the glitzy side 2

Our Local Expert Says:

Located in the heart of downtown- if you want to be where the action is… this is it!

Description:

This restaurant is smack-dab in the middle of the Montreal bar scene, and the perfect place to be noticed. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. Service is friendly and efficient. The breakfast menu has a large selection including omelets, bagels, pancakes, and all your favorite breakfast dishes. The main menu has many diverse Italian entrees including Gnocchi al gorgonzola, Penne Romanoff and Margherita Pizza. Check out both menus and Pino's wine list on their website.

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.

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.

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

The bar downstairs is the hot spot for the young and beautiful in Montreal to come, mingle and get a groove on. There are line ups- so unless you are on the guest list or are a couple of gorgeous gals head out early to avoid them.

Description:

Located in the Quartier International District, this urban-chic hotel is within a block of Sainte-Catherine Street and the waterfront. Outfitted with rain showers and illuminated side tables, guestrooms offer premium bedding and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. In addition to an Italian-fusion restaurant and two bars, the hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center and a tranquil spa.

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:

Visiting the Old Port area throws visitors back to the days of the city's founding with its narrow cobbled streets and old style of architecture. This tourist-oriented area of town recalls Montreal's history with museums and restaurants set in buildings dating back to the origin of the city - in the mid 1600s. Horse-drawn carriages (calèches) line up to provide transportation to the foot-weary, but the Old Port is pleasantly pedestrian friendly and an exploration on foot guarantees the time to stop and peruse at will.

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you are actually looking to buy anything in this area of town look for the shop signs that are not written in either English or in French… Those will be the places that will give you the best bargains.

Description:

Chinatown in Montréal is only a few streets long. Centred on De la Gauchetière street it runs from St. Laurent Boulevard to past St. Urbain street. It is packed with ground level and sub-basement shops - above which live many of the residents of the quarter. This historic area is demarcated by four gates guarded by stone lions. Although the area is called Chinatown it is actually home to people of many diverse Asian origins, reflected in the diversity of its many restaurants. The quality and affordability of the restaurants are Montreal's Chinatown's claim to fame.

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 paneling 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.

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is one of Montreal's most popular tours among tourists and locals alike. For a romantic evening, book the dinner tour and watch the sun set on the city.

Description:

This Parisian-style bateau mouche offers a beautiful way to see the sights of waterfront Montreal. The 90-minute day cruise affords views of everything from La Ronde to the Olympic Stadium. Dinner cruises head further downstream toward the Parc des Îles de Boucherville, providing a romantic and scenic getaway. The meals are catered by the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. All cruises leave from the Quai Jacques-Cartier in Old Montreal.

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!

Our Local Expert Says:

A more high end restaurant/bar on lower sty. Laurent, beautiful people, big windows, high heels.

Description:

While the kitchen at this slick hotspot does churn out some reasonably impressive California/Italian hybrid cuisine (mostly pasta, grilled meat and seafood, with main courses), this monument to the nouveau riche is not especially known for its food. Rather, it is the decor and attitude that attract throngs of beautiful people who crave chrome, shiny things, dancing and schmoozing. Celebrities frequent this spot as well, so it is a good bet for an intense dining experience.

Description:

This was closed for a month of renovations when we stopped by, so take this description with a grain of salt. In the past, though, with its high ceiling crowded with electric fans and heating ducts, Buonanotte resembled something out of New York's SoHo. Bass-heavy dance music, waitresses who look ready to depart to their next fashion shoots, everyone clad head to toe in black -- it's all fabulous and dizzying. Although the food takes second place to the preening, the dishes have been surprisingly worthwhile in the past. Pastas prevail, tumbled with crunchy vegetables or any of eight other combinations. Service is stretched thin at dinner, especially on the weekends, and the noise level cranks up after 7pm. The active bar in back stays open until 3am. A principal component of the decor has been the collection of 300 plates painted by celebrity diners including Bono, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, and tennis vixen Maria Sharapova.

Our Local Expert Says:

The bar downstairs is the hot spot for the young and beautiful in Montreal to come, mingle and get a groove on. There are line ups- so unless you are on the guest list or are a couple of gorgeous gals head out early to avoid them.

Description:

Located in the Quartier International District, this urban-chic hotel is within a block of Sainte-Catherine Street and the waterfront. Outfitted with rain showers and illuminated side tables, guestrooms offer premium bedding and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. In addition to an Italian-fusion restaurant and two bars, the hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center and a tranquil spa.

Our Local Expert Says:

The bar downstairs is the hot spot for the young and beautiful in Montreal to come, mingle and get a groove on. There are line ups- so unless you are on the guest list or are a couple of gorgeous gals head out early to avoid them.

Description:

Located in the Quartier International District, this urban-chic hotel is within a block of Sainte-Catherine Street and the waterfront. Outfitted with rain showers and illuminated side tables, guestrooms offer premium bedding and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. In addition to an Italian-fusion restaurant and two bars, the hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center and a tranquil spa.

Our Local Expert Says:

Good breakfasts, busy on weekends.

Description:

The wild hand-written menu is indicative of the overall spirit at this vibrant, popular hangout. Though it's named after its many fantastic fruit concoctions, you will also find patrons enjoying well-made specialties from across the spectrum of American cuisine. Burgers (Le King, a chicken burger with goat cheese,) and club sandwiches are served with salad and roasted potatoes. Like most restaurants on St-Denis Street, the terrace is the place to kick back and watch the world go by.

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:

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.

Description:

Located in the Plateau Mont-Royal, this gallery specializes in reproductions of the world's greatest paintings, all faithfully replicated in oil on canvas and within original-looking frames. You can either browse the gallery to purchase the displayed duplications or you can order your own custom-made replica to the size you want. The techniques and secrets of the original masters are scrupulously respected to reproduce copies that greatly resemble the originals in both the details and in the quality of execution.

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.

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:

Huge fanfare trumpeted the 2001 opening of this tri-level club in the white-hot center of rue Crescent nightlife. One of the owners is Formula 1 race car driver and local hero Jacques Villeneuve, whose last name can be translated as "New Town." Adjoining town houses were scooped out to make one big trendy nightspot at a reported cost of C$6 million (US$5.3 million/£2.6 million) at the time, with a disco in the basement, big barroom on the main floor, restaurant one floor up, and rooftop terrace in summer. Reservations are usually required for the restaurant, but admission to the bar and dance floor shouldn't be a problem. The bar and restaurant are open daily, and the disco is open Friday and Saturday.

Description:

Alexandre et Fils is an institution in downtown Montreal, known equally for the quality French fare they serve, and for the lively night-time pub atmosphere which envelopes the whole place as the hours advance. Alexandre's is a cafe-bistro with a terrace, two dining rooms, English pup and a Parisian style 'Brasserie' all rolled into one. They are fairly famous for their signature Duck Périgourdine; glazed lamb shoulder; and steak tartar, and some say that a trip to Montreal is just not worth it if you don't have at least one bowl of Alexandre et Fils' French Onion Soup. Alexandre's has been in feeding the late night hunger and pouring for the thirsty for over 25 years now, and it is as popular today as the day it opened. The food is great, but you will not want to leave after you finish your meal, choosing to mingle among the patrons and meet lively locals. There are more than 13 imported beers on tap, so you will be able to find your appropriate Kronenbourg 1664 or Younger's Tartan. The crowd is usually so animated in the evenings, that you may stay until closing time even tough you are in the heart of the entertainment district. read more

Our Local Expert Says:

With a second story terrace overlooking Crescent street, downtown Montreal, this bar provides a great vantage point from which to see and be seen.

Description:

This unique venue, established in 1997, has been at the forefront of the cigar scene in Montreal from the day it first opened. The elegant, yet down to earth lounge has something for everyone. From one of our 101 martinis or single malt scotches, to a rare Cuban cigar, this is your first and last stop in Montreal. Being one of Montreal's few remaining cigar lounges, and a Habanos dealer will guarantee you the best in authentic Cuban cigars at retail prices.

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.

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:

This shockingly affordable French/Italian bistro on the corner of Duluth and St-Denis owes far more to the stylish flair of the latter than to the touristy nonsense of the former. The décor is modern and clean and the service friendly, brisk and unflappable. The solid if not revolutionary menu of bistro fare includes wonderfully prepared mussels, light pasta dishes and outstanding homemade desserts. This is one of Montreal's true bargains.

Our Local Expert Says:

Fun and funky young dance crowd; different rooms, different themes.

Description:

A few years ago, this increasingly popular bar and lounge crept onto the scene with nary a sound. These days it is hard to miss at 1a on weekends, considering the enormous line of youngish professionals and soon-to-be-professionals waiting outside. Inside you will find Asian-themed decor with lots of nooks and crannies in which to relax, talented if rarely cutting-edge DJs and, in summer, one of Montreal's finest terraces.

Description:

Against all odds, this 70s theme bar has succeeded amidst the jaded watering holes of Boulevard St-Laurent. With funky tables and chairs, lava lamps and a psychedelic paint job throughout, Gogo originally had trouble drawing a crowd. However, today, you will find the place quite crowded, with friendly waitresses deliver reasonably priced specialty martinis to a mixed throng of students and 20-somethings. It might not be for everyone, but it's a great stop on any St-Laurent pub crawl, especially if you hate waiting in lines.

Our Local Expert Says:

A great night out for the guys or dolls. Ladies can often skip the line up- but guys, never show up with out a girl or they might not let you in at all! Dress for the occasion, but no need to over-do.

Description:

Rouge has become a staple on St-Laurent Street. Intimate, yet spacious and full of energy, this bar welcomes everyone what is called their huge house party every weekend. Dancing and music is top notch