Montréal neighbourhood: Discover the Plateau-Mont-Royal
Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End
Located right in the heart of Montréal, the Plateau-Mont-Royal quartier is a hot-spot of québécois culture, music, theatre, fashion, arts and cuisine. Home to top chefs and forward-looking creatives to record shops and one-of-a-kind boutiques, it’s little wonder this hood has been ranked by the editors of Time Out as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world
On the map
Resting on the plateau off the eastern edge of Mount Royal, the Plateau-Mont-Royal extends from Sherbrooke Street on its southern edge up to de Carrieres Street and Rosemont Boulevard at its northern edge, and between Hutchison Street in the west (jutting along Park Avenue past Mount Royal, and continuing then along University Street) and along the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks to its finishing eastward point at the head of Wurtele Street. Inhabited since the late 1700s expansions of Montréal’s city limits, the Plateau-Mont-Royal remains one of the city’s most bustling areas, familiar for its iconic spiral staircases, lush parks and one of the highest urban densities in all of Canada. Served by two métro stations and extensive bus lines, the Plateau-Mont-Royal is also easy to access from any corner of the city.
Plateau must-sees
Home to some of the city’s most iconic parks including Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, Parc La Fontaine, Park du Portugal and Square Saint-Louis, the Plateau-Mont-Royal is as leafy as it is urban. Throughout the summer months, the neighbourhood’s main shopping thoroughfare Mont-Royal Avenue and the quintessential brick-stoned stroll spot Avenue Duluth are pedestrianized and free of cars—if you want some time on 4-wheels, bring your board to the Van Horne Skatepark. Off the main streets, the Plateau-Mont-Royal’s Green Alleys (marked with Ruelles Vertes signs) also reveal an otherwise hidden world of leafy pathways and neighbourhood art projects that show off the neighbourhood’s unique personality. And a wander through the Mile End district is an absolute must, from its trendy Instagram-friendly cafés and design-savvy shops to the old school traditional eateries.
Plateau must-eats
No visit to the Plateau-Mont-Royal is complete without a sampling of Montréal’s two classic bagel bakeries St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel. Other classic Plateau dining spots include the cornerstone eatery Au pied de Cochon, the late-night poutinerie Resto la Banquise and the Restaurant de l’ITHQ where students in the fine culinary arts perfect their skills.
Other unmissable gourmet experiences include:
- La Croissanterie Figaro french bistro, 5200 Hutchison Street
- Lu & I vegan and gluten-free bakery, 5147 Park Avenue
- Café Santropol neighbourhood eatery, 3990 Saint-Urbain Street
- Ô Four Lebanese restaurant, 3452 Park Avenue
- Café Le NIGIRIZ onigiris, 32 Saint-Cuthbert Street
- Zarina Pâtisserie & Traiteur bakery, 68 Duluth Avenue East
- Omnivore kebabs and vegetarian mezes, 4306 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Bagel Etc brunch, 4320 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Harbin Dumpling, 4801 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Le Violon, 4720 Marquette Street
- larrys eatery, 5201 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Lawrence fine dining, 9 Fairmount Avenue East
- Boucherie Lawrence fine meats, 5237 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- TULA vegetarian Indian food, 5258 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Le Bay Cà Phê Vietnamese food, 5263 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Fugazzi Pizza Presto, 5417 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Kitano Shokudo Japanese restaurant, 143 Mount-Royal Avenue East
- Patati Patata Friterie de Luxe burgers and fries, 4177 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Café chez Téta Lebanese food, 277 Rachel Street East
- Terracotta Restaurant Mediterranean food, 73 Duluth Avenue East
- La Chilenita Chilean and Mexican food, 130 Roy Street East
- Arepera Venezuelan food, 73 Prince-Arthur Street East
- Dunya Lebanese food, 2 Sherbrooke Street East
- L’Express French bistro, 3927 Saint-Denis Street
- Kahwa Café sandwiches, 331 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Boulangerie Le Toledo bakery, 351 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Cha Do Raku Japanese tea shop, 750 de Bienville Street
- L’Avenue brunch, 922 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Restaurant La Raclette, 1059 Gilford Street
- Byblos Le Petit Café Persian restaurant, 1499 Laurier Avenue East
- Le Sain Bol brunch, 5095 Fabre Street
- Tri Express sushi, 1650 Laurier Avenue East
- L’ENTRE-POTS brunch, 1995 Masson Street
- 325 F Madagascar food, 1902 Masson Street
- Croissant Croissant bakery, 2270 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Le Virunga African restaurant, 852 Rachel Street East
- Ramen Isshin, 1217 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Sansotei Ramen, 1201 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Le Petit Coin Dumpling, 1201 Rachel Street East
- Brebis cheese shop, 21 Fairmount Avenue West
- Kem CoBa ice cream, 60 Fairmount Avenue West
- KazaMaza Syrian-Lebanese food, 4629 Park Avenue
- Bernie Beigne donuts, 23 Bernard Street West
- Nili bistro, 255 Saint-Viateur Street West
- Sushi Nishinokaze, 5400 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
it’s little wonder this hood has been ranked as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.
Caffeinate and refuel
The Plateau-Mont-Royal is a café hotspot, with some of the city’s most beautiful spots including the converted vaudeville-era dance hall Cardinal Tearoom, queer hot-spot (and tattoo parlour) Pastel Rita, and old-school community hubs Café Olimpico and Café Club Social in the Mile End. And some café spots also provide musical accompaniment, including the local musicians taking the piano at Le Dépanneur Café and the DJs spinning records at OSMO x MARUSAN Café-Terrasse.
Some other Plateau-Mont-Royal cafés well worth a visit:
- Toi, Moi & Café Bistro Laurier, 224 Laurier Avenue West
- Atelier Hope, 4663 Park Avenue
- Edmond Café Cantine, 105 Rachel Street West
- Mintar, 3418b Park Avenue
- Café Nocturne, 19 Prince Arthur Street West
- Café Bravo, 4577 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Aux Angles Ronds, 5333 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Le Falco, 5605 de Gaspé Avenue
- Café In Gamba, 71 Saint-Viateur Street East
- Le Saint Louis café, 4800 de Bullion Street
- Matcha Lab, 4223 Saint-Dominique Street
- Café Replika, 252 Rachel Street East
- Chez José Café, 173 Duluth Avenue East
- Le Club Café, 3801 Saint-Denis Street
- Bulla Café, 4141 Saint-Denis Street
- Café Myriade, 4627 Saint-Denis Street
- Café Névé, 781 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Café Americano, 957 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Le Parloir, 4354 Christophe Colomb Avenue
- Méchants pinsons, 1546 Laurier Avenue East
- Café Orr, 5368 Papineau Avenue
- Maison Chabot, 5477 Chabot Street
- Le Moineau Masqué, 912 Marie-Anne Street East
- Dispatch Coffee, 4021 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Time for a drink!
The Plateau-Mont-Royal goes late into the night at hotspots like the stylish Bar Darling, cozy Taverne Atlantique, hip and friendly Bar Star Bar, buzzing Bar Henrietta and the neighbourhood music scene mainstay Casa Del Popolo. And many also serve up some of the city’s best late-night eats to boot.
But there’s more!:
- La Petite Marche, 5035 Saint-Denis Street
- Bar le Sparrow, 5322 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Le Plongeoir, 5350 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Double’s, 5171 Park Avenue
- Le Club DD’s, 4958 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
A cultural centre
Several of Montréal’s most forward-looking cultural establishments call the Plateau-Mont-Royal home including the annual MURAL Festival of street art, the Théâtre du Rideau-Vert and the outdoor Théâtre de Verdure in Parc La Fontaine. The intimate Cinéma Moderne’s programming highlights new international hits and old favourites and live music lovers won’t want to miss a performance at the Rialto Theatre or La Sala Rossa.
Some other Plateau-Mont-Royal cultural institutions of note include:
- Centre des musicians du monde, 5043 Saint-Dominique Street
- Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, 3900 Saint-Denis Street
- CLARK Arts Centre, 5455 de Gaspé Avenue
- daphne Indigenous arts centre, Unit #103 5425 Casgrain Avenue
- Galerie Eli Kerr, 4647 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Galerie Nicolas Robert, 4653 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Shop till you drop
The shopping opportunities in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood are sure to leave your bags stuffed with take-home memories for you and the folks back home, including bookstores, boutiques and local artisanal creations. Here’s a few of our favourite shopping spots sure to impress:
- Jeans Jeans Jeans, 5575 Casgrain Avenue
- Lvnea perfumes and apothecary, 160 Saint-Viateur Street East
- Kimono Vintage Japanese store, 783 de Bienville Street
- Kyoto Fleurs flower shop, 1893 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Martin Rooseboom Vélo European bike shop, 2200 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Aux 33 Tours record shop, 1373 Mont-Royal Avenue East
- Boutique Unicorn, 5135 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Joie de Livres bookstore, 5163 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Mala Mtl thrift for plus-sizes and more, 4665 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Librairie Drawn & Quarterly bookstore, 176 Bernard Street West
- Kotn clothing, 29 Saint-Viateur Street
- De Stiil Bookstore, 351 Duluth Avenue East
- BKIND vegan cosmetics, 5301 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
- Au Papier Japonais paper shop, 24 Fairmount Avenue
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.