Guidebook for Montreal

Carolyn
Guidebook for Montreal

Food Scene

The coziest restaurant in the universe, we might be biased because it's where we met....
35 locals recommend
Restaurant Graziella
116 Rue McGill
35 locals recommend
The coziest restaurant in the universe, we might be biased because it's where we met....
Extremely popular spot for delicious coffee and lunch. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
254 locals recommend
Olive et Gourmando
351 Rue Saint-Paul O
254 locals recommend
Extremely popular spot for delicious coffee and lunch. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Fresh, tasty and cheap dumplings in ChinaTown. We are addicted. Moved to 1084 St-Laurent.
14 locals recommend
Mai Xiang Yuan
1082 Boul. Saint-Laurent
14 locals recommend
Fresh, tasty and cheap dumplings in ChinaTown. We are addicted. Moved to 1084 St-Laurent.
Delicious sandwiches made by a very sweet lady.
Café Luna d'Oro
469 R. Saint-François-Xavier
Delicious sandwiches made by a very sweet lady.
Great spot for lunch - gigantic sandwiches and homemade soups.
17 locals recommend
Café Titanic
445 Rue Saint-Pierre
17 locals recommend
Great spot for lunch - gigantic sandwiches and homemade soups.
Fish and chips and other English snacks, deemed excellent by real live English people.
121 locals recommend
Brit & Chips
433 Rue McGill
121 locals recommend
Fish and chips and other English snacks, deemed excellent by real live English people.
Good sandwiches, friendly service, really good coffee... try the brownies.
6 locals recommend
Bello Deli
363 Pl. d'Youville
6 locals recommend
Good sandwiches, friendly service, really good coffee... try the brownies.
Tasty sandwiches.
Pavé Lunch Experts
243 Rue Notre Dame O
Tasty sandwiches.
Unassuming café in the lobby of a little hotel, for when you just need a good coffee and that's about it.
Le Petit Hotel
168 Rue Saint-Paul O
Unassuming café in the lobby of a little hotel, for when you just need a good coffee and that's about it.
Gorgeous space, great Portuguese food.
45 locals recommend
Helena
438 Rue McGill
45 locals recommend
Gorgeous space, great Portuguese food.
Gorgeous, atmospheric spot for dinner.
27 locals recommend
Super Loco
5417 St Laurent Blvd
27 locals recommend
Gorgeous, atmospheric spot for dinner.
Another funky spot for dinner
56 locals recommend
BARROCO
312 Rue Saint-Paul O
56 locals recommend
Another funky spot for dinner
Solid, old-school Italian resto in a gorgeous 1840 building. Lovely terrasse.
45 locals recommend
Da Emma
777 Rue de la Commune O
45 locals recommend
Solid, old-school Italian resto in a gorgeous 1840 building. Lovely terrasse.
My favourite chef in the city says great things about the pizza.
15 locals recommend
Mangiafoco
105 Rue Saint-Paul O
15 locals recommend
My favourite chef in the city says great things about the pizza.
Food is fantastic. Good soundtrack. Pricey but worth it in my view.
159 locals recommend
Garde Manger
408 R. Saint-François-Xavier
159 locals recommend
Food is fantastic. Good soundtrack. Pricey but worth it in my view.
Solid spot for sushi in Old Montreal if you're craving it.
63 locals recommend
Tokyo Sushi Bar
185 Rue Saint-Paul O
63 locals recommend
Solid spot for sushi in Old Montreal if you're craving it.
Homey Polish restaurant, been around forever, food is great. Often some live piano in the evenings.
75 locals recommend
Stash Café
200 Rue Saint-Paul O
75 locals recommend
Homey Polish restaurant, been around forever, food is great. Often some live piano in the evenings.
Fun terrasse on McGill Street. Good food and drinks. I love brunch here.
15 locals recommend
Hambar
355 Rue McGill
15 locals recommend
Fun terrasse on McGill Street. Good food and drinks. I love brunch here.
Widely considered the best restaurant in Montreal. Cozy. Unbeatable service.
53 locals recommend
Le Club Chasse et Pêche
423 Rue Saint-Claude
53 locals recommend
Widely considered the best restaurant in Montreal. Cozy. Unbeatable service.
Excellent coffee!
15 locals recommend
Différance
449 Av. Viger O
15 locals recommend
Excellent coffee!
Eclectic seafood comfort food in a cozy sunken space. Pricey but worth it. Our go-to when we have guests.
45 locals recommend
Le Bremner
361 Rue Saint-Paul E
45 locals recommend
Eclectic seafood comfort food in a cozy sunken space. Pricey but worth it. Our go-to when we have guests.
Finally, amazing tacos in Montreal. No fuss place. Cool art. In Chinatown in a former Chinese restaurant, and they kept the plates. Mezcal!
60 locals recommend
La Capital Tacos
1096 Boul. Saint-Laurent
60 locals recommend
Finally, amazing tacos in Montreal. No fuss place. Cool art. In Chinatown in a former Chinese restaurant, and they kept the plates. Mezcal!
Delish cupcakes and Bilboquet ice cream!
12 locals recommend
Les Glaceurs
453 Rue Saint-Sulpice
12 locals recommend
Delish cupcakes and Bilboquet ice cream!
Very tasty Indian food, should you have a craving.
15 locals recommend
Restaurant Gandhi
230 Rue Saint-Paul O
15 locals recommend
Very tasty Indian food, should you have a craving.
Airy spot for brunch, lotsa locals.
142 locals recommend
Bistro Le Balmoral
Rue Balmoral
142 locals recommend
Airy spot for brunch, lotsa locals.
VERY low-key lunch counter with basic sandwiches and salads for cheap. Run by the nicest and most efficient family you'll ever meet.
Clafouti Le
402 Rue Saint-Jacques
VERY low-key lunch counter with basic sandwiches and salads for cheap. Run by the nicest and most efficient family you'll ever meet.
"Farm-fresh Québécois dishes & tasting menus from renowned chef Normand Laprise, plus fine wines."
85 locals recommend
Toqué!
900 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle
85 locals recommend
"Farm-fresh Québécois dishes & tasting menus from renowned chef Normand Laprise, plus fine wines."
Just go in and take a look at their beautiful pastry counter. And get a croissant. My favourite in the city. Almond croissants particularly recommended but go early, they sell out!
41 locals recommend
MAISON CHRISTIAN FAURE
355 Pl. Royale
41 locals recommend
Just go in and take a look at their beautiful pastry counter. And get a croissant. My favourite in the city. Almond croissants particularly recommended but go early, they sell out!
Beautiful glass-walled restaurant of the Pointe-a-Calliere museum, with OK food but a lovely view.
16 locals recommend
Pointe-à-Callière - Boutique du Musée
165 Pl. d'Youville
16 locals recommend
Beautiful glass-walled restaurant of the Pointe-a-Calliere museum, with OK food but a lovely view.
Very good wood-oven pizzas in a lively setting. Always a few bachelorette parties in progress here. Lots of red.
51 locals recommend
Pizzeria Bros
410 R. Saint-Vincent
51 locals recommend
Very good wood-oven pizzas in a lively setting. Always a few bachelorette parties in progress here. Lots of red.
Unhurried local coffee haunt serving local office workers.
Thé Mon Café
376 Rue Notre Dame O
Unhurried local coffee haunt serving local office workers.
No coffee, it's actually a tea shop and boutique. A gem of a place. Go for the full tea experience. So lovely.
Ming Tao Xuan
451 Rue Saint-Sulpice
No coffee, it's actually a tea shop and boutique. A gem of a place. Go for the full tea experience. So lovely.
Our go to pho spot. Share a table with your fellow pho lover as the place is popular!
22 locals recommend
Pho Bang New York
1001 Boul. Saint-Laurent
22 locals recommend
Our go to pho spot. Share a table with your fellow pho lover as the place is popular!
Hand-pulled noodles in a sterile environment with surly service. Recommended!
NUDO Restaurant
1055 Boul. Saint-Laurent
Hand-pulled noodles in a sterile environment with surly service. Recommended!
Classic Cantonese dishes. Open late for the shady folks. Big tables!
22 locals recommend
Beijing Restaurent
92 Rue De La Gauchetière O
22 locals recommend
Classic Cantonese dishes. Open late for the shady folks. Big tables!
Not a restaurant. More of a mecca for drunk people craving fresh bagels at all hours. Buy 6, eat one now, and keep the rest for breakfast. The only acceptable kinds are poppy seed or sesame seed.
522 locals recommend
Fairmount Bagel
74 Av. Fairmount O
522 locals recommend
Not a restaurant. More of a mecca for drunk people craving fresh bagels at all hours. Buy 6, eat one now, and keep the rest for breakfast. The only acceptable kinds are poppy seed or sesame seed.
Dim sum!!
Restaurant Ruby Rouge
1008 Rue Clark
Dim sum!!
STUNNING old bank very recently converted into a hip workspace and cafe.
200 locals recommend
Crew Collective & Cafe
360 Rue Saint-Jacques
200 locals recommend
STUNNING old bank very recently converted into a hip workspace and cafe.
Awesome spot to sit outside by the water in summer. Very good food. A great place to hang out on a sunny day. Not that touristy as it's on the west end of Old Montreal.
21 locals recommend
Marché des Éclusiers
400 Rue de la Commune O
21 locals recommend
Awesome spot to sit outside by the water in summer. Very good food. A great place to hang out on a sunny day. Not that touristy as it's on the west end of Old Montreal.
Oft-recommended tapas spot.
26 locals recommend
Fish Bone
420 Rue Notre Dame O
26 locals recommend
Oft-recommended tapas spot.
Iconic steakhouse.
135 locals recommend
Gibbys
298 Pl. d'Youville
135 locals recommend
Iconic steakhouse.
Vegan desserts! I'm not vegan so I cannot vouch for them but they seem to be quite popular :)
11 locals recommend
Cookie Stéfanie
272 Rue Saint-Jacques
11 locals recommend
Vegan desserts! I'm not vegan so I cannot vouch for them but they seem to be quite popular :)
Fun, great food and drinks.
20 locals recommend
Jellyfish Montreal - restaurant
626 Rue Marguerite-d'Youville
20 locals recommend
Fun, great food and drinks.
Lovely Greek food.
7 locals recommend
Restaurant Racines
444 Rue McGill
7 locals recommend
Lovely Greek food.
Small batch BBQ highly recommended by chef friends (haven't been myself).
8 locals recommend
Lattuca Barbecue
15 Rue de la Commune O
8 locals recommend
Small batch BBQ highly recommended by chef friends (haven't been myself).
Closest spot to the apartment for good coffee.
148 locals recommend
Tommy
200 Notre-Dame St W
148 locals recommend
Closest spot to the apartment for good coffee.
Poke bowls, avocado toast and the like. Everything is white.
97 locals recommend
Venice Mtl
440 R. Saint-François-Xavier
97 locals recommend
Poke bowls, avocado toast and the like. Everything is white.
Sit outside and admire the Basilica.
MUKI
187 Pl. d'Youville
Sit outside and admire the Basilica.
Good food, outdoor seating, excellent wine list.
28 locals recommend
Le Local
740 Rue William
28 locals recommend
Good food, outdoor seating, excellent wine list.
Delicious salads in a gorgeous setting.
120 locals recommend
Mandy's
425 Rue Saint-Nicolas
120 locals recommend
Delicious salads in a gorgeous setting.
Elegant Mexican cuisine. Terrasse in summer.
17 locals recommend
Emiliano's
260 Rue Notre Dame O
17 locals recommend
Elegant Mexican cuisine. Terrasse in summer.
Good sushi, terrasse on the street.
18 locals recommend
Kyo Bar Japonais
711 Côte de la Place d'Armes
18 locals recommend
Good sushi, terrasse on the street.
Our favourite go-to noodle shop in Chinatown. Barebones. Amazing soup. Go see them make hand-pulled noodles.
21 locals recommend
Nouilles de Lan Zhou - Noodle Shop
1006 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
21 locals recommend
Our favourite go-to noodle shop in Chinatown. Barebones. Amazing soup. Go see them make hand-pulled noodles.
Very popular and beautiful vegan bistro.
205 locals recommend
LOV
464 Rue McGill
205 locals recommend
Very popular and beautiful vegan bistro.
Beautiful and huge new restaurant, French cuisine. Getting great reviews.
29 locals recommend
Monarque
406 Rue Saint-Jacques
29 locals recommend
Beautiful and huge new restaurant, French cuisine. Getting great reviews.
Chill restaurant and pub with quite good food. Relaxed vibes.
10 locals recommend
Pub Saint Pierre
410 Rue Saint-Pierre
10 locals recommend
Chill restaurant and pub with quite good food. Relaxed vibes.
Kind of cheesy French cafe/bistro but I often grab a big sandwich on a crusty baguette here, and it's probably the best deal in the neighbourhood.
17 locals recommend
Marché de la Villette
324 Rue Saint-Paul O
17 locals recommend
Kind of cheesy French cafe/bistro but I often grab a big sandwich on a crusty baguette here, and it's probably the best deal in the neighbourhood.
Excellent food, big white room.
45 locals recommend
Le Serpent
257 Rue Prince
45 locals recommend
Excellent food, big white room.

Drinks & Nightlife

Beautiful lounge literally a 30-second walk from the apartment. Great cocktails.
44 locals recommend
Brasserie 701
701 Côte de la Place d'Armes
44 locals recommend
Beautiful lounge literally a 30-second walk from the apartment. Great cocktails.
It's a restaurant but I'd skip the food and go for a cocktail.
266 locals recommend
Café Balance
417 Rue Saint-Pierre
266 locals recommend
It's a restaurant but I'd skip the food and go for a cocktail.
Very cool spot for cocktails and looking cool. Get a fancy drink in a pineapple or coconut.
84 locals recommend
Bar Le Mal Nécessaire
1106B Boul. Saint-Laurent
84 locals recommend
Very cool spot for cocktails and looking cool. Get a fancy drink in a pineapple or coconut.
Beloved local nightspot. Enter by side door.
161 locals recommend
Philemon Bar
111 Rue Saint-Paul O
161 locals recommend
Beloved local nightspot. Enter by side door.
Popular spot for drinks after work until the wee hours. Beautiful view. Right on the water.
131 locals recommend
Terrasses Bonsecours
364 Rue de la Commune E
131 locals recommend
Popular spot for drinks after work until the wee hours. Beautiful view. Right on the water.
Drinks on a rooftop with yet another pleasant view! You can also eat.
50 locals recommend
Terrasse Nelligan
106 Rue Saint-Paul O
50 locals recommend
Drinks on a rooftop with yet another pleasant view! You can also eat.
More rooftop drinks, view of the eastern part of Old Montreal - my favourite rooftop view.
11 locals recommend
Auberge du Vieux-Port
95 Rue de la Commune E
11 locals recommend
More rooftop drinks, view of the eastern part of Old Montreal - my favourite rooftop view.
For beer lovers! Good food too.
28 locals recommend
Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs Grises
32 Rue McGill
28 locals recommend
For beer lovers! Good food too.
Lively night spot. Drink among the stained glass and repurposed church pews, feel slightly guilty!
38 locals recommend
Bar Le Confessionnal
431 Rue McGill
38 locals recommend
Lively night spot. Drink among the stained glass and repurposed church pews, feel slightly guilty!
Not in the neighbourhood, but a must for serious beer connoisseurs.
442 locals recommend
Dieu du Ciel!
21 Av. Laurier O
442 locals recommend
Not in the neighbourhood, but a must for serious beer connoisseurs.
Fantastic wine bar with a cool vibe.
137 locals recommend
Pullman
3424 Av du Parc
137 locals recommend
Fantastic wine bar with a cool vibe.
Food surprisingly good. Small terrasse for early evening.
24 locals recommend
Mimi la Nuit
22 Rue Saint-Paul East
24 locals recommend
Food surprisingly good. Small terrasse for early evening.
Acceptable spot for a drink by the water if you're not too fussy about wine or haute cuisine.
Scena
Place Jacques-Cartier
Acceptable spot for a drink by the water if you're not too fussy about wine or haute cuisine.
One of those places with secret entrance but everyone knows about it. Cool spot. Go further down to the tequila bar if that's your thing!
11 locals recommend
BOHO
436 R. Saint-François-Xavier
11 locals recommend
One of those places with secret entrance but everyone knows about it. Cool spot. Go further down to the tequila bar if that's your thing!
Delicious Cuban cocktails in a very tiny space - technically only 11 people can be in the bar at once.
El Pequeño Bar
401a Rue Saint-Vincent
Delicious Cuban cocktails in a very tiny space - technically only 11 people can be in the bar at once.
Sort-of hidden-away spot with excellent tequila selection.
54 locals recommend
Clandestino
436 R. Saint-François-Xavier
54 locals recommend
Sort-of hidden-away spot with excellent tequila selection.
Cool spot, definitely a scene
13 locals recommend
Nhậu bar
600 Rue William
13 locals recommend
Cool spot, definitely a scene
Another scene!
69 locals recommend
Bord'Elle Boutique Bar & Eatery
390 Rue Saint-Jacques
69 locals recommend
Another scene!
Cocktails and dark corners. Gets crazy later on.
139 locals recommend
Velvet Speakeasy
426 Rue St Gabriel
139 locals recommend
Cocktails and dark corners. Gets crazy later on.
Gorgeous views from all angles. Worth it for the view in my opinion.
9 locals recommend
Hôtel William Gray
421 R. Saint-Vincent
9 locals recommend
Gorgeous views from all angles. Worth it for the view in my opinion.

Shopping

Beautiful and well-made clothes and accessories.
10 locals recommend
Rooney
395 Rue Notre Dame O
10 locals recommend
Beautiful and well-made clothes and accessories.
Local and handmade souvenirs in a stunning historical building. Some Quebec clothing designers. Not super trendy from what I recall.
54 locals recommend
Bonsecours Market
350 Rue Saint-Paul E
54 locals recommend
Local and handmade souvenirs in a stunning historical building. Some Quebec clothing designers. Not super trendy from what I recall.
Shop selling souvenirs *actually* made in Quebec. Avoid the tourist crap made in China!
ImpresArts Boutique cadeaux souvenir Montréal.
Shop selling souvenirs *actually* made in Quebec. Avoid the tourist crap made in China!
Quebec art, certified by the government.
Boutique métiers d'art du Québec
Quebec art, certified by the government.
Stop in if you love stationery, like me!
Papeterie Casse-Noisette
445 Rue Saint-Sulpice
Stop in if you love stationery, like me!
Very cool local shop selling all types of containers for storing and transporting food. Everyone needs that!
À Table Tout le Monde
361 Rue Saint-Paul O
Very cool local shop selling all types of containers for storing and transporting food. Everyone needs that!
Lovingly curated year-round Christmas emporium. Gift for your mother in law?
Noël Éternel
60A Rue Notre Dame O
Lovingly curated year-round Christmas emporium. Gift for your mother in law?
Closest pharmacy. Inconvenient hours. Sorry!
79 locals recommend
PJC Jean Coutu Santé-Beauté
614 Rue Saint-Jacques
79 locals recommend
Closest pharmacy. Inconvenient hours. Sorry!
Gorgeous clothes.
9 locals recommend
Espace Pepin
350 Rue Saint-Paul O
9 locals recommend
Gorgeous clothes.
Our local, independently-owned bookstore.
Librairie Bertrand
430 Rue Saint-Pierre
Our local, independently-owned bookstore.
Cool clothes for cool people
Delano Design Inc
70 Rue Saint-Paul O
Cool clothes for cool people

Arts & Culture

Cool museum of Montreal history - see the city's original fortifications through the glass floor.
302 locals recommend
Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History
350 Pl. Royale
302 locals recommend
Cool museum of Montreal history - see the city's original fortifications through the glass floor.
Top-notch theatre in a gorgeous building
89 locals recommend
Centaur Theatre
453 R. Saint-François-Xavier
89 locals recommend
Top-notch theatre in a gorgeous building
Delightful science museum, kid-friendly, and the site of our wedding reception in 2013!
247 locals recommend
Montreal Science Centre
2 Rue de la Commune O
247 locals recommend
Delightful science museum, kid-friendly, and the site of our wedding reception in 2013!
Hockey.
511 locals recommend
Bell Centre
1909 Av. des Canadiens-de-Montréal
511 locals recommend
Hockey.
Small, inexpensive museum PACKED with information about Montreal. Until Dec 2016 check out the temp exhibit on Vice, Crime and Morality!
45 locals recommend
Centre d'Histoire de Montreal
335 Rue Saint-Pierre
45 locals recommend
Small, inexpensive museum PACKED with information about Montreal. Until Dec 2016 check out the temp exhibit on Vice, Crime and Morality!
Always an interesting exhibit on. Virtual reality films. Check listings.
162 locals recommend
Phi Centre
407 Rue Saint-Paul O
162 locals recommend
Always an interesting exhibit on. Virtual reality films. Check listings.
Excellent art museum. Feel cultured and pensive.
1504 locals recommend
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
1380 Rue Sherbrooke O
1504 locals recommend
Excellent art museum. Feel cultured and pensive.

Sightseeing

My favourite public square - lovely at night.
56 locals recommend
Place d'Armes
Place d'Armes
56 locals recommend
My favourite public square - lovely at night.
Gorgeous building - try to overlook the stench of corruption wafting from inside!
20 locals recommend
Montreal City Hall
275 Rue Notre Dame E
20 locals recommend
Gorgeous building - try to overlook the stench of corruption wafting from inside!
Go exploring and find a piece of the Berlin Wall displayed in a random spot.
29 locals recommend
Montreal World Trade Centre
747 Rue du Square-Victoria
29 locals recommend
Go exploring and find a piece of the Berlin Wall displayed in a random spot.
We copied the one in Paris, but ours is still pretty nice.
819 locals recommend
Notre-Dame Basilica
110 Rue Notre Dame O
819 locals recommend
We copied the one in Paris, but ours is still pretty nice.
My favourite church. Beautiful view of the harbour.
38 locals recommend
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
400 Rue Saint-Paul E
38 locals recommend
My favourite church. Beautiful view of the harbour.
Bustling square with restaurants all round, near City Hall. Always a performer or two. Very touristy. If you go, try to find Cafe Olimpico for coffee nearby...
15 locals recommend
Place Jacques-Cartier
Place Jacques-Cartier
15 locals recommend
Bustling square with restaurants all round, near City Hall. Always a performer or two. Very touristy. If you go, try to find Cafe Olimpico for coffee nearby...

Entertainment & Activities

If you're into amusement parks!
445 locals recommend
La Ronde
22 Chem. Macdonald
445 locals recommend
If you're into amusement parks!
A cool building! Lots of gambling!
422 locals recommend
Casino de Montreal
1 Av. du Casino
422 locals recommend
A cool building! Lots of gambling!
Kind of strange - it's a manmade beach! No swimming, but plenty of people-watching.
73 locals recommend
Plage de l'Horloge
1 Clock Tower Quay St
73 locals recommend
Kind of strange - it's a manmade beach! No swimming, but plenty of people-watching.
Cooking classes!
Workshops & Flavors - Vieux-Montréal
444 R. Saint-François-Xavier
Cooking classes!
Spa on a stationary boat with great views.
309 locals recommend
Bota Bota, spa-sur-l'eau
Rue de la Commune Ouest
309 locals recommend
Spa on a stationary boat with great views.
Just like the name says - a Scandinavian spa right in Old Montreal!
50 locals recommend
Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal
71 Rue de la Commune O
50 locals recommend
Just like the name says - a Scandinavian spa right in Old Montreal!
The closest yoga studio, owned by my friend and favourite yoga teacher - but there's a twist, it's also a pole dancing school - do yoga among the poles! Drop-ins welcome!
Yoga Vieux Montréal
50 Rue Saint-Jacques
The closest yoga studio, owned by my friend and favourite yoga teacher - but there's a twist, it's also a pole dancing school - do yoga among the poles! Drop-ins welcome!
A lovely sunny yoga studio. Extremely popular. Check schedule online. Drop-ins ok!
10 locals recommend
Luna Yoga
231 Rue Saint-Paul O
10 locals recommend
A lovely sunny yoga studio. Extremely popular. Check schedule online. Drop-ins ok!

Everything Else

Montreal's major convention centre - we're across the street!
102 locals recommend
Montreal Convention Centre
1001 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle
102 locals recommend
Montreal's major convention centre - we're across the street!
Crazy fountain by great Montreal artist JP Riopelle. Water changes to fire every hour. Seriously. (not in winter)
17 locals recommend
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
17 locals recommend
Crazy fountain by great Montreal artist JP Riopelle. Water changes to fire every hour. Seriously. (not in winter)