Renata Morales’ Montreal
The Montreal-based, Mexico City-born textile designer and visual artist shares some of her favourite spots in the city.
Where to stay
Photo: Hôtel Gault
Interiors at Hôtel Gault have a fresh industrial look, striking a perfect balance with the European romance of Old Montreal. The 30... Read more
Photo: Hôtel Saint-Paul
A classic example of Old Montreal’s Beaux-Arts architecture, with a sharp, simple design approach, Hôtel Saint-Paul has benefited... Read more
Photo: Loews Hotel Vogue
Steps from Ste. Catherine St., downtown Montreal’s main shopping thoroughfare, this recently renovated property is a family-friendly... Read more
Where to eat and drink
Photo: Baldwin Barmacie
Mile End and Outremont, French and English, bourgeois and hipster intersect here on Thursday and Friday nights for good, simple cocktails... Read more
Bars
Around the corner from Sparrow, the drinking spot of choice for many Mile End anglos, you’ll find a pizzeria that’s just as trendy.... Read more
Restaurants
Nothing beats the butter croissants and other tempting delights at Olive & Gourmando, a cute little bakery-café located on rue... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
See all Montreal bars and restaurants
What to do
Photo: Abe & Mary's
When you get to this Côte-des-Neiges store, head straight upstairs for L’Atelier 1958, a shop-within-a-shop offering deep discounts... Read more
Shops
With its elixir Ice Cider Treatment, Quebec's largest spa operator brings together two resources the province is famous for – apples... Read more
Health & Wellness
One of Canada’s most important cultural institutions is also home to thought-provoking exhibitions created in collaboration with other... Read more
Arts & Culture
In a city that pioneered the BYOB trend, À L’Os may be the pinnacle dining experience for those who prefer to tote their own... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Abe & Mary's
When you get to this Côte-des-Neiges store, head straight upstairs for L’Atelier 1958, a shop-within-a-shop offering deep discounts... Read more
Shops
Photo: Aix
Fall-off-the-bone local game meat in unctuous sauces and a wine list with good Canadian choices are two things that make Aix, in the Place... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Photo: Jolianne L’allier Matteau
This deli is where you’ll run into Canadiens players pushing grocery carts. Housed in a former machine shop, the grocery specializes... Read more
Shops
With its elixir Ice Cider Treatment, Quebec's largest spa operator brings together two resources the province is famous for – apples... Read more
Health & Wellness
What was an industrial boatyard in 1846 is now 4,200 square metres filled with contemporary art, not to mention the new home of Montreal Fashion... Read more
Arts & Culture
Photo: Jessica Slander
Traditional yet innovative cuisine du terroir made with fresh market ingredients and farm products from the Belle Province. But instead of... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Photo: Baldwin Barmacie
Mile End and Outremont, French and English, bourgeois and hipster intersect here on Thursday and Friday nights for good, simple cocktails... Read more
Bars
Photo: Bily Kun
Whether you order a Czechvar or an Absinthe, try to do it in French. The crowd is about equal parts Anglophone and Francophone, but the culture... Read more
Bars
Photo: Savoie Photo
The food at this pocket-size bistro on a residential street in Montreal’s restaurant-rich Plateau neighbourhood is what we would all... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
See the city like a local (and save money) by hopping on a Bixi. The bike-share program was launched in 2009 and now has over 400 stations and 5,000 bicycles navigating the city’s generous bike lanes. The system is set up for short trips: Pay a base fee for the day or weekend, and if you check your bike back in in under 30 minutes, your ride is free (longer trips cost extra). The season lasts from April to November – only the bike couriers are brave enough to ride through slush and snow.
Variety is the name of this (literary) game. Montreal’s multilingual literary festival presents talent from Quebec, Canada and the world... Read more
Arts & Culture
Wherever you're staying, a trip to the floating spa at Bota Bota in the Old Port is a must for anyone with a penchant for a good sweat. This... Read more
Health & Wellness
Photo: Boulangerie Guillaume
The French chain bakeries dotting Montreal are staples, but the real gems are small and independent. Located just off Saint-Laurent Boulevard,... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
With rich ebony shelving and eye-popping yellow floors, this menswear store boasts an outstanding collection of designer apparel, from Paul... Read more
Shops
It looks like a bus shelter from the future, but this glass structure in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles is a showcase for luminous... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Aurélie Jouan
A bona fide wine bar, BU is a design-forward but friendly place to taste the latest European imports (they specialize in Italian). Their selection... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
A buvette is a small bar, usually in a public space, like a train station; this resto/bar maintains the informal concept but without the commuter... Read more
Bars
Photo: Cava
The old-school tablecloths, the radar-sensitive service and even the organic Kansas beef dry-aged on site are anticipated at this peak price... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
The Art Deco Cinéma Beaubien, the last neighbourhood cinema in the city, was saved by community cinephiles when it threatened to shut... Read more
Arts & Culture
Polyester is in short supply at this second-hand store catering to Mile End’s creative crowd. Instead, you’ll find everything... Read more
Shops
Since 1999, brothers Lambert and André Gratton have been converting the masses to their modern design aesthetic. Almost all of the... Read more
Shops
This old foundry building, set in formerly industrial Old Montreal, is an art gallery in constant evolution. The Darling Foundry showcases... Read more
Arts & Culture
Executive chef Daren Bergeron (ex-Lumière) has crafted a unique hybrid in the heart of Montreal’s downtown: a mix of traditional... Read more
Restaurants
Admission to this gallery, home to Phoebe Greenberg’s foundation dedicated to contemporary art, is always free. DHC/ART brings Canadian... Read more
Arts & Culture
Photo: Dieu du Ciel
Perhaps the best local brewpub in Montreal, Dieu du ciel! creates its own beers, all inspired by Québec’s seasonal ingredients... Read more
Bars
Photo: Dominion Square Tavern
A historic tavern on Montreal’s Dominion Square has been lovingly restored to its former glory – they don’t make terrazzo... Read more
Restaurants
The brother-and-sister team behind the very chic (and very exclusive) Periphere furniture line has made style more accessible, shunning Scandinavian... Read more
Shops
Photo: Jolianne L’allier Matteau
Stepping into this immaculate vintage shop – a pastel sea of handpicked, colour-coded clothing – is like walking into Ladurée.... Read more
Shops
Montreal’s Portuguese restaurant king Carlos Ferreira has some fun with this outpost in the Quartier des Spectacles. In addition to... Read more
Restaurants
This small but friendly café offers a charming décor. Try one of their exclusive blends and warm up with a fantastic latte.... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
High-rise living gets an injection of nature from Galerie Flowerbox. Modern ceramic, wood, aluminum or cardboard containers mount on the wall,... Read more
Shops
Photo: Jennifer Glasgow
Representing over 30 different designers and artists from Montreal, this neighbourhood go-to for girls in the know specializes in abstract... Read more
Shops
Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is located in Dorval, about half an hour from downtown Montreal. Highways 20 and 520 are the main access roads to the city, but there are other services available if you don’t have a car. For $8, the Express Bus 747 connects you from the airport to downtown Montreal every fifteen minutes during peak times. Taxis charge a fixed rate of $38 from the airport to downtown Montreal.
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Photo: Carrie MacPherson
Honest Italian food, perhaps the best in Montreal. The slim room is full during both lunch and dinner, and for good reason. This is high-end... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Julien Archambault
Tucked away in the depths of Saint-Henri, Grumman 78 embodies the dressed-up simplicity that we talk about when we talk about gourmet tacos.... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Hôtel Gault
Interiors at Hôtel Gault have a fresh industrial look, striking a perfect balance with the European romance of Old Montreal. The 30... Read more
As its name suggests, this 28-storey hotel-condominium hybrid is one of the poshest places in town. The hotel’s outdoor hot tub, perched... Read more
Photo: Hôtel le St-James
A favourite of the Rolling Stones, U2 and Madonna, Hotel le Saint-James is a classic Old Montreal property. With rates starting around $400... Read more
Photo: Hôtel Nelligan
Named after Montreal’s most famous poet and enfant terrible, Émile Nelligan, this hotel mixes history with avant-garde interior... Read more
Photo: Hôtel Saint-Paul
A classic example of Old Montreal’s Beaux-Arts architecture, with a sharp, simple design approach, Hôtel Saint-Paul has benefited... Read more
This is no-frills finger-licking Southern food: oyster po’ boys, tacos, fried chicken, popcorn shrimp and spiked lemonade, all laid... Read more
Restaurants
The larger-than-life tattooed presence shucking sweet oysters behind the raw bar is chef David McMillan. This Atwater Market neighbourhood... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Chic sushi on chic Laurier – chef Junichi Ikematsu is serving up some of the city’s most adventurous dishes. Sushi, of course,... Read more
Restaurants
Two chefs do all the work. Yes, the guy waiting your table cooked your food. And that’s good. He can tell you that the foie gras was... Read more
Restaurants
This elegant hotel’s restaurant, helmed by executive chef Brandon Thordarson, serves innovative dishes where East really does meet West.... Read more
Restaurants
“Didn’t I see you at Nikki Beach last New Year’s?” That was all the pickup line one lucky amorist needed here. His... Read more
In the indie heart of Montreal, this chic bistro takes both its drinks and its food seriously. They have a lengthy cocktail menu, but if you... Read more
Bars
The chalet-chic vibe extends from the name of this restaurant (L’Orignal means “the moose”) to its menu (think elk steak).... Read more
Restaurants
Skip the trek to the bush this year and hit La Cabane in the Old Port, a sleek space dotted with white brick walls and a mounted moose head.... Read more
Complete with cappuccino bar, La Canadienne’s salon-style footwear boutique features antique lamps and bleached floors made of Italian... Read more
Shops
There’s something about this quiet, discreet space that just makes you want to undo one more shirt button and speak in a husky whisper.... Read more
Can a bistro be a bistro and still feel exciting? At Montreal’s La Salle à Manger, the answer is an emphatic yes. The feel is... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
This trendy little neighborhood haunt on Saint-Laurent is an enigma: DJs that pack 2,000-person-capacity Ibiza clubs spin for graphic designers,... Read more
A place with heart and skewered duck hearts, English-trained chef Marc Cohen’s Lawrence is Montreal’s cozy nexus of nose-to-tail.... Read more
Restaurants
This shop’s offerings are a mallard lover’s dream, culled from the oldest duck-breeding farm in Canada (Brome Lake Ducks, in Quebec’s... Read more
Shops
The dining room, which you’ll notice is populated almost entirely by suits, is like the country club you always dreamed of: uncanny... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Photo: Ségué Lepage
Melt-in-your-mouth, house-cured charcuteries, served surprisingly young, challenge meat fatigue with lesser-known products, while sommelier... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
From the crew that brought you Montreal’s Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Le Filet gives new meaning to getting tanked, with creative... Read more
Restaurants
Celebrity chefdom hasn’t changed a thing at Chuck Hughes’ Old Montreal restaurant (thank goodness). You’ll still find signature... Read more
Restaurants
This bustling, cinematic restaurant is crammed with politicians and judges, directors and an inordinate number of beautiful women. The menu... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Photo: André Tremblay
Le Quartier Général is loud in the way that high-ceilinged bistros can be – a bring-your-own-bottle policy only drives... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
The setting is worthy of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Occupying what was once the vault of a 19th-century bank building, Le Spa is lockdown... Read more
Health & Wellness
An airy French bistro with a leafy terrace for romantic tête-à-têtes and a buzzing bar for a quick steak frites, this neighbourhood... Read more
Restaurants
Les 400 coups, besides being a play on the address and the Truffaut film, is a French expression meaning to push the limits. The notoriously... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Part boutique, part bistro, part takeout counter, Les Cavistes specializes in wine labels not available through the provincial liquor board.... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Samuel Archambault
Known for its homemade preserves – think quail eggs marinated in tea – displayed in Mason jars behind the bar, the restaurant... Read more
Restaurants
Don’t let the doorbell scare you – this chic women’s boutique is a treasure trove of ultra-luxe labels and lines you won’t... Read more
Shops
This bistro’s interior has been redesigned using only recycled materials. Given its name, the place is sure to appeal to the area’s... Read more
Restaurants
This Mile End clothing shop is chockablock with unique pieces, especially for the oft-neglected male dandy. You’ll find hand-picked... Read more
Shops
With ergonomic kitchen hardware imported from England and France, such as colourful Le Creuset cocottes and retro-chic electronics by KitchenAid,... Read more
Shops
The kitchen in this cool, subterranean space bases its cooking around market-fresh ingredients, so the menu changes frequently – hence... Read more
Restaurants
Spend hours ogling limited-edition curiosities at Librissime, a bookstore that feels like a temple. Imports range from picture books of Renaissance... Read more
Shops
Don’t let the chilled-out Matthew McConaughey-on-vacation vibe fool you; this is a serious restaurant with an in-depth wine program... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Photo: Loews Hotel Vogue
Steps from Ste. Catherine St., downtown Montreal’s main shopping thoroughfare, this recently renovated property is a family-friendly... Read more
It’s tough to get a table at this bustling spot thanks to its tight menu of impeccable French classics. The steak frites topped with... Read more
Restaurants
Around the corner from Sparrow, the drinking spot of choice for many Mile End anglos, you’ll find a pizzeria that’s just as trendy.... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Marc Cramer
Upon first look, this venerable boutique may seem flashy, but there is more to Michel Brisson than colourful Etro prints and the latest G-Star... Read more
Shops
Montreal is famous for its festivals, especially during summertime. From the FrancoFolies de Montréal (an early-June festival primarily... Read more
Arts & Culture
One of Canada’s most important cultural institutions is also home to thought-provoking exhibitions created in collaboration with other... Read more
Arts & Culture
Montreal’s small but powerful contemporary art space is no stuffy tourist museum. The permanent collection offers an impressive panorama... Read more
Arts & Culture
Photo: Virginia Macdonald
This southern Italian-influenced restaurant is named, in part, for chef Emma Cardarelli’s grandmother, Eleanora. The parade of unfussy,... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Nothing beats the butter croissants and other tempting delights at Olive & Gourmando, a cute little bakery-café located on rue... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
Photo: Virginia Macdonald
Pastaga is an offbeat kind of casual, with a by-friends-for-friends vibe. It gets its name from the Marseillais word for pastis, the anise-flavoured... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
And you thought tapas were tiny? The single-bite creations from Spain’s Basque region at this unassuming Plateau restaurant are so small,... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
No event is too big or too small for this venue in the heart of downtown Montreal which regularly hosts the city’s opera and ballet... Read more
Arts & Culture
Resembling a hip basement from 1960s Denmark, Pop! gets a bit cute with its excessive use of exclamation marks (Poptails! anyone?), but redeems... Read more
Restaurants
Primo & Secondo’s classic mains, or secondi (osso bucco, stuffed squid, two-inch-thick veal chop), are renowned, but good luck with... Read more
Restaurants
The Métro is the most convenient way to go between neighbourhoods. The yellow line connects you with the South Shore suburbs and Île Sainte-Hélène to access Parc Jean-Drapeau, where Expo ’67 was held.
Photo: Bruno Braën
In a small nondescript building on Avenue du Parc hides one of Montreal’s best wine bars. Here you’ll find weird and wonderful... Read more
Bars
Photo: Rainspa
After a stop in the Middle Eastern bath, it’s on to the Polynesian pleasures of the Kahoolawe. First there’s a scrub-down with... Read more
Health & Wellness
Chef Mario Navarrete Jr. concocts some of the finest Nuevo Latino cuisine in Canada. Just one bite of his Angus beef in chorizo bouillon with... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
The Grande Dame of Sherbrooke Street – the first Ritz-Carlton in the world – has undergone major renovations and now includes... Read more
Chef Joe Mercuri (formerly of Brontë) has added lustre to a kitchen that seemed lost a while back. The straight-ahead brasserie favourites... Read more
Restaurants
Named for Sarah Bernhardt, the Parisian stage actress who performed in the adjacent building in the 1880s, the Sarah B. bar at the InterContinental... Read more
Bars
This Mile End shop models itself on a turn-of-the-century general store, and the menswear it carries is truly timeless. Find heritage brands... Read more
Shops
Busy, noisy, expectedly rude – and the best smoked meat sandwich you’ll ever taste. Rye bread, hot smoked meat piled high and... Read more
Restaurants
The designer behind this womenswear shop has a bio as multicultural as Montreal itself: Stacey Zhang was born in Shenzhen, raised in Jamaica... Read more
Shops
Photo: Strom Spa
Located on tiny Nun’s Island, ten minutes from downtown Montreal, Strøm Spa offers the same waterside views of the Laurentians... Read more
Health & Wellness
Everything old is stylish again at this carefully curated boutique brimming with retro housewares like typewriters, cabinets and antique maps.... Read more
Shops
The stylish crowd – all air kisses and man hugs – is drawn by the elegant glamour of this converted bank with its soaring ceilings... Read more
This lounge and boutique advances the art of novelty chocolates, offering a box of 12 shooters with liquidy centres ($26). Bite off the tip... Read more
If hailing one from the street doesn’t work, you can easily find taxis waiting at the corners of major avenues in Montreal and near public attractions. You’ll also find cab line-ups in surprising places, like seemingly insignificant corners in the middle of the Plateau, so make a mental note when you spot one.
Atlas Taxi: 514-485-8585
Taxi Co-Op: 514-725-9885
Diamond Taxi: 514-273-6331
This sandy oasis at the foot of the Clock Tower in Old Montreal was inspired by the Paris Plages project. Chill out on the blue and white... Read more
Landmarks
Photo: Alexi Hobbs
Located in upscale Westmount, this clothing and skincare boutique has an Art Nouveau decor that feels fresh and modern, in keeping with the... Read more
Shops
Photo: Hans Laurendeau, Shoot Studio
The only thing that hasn’t changed since Toqué! moved from its squished old space on rue Saint-Denis to the open concept dining... Read more
Restaurants
Photo: Julio Guajardo
The rustic bistro decor at this eatery gives off a relaxed vibe, but there’s nothing laid-back about the food. The revolving menu changes... Read more
Restaurants
Whether you go for a live performance, a play or a show, you’ll always see something unexpected at Usine C. This old factory in Montreal’s... Read more
Arts & Culture
Art patrons turned food-arts patrons Sylvie Lachance and Urs Jakob (she from Quebec showbiz, he from New York’s Gershwin Hotel) advertised... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
The black-on-black decor and hanging constellation lighting suggest a kind of haute-goth fashion sensibility, while the Paul Smith-style stripes... Read more
A giant topographic map of Mount Royal made from layers of burnished Quebec maple forms the front desk at Victoria Park, a wellness centre... Read more
Health & Wellness
Go on a Sunday morning and you’ll find an upscale yet unpretentious brunch spot offering a French toast/roast chicken/bacon/spinach/Gorgonzola... Read more
Restaurants
Formerly the Merchants Bank, the 1870s edifice that’s home to Hôtel Le St-James now hosts Montreal’s high rollers of high... Read more
Restaurants
The Montreal-based, Mexico City-born textile designer and visual artist shares some of her favourite spots in the city.
With its tucked-away terraces and urban green spaces, Montreal comes alive in the summer. Tour the city by Bixi, Montreal’s celebrated bike-sharing program, for a day of alfresco dining.
The Quebec chef/owner of Montreal’s Toqué! shares his now-established farm-to-table philosophy in his first book, a guide to cooking with what you have.
