Guidebook for Montréal
Food Scene
Restaurant Thailande has the most delicious Thai food in town, with plenty of vegetarian/vegan options, and if you don't feel like leaving the house, they also deliver until 10:00pm!
33 locals recommend
Restaurant Thaïlande
88 Rue Bernard ORestaurant Thailande has the most delicious Thai food in town, with plenty of vegetarian/vegan options, and if you don't feel like leaving the house, they also deliver until 10:00pm!
This is probably the best vegan brunch place in the city. It's not exactly cheap, but definitely well worth it!
22 locals recommend
Invitation V
201 Rue Saint-JacquesThis is probably the best vegan brunch place in the city. It's not exactly cheap, but definitely well worth it!
If you like vegetarian/vegan food and live jazz performances, this is the place for you! It's also a perfect spot if you like to work in cafes and you need to get some work done.
95 locals recommend
Café Résonance
5175A Av du ParcIf you like vegetarian/vegan food and live jazz performances, this is the place for you! It's also a perfect spot if you like to work in cafes and you need to get some work done.
Poutine is an absolute must on any Montreal to-do list, and Poutineville serves some of the best poutines in Montreal, plus, it's right around the corner! If you like sports, you can go watch it here, and if you don't, you can also get take-out.
370 locals recommend
Poutineville
1365 Rue Ontario EPoutine is an absolute must on any Montreal to-do list, and Poutineville serves some of the best poutines in Montreal, plus, it's right around the corner! If you like sports, you can go watch it here, and if you don't, you can also get take-out.
Aux Vivres is probably Montreal's most famous all-vegan restaurant, and they serve both delicious dinners and brunch on weekends. In the summer, they have a lovely little terrasse in the back that's very secluded and surrounded by greens. They also have a little store right next to the restaurant, so you can even pick up some vegan groceries on your way home.
365 locals recommend
Aux Vivres Plateau
4631 Boul. Saint-LaurentAux Vivres is probably Montreal's most famous all-vegan restaurant, and they serve both delicious dinners and brunch on weekends. In the summer, they have a lovely little terrasse in the back that's very secluded and surrounded by greens. They also have a little store right next to the restaurant, so you can even pick up some vegan groceries on your way home.
This is a great, budget-friendly brunch place that serves generous plates of typical North-American breakfasts.
59 locals recommend
L'Oeufrier
350 Rue de Liège EThis is a great, budget-friendly brunch place that serves generous plates of typical North-American breakfasts.
This is a cute little bakery where you can get delicious breads fresh from the oven, croissants, and all kinds of French pastries and cakes. They also have a few small tables inside, or outside on a little terrasse in the summer, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, or you can try out some of their fancy jams and chocolates.
15 locals recommend
Boulangerie Au Pain Doré Ltée
1145 Av. Laurier OThis is a cute little bakery where you can get delicious breads fresh from the oven, croissants, and all kinds of French pastries and cakes. They also have a few small tables inside, or outside on a little terrasse in the summer, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, or you can try out some of their fancy jams and chocolates.
Cheskie's is probably Montreal's most famous bakery. Here, you can get delicious Jewish kosher pastries, cakes, and other baked goods, so if you have a sweet tooth, this is a place you definitely don't want to miss out on!
72 locals recommend
Boulangerie Cheskie
359 Rue Bernard OCheskie's is probably Montreal's most famous bakery. Here, you can get delicious Jewish kosher pastries, cakes, and other baked goods, so if you have a sweet tooth, this is a place you definitely don't want to miss out on!
I have never been to Reservoir for brunch myself, but I've heard rave reviews from a surprisingly large number of people. When they're not serving brunch on weekends, Reservoir is a cozy little bar right across the street from Laika that serves reasonably-priced drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.
140 locals recommend
Réservoir
9 Av. Duluth EI have never been to Reservoir for brunch myself, but I've heard rave reviews from a surprisingly large number of people. When they're not serving brunch on weekends, Reservoir is a cozy little bar right across the street from Laika that serves reasonably-priced drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.
Lola Rosa is a delicious, all-vegetarian restaurant that has plenty of vegan options on the menu as well. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it also has a full bar, so you can enjoy a drink along with your meal as well. It's relatively budget-friendly, too, although not exactly cheap either.
74 locals recommend
Lola Rosa Parc
4581 Av du ParcLola Rosa is a delicious, all-vegetarian restaurant that has plenty of vegan options on the menu as well. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it also has a full bar, so you can enjoy a drink along with your meal as well. It's relatively budget-friendly, too, although not exactly cheap either.
If you have a sweet tooth, check out Juliette et Chocolat! It's a cafe/restaurant, and it's main focus is, as the name suggests, all things chocolate. They have delicious chocolate fondue, a wide variety of desserts, coffee and hot chocolate, and their main dishes are excellent as well. They have all kinds of little gifts, too, if you know someone who loves sweet surprises.
304 locals recommend
Juliette & Chocolat
3600 Boul. Saint-LaurentIf you have a sweet tooth, check out Juliette et Chocolat! It's a cafe/restaurant, and it's main focus is, as the name suggests, all things chocolate. They have delicious chocolate fondue, a wide variety of desserts, coffee and hot chocolate, and their main dishes are excellent as well. They have all kinds of little gifts, too, if you know someone who loves sweet surprises.
Arts Cafe is a cute little cafe that serves incredibly delicious brunch on weekends. It's relatively quiet, too, so it's a great option if you're looking for a place to work, too.
150 locals recommend
Arts Café
201 Av. Fairmount OArts Cafe is a cute little cafe that serves incredibly delicious brunch on weekends. It's relatively quiet, too, so it's a great option if you're looking for a place to work, too.
This is a wonderful french style bistro with stupendous food. Their menu really wonderful, the beef bourginon is especially good. After 9pm they have an excellent $25 set menu.
26 locals recommend
Chez Leveque
1030 Av. Laurier OThis is a wonderful french style bistro with stupendous food. Their menu really wonderful, the beef bourginon is especially good. After 9pm they have an excellent $25 set menu.
Excellent Mexican food, they have a really good breakfast menu for a non-traditional brunch option. The food is very high quality though it is small and tends to fill up early.
42 locals recommend
Ta Chido Snack-bar
5611 Av du ParcExcellent Mexican food, they have a really good breakfast menu for a non-traditional brunch option. The food is very high quality though it is small and tends to fill up early.
One of the best of Montreal's stunning array of culinary wonders. Lemeac is quite expensive but after 10pm they have a set menu for just $27 which features all of their main menu. During the week you can just walk in and get a table, at weekends it is better to book.
132 locals recommend
Leméac
1045 Av. Laurier OOne of the best of Montreal's stunning array of culinary wonders. Lemeac is quite expensive but after 10pm they have a set menu for just $27 which features all of their main menu. During the week you can just walk in and get a table, at weekends it is better to book.
Parks & Nature
Montreal's famous mountain is pretty much right behind our house, so if you enjoy nature, hiking, photography, and the like, take a walk up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful view of the city skyline once you reach the top. The view is particularly stunning in the evening/at night!
1477 locals recommend
Mount Royal
Montreal's famous mountain is pretty much right behind our house, so if you enjoy nature, hiking, photography, and the like, take a walk up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful view of the city skyline once you reach the top. The view is particularly stunning in the evening/at night!
This is a huge park with playgrounds, tennis courts, soccer fields, badminton, and table tennis. There's a little dog park, too, and in the summer you can go for a swim in the pool, or you can go skating in the Winter. Or you can catch one of the outdoor movie screenings during the summer months.
622 locals recommend
Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier
5200 Rue de BrébeufThis is a huge park with playgrounds, tennis courts, soccer fields, badminton, and table tennis. There's a little dog park, too, and in the summer you can go for a swim in the pool, or you can go skating in the Winter. Or you can catch one of the outdoor movie screenings during the summer months.
Drinks & Nightlife
Laika is a very cozy cafe/bar that serves incredibly delicious food during the day and very reasonably-priced (and strong) drinks in the evening. It's a really relaxed venue with super friendly staff and live electronic music in the evenings. Laika is not a club though, so the music is not so loud so as to drown out all conversation. And during the day it's a perfect place to get some work done.
66 locals recommend
Laika
4040 Boulevard Saint-LaurentLaika is a very cozy cafe/bar that serves incredibly delicious food during the day and very reasonably-priced (and strong) drinks in the evening. It's a really relaxed venue with super friendly staff and live electronic music in the evenings. Laika is not a club though, so the music is not so loud so as to drown out all conversation. And during the day it's a perfect place to get some work done.
If you're in the mood for dancing, check out this small, Russian-themed venue, where you can hit the dancefloor in a small, dark, and smoky room, which has a really unique, intimate vibe. Datcha hosts some of the best local DJs and the occasional special guest from abroad, so if you enjoy electronic music, Datcha is definitely a place to check out. If dancing is not so much your thing, you can have a seat on the Kabinet side and enjoy what may very well be the best cocktails you can find in Montreal.
141 locals recommend
Bar Datcha
98 Av. Laurier OIf you're in the mood for dancing, check out this small, Russian-themed venue, where you can hit the dancefloor in a small, dark, and smoky room, which has a really unique, intimate vibe. Datcha hosts some of the best local DJs and the occasional special guest from abroad, so if you enjoy electronic music, Datcha is definitely a place to check out. If dancing is not so much your thing, you can have a seat on the Kabinet side and enjoy what may very well be the best cocktails you can find in Montreal.
If you feel right at home surrounded by hipsters, this is the place for you! I'm exaggerating, Waverly does have a bit of a hipster-vibe, but it's usually a really friendly and welcoming crowd. They have a little dance floor, but also plenty of seating opportunities and very reasonably-priced drinks, not just during their happy hour.
155 locals recommend
Bar Waverly
5550 Boul. Saint-LaurentIf you feel right at home surrounded by hipsters, this is the place for you! I'm exaggerating, Waverly does have a bit of a hipster-vibe, but it's usually a really friendly and welcoming crowd. They have a little dance floor, but also plenty of seating opportunities and very reasonably-priced drinks, not just during their happy hour.
Le Salon Daomé is a lovely little spot to go dancing, the music is usually excellent, it's a really pleasant and friendly crowd, and it has a really unique tropical/African-themed decor. They also have lots of comfy seating opportunities if you don't feel like hitting the dancefloor. Their drinks are very reasonably priced, and if you RSVP on one of their event listings on Facebook, you pay no cover if you arrive before midnight.
123 locals recommend
Le Salon Daomé
4465 Boul. Saint-LaurentLe Salon Daomé is a lovely little spot to go dancing, the music is usually excellent, it's a really pleasant and friendly crowd, and it has a really unique tropical/African-themed decor. They also have lots of comfy seating opportunities if you don't feel like hitting the dancefloor. Their drinks are very reasonably priced, and if you RSVP on one of their event listings on Facebook, you pay no cover if you arrive before midnight.
The Blue Dog Motel is a quite eclectic mix, it's a bar, a nightclub with DJs/bands every night, and it's also a barbershop, so once you're there, you might as well get a haircut. It also has a weekly comedy night, and the prices are more than reasonable.
16 locals recommend
Blue Dog
The Blue Dog Motel is a quite eclectic mix, it's a bar, a nightclub with DJs/bands every night, and it's also a barbershop, so once you're there, you might as well get a haircut. It also has a weekly comedy night, and the prices are more than reasonable.
Essentials
This is one of the cheapest grocery stores in town, and they have an extensive selection of reasonably priced vegetarian and vegan products. Plus, they're open until 11:00pm all week, so you can go grocery shopping pretty much any time.
248 locals recommend
Supermarché PA Du Parc
5242 Av du ParcThis is one of the cheapest grocery stores in town, and they have an extensive selection of reasonably priced vegetarian and vegan products. Plus, they're open until 11:00pm all week, so you can go grocery shopping pretty much any time.
This is a smaller version of the PA a little further north on Park Avenue, with more of a focus on organic/fair-trade products. It's a little bit pricier than PA, and they're only open until 10:00pm, but if you're looking for specialty ingredients like chia seeds or xanthan gum, for example, you're more likely to find those here.
61 locals recommend
PA Nature
5029 Av du ParcThis is a smaller version of the PA a little further north on Park Avenue, with more of a focus on organic/fair-trade products. It's a little bit pricier than PA, and they're only open until 10:00pm, but if you're looking for specialty ingredients like chia seeds or xanthan gum, for example, you're more likely to find those here.
If you're looking for snacks, beer or wine, or cigarettes, you can find those here until 11:00pm.
Provi-soir
6300 Rue Sherbrooke OIf you're looking for snacks, beer or wine, or cigarettes, you can find those here until 11:00pm.
Jean Coutu has a pharmacy with prescription and over-the-counter medications, but they also sell household/cleaning products, personal care supplies, beauty products, as well as some grocery items and snacks, and they're open until 10:00pm.
194 locals recommend
PJC Jean Coutu
6500 Rue St-HubertJean Coutu has a pharmacy with prescription and over-the-counter medications, but they also sell household/cleaning products, personal care supplies, beauty products, as well as some grocery items and snacks, and they're open until 10:00pm.
Shopping
Gourmet Laurier carries, as the name suggests, a range of gourmet foods, as well as a wide variety of products every European expat will recognize. They also have freshly ground coffee, and they sell cute little gifts and souvenirs for you to bring home. It's a little bit pricey, but they really do have a lot of nice things.
7 locals recommend
Gourmet Laurier
1042 Av. Laurier OGourmet Laurier carries, as the name suggests, a range of gourmet foods, as well as a wide variety of products every European expat will recognize. They also have freshly ground coffee, and they sell cute little gifts and souvenirs for you to bring home. It's a little bit pricey, but they really do have a lot of nice things.
One of the most interesting bookstores in Montreal. Drawn and Quarterly is also a graphic novel publishing company. The store hosts regular author readings and has an excellent selection of graphic novels, novels and unusual books.
134 locals recommend
Librairie Drawn & Quarterly
211 Rue Bernard OOne of the most interesting bookstores in Montreal. Drawn and Quarterly is also a graphic novel publishing company. The store hosts regular author readings and has an excellent selection of graphic novels, novels and unusual books.
An eclectic second hand bookstore in the centre of Mile End on vibrant St Viateur. There is a wide variety of interesting and rare second hand books. The staff and lovely and welcoming.
15 locals recommend
S.W.Welch Bookseller
225 Rue Saint- Viateur OAn eclectic second hand bookstore in the centre of Mile End on vibrant St Viateur. There is a wide variety of interesting and rare second hand books. The staff and lovely and welcoming.
Getting Around
At the corner of Park Avenue and Laurier, you can catch the 80 north all the way up to Jean-Talon Market (about 15 minutes) and into Parc Extension, which you should definitely check out if you like Indian food. The 80 south takes you all the way downtown to Place des Arts (about 15 minutes) and into Montreal's culture hub, the Quartier des Spectacles. During the day, the 80 comes every 10 minutes or less, and it's a super convenient connection to the downtown area.
20 locals recommend
du Parc / Laurier station
At the corner of Park Avenue and Laurier, you can catch the 80 north all the way up to Jean-Talon Market (about 15 minutes) and into Parc Extension, which you should definitely check out if you like Indian food. The 80 south takes you all the way downtown to Place des Arts (about 15 minutes) and into Montreal's culture hub, the Quartier des Spectacles. During the day, the 80 comes every 10 minutes or less, and it's a super convenient connection to the downtown area.
At the corner of Laurier and Querbes, you can hop on the 51 east, which takes you all the way to Laurier Metro (about 5 minutes). During the day, the 51 comes every 6 minutes, and every 10 minutes towards the evening.
Laurier / Querbes station
At the corner of Laurier and Querbes, you can hop on the 51 east, which takes you all the way to Laurier Metro (about 5 minutes). During the day, the 51 comes every 6 minutes, and every 10 minutes towards the evening.
During rush hour in the morning and in the afternoon, you can hop on the 435 east, which is identical to the 80 on its way north. The 435 west takes you down to Place des Arts, just like the 80 south, but then goes further down to René Lévesque Boulevard and turns west, going past the Old Port (about 20 minutes) and through the downtown area, where you can access the Underground City, the downtown malls, and the Scotiabank Cinema, for example. It then turns north again towards Côte-des-Neiges, where you can visit the beautiful Saint Joseph's Oratory. Do check the bus times at http://www.stm.info/en though because this bus line only operates during specific hours from Monday to Friday.
20 locals recommend
du Parc / Laurier station
During rush hour in the morning and in the afternoon, you can hop on the 435 east, which is identical to the 80 on its way north. The 435 west takes you down to Place des Arts, just like the 80 south, but then goes further down to René Lévesque Boulevard and turns west, going past the Old Port (about 20 minutes) and through the downtown area, where you can access the Underground City, the downtown malls, and the Scotiabank Cinema, for example. It then turns north again towards Côte-des-Neiges, where you can visit the beautiful Saint Joseph's Oratory. Do check the bus times at http://www.stm.info/en though because this bus line only operates during specific hours from Monday to Friday.
Laurier metro is about a 15-minute walk away, or you can hop on the 51 east, which takes you there in about 5 minutes. Towards Montmorency, it takes you to Jean-Talon metro (about 5 minutes), about a two-minute walk from Jean-Talon market, or, if you're hungry, you can try one of the seemingly innumerable Indian restaurants in the area, or to Jarry metro (about 6 minutes), if you'd like to spend a day in the park. Towards Cote-Vertu, it takes you to Berri-Uqam (about 5 minutes), where you can access the green or yellow line, or to Place d'Armes (about 6 minutes), which is about two-minutes walking distance from the Old Port.
253 locals recommend
Laurier station
Laurier metro is about a 15-minute walk away, or you can hop on the 51 east, which takes you there in about 5 minutes. Towards Montmorency, it takes you to Jean-Talon metro (about 5 minutes), about a two-minute walk from Jean-Talon market, or, if you're hungry, you can try one of the seemingly innumerable Indian restaurants in the area, or to Jarry metro (about 6 minutes), if you'd like to spend a day in the park. Towards Cote-Vertu, it takes you to Berri-Uqam (about 5 minutes), where you can access the green or yellow line, or to Place d'Armes (about 6 minutes), which is about two-minutes walking distance from the Old Port.
Entertainment & Activities
This is Montreal's primary English language(though there are also French language showings) independent cinema house.
189 locals recommend
Cinema du Parc
3575 Av du ParcThis is Montreal's primary English language(though there are also French language showings) independent cinema house.