Guides / Montreal
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Shopping
Places to Go Out
Things to Do
Places to Drink
Places to Eat
Cafes
Study Spots
Montreal
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Montreal

Montreal, QC, Canada
A guide to the city of Montreal by an Australian student living here for 6 months
Gigi
Shopping
Shopping

A more main stream fashion strip that also has a section towards the west end that contains food and drinks.

Is also a good place for night clubs but be careful of crack heads

Shopping

Very long and charismatic street filled with boutique shops and bars on either side. Each time you think it's over you'll come across another vibrant section with more small designer stores including clothes and interior design.

Fresh Coiffure
Other

Cheap place for cheese and pasta sauces

Eva B.
Shopping

Huge vintage clothes shop. Also does really good, cheap food

Places to Go Out
Food & drinks

good for drinks and turns into a club later at night - really cool interior but may be over priced due to the area it is in

Nightlife

Fun 70s, 80s and 90s vibe on a tuesday. get busy after 11. $10 entry

Apt. 200
Nightlife

Really nice club with a nice interior - good from Thursday to Saturday

Things to Do
Neighborhood

vibrant street

Neighborhood

great place to wander around and feel like you're in Europe but prices for food and drinks are escalated as it is touristy

Cirque du Soleil
Entertainment

Originated in Montreal so is really good to see it while you're here

Parks & nature

great for a walk/ run in the morning and a beautiful park to eat lunch

Neighborhood
Sightseeing
Arts & culture

underwhelming

Arts & culture

Really weird but cool if you’re into barbies - personally not a huge fan but cool to see the designer labels and was impressive to see the details that were included

Parks & nature

Not the most scenic walk but a nice way to get the Atwater markets - probably be better to ride on a bike as it’s quite far

Entertainment

cool festival set up in the middle of the city which is fun to wander around and see free shows. Can also pay for shows to see professional comedians throughout the festival.

Entertainment
Arts & culture

good view but underwhelming interior

Jardin botanique de Montreal
Parks & nature

Really beautiful and massive botanical gardens. Be aware you have to pay entry - $15CAD I think, can buy them online for the same price and saves you waiting in a queue - worth it if you’re planning on spending a few hours there, which I would recommend. There’s lots of different types of gardens e.g. Chinese, Japanese, shade, rose etc. Lots of really nice seating areas to read and have lunch (though make sure you read the signs as you can’t sit down wherever you want)

Would be good to do with the biodome in the same day (was closed when I went in summer)

Mount Royal Chalet
Sightseeing

Amazing view over the CBD. Better to get there early as it can get really busy later in the morning. There are stairs going straight to the top, which makes the walk a lot quicker or you can follow the path all the way round past beaver lake and it’s a nice walk

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park
Parks & nature

Really nice park during the summer, great place to sit with friends and has an entertaining public sport area

La Fontaine Park
Parks & nature

really beautiful park close to downtown and the plateau. Really nice to sit on the hill over looking the lake during the summer - having lunch or reading

Piknic Electronik
Other

A really fun electronic music festival happening every Sunday of the summer up until the end of September. A really nice place to spend the end of the weekend and can become what you make it. You can get swept up in the music and enjoy the beat for the afternoon and night or you can enjoy the view of the city and the relaxed vibes away from the dance floor - there is a winter version called Igloofest starting in January

Jeanne-Mance Park
Parks & nature

Really nice sunny park to sit outside with friends. Can either sit on the hill in the sun or back behind the trees are more secluded areas

Beaver Lake
Other

really nice area to sit with friends on a sunny afternoon

Places to Drink
Nightlife

cool interior, slightly expensive but good for big groups

Nightlife
BOHO
Nightlife

Really cute tropical themed bar with delicious cocktails. Entrance is a secret door in the icecream shop called Venice. Will need to ask the door man to let you in. Photos shown are of Clandestino but it has really bright interiors.

Clandestino
Nightlife

Hidden away in the same spot at BoHo this tequila bar provides great atmosphere, nice bartenders and well priced cocktails.

Gypsy Kitchen+Bar
Food & drinks

Mentioned below in places to eat - also a really cool bar by night

Club Pelicano
Nightlife

Cute underground bar with really nice interior

Else's
Food & drinks

Really cute bar with nice interior - good for drinks earlier in the night

SuWu
Food & drinks

Really cool bar that gets really busy late at night. Also does 2 for 1 specials at 5-7pm on tuesdays

Bar Suzanne
Nightlife

Really cool bar in a nice area - not too expensive and has a great atmosphere for a date or with a group of friends

Aire commune
Other

A really cool outdoor venue open during the summer. Fun vibe with food music

Places to Eat
Omnivore
Food & drinks

really cute cafe with gorgeous interiors. A diverse menu serving delicious wraps or salad plates. Really cheap considering the quality and serving size

Neighborhood

great area for cheap eats - if you’re not sure where to go find somewhere busy and it will be great

Nightlife

good boutique japanese. Very accomodating for large groups and does a $30 degustation for big groups - great value for money

Food & drinks

Celine Dion's meat shop

Shopping

great fresh food market

El Furniture Warehouse
Food & drinks

Given the dank interiors this place does surprisingly good food for really cheap prices (the entire menu is $6.95). Fun place to go to for a few drinks and a cheap dinner

Neighborhood

good area for local cheap food

Food & drinks

Delicious soft serve icecream made fresh everyday with new flavours

Cafe

fresh cheap bagels - best to buy fresh - can also buy cream cheese in assorted flavours

Mr. Puffs Plateau
Cafe

the best hangover cure food. Available on ubereats

Patati Patata Friterie de Luxe
Food & drinks

small little hole in the wall, poutine up to the standard of La Banquise

Food & drinks

Little hole in the wall italian shop that sells fresh gnocchi for $5 and sells its own homemade sauce

Food & drinks

Owned by the same people of Marche Jean- Talon. A bit of a hike get there if you decide to walk along the canal like we did - wasn't the prettiest walk but was nice to be with everyone walking their dogs and riding their bikes, otherwise the metro from downtown is so easy (just get the green line). The actual markets were amazing, lots of fresh food, fruit and drinks. Inside the building there are more cafes and eateries for fresh pasta, paninis or a delicious bakery.

La Capital Tacos
Food & drinks

Amazing authentic Mexican food for a good price

Pizzeria Magpie Mile End
Food & drinks

Authentic Italian wood oven pizza that’s not over priced

La Banquise
Food & drinks

Delicious, good quality poutine. Usually a large line, it moves quickly at lunch time but dinner can be a bit slow if you go at peak time (7-10pm). Smoked meat poutine with the lot is amazing

Fisshu
Food & drinks

A great place to go to with a large group of friends. Unlimited sushi for $30 and BYO makes it the perfect starting point of any night out. Despite the negative reviews we made the mistake of reading before we went, we had a great experience eating good quality sushi served in large quantities. The staff handled our large, loud group really well and overall we had a great experience.

Cafes
Pikolo Espresso Bar
Cafe

cute interiors and nice cafe for a coffee and light snack

Café Parvis
Cafe

Expensive but good quality coffees and the best croissants

Tommy Bagel
Food & drinks

Good serving sizes, fun and vibrant interior and vibe

Café Névé
Cafe

Really nice, cosy cafe. Great place to study during the day. Also has the best, fresh, chocolate chip cookes and a great lunch menu - the cheesy croissant thing was unreal

Le Petit Dep
Cafe

Cute cafe/ shop with nice gourmet foods nad knick knacks

Caffè Grazie Mille Fairmount
Cafe

Amazing canollie

Gypsy Kitchen+Bar
Food & drinks

Cute cafe with beautiful interiors by day serving delicious Australian style brunch and great coffees/ smoothies. Funk bar with cool cocktails at night. *the breakfast burger is to die for

Zoha Café
Cafe

Cute coffee shop - nice interiors and a good place to chill with friends while studying

Maman Montreal
Cafe

Really nice and busy cafe - a bit over priced for the serving size, but good quality food and bakery

Les Impertinentes
Cafe

Cute cafe with a friendly vibe and good quality coffee. Also seemed like it was a yoga studio and library as well

Edmond Café Cantine
Cafe

Really nice cafe with a low key vibe, good coffee and good quality food. We shared the lunch special, which is a sandwhich and soup - huge servings meant it was plenty for both of us

Café Santropol
Cafe

Really cool cafe with a huge menu. The waiters are slightly wanky. Also would be a good place to study but note that the terrace area is a laptop free zone

Café Melbourne
Cafe

A bit overpriced for what it is but has a nice outdoor area, which is nice during the summer

Arts Café
Cafe

Really nice cafe on a really cute street with lots going on. Good place to study (as mentioned below) but also has really nice interiors and good food.

Banc Public
Cafe

really nice cafe with huge salad bowls

Study Spots
Caravane Café
Cafe

Cute cafe near UdeM, good coffee and croissants

Arts Café
Cafe

Adorable cafe with delicious food. The staff can be a bit rude when it’s busy

Banc Public
Cafe

A larger cafe with room for a group of people, good healthy food and coffee

Edmond Café Cantine
Cafe

A small coffee shop that is good for studying if you are on your own.

BAnQ Grande Bibliothèque
Other

really nice, big library with lots of good areas to study in

Café Replika
Cafe

really nice spacious cafe, can get quite busy and noisy around lunch time

Café Névé
Cafe

mentioned above in good places to eat

Café Résonance
Cafe

Really nice big spacious cafe with a cheap vegetarian student menu. Is also a live music venue at night

Created by Gigi
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