit; the nature is incomparable.
LE CROIX: This is another one of Montreal's famous landmarks, as you can see it looking over the city from the mountain (it's actually much smaller than it appears). You can walk to it from the Chalet on Mount Royal.
OLD-PORT: Pretty much the hub of Montreal, with tons of good restaurants, terrasses, bars, shops, and usually a few entertaining spectacles to see. The port stretches out along the St. Lawrence river and is perfect for a stroll in the summer; there's always something to do or explore there, so it's also a good way to spend the day outside.
LE PLATEAU & GRIFFINTOWN: Both of these areas really showcase the trendy and artistic side of Montreal, lined with graffitied walls, quirky stores, and antiques. You'll find dozens of small "hipster" cafés on every corner, as well as some of the city's best restaurants. Take your time to explore these two neighborhoods, and these streets especially: St. Laurent, St. Denis, St. Urbain, Rue Rachel, Rue Notre Dame.
MUSÉE DE BEAUX ARTS: A fine arts museum directly across from the Ritz-Carlton (idea: go for some brunch in the Ritz's Boulud then pay the museum a visit). It hosts different art exhibitions (of various time periods and styles) that change from time to time.
PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU: This is mainly known for Picnik Electronique (a rave-like festival) hosted throughout the summer and all of September. The park is also nice for a long run.
TAMTAMS: Another Summer event hosted in the Mount-Royal Park, this is a more tribal experience with loud drumming music and Bohemian dancing. Nice for a Sunday picnic in the sun.