Actually cool Montréal souvenirs

La Boutique BAnQ

Within the city’s largest library, the BAnQ, is a boutique packed with affordable goodies (mostly between $5 and $50) representing Montréal and the province of Québec at large, including gourmet products, designer maps, wearables and objects for the home, like framed images of Québec heritage moments.

BELANGERMARTIN

This beautiful boutique in Little Italy offers goods from all over the world, but there’s a particular focus on local products. BELANGERMARTIN is THE spot to browse stylish homewares, a few gastronomic goods, a handful of beautiful clothes and accessories of all sorts. We’re in love with the PATRIZIO apron by Montréal’s own Maison Milan.

Museum of Jewish Montréal

The headquarters of the street-tour based Museum of Jewish Montréal, on Saint-Laurent Boulevard at the corner of Duluth Avenue, are like a community centre: there’s the Fletchers restaurant (mmmm latkes), a small exhibition space and a shop with a beautifully curated selection of books about the city, local honey and funny pins of bagels and challah loaves.

Artgang

Artgang’s boutique on Saint-Laurent Boulevard sells a very cool collection of urban clothing, featuring brands from Montréal like Atelier New Regime, Boro and their own house brand of sweats, tees and MTL baseball caps. It’s the perfect spot to get gifts even the hip kids in your life will approve of.

Off The Hook

Speaking of streetwear, Off The Hook is a mini chain of boutiques that specializes in fly gear. Among the internationally renowned brands you’ll find local lines of clothes and accessories, including neighbourhood tees by Chez Nous, wallets by La Compagnie Robinson and hilarious hoodies by Laval ou Rien. Not to mention its own Off the Hook goods.

Boutique Unicorn

A fun and friendly women’s clothing store in Mile End, Boutique Unicorn specializes in independent designer goods with a focus on local designs, especially pieces by the likes of eve gravel and Valérie Dumaine. The range of Montréal-made jewellery is nicely curated and great for easy gifts. For something a bit more homey, check out the selection of beautiful candles by local brand T.Lees Soap Co.

arloca

Located on Plaza St-Hubert, arloca is a 100% local workshop-boutique where you can find unique and inspiring curios of all kinds, from handcrafted stationery and jewellery to toys, gardening tools, kitchen gadgets and more. Everything in store is local, ethical and eco-responsible. Plus, you can learn to craft yourself, in its creative workshops led by local artisans on the spot! 

Goodee World

A curated marketplace within the space of Phi Centre, Goodee is the brainchild of the Peart brothers, the creators of Montréal brand WANT Les Essentiels. It’s a store uniting uniquely sustainable, eco-minded products from all over the world, including some local, like their own Goodee tote, the perfect carrier bag for all your new souvenirs.

Signé Local

It doesn’t get much more literally local than this small Montréal chain. Dedicated entirely to products made in the province of Québec, Signé Local offers fashion, accessories, cosmetics, homeware and even a wide selection of edible souvenirs, like the addictive coffee-flavoured caramel sauce by La Lichée. Try it on ice cream.

c’est beau

This small chain features apparel and quality goods for everyday life, all made in Canada, to help build a world where contemporary lifestyle is synonymous of sustainable development. c’est beau carries beautiful Montréal products like its own cool line of caps, skincare by Skog and cocktail mixes by 3/4 oz, among others.

Isa Tousignant, blogger

Isa Tousignant is an art and lifestyle writer based out of Montréal’s eclectic Park Ex neighbourhood. She is Contributing Editor for Canadian Art magazine and freelances full-time for a wide variety of magazines and brands. She’s also a jewellery designer and passionate about animal costumes and their role in contemporary art.

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