Embark upon a 3-day island getaway in Montréal this summer

Craving lunch?

• Olive et Gourmando - scrumptious sandwiches and soothing iced coffee
• Tommy - hipster coffees
• LOV McGill - for adventurous vegan eats 
• Le Petit Dep - infinitely Instagrammable Wes Anderson film vibes

Montréal’s downtown Quartier des Spectacles and Golden Square Mile districts are stuffed to the brim with some of North America’s finest arts institutions including the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (temporarily housed architect I.M. Pei’s monolithic Place Ville Marie), Canada’s oldest arts institution the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the local lore hub the McCord Stewart Museum, the Montréal Archaeology and History Complex Pointe-à-Callière and the stately Canadian Centre for Architecture whose bookstore is coffee table book heaven. 

Those in search of a full-body artistic experience need look no further than OASIS Immersion in the rainbow-glassed Palais des congrès de Montréal, name checked as one of the 1,000 buildings everyone should see before they die. 

In the evening, don’t miss the eye-popping AURA Experience in the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica. 

If festivals are your flavour, simply wander through the Montréal’s entertainment district (Quartier des Spectacles). It’s the prime destination for all things art, music, performance, and — of course — seasonal festivals. Head to La Vitrine (a box office) for information and tickets for many Montréal's top events. But chances are good that you’ll stumble across something free happening in the open air of the district!

Next, head southward to spend the afternoon in the Plateau and Mile End neighbourhoods. 

The neighbourhoods of the Plateau and Mile End give an unbeatable insight into local life, while also home to some of the city’s most beloved restaurants and boutiques. 

• Join the eternal “Best Montréal bagel” debate by hitting both Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagels (for us it’s an unbreakable tie)
• Try the $5 gnocchi at Drogheria Fine
• Sample iconic Montréal smoked meat sandwiches at Schwartz’s 
• Savour salami and baloney rolls at historic Wilensky
• Honour your sweet tooth at Boulangerie Guillaume
• Still hungry? Toni’s perfect pizzas and Yoni’s filling falafels

You’ll be sure to find a load of local tips at the brightly hued Pastel Rita café and wine bar (not to mention some delicious sandwiches and snacks, and a tattoo parlour in the back). Finally, the triplet mainstays Lawrence, Larrys and Boucherie Lawrence are a Mile-End cornerstone and example of the area’s locally produced food scene.

One of the most popular summer activities is to go mural hunting along “The Main” (Saint Laurent Boulevard). The city’s urban art festival MURAL has turned the city into a veritable open-air art gallery year-round. If the weather is not favourable, pop into the shops along the boulevard or grab a coffee at one of the many independent cafes in the neighbourhood. 

When you’re finished wandering, nab a sunset cocktail at one of these beautiful rooftop patios. And then finish the day with a classic Montréal’s activity: dinner at one of our iconic French restaurants. Favourites include Leméac (for brasserie classics), Le Pois Penché (for the seafood platters), or Henri Brasserie Française (for both the décor and the dining). Bon appétit!

When it’s time for a refuel, head to third-wave coffee specialists Hélico Café, Club Social Wolfgang (where you can get that MTL tattoo you’ve always wanted while enjoying a cuppa) and the vintage mod spot Atomic Café. The forward-thinking Technopôle Angus is a tight-knit hub of cutting edge start-ups and hip cafés (including Station W) housed in renovated train buildings, while the shops and buzzing bars of Vieux-Rosemont’s high street Promenade Masson is the definition of Montréal coziness. Keep on your feet and feed your appetite at Restaurant Magnolia, État Major, Hoogan et Beaufort, Pizzéria Heirloom or at Octo.

If you’re feeling overstimulated from a busy days of discovering the city, head to Parc Maisonneuve for 63 hectares of green space. Totally conducive to relaxation, you’ll forget you’re inside a city.

But don’t fall asleep just yet. We have one final assignment for you. 

End your three-day adventure with dinner in Chinatown, a bustling neighbourhood with fantastic food options. Montréal’s Chinatown was established in the early 1890s and has survived expropriation and redevelopment. From dim sum to dumplings to wine bars, you’ll find plenty of options to refuel. When it’s time to eat, here are some local Chinatown favourites.