I am the tourist, and this is my guide to Montreal. I don’t live in Montreal, so it will never be a local’s guide, but many of the things on my tourist lists are recommendations from locals. If I’m missing anything, please drop it in the comments and I’ll add it to the guide.
Bagels
- St-Viateur Bagel (our favorite)
- Fairmount Bagel
- La Fabrique
Deli
- Schwartz’s Deli Known for their smoked meat sandwiches, the Katz’s of Montreal (but not as good in my opinion)
- Wilensky’s Light Lunch– Famous for the Wilensky’s Special, an ‘all-beef salami with all-beef baloney grilled to mouth-watering perfection on a tasty roll with a hint of mustard’
Poutine
- Poutineville
- La Banquise (highly rated but not a favorite of the locals)
- Chez Simon Cantine Urbaine
- McDonalds- The Canadians will laugh at this but if I’m road tripping in Canada (I’ve been to every Provence of Canada so I’ve done A LOT of Canadian road tripping) and I just want a quick bite, the poutine at McDonald’s hits the spot
Brunch
Pizza/Pasta
Drinks
- Cloakroom Bar– This 25-seat speakeasy was the second best bar in Canada and 35th in North America in 2023. Instead of a menu, they ask you what your flavor preferences are and create a cocktail just for you. Get there right when they open at 4 pm so you don’t have to wait.
- Atwater Cocktail Club– Another top cocktail bar, they have fun and inventive cocktails
- Doubles Late Night– A contemporary dive bar
- La Buvette Chez Simone– Wine bar
- Shay– A Middle Eastern restaurant with a fun cocktail tree
Other Foods
- Time Out Market
- Marché Jean Talon
- Drogheria Fine– a gnocchi window with the longest line of any place I saw in Montreal
- Hotel William Gray– Luxury hotel with a rooftop terrace
- Hiatus at the Hotel Place Villa Maria– 45th floor panoramic views
- Crew Collective Cafe– Cafe inside what was the Royal Bank of Canada
- Tacos Victor
Spas
To Do
- Biodome
- Botanical Gardens
- Olympic Park
- St Joseph’s Oratory– A beautiful, huge church up on a hill with a gorgeous view of Montreal, and a vault with the actual heart of Brother Andre
- Basilica Notre Dame de Montreal– Absolutely stunning church worth the $10 CAD entrance fee
- Underground City– Walkways underground that connect many streets, businesses, and the metro. Handy on cold/rainy days but also dirty and a lot of homeless people
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Berlin Wall Segment and Reflecting Pool
Pro tip: Most museums are closed on Mondays so plan your trip accordingly
Hotels
- Hilton Vogue Hotel– Was part of the Loews Hotels chain until a few years ago, great spot, beautiful rooms, where we stayed
- Ritz-Carlton
- Four Seasons
- Hôtel Place d’Armes
- Auberge du Vieux-Port
- Hotel William Gray
Neighborhoods to Stroll
- Mile End
- Old Montreal
- Old Port
- Little Italy
- Plateau Mont-Royal
Day Trips
- Parc Omega– Feed animals from your car, stay the night in a wolf lodge if you have time
- Mont Tremblant
Love this post? Say thanks with a coffee!