Creative Boutiques and Cafes in Montreal

Along the lines of other creative and artsy hotspots like Berlin and Buenos Aires, Montreal’s public support for the arts and open-minded nature allow for a flourishing young and amiable crowd that provide positive vibes in a number of obscure locations. From cafes that barely outsize your own kitchen, to more spacious terraces that fill up in summer, there are plenty of inviting spots throughout the city.

For an afternoon bagel surrounded by the young, the hip, and the proud, make your way to the Mile-End neighborhood. Here, young creative Montréal locals have created the ambience that provides a bit of sophistication with just a touch of snobiness. You’ll also find a fair share of unique boutiques along the Avenue Laurier, not far from the famed Boulevard Avenue Laurier. Both offer a variety of boutique with avant-garde furniture and design work.

Verdun is another neighborhood with particularly young and cool appeal, dubbed the ‘new pleateu’ by locals.  Reasonable rents and close proximity to downtown Montreal have turned this part of town into a hipster hangout. For some fine Spanish cuisine, you’ll find that the combined cafe and restaurants, Dune and Chez Anas, provide the right atmosphere for any time of day, summer or winter.

Not only has Montreal got the class and street cred that any art Mecca should have, it also boasts some agreeable policies when it comes to eating out and savoring the food rather than weeping over the price. In fact, many restaurants around town are “apportez votre vin”, or bring your own wine, allowing for satisfied customers to save their Canadian dollars for the tasty treats rather than spending them on expensive drinks.

Between the classy cafes and funky designer boutiques to either side of the Avenue Laurier, Montreal’s affinity for festivals and cinema make it a top destination for independent film buff as well. You won’t want to miss the Ex-Centris Theater, for example, which serves as a kind of Mecca for independent movies from around the world. Not to fret, it too hosts an ambient-lit café to discuss the movie over.

Swarming with creative types and underground hangouts, you’ll find that Montreal has a sense of culture all its own. Stray a bit off the beaten path, and galleries, cafes and funky spots soon abound.