Eating, Drinking, Shopping and Eye - Catching Men

Our Local Expert Says:

Old Montreal is a beautiful place to visit, particularly in the wintertime. New Year’s Eve every year there is a celebration in Place Jacques Cartier, culminating in fireworks at midnight.

Description:

Old Montreal is the area immediately surrounding the Old Port. It was the first developed part of the city of Montreal, as reflected through its architecture and narrow cobbled streets. Many of the more historically significant buildings are in this area of town, as well as the Champ-de-Mars, an old parade ground where citizens used to be able to come to enjoy the spectacle of public hangings. It is very tourist friendly. The Place Jacques Cartier, an open square leading from the town hall (Hôtel de Ville) down to the water, is the venue for shows at all times of the year.

Description:

Located behind the City Hall, this huge public space is a good place to relax, get a great view of downtown, and check out the remains of the old fortifications that surrounded the new city. Though the fortifications themselves were demolished in the 1820s as the city outgrew them, you can still see the pieces in the shape of two lines of stone. It's a fine vantage point from which to view the City Hall.

Our Local Expert Says:

A hip and trendy hangout for the young working crowd- a great place to meet people.

Description:

This pub has been a financial district institution for several generations, and caters especially to the lunchtime crowd. Secretaries, bank managers and executives all come in for the specials amid a lively atmosphere that gives them the strength to get back to work. Décor is mostly dark panelling and brass. If nothing else, you have to try the pub's famous Steerburgers. Offered here since 1962, this is a juicy delight that goes down extremely well with a cold draft.

Description:

With a choice of three separate tours including the Western, Central and Eastern areas, the Balade Tram covers the entire Old Port. It is a leisurely ride and you can get on and off as you wish. With the help of a knowledgeable guide, you will learn the history of such things as the Lachine Canal, the Bonsecours Basin, grain elevators, various markets, islands and the history of ship building.

Description:

Apart from being one of the most historically significant places in the city, this square is also one of the city's most popular and lively. Watched over by Nelson's Column and lined with flowers and gardens, this is where artists, lovers, the hip and the semi-hip meet. It is also the port of entry for most visitors to Old Montreal. The best time to visit this square is in the summer, as it is then a car-free zone. Call or see the website to know more.

Description:

In a city brimming with accomplished French restaurants, this is a personal favorite. The dining rooms run through the ground floors of two old row houses, and with rich maroon wallpaper and white tablecloths and china, the decorative details are suggestive of namesake Bonaparte's era. Adroit service is provided by schooled pros who manage to be knowledgeable without being stuffy. Recent highlights included salmon in a phyllo crust stuffed with leaks and a dash of vanilla, Dover sole filet with fresh herbs, and beef tartare with capers. Lunches cater to the upscale business crowd, and the restaurant offers an additional theater menu in the early evening.

Our Local Expert Says:

Whiskey is the mainstay of this happy hour hang-out in the Quartier Latin.

Description:

Undoubtedly the quietest pint to be had in the Latin Quarter, this plush Scottish pub features more than a dozen beers on tap, most imported from Britain and Ireland. The aficionado will find even the most obscure scotches, and there are daily single malt specials for those looking to test their palates. Well-appointed far beyond the gimmickry of the average theme pub, its many nooks and crannies are perfect for a romantic cocktail or nightcap.

Our Local Expert Says:

A comfortable and stylish bar that has dangerously delicious Chocolate martinis.

Description:

This is combo lounge/bar is great place to grab a drink and shot a game of pool. The main room is done up like a British pub with fantastically red walls. There are plenty of different beers on tap to enjoy. The second room has pools tables and a stage were live bands play on Fridays. There's a terrific terrace where you enjoy a pint under the summer stars.

Description:

A triumph of the union of design and preservation. Montréal's surge of new designer hotels spans the spectrum from superminimalist to gentlemen's club posh, and Le St-James sits squarely in the gentlemen's club end of the range. It began life as a merchant's bank in 1870, and the opulence of that station of privilege has been both retained and upgraded. The richly paneled entry hall leads to a grand hall with potted palms, carved urns, bronze chandeliers, Corinthian columns, and balconies with gilded metal balustrades. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are served right in this "Banker's Hall," often accompanied by harp music. Rooms are furnished with entrancing antiques and impeccable reproductions. All have video screens that control lights, room temperature, and even the DO NOT DISTURB sign. The stone-walled, candlelit Le Spa, with both a regular massage table and full-body water therapy, has to be seen to be believed. The Rolling Stones have stayed here. Obviously they have excellent taste in lodging -- perhaps the Terrace Apartment Suite with private elevator access at C$5,000 (US$4,350/£2,150) a night?

Our Local Expert Says:

Several locations around the city offer up the same breakfast and lunch fare, eggspect eggcellence.

Description:

One of five outlets in Montreal, this restaurant takes the lowly egg and creates an entire menu around it. Set in a renovated office building, the décor features a two-storey space with wrought iron, huge windows and exposed brick. Dishes include two eggs any style with bacon, ham or sausage, toast, baked beans and grilled potatoes and ham and potato gratin topper. Service is cheerful and helpful and breakfast for two, excluding tip, comes to between.

Description:

The Plateau Mont Royal is a pleasing mish-mash of restaurants, shops and apartments. Considered one of the best places to live in North America, the cultural life on the Plateau is diverse and rich. It is easy to forget that the rest of the city exists when at your doorstep there is anything that you could possibly want: lively show venues, friendly green spaces, cozy restaurants and long boutique-lined boulevards. The Portuguese community is still strong in this area; reflected through the abundance of Portuguese restaurants and shops, as well as through the sounds of everyday life you hear on the side streets between the Main and St. Denis Street, South of Mount-Royal Avenue.

Our Local Expert Says:

Remember when you go out on St Denis Street in Montreal: a little bit of scruff is in style.

Description:

St Denis Street is a more upscale shopping and dining street. From Sherbrooke Street to Mount Royal Avenue boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants are packed together; and pedestrians clutter the sidewalks. The keyword here is location. People walk along St Denis Street to see and be seen. There is something for everyone along this street. The overall ambience is of affluent consumerism during the day; however, this merges seamlessly into the traditionally more grungy scene of the Montreal nightlife as the sun sets.

Description:

Saint-Laurent Boulevard is the home of both the glitzy and the gritty sides of nightlife in Montreal. The street is known for its bars and clubs ranging from dive bars (like Miami) to the more upscale venues clustered around Sherbrooke Street (like Buonanotte or Sofia's) which often serve as restaurants earlier in the evening and turn into clubs as the night wears on. Saint-Laurent Boulevard stretches from the Old Port, and continues North through many different neighborhoods including Chinatown, the East-end of downtown, the plateau, the Mile-End and Little Italy. It divides the city in two, literally, with the East - West addresses starting at zero at Saint-Laurent and increasing as you move away from the street. Remember to always check whether an address is East (Est) or West (Ouest) of Saint-Laurent, or you might find yourself on the wrong end of town!

Description:

In summer, the portion of this southern Plateau between St-Laurent street and St-Louis Square is bustling with tourists. They come for the sidewalk cafes, street performers and all-around good cheer. Most restaurants on the street are bring-your-own-wine, relatively inexpensive, spacious enough to accommodate large groups and serve passable if not exceptional food. Culinary standouts include Mazurka, while the Caverne Grecque serves mountains of Greek food every night. Barflies can check out Café Campus and Vol de Nuit, which rock late into the night.

Our Local Expert Says:

McKibbin's Irish pub is a mainstay of the Concordia student (and professor) lifestyle. Don't wimp out and order the salad, it has great bison burgers!

Description:

You know you have something going when you are voted in as Montreal's top spot to eat for cheap. Crowds come for live entertainment, 18 imported beers on tap, Irish sports on TV and a huge variety of single malt scotches. There is a Monday poker night with a prize auction, a terrace, cigar room, and a lounge with fireplace. Wednesdays, the ladies get to drink for free whereupon things become slightly less civilized. Sunday offers traditional Irish music.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Underground City is a great way to meander through the city’s shopping areas when it is rainy, snowy or otherwise unpleasant outside.

Description:

The Underground city is one of Montreal's claims to fame. Its kilometers of passageways under the city allow shoppers and tourists to get to where they are going without the hassles posed by the sometimes seemingly interminable winter snows and slushy streets. One particularly interesting bit of this subterranean maze is in the Cours Mont-Royal, near Peel Street. At one point the atrium of the mall extends several stories high and the facades of the stores facing the atrium (inside the mall) are made to reflect exterior building design.

Description:

Crescent Street is the busiest downtown drag West of St. Laurent Boulevard on any given evening. From Thursday until Saturday the streets are crowded from happy hour until the wee hours. Everyone from stumbling beer-drinking youngsters to a more refined and mature crowd can find a place to go out on Crescent Street; but unless you arrive early, you might not find a seat! The pub type joints are found South of Saint-Catherine Street (generally speaking) and the more clubby atmospheres are found between St. Catherine Street and De Maisonneuve Street.

Our Local Expert Says:

Right on crescent street- you can't get any more downtown than this reasonably priced restaurant with a decent wine list and a happening hum.

Description:

Chic ambience, upbeat décor, a bright and lively crowd and a wide choice of menu items make this Crescent Street spaghetti house a favourite, both among those looking for a decent meal and those using it as a stepping stone for a night on the town. Dishes include calamari, a variety of pasta plates, and substantial meat dishes such as a costoletto di vitello. One common complaint is that the service could be a little more polite and involved.

Description:

This is one of Montreal's top picks for an evening out. Located in the heart of downtown Montreal in the Nouvel Hotel, this 200-seat theater is one of the best comedy venues in North America, hosting many events during the world-famous Just For Laughs Festival. Under the direction of Ernie Butler, local and international comedy talent has had them rolling in the aisles for years. There is no better way to loosen up after a long, hot day of shopping or sightseeing.

Description:

This chic, upscale lounge and dance club just happens to boast the most marvelous view in Montreal: it occupies the second of two floors atop Place Ville-Marie. The contemporary and elegant decor, the incomparable ambience, and the roof's summer terrace combine to create an unforgettable evening. The clientele is mostly the professional crowd and the dress code calls for no jeans, sneakers or shorts. Happy Hour packs everyone in, and the line-ups form at the first-floor elevator. Expect a cover charge.

Description:

A triumph of the union of design and preservation. Montréal's surge of new designer hotels spans the spectrum from superminimalist to gentlemen's club posh, and Le St-James sits squarely in the gentlemen's club end of the range. It began life as a merchant's bank in 1870, and the opulence of that station of privilege has been both retained and upgraded. The richly paneled entry hall leads to a grand hall with potted palms, carved urns, bronze chandeliers, Corinthian columns, and balconies with gilded metal balustrades. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are served right in this "Banker's Hall," often accompanied by harp music. Rooms are furnished with entrancing antiques and impeccable reproductions. All have video screens that control lights, room temperature, and even the DO NOT DISTURB sign. The stone-walled, candlelit Le Spa, with both a regular massage table and full-body water therapy, has to be seen to be believed. The Rolling Stones have stayed here. Obviously they have excellent taste in lodging -- perhaps the Terrace Apartment Suite with private elevator access at C$5,000 (US$4,350/£2,150) a night?

Description:

Hidden somewhere in the Latin Quarter, this little pastry shop is a sheer delight. This place definitely caters to the needs of your sweet tooth. The display case can be quite enticing with Marie Claire pastries to mega-meringues. A lot of tourists, students and audiences from nearby theaters drop by for some croissants, coffee or just to feast on quiches, salads and sandwiches of various kinds. Now that you've given in to the temptation, then you might as well go for the kill!

Description:

Montréal's Museum of Fine Arts is the city's most prominent museum, opened in 1912 in Canada's first building designed specifically for the visual arts. The original neoclassical pavilion is on the north side of Sherbrooke. A striking new annex was built in 1991 directly across the street and tripled exhibition space, adding sub-street-level floors and underground galleries that connect to the old building. Art on display is nearly always dramatically mounted, carefully lit, and diligently explained in both French and English.

Our recommendation is to enter the annex on the south side of rue Sherbrooke, take the elevator to the top, and work your way down. The permanent collection, which totals more than 33,000 works, is largely devoted to international contemporary art and Canadian works created after 1960, and to European painting, sculpture, and decorative art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. On the upper floors are many of the gems of the collection: paintings by 12th- to 19th-century artists Hogarth, Tintoretto, Bruegel, El Greco, Ribera, and portraitist George Romney; and works -- representative, if not world-class -- by more recent artists including Renoir, Monet, Picasso,...

Our Local Expert Says:

Go to the Mount-Royal on a Sunday in the early afternoon to see what locals do on a summer afternoon. Bring a Frisbee, a hacky-sac or a friend and relax in the sun. Don’t show up too early- Montrealers take their time waking up on the weekends.

Description:

"The mountain", as Mount-Royal Park is known to locals, is the largest green space on Montreal Island. It was designed by Olmstead, who also designed Central Park in New York City. Mount-Royal Park is the playground for the city. During the week people traipse up and down the paths constantly: cutting across the mountain to work, running late to class toward McGill University and just taking the time to enjoy the moments of privacy that the mountain's hidden paths offer. Sundays during the summer the East side of the Mount-Royal (near the statue) explodes with activity and music. Crowds gather to play music, lounge in the sun and relax with friends in the sweetly hazy heat.

Description:

Amid a ramshackle décor of mismatched furnishings and 25 years of knick-knacks, this western-Plateau institution serves gargantuan gourmet sandwiches to a crowd of students, bohemian types and a few tourists. The backyard terrace is perhaps its most delightful feature. Vegetarian sandwiches dominate (the Killer Tomato, with fresh and sundried tomatoes, garlic, cream and cottage cheese), but carnivores can try to wrap their mouths around the towering St-Urbain Corner (chicken, cream and cottage cheese, honey, nuts and olives). No alcohol is served; try the fruit drinks and herbal teas. Cash only.

Description:

On one end of Bernard Avenue, in Outremont, stylish restaurants and shopping dominate the street. Further East, between Park Avenue and Saint-Laurent Boulevard, the funky and fun Mile-End attitude dictates the style of the area. Café Romolo, on the corner of Park Avenue, is a great place to go watch a Montreal Canadien's game during the hockey season, and Whisky Café (famous for their ladies toilet), on the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard provides a more sedate atmosphere.

Description:

The diverse hippy and artsy crowd that used to make up the population of the Mile-End has been yuppified over the past few years. Now this once down at the heels area has had its façade brightened with the injection of the young, working twenty-somethings that have moved in droves into the area, following the software development super-firm Ubisoft. The main street, St.Viateur, is lined with small shops and restaurants; and the best bagel shop in town is located a block from the corner of Park Avenue.

Description:

While this may be the "in" spot in Montreal for Hollywood luminaries passing through town, this Parc Avenue institution's real secret to success is the simply prepared fish and seafood, using only the best and freshest ingredients. The décor is traditional Greek and the ambience loud and boisterous. It doesn't take much to get the whole room up and dancing. The wine list is extensive, with prices in the mid-to-high range.

Description:

Those who enjoy scotch, particularly single-malts like Laphraoig and Glenfiddich, will find over 150 different labels to sample here. (Because the Québec government applies stiff taxes for the privilege, many of the patrons -- suits to grad students -- seem to stick to beer.) The decor is sophisticated, with exposed beams and vents, handmade tiled tables, and large wood-enclosed columns. Another decorative triumph: The men's urinal has a waterfall acting as the pissoir. Attached is a separate cigar lounge, with leather armchairs and Cubans on sale until 3am.

Description:

A triumph of the union of design and preservation. Montréal's surge of new designer hotels spans the spectrum from superminimalist to gentlemen's club posh, and Le St-James sits squarely in the gentlemen's club end of the range. It began life as a merchant's bank in 1870, and the opulence of that station of privilege has been both retained and upgraded. The richly paneled entry hall leads to a grand hall with potted palms, carved urns, bronze chandeliers, Corinthian columns, and balconies with gilded metal balustrades. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are served right in this "Banker's Hall," often accompanied by harp music. Rooms are furnished with entrancing antiques and impeccable reproductions. All have video screens that control lights, room temperature, and even the DO NOT DISTURB sign. The stone-walled, candlelit Le Spa, with both a regular massage table and full-body water therapy, has to be seen to be believed. The Rolling Stones have stayed here. Obviously they have excellent taste in lodging -- perhaps the Terrace Apartment Suite with private elevator access at C$5,000 (US$4,350/£2,150) a night?

Description:

Cataplana is the name of both a venerated Portuguese recipe and the hinged copper clamshell-style pot in which it is cooked. Ingredients vary depending on the cook, but at this extremely popular downtown spot, that means a fragrant stew of mussels, clams, potatoes, chouriço sausage, and chunks of cod and salmon. Mostly middle-aged and dressed in business wear, customers fill every seat at lunchtime but go home at night, which is when to visit if you prefer a bit of tranquillity with your grilled squid or classic fried cod. Many dishes are priced according to the daily market, so they can be higher than outlined below.

Description:

Like most skyscraper restaurants, 737's kitchen has at times had difficulty living up to the view; but what a view! Perched atop Place Ville-Marie, chef François Da Ponte takes diners through a solid menu of world cuisine in lavish décor. Dishes include Eggplant Caviar with tomato and tarragon, Calamari Cake with warm goat cheese, and the 737 Steak Tartare. Desserts are presented with flair, and might include the Banana Flambée for Two.

Our Local Expert Says:

A Westmount classic; sit down, relax and enjoy your meal. The prices reflect the more affluent area of town it is located in.

Description:

A bustling fixture on Greene Avenue, this bistro aims for New York and comes up about half-way between the Big Apple and downtown Montreal. With polished brass décor and a long oak bar-a great place to eat alone-this is one of the west end's best known dining spots. The menu is vaguely French but could also be seen as upper class pub grub.

Description:

The three levels of bars and cafés incorporated in the Sir Winston Churchill Pub have been operating for over 40 years and are rue Crescent landmarks. The New Orleans?style sidewalk- and first-floor terraces (open in summer and enclosed in winter) make perfect vantage points for checking out the pedestrian traffic. Inside and down the stairs, the pub, with English ales on tap, attempts to imitate a British public house. The burgers and such have to look up to see mediocrity, but the mixed crowd of questing young professionals doesn't seem to mind. Mondays are retro night, Tuesdays "Create Your Own Drink" night, and Wednesdays Ladies' Night. Open daily 11:30am to 3am.

Description:

Founded in 1821 with a bequest from Montreal fur trader and merchant James McGill, this world-renowned English-language university is located on 80 acres of land in downtown Montreal. The downtown campus consists of a fusion of modern architecture with turn-of-the-century landmark buildings. It is also a pleasant expanse of green in the otherwise urban landscape, with playing fields, large trees and benches where both visitors and students can sit to soak in the sun and the ambience of higher learning.

Description:

Associated with McGill University, the McCord Museum of Canadian history showcases the eclectic -- and not infrequently eccentric -- collections of scores of benefactors from the 19th century through today. More than 16,600 costumes, 65,000 paintings, and 1,250,000 historical photographs documenting the history of Canada are rotated in and out of storage to be displayed. In general, expect to view furniture, clothing, china, silver, paintings, photographs, and folk art that reveal rural and urban life as it was lived by English-speaking immigrants of the past 3 centuries. A First Nations room displays portions of the museum's extensive collection of objects from Canada's Native population, including meticulous beadwork, baby carriers, and fishing implements. Exhibits are intelligently mounted, with texts in English and French. There's a popular café near the front entrance, and a shop that sells Native and Canadian arts and crafts, pottery, and more.

Description:

Just to the east of Marché Bonsecours, Notre Dame de Bon-Secours Chapel is called the Sailors' Church because of the special attachment that fishermen and other mariners have to it; their devotion is manifest in the several ship models hanging from the ceiling inside. There's an excellent view of the harbor from the church's tower.

The first building, which no longer stands, was the project of an energetic teacher named Marguerite Bourgeoys, and built in 1675. Bourgeoys had come from France to undertake the education of the children of Montréal; later on, she and several other teachers founded the Congregation of Notre-Dame, Canada's first nuns' order. The pioneering Bourgeoys was canonized in 1982 as the Canadian Church's first woman saint and in 2005, for the chapel's 350 birthday, her remains were brought to the church and interred in the left side altar.

A restored 18th-century crypt houses the museum. Part of it is devoted to relating Bourgeoys' life and work, while another section displays artifacts from the archaeological site under the chapel, including ruins and materials from the earliest days of the colony and an Amerindian fire pit dated to 400 B.C.

Description:

Located at one of the busiest intersections in the city, this international Tourist Information Center serves as a one-stop facility for visitors. Here you can get tourist information on everything from travel planning, hotel reservations and car rentals to details on activities, attractions and guided tours for the city and the rest of the province. They also have bilingual pamphlets and up-to-date guides on coming events.

Description:

One of the world's most beautiful cemeteries and an integral component of Mount Royal Park, this 165 acre site offers monuments, statues, trees, wildlife and winding footpaths in an atmosphere of total serenity. Among the many famous Canadians buried on the grounds are names synonymous with Montreal society: John Samuel McCord (of the McCord Museum), John Redpath (of the Redpath Museum) and Sir Thomas Roddick (of McGill University's Roddick Gates). Brochures are available for ornithologists and arborists, while others detail recommended walking tours. Admission is free.

Description:

Montreal has the third largest holocaust survivor population in the world and this museum displays a collection of over 400 artifacts and video testimonies. It encourages visitors to fight intolerance in all its forms and offers the visitor an unforgettable journey about tragedy and triumph. Allow a couple of hours for the museum visit.