Guidebook for Montreal
Food Scene
Pikolo is petite but the people who work there have the biggest hearts, friendly and warm. Of course, their coffee is tasty and bold. It's a great place to hang out, write, or think.
115 locals recommend
Pikolo Espresso Bar
1635 Av du ParcPikolo is petite but the people who work there have the biggest hearts, friendly and warm. Of course, their coffee is tasty and bold. It's a great place to hang out, write, or think.
Cozy and warm with wood tables. It's the perfect place for a morning coffee. You can sit at the bench and look out through the window, pass the hours people watching.
53 locals recommend
Café Nocturne
19 Rue Prince Arthur OCozy and warm with wood tables. It's the perfect place for a morning coffee. You can sit at the bench and look out through the window, pass the hours people watching.
Wood floors and tables, a well priced French bistro that serves up tasty, hearty meals. Brunches are super fun with croissants and pastries. You can just have coffee there as well!
21 locals recommend
La petite adresse
5365 Av du ParcWood floors and tables, a well priced French bistro that serves up tasty, hearty meals. Brunches are super fun with croissants and pastries. You can just have coffee there as well!
Quick pace, swift moving sushi joint. Food is fresh and light. Their salmon bowl is a house favourite, of course, don't forget to look at the wall for specials, the tuna belly is a must!
246 locals recommend
Kazu
1844 Rue Sainte-Catherine OQuick pace, swift moving sushi joint. Food is fresh and light. Their salmon bowl is a house favourite, of course, don't forget to look at the wall for specials, the tuna belly is a must!
French food all the way. Check out their menu on their website. It's an institution favourite here, well worth the price.
341 locals recommend
Au Pied de Cochon
536 Av. Duluth EFrench food all the way. Check out their menu on their website. It's an institution favourite here, well worth the price.
Vegan flare, bright lights, red couches, with delivery and take away options. My favourites: BLT with added tofu, Thai bowl, and their cornbread. You can also get fresh juices at the bar.
365 locals recommend
Aux Vivres Plateau
4631 Boul. Saint-LaurentVegan flare, bright lights, red couches, with delivery and take away options. My favourites: BLT with added tofu, Thai bowl, and their cornbread. You can also get fresh juices at the bar.
This place functions more like a caffeinated library. MacBooks on every table, everyone (hipsters, old, young, and locals) seems to be on a work-a-thon. The coffee is strong and decadent.
178 locals recommend
Café Névé
151 Rue Rachel EThis place functions more like a caffeinated library. MacBooks on every table, everyone (hipsters, old, young, and locals) seems to be on a work-a-thon. The coffee is strong and decadent.
A Montreal institution for French cuisine. It's well worth just going to look at the decor, checkered floors, high ceilings, and glorious mirrors. Not a cheap eat, but something to splurge on.
220 locals recommend
L'Express
3927 R. Saint-DenisA Montreal institution for French cuisine. It's well worth just going to look at the decor, checkered floors, high ceilings, and glorious mirrors. Not a cheap eat, but something to splurge on.
Quaint resto next to the mountain. Serves up organic juices, raw foods, and salads. You can also get raw un-sprouted nuts and coconut water.
49 locals recommend
Crudessence
105 Rue Rachel OuestQuaint resto next to the mountain. Serves up organic juices, raw foods, and salads. You can also get raw un-sprouted nuts and coconut water.
If you're exploring the downtown core or around the Concordia campus, this is great place to have cheap tasty eats. Their naan is comforting as are their dosas.
41 locals recommend
Thali Cuisine Indienne
1409 Rue Saint-MarcIf you're exploring the downtown core or around the Concordia campus, this is great place to have cheap tasty eats. Their naan is comforting as are their dosas.
Le Dépanneur Café
206 Rue Bernard OHipster joint with live music.
Lovely little cafe with handmade cupcakes and sweets that are so good you won't know it's vegan and gluten-free. Brunch is also served there!
21 locals recommend
Sophie Sucrée
3770 Boul. Saint-LaurentLovely little cafe with handmade cupcakes and sweets that are so good you won't know it's vegan and gluten-free. Brunch is also served there!
Cozy cafe with high wood tables & open windows. Coffee is bold, but their homemade donuts are piping hot & out of this world. For lunch you can order ramen which is totally veg friendly.
30 locals recommend
Cafe Sardine
9 Av. Fairmount ECozy cafe with high wood tables & open windows. Coffee is bold, but their homemade donuts are piping hot & out of this world. For lunch you can order ramen which is totally veg friendly.
This inexpensive Northern Chinese cuisine has bona fides handmade dumplings, which is comforting and hearty. Various dumpling fillings to choose from, veg + vegan friendly as well.
14 locals recommend
Mai Xiang Yuan
1082 Boul. Saint-LaurentThis inexpensive Northern Chinese cuisine has bona fides handmade dumplings, which is comforting and hearty. Various dumpling fillings to choose from, veg + vegan friendly as well.
Shopping
Independently owned -- A place for aesthetic loving junkies, those who love: inks, papers, pens, and stationaries from different parts of the world. It's worth a visit to soak in all the colours.
11 locals recommend
Nota Bene
3416 Av du ParcIndependently owned -- A place for aesthetic loving junkies, those who love: inks, papers, pens, and stationaries from different parts of the world. It's worth a visit to soak in all the colours.
A neighbourhood institution, family owned, second hand bookshop on literature, philosophy, and art. Browse away, but don't forget about the 50 cent and dollar books, there are gems in those piles!
9 locals recommend
Word (The)
469 Rue MiltonA neighbourhood institution, family owned, second hand bookshop on literature, philosophy, and art. Browse away, but don't forget about the 50 cent and dollar books, there are gems in those piles!
My favourite independent book store and publishing press. Set aside time for browsing, the latest literary-fiction, novellas, bande dessinée. They have a great children's books section and cookbook.
134 locals recommend
Librairie Drawn & Quarterly
211 Rue Bernard OMy favourite independent book store and publishing press. Set aside time for browsing, the latest literary-fiction, novellas, bande dessinée. They have a great children's books section and cookbook.
A warehouse of pure jeans bliss. Brand name jeans at low and affordable prices. You can try on as many pairs as you want. The staff are enthusiastic about helping you find the perfect fit!
24 locals recommend
Jeans Jeans Jeans
5575 Av. CasgrainA warehouse of pure jeans bliss. Brand name jeans at low and affordable prices. You can try on as many pairs as you want. The staff are enthusiastic about helping you find the perfect fit!
Essentials
A carnival shopping experience, slightly chaotic, stranger than fiction, with über-straight up staff. It has the cheapest prices on conventional & organic foods in the city. You'll fall in love!
150 locals recommend
Segal's Market
4001 Boul. Saint-LaurentA carnival shopping experience, slightly chaotic, stranger than fiction, with über-straight up staff. It has the cheapest prices on conventional & organic foods in the city. You'll fall in love!
Open air farmer's market, full of fresh produce, gourmet food shops, cafes, and bakeries. It has great prices. Don't forget to take your camera as it's well worth spending the afternoon there.
1744 locals recommend
Jean-Talon Market
7070 Av. Henri-JulienOpen air farmer's market, full of fresh produce, gourmet food shops, cafes, and bakeries. It has great prices. Don't forget to take your camera as it's well worth spending the afternoon there.
Around the corner Middle Eastern food shop with cheap prices for basic staples. However, I would stay away from the meat section.
17 locals recommend
Marche Lobo
3509 Av du ParcAround the corner Middle Eastern food shop with cheap prices for basic staples. However, I would stay away from the meat section.
Cute indie place for artisanal baked goods, especially if you're enroute to Parc La Fontaine. Their sandwiches have a certain flare. I am a fan of their danishes!
400 locals recommend
Boulangerie Les Co'Pains d'Abord
1965 Avenue du Mont-Royal ECute indie place for artisanal baked goods, especially if you're enroute to Parc La Fontaine. Their sandwiches have a certain flare. I am a fan of their danishes!
This bakery is a must visit especially when the baked goods come out of the oven!! Things to taste: decadent flaky Kouign Amann, Almond croissants, buttery croissants.
126 locals recommend
Pâtisserie Au Kouign Amann
316 Avenue du Mont-Royal EThis bakery is a must visit especially when the baked goods come out of the oven!! Things to taste: decadent flaky Kouign Amann, Almond croissants, buttery croissants.
Organic artisanal bakery that is closed on Mondays. Uber-friendly staff, with excellent selection of breads from savoury to sweet. I am a fan of their apple caramel swirls and olive fougasse!
217 locals recommend
Guillaume
5170 Boul. Saint-LaurentOrganic artisanal bakery that is closed on Mondays. Uber-friendly staff, with excellent selection of breads from savoury to sweet. I am a fan of their apple caramel swirls and olive fougasse!
What else can I say...24 hours Montreal bagels. You'll find desperate carbohydrate-craving locals and visitors waiting patiently in line.
521 locals recommend
Fairmount Bagel
74 Av. Fairmount OWhat else can I say...24 hours Montreal bagels. You'll find desperate carbohydrate-craving locals and visitors waiting patiently in line.
Brioche Dorée
3611 Boul. Saint-LaurentFor your around the corner baguettes or morning croissants!
Small but quaint organic and natural food store. They have reasonably priced bio produce.
17 locals recommend
Les Marchés Tau
4238 R. Saint-DenisSmall but quaint organic and natural food store. They have reasonably priced bio produce.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great brunches & drinks. It's a charming little bar, but don't forget about The Cardinal upstairs, the finest English Tearoom with mind-blowing decor, tea cups, piano, and wallpaper. Tea and scones
240 locals recommend
Sparrow
5322 Boul. Saint-LaurentGreat brunches & drinks. It's a charming little bar, but don't forget about The Cardinal upstairs, the finest English Tearoom with mind-blowing decor, tea cups, piano, and wallpaper. Tea and scones
Artisanal beer around the corner. A terrace full of my neighbours. It's a great place to meet up and to unload stories of the day, or if you just want to hang out with locals in the area.
81 locals recommend
Benelux
245 Rue Sherbrooke OArtisanal beer around the corner. A terrace full of my neighbours. It's a great place to meet up and to unload stories of the day, or if you just want to hang out with locals in the area.
Part bar, pub, and club with live a DJ. Just a little warning the dance floor can really fill up on the weekend. They play electro, house, funk, hip hop, reggae.
14 locals recommend
Bar Blizzarts
3956 A Boulevard Saint-LaurentPart bar, pub, and club with live a DJ. Just a little warning the dance floor can really fill up on the weekend. They play electro, house, funk, hip hop, reggae.
A secret spot tucked away behind a single door. Locals know the treasure set behind the velvet curtain & down the corridor, a dim lounge with candles & chill out jazz. Just go & have a drink!
207 locals recommend
BAR - Big in Japan
4175 Boul. Saint-LaurentA secret spot tucked away behind a single door. Locals know the treasure set behind the velvet curtain & down the corridor, a dim lounge with candles & chill out jazz. Just go & have a drink!
Everything Else
Need to stretch it out? Go sweat it out at hot yoga. The studio is sleek and clean, with classes throughout the day. They also have yoga for trade and a $20 intro card for a week
64 locals recommend
Modo Yoga
3863 St Laurent BlvdNeed to stretch it out? Go sweat it out at hot yoga. The studio is sleek and clean, with classes throughout the day. They also have yoga for trade and a $20 intro card for a week
Studio Bliss
4730 Av. PapineauPretty yoga studio with excellent intro rates, just inquire.
Arts & Culture
Experimental cuisine made with local produce. The menu changes by theme, there are veg and meat options. Excellent fresh food, I've never left disappointed. The terrace is well worth it alone.
13 locals recommend
Labo culinaire - Foodlab
1201 Boul. Saint-LaurentExperimental cuisine made with local produce. The menu changes by theme, there are veg and meat options. Excellent fresh food, I've never left disappointed. The terrace is well worth it alone.
For contemporary art lovers. The Belgo is full of commercial and artist run centres. You can stop into SKOL, CIRCA, OPTICA to take a look
60 locals recommend
Edifice Belgo
372 Rue Sainte-CatherineFor contemporary art lovers. The Belgo is full of commercial and artist run centres. You can stop into SKOL, CIRCA, OPTICA to take a look
A performing arts centre with various venues. The repertoire cinema shows all types of inter national and Arthouse films. Their cozy chairs and intimate theatres alone are worth the visit.
47 locals recommend
Cinéma Excentris
3536 Boul. Saint-LaurentA performing arts centre with various venues. The repertoire cinema shows all types of inter national and Arthouse films. Their cozy chairs and intimate theatres alone are worth the visit.
Tuesday is cheap movie night at this repertoire cinema that shows digital restorations, Arthouse, current international and quebecois films. A weekly flyer is available in the LaCite mall.
189 locals recommend
Cinema du Parc
3575 Av du ParcTuesday is cheap movie night at this repertoire cinema that shows digital restorations, Arthouse, current international and quebecois films. A weekly flyer is available in the LaCite mall.
For your blockbuster movie fix. Tuesday will only cost you $6.75!
384 locals recommend
Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal
977 Rue Sainte-Catherine OFor your blockbuster movie fix. Tuesday will only cost you $6.75!