RecommenDations
The city has so much to offer and it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do, but don't worry, we've got you covered! From the funky natural wines to their honey water-boiled bagels to the places to see, we've outlined a few useful guides to help you enjoy the city as much as we do.
What DOES a Perfect Weekend in Montréal look like?
We spent a long time thinking and crafting our list of Montréal recommendations for our guests. We asked ourselves a lot of questions like "What are our favorite restaurants?" or "What's something everyone could enjoy that represents the city well?". In the end, the question was a lot easier than that, it was simply a matter of "What does our perfect weekend in Montréal look like?".
The QR code opens a Google Map of all of our favorite places for you to enjoy the city to its fullest. It includes some of our most beloved restaurants, bars, and activities. There's a little something for everyone! We hope you enjoy.
Viewing this page from your phone? Click here to access the Google Map.
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If you're overwhelmed and want a consolidated list, below is what a typical itinerary in Montréal looks like for us when we visit. These eight recommendations truly capture the essence of the city and answers the question "What does our perfect weekend in Montréal look like?" with a bit of charm, variety, and of course, our personalities.
FOOD & DRINK
St- Viateur Bagels
Multiple locations
Cash only
We always start our trips with fresh bagels from the mecca of Montréal bagels, St-Viateur. If you've never had one, they're lighter than traditional NY bagels and cooked in honey water, which results in a thinner, slightly-sweet, yet umami-rich bagel. We will forever believe Montréal bagels are better than NY! Always ask for and order whatever bagels are fresh (99% of the time it'll be the classic sesame bagel). Grab a few Philadelphia cream cheeses from the fridge with your order and simply rip the bagel, dip, and enjoy! No cut and spread needed.
Vin Mon Lapin
150 Rue Saint-Zotique
Reservations required
Montréal is one of our favorite food cities in the world because of its emphasis on quality ingredients, a hybrid of classic French and new Canadian flavors, and a serious love for all things wine. No restaurant represents everything Montréal has to offer better than Vin Mon Lapin. It's a cozy but bustling dining room that serves some of the most inventive French-Canadian food in the city. Their menu changes every day, so there's always something new to try. The servers treat you like family. And the wine? Don't even bother looking at a menu, simply ask them to "pour their favorites" and enjoy.
Bar Mamie
328 Rue Beaubien
No reservations
After dinner (and sometimes before), we find our way to our favorite bar in the city, Bar Mamie. It's a tiny natural wine bar with a ton of personality. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the old school decorations reminiscent of a grandma's dining room along with the changing chalkboards highlighting a beautiful menu of snacks, dishes, and of course, natural wines. We always opt for a "planche mixte" (or "mixed board") of cheeses and meats to go with their house orange wine. We love this place so much we took some of our engagement photos here. Take that for a stamp of approval! If you meet a guy named Max (the owner), tell him we say hello.
Pho Tay Ho
6414 Rue Saint-Denis
Cash only
On evenings (especially when it's cold) and we just want something comforting, we love exploring the Vietnamese food in the city. Montréal welcomed multiple waves of Vietnamese immigrants in the 1970s and 1980s, and as a result, the food is something serious. Our go-to is always Pho Tay Ho. Their (and most others in Montréal) style of pho favors Northern Vietnam, where the broth is lighter and garnished with more fresh herbs (cilantro, parsley, and lots of onion) than what we're used to at home.
Montréal Pool Room
1217 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Delivery recommended
Around midnight on any given night after some drinking or just a long day in general, it's our tradition to pull out our phones and open up DoorDash or UberEats for some late night food from Montréal Pool Room. Every single time, we have our classic order of a small poutine and two hot dogs delivered to wherever we're staying. It's become the norm so much that Charles refuses to leave the city without it. Pool Room is a downtown Montréal institution that has been feeding all walks of life for over 100 years and serves up our favorite poutine. We've never been inside the actual location (we heard there aren't actually pool tables), but you can't go wrong ordering from here.
Things To Do
On all of our trips, we make sure to stop at Marché Jean-Talon, an iconic open air farmer's market that feels like the quintessential Montréal experience. As soon as you step in the vicinity, you're greeted with rows and rows of colorful fresh fruit, produce, and friendly Canadian merchants offering free samples. While not enormous, it's easy to get lost wandering the different produce stalls and food stands. Our favorite is Charcuterie Balkani Montréal, a Romanian meat stand near the seafood and cheese sections. Hear us out, they serve these lamb meatballs on a stick that are packed with flavor and unlike anything we've had. We also took engagement photos here because that's how much we love this little market.
MarchÉ Jean-Talon
7070 Av. Henri-Julien
If you want to take in the beautiful sights and sounds that Montréal has to offer, consider exploring the surrounding park and taking a quick hike up to the peak of Parc Du Mont-Royal. It's an easy and family-friendly hike you can climb in 20 minutes or less. At the top, you'll be met with sweeping 360 views of the skyline to appreciate the beauty of the entire city. While we recommend making a visit, we won't be disappointed if you don't. After all, we made an attempt to go in each of our first three trips but didn't go until our fourth.
Parc du Mont-Royal
Multiple entrances
Yes, this is that SSENSE. The royalty of designer e-commerce is headquartered in Montréal and their storefront is located in the heart of Old Montréal. It's quite the spectacle - 5 stories layered with the finest (and most expensive) designer pieces. Their entire online stock isn't on display, but you can add items to your cart on the website and schedule a fitting at the store with a stylist (there's no pressure to purchase anything). While you can't indulge in the same online thrills as finding things 60% off or returning your entire order when you get it, it's still an experience worth checking out if you're any bit into fashion.
SSENSE
418 Rue Saint-Sulpice