If you have not been to Montreal yet, you are missing out. I have been there 5 times now, and I’m more smitten each time I visit.
Montreal’s got edge, charm, a progressive attitude, and one of the best foodie scenes on the continent, plus it’s also one of the only dual-language cities in North America, so you’ll hear Québécois easily jumping between French and English without skipping a beat.
But the real reason I love it is that it’s such an easy trip from New York City (A 50-minute flight) and yet you feel like you’re a world away. Montreal is a great city to explore, so check out my tips below on where to stay, eat, play, and more!
Related: Fly for free by maximizing your airline miles: 7 tips to earn more
COVID-19 UPDATE:
As of February 2021, most foreign nationals can not travel to Canada due to the pandemic. Please check this Canadian Government website for updates on travel to the country.
If Montreal is on your travel bucket list (and it should be!), make sure to pin or save this post for later, when Canada reopens its borders.
Also worth noting is that most businesses, including restaurants and bars, have re-opened in Montreal. The city requires people to wear a mask or face covering when indoors, as well as social distancing. Restaurants and bars are serving people indoors but at less than full capacity, to allow for people to remain at least 6 feet apart.
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Montreal Travel Guide:
Photo credit: Danielle Strain
Where to Stay in Montreal:
For my last visit, I was with a few girlfriends. We wanted a centrally located hotel, so we chose the boutique hotel, Le Mount Stephen. The hotel is located in the Golden Square Mile neighborhood, which is at the foot of Mount Royal, in the city center.
Le Mount Stephen is a mix of old and new. The public areas are housed in a beautiful, opulent mansion that was once home to the exclusive Mount Stephen Club. The rooms are modern but equally well-appointed, with comfy beds and linens and rainfall showerheads.
Bar George at Le Mont Stephen Hotel
I would also check out Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Travel Club for Hotel Lovers to see what boutique hotels they recommend in the city. The club is free to join and many of the properties they represent are reasonably priced but still feel luxurious and stylish. Currently, they offer options for a few hotels, all with prices starting under $250 per night.
Where to Eat in Dinner in Montreal:
When I travel, one of my favorite things to do is find local restaurants that are off the beaten path. In Montreal, there’s no shortage of outstanding, local restaurants to choose from.
Our first dinner was at Chasse-Galerie, a small, unpretentious spot in the Plateau. The décor was rustic and cozy, and the kitchen turned out bold and creative dishes, all with a beautiful presentation. Our favorite dish was the lamb and the carrots.
If we were impressed with our meal at Chasse-Galerie, we were blown away by our dinner at Monsieur. Located on an unassuming corner downtown, I picked this place because I met the chef/owner, Kim Lallouz, a couple of years ago when I shot a development sizzle in Montreal for the Travel Channel.
We filmed at Monsieur for the sizzle, and the food was extraordinary. I vowed that when I came back I would eat in this restaurant. I’m glad I stuck to my promise because it was our best meal in Montreal! Every dish, from the silky salmon tartare to the exquisite Lamb Tataki, was beautifully prepared with the right balance of flavors.
Kim’s other restaurant worth mentioning is in the hip neighborhood Griffitntown. Bird Bar has a brilliant concept, fried chicken, and champagne. It’s definitely on my list for my next visit.
The lamb tataki at Monsieur
Of course, there are too many good restaurants in Montreal to list them all here, but a few other places are worth mentioning. One is Joe Beef. Plan ahead if you want to eat here since it is Montreal’s most popular restaurant. If you’re daring enough, try their horse tartare. (It’s legal to serve in Canada.)
There’s also L’Express, an iconic, Parisian style bistro where people come for the scene as well as the food. Another outstanding spot that is a part of the Griffintown scene is Foxy. Last but not least, if you’re craving a burger, head to Burger Bar Crescent, for arguably one of the best burgers in town. The Hangover Poutine is also a crowd-pleaser!
Lunch at Atwater Market
Where to Eat Lunch in Montreal:
For lunch, we had a surprisingly delicious meal at the Atwater Market. There are a few food stalls set up there and we noshed on Singaporean street food from Satay Brothers. (Their food has become so popular, they’ve also set up a brick-and-mortar location in the city.) Other great lunch spots include Café Parvis for inventive pizzas and salads, Snowdon Deli for smoked meats, and Pierrette Patates for classic Québécois food including poutine.
Checking out the flowers and produce at Atwater Market
Montreal is known for its poutine. But did you know that the city is also known for its bagels? Many say Montreal bagels rival the famed bagels of NYC. The key difference? In Montreal, they make the bagels with malt which gives them a more doughy consistency.
The two best places for bagels are St-Viateur and Fairmount Bagel. These two establishments have been in a decades-long feud over whose bagels are the best. It’s worth doing your own taste test to see which one you like best. Disclaimer: it might take multiple bagels to figure it out!
Biking with my girlfriends in Montreal
Things To Do in Montreal:
There are so many things to do in Montreal, so the real question is what do you prefer?
Cycling:
On this most recent trip, we did a private bike tour around the city. Montreal has 400 miles (Yes, that’s right!) of bike paths. The terrain is relatively flat, so it’s a great way to see the city and take in all the sites. We booked a private bike tour with Montreal on Wheels.
One of the most scenic routes in Montreal is Lachine Canal which we followed from the Old Port to the Atwater Market. On the way back, we stopped by La Grande Roue de Montreal, the city’s famous Ferris wheel. We couldn’t resist and opted in for a ride which gave us a spectacular view of the city.
The silence on Board sign at Bota Bota
Spa Time:
If the spa is more your speed, you have to check out Bota Bota. The state of the art spa is housed in an old ferry boat. It’s now anchored in the Old Port of Montreal, on the Saint Lawrence River. Spend the day luxuriating in a bathrobe as you hop from the sauna to a massage table to the steam room. You can’t beat taking in the views of Vieux Montreal from a hot tub!
Our private class awaits us at the Équilibre Studio
Yoga & Exercise:
I was traveling with an active group of girlfriends, so we also had our hotel organize a private yoga class for us. They booked us in at the peaceful and sundrenched Équilibre Studio, located in the Plateau. I highly recommend visiting the studio for yoga or pilates. And if you don’t speak French, remember to ask if they will also instruct in English during the class.
Enjoying the view at the top of Mount Royal
Sightseeing:
Looking for other active things to do in Montreal? Walk to the top of Mount Royal. It takes about 40 minutes, but the view at the top is worth it. You get a much better perspective of the city when you see it sprawled out below you.
At our cooking class with our Québecois teacher!
Cooking Classes:
We also took a cooking class at Ateliers & Saveurs while we were there. What we didn’t realize when we booked the class is that all classes in Montreal are taught in French! Apparently it’s the law. So our cooking class was mostly taught in French, with a bit of English sprinkled in for us Americans.
It’s all good! Despite the language barrier, we still managed to have fun. I’m sure the two glasses of wine that came with our class helped on that front. And frankly, we were visiting a place that speaks both French and English, so we can’t expect them to accommodate us and teach everything in English. One thing’s for sure, it was an experience we’ll never forget!
Are You Ready to Visit Montreal?
I hope this guide will serve you well with plenty of things to do in Montreal!
Now I’d love to hear from you. Have you been to Montreal? If so, what else would you add to this list? I know it won’t be long before I head back to this city, so please share your recommendations in the comments below.
If you’ve got the travel bug, check out more of my travel guides here. And as always, happy travels! Or as they say in Montreal, bon voyage!
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