enRoute’s Top 25: Best of Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver

Robert Polidori at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
What The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is honouring this Canadian photographer with a major retrospective, featuring several large-format prints of his work. Why For more than 20 years, Robert Polidori’s cold and raw landscapes – ranging from Chernobyl to Versailles – have been celebrated the world over. His work has been widely published in magazines such as Vanity Fair and The New Yorker.
Until September 7, 2009, 185, rue Sainte-Catherine O., 514-847-6226, macm.org

Müvbox
What The latest cargo to be unloaded at the Quai des Éclusiers in Montreal’s Old Port: an old shipping container that’s been transformed into a restaurant. Why This environmentally friendly haute fast food restaurant serves up dishes featuring lobster from the Magdalen Islands. 
Quai des Éclusiers, Old Port of Montreal, at the corner of McGill and de la Commune, muvboxconcept.com

Bistro Apollo
What New to Little Italy, this casual bistro blends Mediterranean staples with inspiration from all over the world. Why The menu is left up to you: you’re given a list of ingredients, including garnishes and exotic flavours, which you use to create your own perfect meal.
6422, boul. Saint-Laurent, 514-276-0444, apolloglobe.com

Bixi
What A few weeks ago, Montreal introduced a self-serve bike rental service with 24/7 access. Why Stations can be found on streets throughout the island and subscriptions are available by the day or the year.
May to November, bixi.com

Tiger of Sweden
What The Swedish ready-to-wear label just opened its first North American outlet in Montreal. Why Tiger of Sweden’s men’s and women’s collections are all about classic shapes, clean lines and pastel colours. For spring, the men’s Black Label is inspired by a Dylan-esque beatnik style, while the women’s is a nod to Greta Garbo’s enigmatic allure.
1130, boul. de Maisonneuve O., 514-845-0583, tigerofsweden.com

Salute
What Laurier Avenue is well known destination for hip dining, but this new restaurant manages to stand out with simple and delicious Italian/French inspired cuisine. Why A few impressive dishes (like the smoked salmon risotto flavoured with lime) wouldn’t be out of place on the menus of the city’s more established fine-dining spots.
234, ave. Laurier O., 514-273-9378

Seed Culture
What A recently-seeded all-things-local-and-natural shop in Kensington Market. Why From handmade skincare products to seeds for your garden, this is the place to appease you eco-conscience.
64 Oxford St., 647-801-0833

Poutini’s House of Poutine
What Last fall, Smoke’s Poutinerie on Adelaide brought the taste of Montreal to Toronto. Now Poutini is throwing down the gravy gauntlet on Queen West. Why No fancy stuff here: the menu is straightforward, offering only classic and vegetarian as options, but details like Maple Dale Cheese Farm curds, friendly staff and biodegradable take-out containers make it a contender.
1112 Queen W., poutini.com

Sideshow Café
What On a lightly trod strip of Gerrard Street, Sideshow Café inhabits a historic building that was a circus site in a previous life. Why With weathered walls revealing a century’s spectrum of paints, the cozily worn space is just the place to relax with a coffee after a tightrope walking lesson at the neighbouring circus school.
1300 Gerrard St E.1300 Gerrard St E.

Leslieville Cheese Market
What The Leslieville Cheese Market has set up its second location, this time in Queen West. Why Local artisanal cheeses, as well as delights from farther afield like raclette, make this a one-stop cheese shop. Plus, classes for aspiring aficionados are available
541 Queen St. W., 416-361-3111, leslievillecheese.com

Sweet Flour Bake Shop  
What This new cake shop recently opened its doors in Bloor West Village, and it’s the first custom bakery where you can create your own cookies within a few minutes. Why You choose the type of dough and one of the 20 mix-ins (including dried cranberries and white chocolate) and they’ll bake your customized cookie while you wait. Pair your pastry with a glass of organic milk or a mug of Ideal Coffee.
2352 Bloor St. W., 416-763-2253, sweetflour.ca

Ed’s Real Scoop
What The Beaches’ favourite all-natural homemade ice cream shop has set up its second location in the slightly more westerly Leslieville area. Why You have more than forty flavours to choose from, including Guinness, blood orange, chili chocolate or seasonal pumpkin. The waffle cones are also made in-house using only natural ingredients.
920 Queen St. E., 416-406-2525

The Jami Symons Salon
What Perched above Anne Patterson’s Flowers on busy 17th Ave. is the first AG Hair Cosmetics concept salon to open in North America. Why The French boudoir meets clean contemporary-chic aesthetic makes for a glamourous environment. Plus, you can trust both the stylists and AG products to deliver.
924 17th Ave. S.W., Suite 300, 403-290-1999, jamisymonssalon.com

Bliss Company Cupcakes and Desserts
What This tiny bakery run by two moms serves up positively blissful cakes, pies, tarts, and, of course, cupcakes. Why Every dessert is made with natural ingredients, no preservatives, and real buttercream icing. The hardest to resist are the Red Devil or Island Dream coconut cupcakes. With twenty-four hours notice they will bake to order.
Unit 111, 108 3rd Ave. S.W., Calgary, 403-281-8821

Stride Shoes
What For those who work for a living, sky-high heels have a way of inducing cravings for more earthbound footwear. Check out Stride when you need to take a break and reach for the flats. Why With over 800 styles by the likes of Frye, Blundstone, Marc, Ecco, and Tsubo, stylish relief is their specialty.
2205 33rd Ave. SW, 403-283-6174, strideshoes.ca

Petite Restaurant
What Chef Jared Alvey, a graduate of New York’s Culinary Institute of America, has opened a charming French bistro in the heart of Calgary’s beltline community. Why With an emphasis on fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients, this tiny boite is serving up some of the best continental cuisine in town. Don’t miss the stuffed morels, roasted vegetable terrine, or free-range chicken with pork belly.
1301 10th Ave SW, 403-452-5350, petiterestaurant.ca

Murmur
What In a neighbourhood of gyms, coffee shops and bars, this quirky upscale gift shop is a pleasantly surprising find. The unique wares are often exclusive to the store. Why Bags by Escama are one of the main draws here, in addition to a full selection of men’s and women’s watches by Storm Watch UK. Also popular are the laser cut scarves in suede micro fibre.
Suite 111, 3411 20th St. SW, 403-685-8007, shopmurmur.com

Hive Children’s Apparel
What Located in the trendy Pink Sugar boutique this newly opened store for children makes shopping a family affair. Why Little Marc Jacob jeans are the perfect match with the cheesy but au moment Ed Hardy tee-shirts. The Kingsley kids line of clothing is also popular with the wee set.  
1130 Kensington Rd., 403-283-9642

Belfry Gastro House
What This recently-opened Manchester-style gastropub can be found close to the Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall in the heart of Calgary’s downtown. Why With comfort classics like Sheppard’s pie, Guinness stew and fish and chips done right, this is the kind of place that turns after work drinks into late-night snacks.
102, 630 8 Ave S.W., 403-457-2700, belfrygastrohouse.com

Maenam
What Kitsilano’s molecular gastronomy mecca, Gastropod, shuttered its doors last month to undergo an extreme makeover and reopened as an authentic Thai restaurant. Why Owner Angus An studied Thai food with David Thompson in London, whose Nahm is the world’s only Michelin-starred Thai restaurant. The city’s Thai scene is about to be turned on its head.
1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579, maenam.ca

Diplomatic Immunity
What A new South Granville boutique highlights locally made travel wear for discerning jet setters. Why Neutral basics (with eye-catching details) that won’t wrinkle and will fold down to nothing – just the thing for the rollie-toting road warrior.
2956 Granville St., 604-734-0060

Corduroy Restaurant
What An inexpensive tapas lounge on the traditionally dull strip of Cornwall near Kits beach. Why The late night menu – featuring stick-to-your-ribs poutine and toothsome green pea and mint risotto – is a welcome addition in sleepy Kits. Plus, live music on Tuesdays draws crowds.
1943 Cornwall Ave., 604-733-0162. Corduroyrestaurant.com

Stella’s on Cambie
What Commercial Drive’s wildly popular taphouse opens a second location in the newly trndy (and newly accessible) Cambie Village. Why Up to 60 beers on offer (including many fine Belgian brews), plus cheese pairings courtesy of Mount Pleasant Cheese across the street.
3305 Cambie St., 604-874-6900, stellasbeer.com

Roden Gray
What A menswear shop in Gastown carrying chic basics for fashionable lads. Why Find labels like Gitman Bros, Comme des Garcons (clothing and fragrance), Filson, and Nice Collective plus plenty of pieces by the brilliant local label Wings + Horns
231 Cambie St., 604-689-7302, rodengray.com

Ingenue
What This Kitsilano boutique, favouring home-grown, eco-chic labels, hits all the right notes. Why It’s a wonderfully edited mix of our favourite Vancouver indie designers including Nicole Bridger, Erin Templeton, Elroy Apparel and Dace. 
2821 W. Broadway, 604-716-5733