If you want to enjoy Montreal like a MTLer, this guide will help you experience the city like a local. Here is a list of what to check out besides touristic attractions in Mtl:
Winter:
Igloofest: https://igloofest.ca/
Igloofest is an open-air techno festival in Montreal during the coldest weeks of the year. It starts mid January and lasts 3 weeks, from Thursday,Friday, and Saturday nights each week. Igloofest embodies quite well the soul of Montreal. Montrealers live the 4 seasons to the fullest. With winter days that goes to -40C. Going through roughly half a year with temperatures below 10C is not possible unless you leave the house and embrace the winter. During Igloofest, people put on their fluorescent retro onesie snowsuits, dance outdoors to techno music, and drink their beers quickly before it slushes because it is so cold.
Crazy carpeting on the Mt-Royal
Go up Park Avenue and between Cote-Sainte-Catherine and the monument Monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier, there is a hill. Between January and April, you should have about a foot or two of snow (30-60cm). Climbing the hill in knee deep snow might be a bit tedious but you will feel like a kid again sliding down the slopes with the crazy carpets. Great evening fun during the week with a date or with a group of friends. Unofficial recommendations: bring a bottle of white wine with you and some cups and enjoy a mix of “retour à l’enfance” fun with an adult buzz. It is not legal to drink on the streets in Canada so don’t be stupid. The street is quite far away that you can get away with a bottle between two people at night if you are not being rowdy and please be responsible; Take your crazy carpets, cups, and bottles back with you when you leave.
Get active! Cross country skying, snowshoeing, or Ice Skating on Lac des Castors. If you want to get out of the city for the weekend, rent a cottage at St-Sauveur or Mt-Tremblant for a sky weekend.
Spring:
The first Terrasse of the year is a thing in Montreal. As soon as the temperature hits above 12C and the sun is shining, you will see Montrealers take over the streets on the terrasses with a beer in their hand.
Summer:
Festivals
Jazz Festival
Francopholies
Just for Laughs
Fantasia
Nuits d’Afrique
Go to Parc Lafontaine with a bottle of wine.
Bike everywhere. The hills are a great work out for your legs and you avoid overcrowded metros with human saunas.
Pik Nik Electronic
Bike or rollerblade the Canal Lachine.
After a 15km run, enjoy the peaceful Rene-Levesque Park at the end of the canal. It is so far from the city center that you will feel like you are in another city. Bonus points, there will be almost no one there and you can enjoy some peace and quiet by the water
Fall:
Go to St-Sauveur or Mt-Tremblant on a photowalk and shoot all the beautiful colorful trees.
Restaurants:
Chinatown 2/Concordia Ghetto
Kazu
1862 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, QC H3H 1M1, Canada
+1 514-937-2333
https://goo.gl/maps/xHGs8uhU9LuSmxgk9
Best ramen in Montreal, especially for the price. Only served during lunch time though. Pro Tip: show up 30min before they open or you will wait in line for about 1-2h. Weirdly, when it rains, even if it is hot out, the line ups are much shorter. It could be -25C or snowing and there will always be a 1-2h line up but when it’s raining, funny enough, shortest line ups ever (unless you apply our 30min before they open hack)
Qing Hua Dumpling
1676 Lincoln Ave, Montreal, QC H3H 2E7, Canada
+1 438-288-5366
https://goo.gl/maps/JuF5AxAcQeM2
Great soup dumplings, not to be confused with dumpling soups (like wantan soups). Pro tip: poke a hole in the first 2 dumplings so that you don’t burn your mouth since they are filled with broth. Go for the steamed dumplings over the baked ones.
Otto Yakitori Izakaya
1441 St Mathieu St, Montreal, QC H3H 2M4, Canada
+1 514-507-8886
https://goo.gl/maps/R3V2UeqZq1s
Amazing Japanese yakitori
Pret à Manger
1809 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, QC H3H 1M2, Canada
+1 514-931-8889
https://goo.gl/maps/ntcNiSpk1w12
Rôtisserie Poulet Bronzé
1622 Lincoln Ave, Montreal, QC H3H 1G9, Canada
+1 514-989-8555
https://goo.gl/maps/i1BEdUUfcS82
Best poutine in Montreal. Yep, we said it. Yep, it is a fried chicken joint but their poutine is low key then eat poutine in Montreal, you know why? Because the spices that they use to make the chicken? It’s in the gravy. That is some real next level shit, seriously.
Garage Beirut
1238 Mackay St, Montreal, QC H3G 2H4, Canada
+1 514-564-2040
https://goo.gl/maps/VhMjo2wB8Gn
Amazing Lebanese food. Not Lebanese street food, Lebanese food. I was never a fan of hummus until I ate the hummus here and since then, now I love hummus, not just here, anywhere. This restaurant made me a hummus believer.
Tianxia
2065B Bishop St, Montreal, QC H3G 2E8, Canada
+1 514-288-2065
https://goo.gl/maps/tdgYovoKCxL2
Best all you can eat Korean BBQ. Dont go to the overrated Seoul Chako. This place includes pop with their all you can eat price AND you don’t have to pay for the spices seasoning to put on the meat.
KINTON RAMEN
1211 Bishop St, Montreal, QC H3G 2E2, Canada
+1 438-387-6187
https://goo.gl/maps/N8yQB47eLqC2
Only ramen in Montreal that makes a chicken broth. Was not a big fan but want to give it a second try since it is so highly rated by people that I really trust their taste.
Hakata Ramen
1216 Stanley St, Montreal, QC H3B 2S7, Canada
+1 514-759-6688
https://goo.gl/maps/CcG1kRP6x932
Good ramen, especially for the price and good atmosphere. Good place for a business dinner or lunch. Clean, nice atmosphere, service, and not very expensive.
Mister Steer
1198 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, QC H3B 1K1, Canada
+1 514-866-3233
https://goo.gl/maps/HjGHZUsFF182
Great burgers. Not the best in town but the best burger PADDY in town.
Cote des neiges
Pho Lien
5703B Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, QC H3S 1Y7, Canada
+1 514-735-6949
https://goo.gl/maps/ikcc4N9Ehw82
Best overall Viet in Montreal.
Restaurant Hoai Huong
5485 Victoria Ave, Montreal, QC H3W 2P9, Canada
+1 514-738-6610
https://goo.gl/maps/VYGBSi91VkD2
Best Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake) in Montreal
La Caverne
5184 Côte-des-Neiges Rd, Montreal, QC H3T 1Y2, Canada
+1 514-738-6555
https://goo.gl/maps/3Z85L5TwGpy
Russian food for a good price.
Chinatown
Nudo
1055 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J6, Canada
+1 514-508-9636
https://goo.gl/maps/32bWk8hNFdT2
Top 5 ramen in town for a very cheap price.
Noodle Factory
1018 St Urbain St, Montreal, QC H2Z 1K6, Canada
+1 514-868-9738
https://goo.gl/maps/FHyXt53aUc72
Great home/hand made noodles. Get the handmade noodles with beef. The dim sum dumplings are of a good size and decent price as well. Quick and dirty style
Restaurant ChinaTown Kim Fung
1111 Rue Saint-Urbain M05, Montreal, QC H2Z 1Y6, Canada
+1 514-878-2888
https://goo.gl/maps/SZUavdMKkJ12
Best dim sum in Montreal. Good place to eat in large groups (8+ people). Decent overall Chinese food.
Beijing
92 Rue de la Gauchetière O, Montréal, QC H2Z 1C1, Canada
+1 514-861-2003
https://goo.gl/maps/VgS9Wg4f9kn
Good Chinese food for a good price. Good place for business lunches or meeting up with a 8+ friends group for supper. Good service and good atmosphere at a good price.
Ethan
72 Rue de la Gauchetière O, Montréal, QC H2Z 1B9, Canada
+1 514-861-0815
https://goo.gl/maps/Bzsb4dpFcPt
Good Chinese food for very cheap price. Not the friendliest service but very fast. So you get in, eat quickly, and get out quickly. Quick and dirty style.
Mon Nan
43 Rue de la Gauchetière E, Montréal, QC H2X 1P4, Canada
+1 514-866-7123
https://goo.gl/maps/o9L7QMRd2fKeNpEs8
Get the Peking duck. Speak in Vietnamese and pay in cash.
Pho Bang New York
1001 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J4, Canada
+1 514-954-2032
https://goo.gl/maps/YBxZQBsBjEP2
Best Pho in Montreal that is not next to the 40 (highway that cuts through the city) so very central and easy access. Cheap, good, service is not bad but once you are done, you get out. Quick and dirty style.
Quartier Latin/Berri-UQAM
Pho Thanh Long
103 St Catherine St E, Montreal, QC H2X 1K5, Canada
+1 514-848-0521
https://goo.gl/maps/2dN6diSeGuo
Cheap and good Vietnamese.
BOUILLON BILK
1595 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2X 2S9, Canada
+1 514-845-1595
https://goo.gl/maps/CsCHCHWNRgE2
Probably a top 5 restaurant in Montreal if not top 3. Not cheap but totally worth it.
Cadet
1431 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2X 2S8, Canada
+1 514-903-1631
https://goo.gl/maps/wLVjiAYQ8yP2
Bouillon Bilk’s little brother. Not as pricey, not as hard to get a table, not as good but still amazingly good.
La Fabrique
3619 St Denis St, Montreal, QC H2X 3L6, Canada
+1 514-544-5038
https://goo.gl/maps/b5VUQjZ3VCH2
Amazing Brunches. My favorite brunch place in Montreal. When you read the menu, you are overwhelmed with all the different flavors and combos of food that you have never even thought of but hot damn is it good. If you can’t make a decision (happens a lot), ask the waiting staff to guide you. Do you want to eat meat? If yes, what kind of meat? Do you want your meal to be sweet or salty or both?
Pizzeria Dei Compari
1668 St Denis St, Montreal, QC H2X 3K4, Canada
+1 514-843-6411
https://goo.gl/maps/bDaLZJaCnNr
Delicious wood oven pizzas.
Vua Banh Mi
1579 St Denis St, Montreal, QC H2X 3K3, Canada
+1 514-439-1231
https://goo.gl/maps/4qhSf4oncbT2
Very good and cheap Banh mi (Vietnamese subs)
Saint-Houblon Quartier Latin
1567 St Denis St, Montreal, QC H2X 3K3, Canada
+1 438-386-7271
https://goo.gl/maps/dnvEdkh9SDz
Québécois pub with very good fusion food. They have a good selection of craft beers too. Go have a bite on the terasse in the summer.
Plateau
Schwartz’s Deli – Sandwiches – Steaks
3895 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2W 1X9, Canada
+1 514-842-4813
https://goo.gl/maps/d96FnnjbY6v
Famous Montreal smoke meat. Don’t waste your time lining up for 2h just to sit inside in small ass chairs and tables with a staff who can be hit or miss (either charming and cracking jokes or rude as hell). They have a take out counter. Line up for that one and either order a sandwich medium (it’s the degree of fatness. Don’t take anything less than medium, it won’t taste good. Fat is usually too fat and can make you feel almost nauseous) and a cherry coke or order a pound of meat (again, medium), mustard, and a loaf of sliced bread. Go out to Jeanne-Mance park or Parc du Portugal (3 blocs up) and est in the grass.
Rotisserie Romados
115 Rue Rachel E, Montréal, QC H2W 1C8, Canada
+1 514-849-1803
https://goo.gl/maps/oEeSo5sGBtu
Arguably the best Piri Piri chicken in town. The portions are huge and the price is cheap. Always a winning combination. Their charcoal wood oven is huge, Smokey, and a beautiful experience every time you step inside the restaurant to order as you cough just once or twice. Take a 1/4 or 1/2 chicken to go with salad and rice (their fries are good but rice is healthier!) and go eat at parc Jeanne-Mance or Parc du Portugal.
Ma Poule Mouillée
969 Rachel St E, Montreal, QC H2J 2J2, Canada
+1 514-522-5175
https://goo.gl/maps/wMqdtynUFyn
Romados’ competitor, many people argue between which one is the best Piri Piri chicken in town. This debate has divided families, turned friendship sour, and destroyed couples. Nan, it hasn’t but the two are pretty damn good and similar. Either eat it on their terrasse if you are lucky to get a spot or go eat in the Parc Lafontaine.
La Banquise
994 Rue Rachel E, Montréal, QC H2J 2J3, Canada
+1 514-525-2415
https://goo.gl/maps/pLFnt2JHe232
À Montréal staple. If you never had poutine, you go and eat the most regular and boring poutine here and take the regular size, it’s already huge. If you already had poutine in your life, try the galvaude (pulled turkey with green peas), the obelix, or the (with guacamole and fresh tomatoes, I know it sounds weird but trust us!)
If you show up any time after 1am, rain or snow, there will be a huge line up filled with drunk tourists and locals alike. Go in the take out line, much faster and unless you are already drunk and want to wait in line for 2h, take a poutine to go and eat it half naked at home.
Yokato Yokabai Ramen
4185 Drolet, Montreal, QC H2W 2L5, Canada
+1 514-282-9991
https://goo.gl/maps/RQ4eS9JrGiy
Amazing ramen but pricey. Get the tonkotsu ramen, the others are still pricey and not really worth the hype.
Restaurant Au Tarot
500 Marie-Anne St E, Montreal, QC H2J 2A3, Canada
+1 514-849-6860
https://goo.gl/maps/DMbgQm4EQH72
Bring your own wine Moroccan restaurant. Get a tagine, it’s huge, filled with flavors, and delicious.
Khyber Pass Restaurant
506 Avenue Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A7, Canada
+1 514-844-7131
https://goo.gl/maps/NYryEWPizGu
Bring your own wine Afghan food
Restaurant La Raclette
1059 Rue Gilford, Montréal, QC H2J 1P7, Canada
+1 514-524-8118
https://goo.gl/maps/StNeqBQQbh82
You eat cheese. It’s amazing. Nuff said.
Le Quartier Général
1251 Rue Gilford, Montréal, QC H2J 1R3, Canada
+1 514-658-1839
https://goo.gl/maps/rpCR6H5VQ3T2
Best bring your own wine in Montreal in terms of quality of food for the price that you pay. Make reservations a week in advance especially if you are getting a table for 4 or more.
La Maison des Pâtes Fraîches
865 Rue Rachel E, Montréal, QC H2J 2H8, Canada
+1 514-527-5487
https://goo.gl/maps/CEce5jRGoXG2
Get fresh pasta, dump them in the water for a minute, literally and dump the delicious sauce, that you bought at the same place, on said pasta.
Mile end
Tsukuyomi
5207 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2T 1S4, Canada
+1 514-273-8886
https://goo.gl/maps/8ryBvVNE4L32
Good Tonkotsu ramen
St-Viateur Bagel
263 Rue Saint Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1, Canada
+1 514-276-8044
https://goo.gl/maps/Sbkz3CYPHoA2
Best bagels in the world. Pro tip: this place is open 24h/7 so after a. If j’y of drinking and partying, you can come here, there won’t be the usual line up. Get a bagel with salmon cream cheese or any other cream cheese that they have for s late night snack and you can buy some extra bagels for breakfast when you wake up.
Fairmount Bagel
74 Avenue Fairmount O, Montréal, QC H2T 2M2, Canada
+1 514-272-0667
https://goo.gl/maps/4qvquQeEEc92
There are only two kinds of people in life. St. Viateur bagel people and Fairmount bagel people. They are both awesome. If you don’t know which one you are then you need to try both and pick one quick.
Saint-Michel
Restaurant Pho Ngon
3205 Boul Crémazie E, Montréal, QC H1Z 4M5, Canada
+1 514-723-6466
https://goo.gl/maps/LbgZQ2YGe5U2
Best Pho in town. Fun fact, “ngon” literally means “delicious” in Viet. The owners of the restaurant did not fuck around when they decided on a name. Respect! It definitely lives up to its name.
Ahuntsic
Pho Express
8523 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2P 2M9, Canada
+1 514-389-9305
https://goo.gl/maps/5JWsdxhU27t
Contender for the best pho in the city
Villeray
Tapeo
511 Rue Villeray, Montréal, QC H2R 1H5, Canada
+1 514-495-1999
https://goo.gl/maps/ezJ752ssNUN2
Very good Spanish Tapas restaurant
Mesón
345 Rue Villeray, Montréal, QC H2R 1G8, Canada
+1 514-439-9089
https://goo.gl/maps/g4kznj3zgVU2
Spanish tapas, som say it is as good or even better than Taipei but one thing is sure, it is not as pricey.
Marché Hung Phat
7099 St Denis St, Montreal, QC H2S 2S5, Canada
+1 514-272-1332
https://goo.gl/maps/DynDn4DQfes
Delicious Banh mi (Vietnamese subs) and they serve good Viet soups that are hard to find in the common Vietnamese restaurants (Bun bo hue, Bun Rieu)
Beaubien
Restaurant Tsak Tsak
280 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1R6, Canada
+1 514-272-3369
https://goo.gl/maps/Q8tehgH7VcG2
Good brunch spot for Malagasy food (Madagascar). Their hot sauce is to die for. It is not only spicy, it is filled with spices/flavor).
Gay village
Le Red Tiger
1201 Boul de Maisonneuve E, Montréal, QC H2X 2A1, Canada
+1 514-439-7006
https://goo.gl/maps/gC58KkxhRmx
Very good fusion Vietnamese. Not cheap but not too expensive either. Great atmosphere.
Poutineville
1365 Ontario St E, Montreal, QC H2L 1S1, Canada
+1 514-419-5444
https://goo.gl/maps/c5R9DZbNSnq
Go here for a good poutine that you can customize the way that you want. Don’t go here for your first poutine. You are not ready yet. Once you had a good poutine, then you can come here to experiment.
Old port
Barroco
312 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 2A3, Canada
+1 514-544-5800
https://goo.gl/maps/rUsHWv5MHRB2
French bistro, good food, good cocktails, great ambiance, not cheap, worth it if you want to kick start a good night in the old port.
Modavie
1 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1Y6, Canada
+1 514-287-9582
https://goo.gl/maps/q7PjrdWfoC22
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
25 St Paul St E, Montreal, QC H2Y 1G2, Canada
+1 514-871-9093
https://goo.gl/maps/wkXvXSEPAnN2
Good steak house, expensive, worth it.
BeaverTails
123 Rue de la Commune E, Montréal, QC H2Y 1J1, Canada
+1 514-878-1222
https://goo.gl/maps/U9rfasUTfJv
Classic Canadian pastry/desert. You have to eat it. Try the killaloe sunrise.
Little Burgundy/Atwater Market
Foxy
1638 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H3J 1M1, Canada
+1 514-925-7007
https://goo.gl/maps/vTQSZDpCssy
Very expensive, very good. French bistro that puts the accent on locally sourced ingredients (vegetables, meat, etc)
Le Boucan Smokehouse
1886 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H3J 1M6, Canada
+1 514-439-4555
https://goo.gl/maps/vDNGjyyEdhw
Satay Brothers
3721 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H4C 1P8, Canada
+1 514-933-3507
https://goo.gl/maps/HV2H2GU2Kkp
Very good Singaporean food but a bit pricey.
Clubs
Café Campus
57 Rue Prince Arthur E, Montréal, QC H2X 1B4, Canada
+1 514-844-1010
https://goo.gl/maps/UDg3Eamo7MU2
Young crowd but always a fun night. On Tuesdays, you get pitchers for 12$ and they play retro music. You can sing your heart out while dancing on the dirty sticky dance floor filled with beers on Motown and 90s greatest hits. Every first Saturdays of the month, you can also do this.
Coming soon: More bars, clubs, and lounges, as well as general activities to do.
Do you disagree or think that something deserves to make it on this list? Leave a comment!