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Montreal on a shoestring

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You do not have to spend much money to have a great time in this cosmopolitain city during the summer. Half the city spends their time people watching, eating and drinking on terraces, North along Bernard ave, East along St.Denis street or downtown, in the heart of the action.

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Author: Genevieve

Day 1 - Montreal

This week long exploration of Montréal has the Plateau Mont-Royal as home-base. Breakfast on day one is at Dusty’s, a classic Montréal breakfast joint. It has no sign on, or above the door, but is easy enough to find; across the street from the gas station on the corner of Mount-Royal and Park Avenue (ave. du Parc). The rest of the day is spent North of the Plateau in the Mile End. Formerly an artist’s haven with low rents and affordable everything, now this neighbourhood is a mish-mash of students, artists and yuppies and is known as “the place to be”, retaining some of its original colourful crowd and bringing in some new faces and businesses to brighten the overall façade of the quarter.

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Dusty's

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Location:

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4510 Parc Avenue
(At Mont-Royal)
H2V 4E3 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 276 8525

Chilenita (La)

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Location:

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152 rue Napoléon
(At de Bullion)
H2W 1K8 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 286 6075

Pucapuca

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Location:

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5400 St-Laurent Boulevard
(Near St-Viateur)
H2T 1S1 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 272 8029

Wilensky Light Lunch

Location:

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34 rue Fairmount ouest
1 block west of bd. St-Laurent
H2T 2M1 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514/271-0247

Champs

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Location:

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3956 bd. St-Laurent
Near rue Duluth
H2W 1Y3 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514/987-6444

Parc Avenue

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Location:

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Parc Avenue at Sherbrooke Street
H2V 4G9 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Apple picking

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Location:

Montreal, Canada

Montreal Canadiens

Location:

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1260 de la Gauchetière Ave W
(Molson Centre)
H3B 5E8 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 790 1245 / +1 800 361 4595

St George's Anglican Church

Location:

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1101 rue Stanley
(Near de la Gauchetière)
H3B 2S6 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 866 7113

Mile End

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Location:

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Avenue du Parc
H2V 1Y1 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Jardin Du Cari (Le)

Location:

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21 rue Saint Viateur Ouest
H2T 2K7 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 495 0565

Bernard Avenue

Location:

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St-Laurent Boulevard west to Outremont Avenue
H2V 1T5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Romolo Café

Location:

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272 Bernard Street West
H2V 1T4 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 272 5035

Gite "Le Chat Bleu" B&B

Location:

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4098 St-Hubert
(Near Duluth)
H2L 4A8 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

1 514 527 3421

Day 2 - Montreal

Day two is spent on “the mountain”. From 11 am until the afternoon wears thin the Park ave. side of Mount-Royal Park, near the statue (you can see it from almost anywhere), is covered in people. Bring a book, a Frisbee, wander over the mountain, dance to the sound of the drums or sit down and soak up the rays of sunshine with half the population of Montréal. After this long afternoon sneak into Lele da Cuca (remember to bring your own wine), a cosy restaurant about five minutes from the Park by foot. Later, if you are not too tired, wander down to Else’s, a local pub. Else’s requires that you buy a little something to eat with your drink (thanks to the convoluted liquor licensing system) but is one of the best places to spend a relaxed Sunday evening in the city.

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Binerie (La)

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Location:

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367 Mont-Royal Avenue East
H2T 1R1 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 285 9078

Mount Royal Park

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expert pick

Location:

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1260 Chemin Remembrance
(des Pins Ave north to Voie Camillien-Houde)
H3H 1A2 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 843 8240

Lele da Cuca

Location:

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70 rue Marie-Anne Street
Near St-Lawrence Boulevard
H2W 1A2 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 849 6649

Else's

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Location:

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156, rue Roy Est
(At de Bullion)
H2W 1M2 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 286 6689

Day 3 - Montreal

Monday plans include discovering the main arteries of the city. After breakfast at the slightly out of the way Mme Bolduc, stroll toward St. Laurent Boulevard. On the way down “the Main” pick-up some sandwiches and cannolli for later in the afternoon at Euro-Deli, one of the rare high quality, affordable joints in this part of town. The character of St. Laurent Boulevard changes dramatically between Sherbrooke Street and St. Catherine Street. If you want to see the less posh side of Montréal, head straight down to St. Catherine on the Main; if not, veer West (right) when you hit Sherbrooke Street, and continue on until Park ave. before turning onto St. Catherine Street.

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Maam' Bolduc

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Location:

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4351 Avenue de Lorimier
H2H 2B3 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 527 3884

Saint-Laurent Boulevard

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Location:

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St-Lawrence River north to city limits
H2W 1X9 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 286 0334

Euro-Deli

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Location:

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3619 St-Laurent Boulevard
(Near Prince Arthur)
H2X 2V5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 843 7853

Phillips Square

Location:

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Ste-Catherine St at Union Avenue
H3B 3E3 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Ste-Catherine Street

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Location:

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Rue Ste-Catherine
H3B 4W3 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Quartier Latin Pub

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Location:

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318 Ontario Street East
(Near St-Denis)
H2X 1H6 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 845 3301

Day 4 - Montreal

Beauty’s is a well known breakfast spot. Do not get turned away by the exterior, it has become known as an institution for a reason. Head down to the Contemporary Art Museum (easy to get to, take the 80 bus South on Park ave., get off at St. Catherine- the stop after the metro). The Musée d’Art Contemporain is located at the Place des Arts, the city’s cultural centre.

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Beauty's

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Location:

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93 Mont-Royal Avenue West
(At St-Urbain)
H2T 2S5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 849 8883

Musée d'Art Contemporain Boutique

Location:

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185 rue Ste-Catherine ouest
At rue Jeanne-Mance, downtown
H2X 3X5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514/847-6904

1000 de la Gauchetière

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Location:

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1000 de la Gauchetière Street W
(Near St-André)
H3B 4W5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 395 1000

Christ Church Cathedral

Location:

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1444 Union Avenue
(At St Catherine & University)
H3A 2B8 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 843 6577

McGill University

Location:

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805 Sherbrooke Street W
(At McGill College)
H3A 2K6 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 398 4086

Place Ville-Marie

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Location:

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4 Place Ville Marie
(René-Lévesque Blvd and University St)
H3B 4A7 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 866 0808

Chez Doval

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Location:

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150 rue Marie-Anne East
H2W 1A5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 843 3390

Bily Kun

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Location:

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354 Mont-Royal Ave East
(Near St-Denis)
H2T 1P9 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 845 5392

Day 5 - Montreal

Jean-Talon market is in little Italy, and is teeming with people searching for the best price and the best vegetables. If you wander slightly outside of the confines of the market area you will find some of the best coffee spots in town. Le Club Espanol is a great place to sit and unwind- it has a relaxed atmosphere and fabulous sangria. Be careful, it packs a punch!

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Jean-Talon Market

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Location:

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7070 rue Henri-Julien
(Near Jean-Talon)
H2S 3A3 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 277 1588 / +1 514 277 1379

Little Italy

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Location:

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6389 Boulevard Saint Laurent
H2S 1L1 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Club Espagnol de Quebec

Location:

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4388 St. Laurent Boulevard
Suite 309
H2W 1Z5 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 849 1737 / 514 842 6301

Day 6 - Montreal

Thursday starts with a trip down St. Denis Street. The bistros and boutiques of this well-trodden shopper’s paradise are often overflowing with people, from morning to night, begging the question “do Montrealers work?” Shying away from the crowds on St. Denis Street lunch is scheduled at Tampopo, where you can sit on the floor in true Thai style, or at the stools at the bar to enjoy your eats. Sticking to the fun and funky trend for the afternoon, Oboro and Galerie B312 are two of Montreal's contemporary art museums, often featuring up and coming young artists from Montréal. I suggest going to L'Ile Noire for a quick drink before dinner. Dinner is at Bistro L’Entrepont, one of the most pleasantly surprising restaurants hidden away in the Plateau, just North of Mount-Royal. Make reservations the day you get into town, or even before you leave for your trip, because this mini restaurant has limited seating- and is in high demand. There are two sittings, one at 6pm and one at 9pm. Bring your own wine and a handful of cash or a Mastercard. They do not accept any other form of payment. This is the only stop on the trip that is a higher budget type of event.

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St Denis Street

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Location:

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rue St-Denis
H2X 1Y9 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 873 2015(Tourist Information)

Tampopo

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Location:

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4449 rue de Mentana
(Near Mont-Royal)
H2J 3B4 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 526 0001

Oboro

Location:

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4001 Berri Street
(Near Duluth)
H2L 4H2 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 844 3250

Galerie B-312

Location:

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372 Ste-Catherine Street W
espace 403
H3B 1A2 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

+1 514 874 9423

Ile Noire (L')

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Location:

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1649 rue St-Denis
(Near St-Denis)
H2X 1H8 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 982 0866

Bistro l'Entrepont

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Location:

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4622 Hôtel-de-Ville
H2T 2B1 Montreal, Canada

Phone:

514 845 1369

Day 7 - Montreal

The last of the trip schedules in Schwartz’s delicatessen for lunch, THE home of smoked meat in Montréal now that Ben’s Delicatessen has closed. The waiters are brusque to the point of being rude, but the salty taste of smoked meat on rye is unforgettable. While you are there, go all out; buy yourself the classic drink to match a smoked meat sandwich, a cherry coke. Take a wander around Chinatown in the afternoon. Smell the smells, eat the egg rolls and indulge on the indescribably sweet, melt-in your mouth desserts that are sold from a shop window on de la Gauchetière Street just off St. Laurent blvd. If you are feeling ambitious head toward the water (South) and explore a bit of the old city before or after stopping at VIP on Clark Street for dinner. This restaurant is open 24 hours a day, so don't worry about heading in for dinner late. Head out late to Blizzarts. This is your last night in Montréal, take full advantage of it. You may have to pay a slight cover charge, but the funky décor and energetic crowd (that only shows up after 11pm or midnight) make this one of the best nights out on the town. If you are not up for the late late night activities there are a plethora of bars and pubs nearby to choose from that start their evenings earlier including the Reservoir (pub) on Duluth Street, Miami (dive bar) on St. Laurent Street, Pistols (pub) on St. Laurent Street and Champs sports bar right next door.

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