YOUR NEXT LONG WEEKEND: MONTREAL

Long weekends are always welcome, especially in the summer months. This year, July 4th conveniently fell on a Thursday: my partner and I, including two of my friends, decided to take a four day trip to Montreal, leaving on Wednesday evening and arriving Thursday morning for a four day weekend. With European vibes much closer to home, we enjoyed the French Quebec city, with its ample bike lanes, poutine and smoked meat, plus plenty of activities and festivals to take part in. Below, I’ve listed how we traveled, where we stayed, and some of the spots we visited. It was an easy trip to make in four days, and I highlight the best ways to make the most of your stay.

GETTING THERE
7 hours. That’s the amount of time it takes for one to travel from New York City (dusty Port Authority to be exact) to Montreal, Canada. By bus. This was my first time traveling between Countries via bus, and the experience was quite different.

The bus ride begins as mentioned at Port Authority. We booked our tickets through Greyhound for around $175 round trip, opting for the overnight bus that left at 11 pm, arriving at 7 am in Montreal. The ride is smooth, and I recommend this option, as you can maximize your time best traveling overnight. The ride back, however, was substantially longer, with customs and border control taking around two hours to get through. We decided to take the bus instead of flying, as flights were all $300 leaving New York. For alternative options (and if you are traveling from New York like us) there is also the Amtrak Adirondack Train that winds through the Hudson Valley and leaves daily, with scenic views of upstate New York.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed in the Plateau Mount Royal area. Located a little way out of the main city center, the area has many quaint homes, restaurants, cafes, bars and parks. A trademark feature of Montreal architecture that we found quite interesting was intricate spiral staircases in the front of homes, leading to upstairs apartments. Many of these also had space between them, and ample back alleys behind. We enjoyed seeing the mix of families and young people in the Mount Royale area, and stayed near the Rosemont train station on the orange line, as well as several restaurants, bars and cafes. Here is the link to our Airbnb ( if you’re new to Airbnb, click here to use my code for $40 off)!

Other areas we enjoyed and wished we could have stayed in include Mile End, a popular destination with many restaurants and outdoor festivals, as well as Little Italy, with its several Italian restaurants and old school vibe.

WHAT TO DO

I recommend visiting in the summer, as Montreal is known for its outdoor festivals, concerts and more that happen from June-August.

Montreal Jazz Festival: We were lucky to visit during the festival featuring several days worth of jazz concerts, including some by legendary artists and famous musicians. We went to a free concert, so make sure to check the calendar on the days when you are going, as not all of the concerts require tickets.

Botanical Garden has beautiful views, such as this one.

Botanical Gardens: The Gardens are beautiful to walk through, with changing exhibits each year. We visited during the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, and were able to walk through intricate temples and shrines that were beautiful in the warm weather.

Habitat67: Being architects and designers, we made sure to visit Habitat67. Designed by Moshe Safdie, the complex was built for the 1967 World’s Fair (many of the environments in Montreal remain from this extraordinary design fair). Today, it is a residential complex that is closed to the public, but group tours can be reserved by using the link above.

Biosphere: Also designed for the 1967 World’s fair by Buckminster Fuller, this incredible design structure is currently an environmental museum dedicated to preserving and teaching ways to inhabit our world. I highly suggest visiting: the exhibits are well done, using interactive media and technology to teach, as well as hosting many panels and discussions to further engage visitors when they are there. The structure itself lends itself to one of immense interest, and is also located on Parc Jean Drapeau, which during the summer also has several festivals and outdoor events to partake in.

Pro-tip: rent bikes on Sundays, when public bikes are free, and bike around the park, which is located on a little island accessible by bridge from the center of Montreal itself. We didn’t get a chance to do this, but wish we could have!

Leave plenty of time to explore: we planned our trip to visit one spot a day, then wandered the city and ate our way through the rest of the day. This allowed us to explore different neighborhoods and get a real sense of the city.

WHERE TO EAT?

Montreal is a food city. Famous for Poutine, we enjoyed the traditional dish, although found it too heavy for summer months. Below, I’ve listed the restaurants we visited, as well as the ones we didn’t get a chance to eat at this time around.

Montreal Plaza: Our trip to Montreal coincidentally aligned with the dates of when my boyfriend and I first met. To celebrate, we went Montreal Plaza on a Saturday night, where the atsmophere was perfect for anniversary/date night vibes. It was one of those fancy restaurants, with tasting menus and a changing menu. We ordered 6 dishes to split and found it to be the perfect amount. We especially enjoyed the uni and cannelloni.

Alep: Some of the best Syrian/Armenian food I’ve had, Alep is a quaint restaurant located near Little Italy. We were a large group, and instead of opting for the tasting menu, ordered around 7 dishes to share. I suggest the Metabal appetizer, Fattouche or Taboul salad, and the Baked Lamb.

Cafe 8 oz: A laidback cafe in Plateau Mount Royal, this classic spot has plenty of seating, great coffee and wifi. Stop by on weekends for specialty breakfast sandwiches, or a great spot to work from during the week.

Schwartz’s Deli: While we didn’t get to visit during our trip, Montreal is famous for its smoked meat, especially at this world famous deli. It’s offered pretty much all over town, and you can find quality meats for a good price.

Rotisserie Romados: Another spot we didn’t have time to try, this spot came highly recommended. A hole in the wall Portuguese restaurant, I desperately wanted to try its delicacies ( will have to save for another trip!) The food looks amazing, so try if you can for me!

NIGHTLIFE

We didn’t have a chance to hit too many spots, but enjoyed the nightlife in Montreal during our stay. Many of the places we visited played variations on old American pop songs from the 2000’s (very, very interesting) but this made for an even more interesting night.

Bar Alexandraplatz: A large beer hall with outdoor space (complete with string lights) the quantity of selections and visitors had a distinct European flare. Indoor lights create a pink hue throughout the space for added interest, while picnic tables outside allow for communal seating options.

Aire Commune: Easily accessed by crossing train tracks under a setting sun, Aire Commune is an outdoor venue, with market space, food and drinks. Although I’m still not sure exactly what or who it functions for, friends alerted me to the space being run by the next-door tech company. It opens on Thursday and Friday evenings until 9 for afterwork drinks, and is definitely an experience to be had.

Gokudo: A friend recommended this amazing spot, and we were dying to try. Alas, time got the best of us, and we were unable to. This unassuming cocktail spot is hidden behind a storefront, and I was immediately intrigued by its hidden agenda. Another spot to add to my growing list once I return.

Fortune: A small Mexican restaurant in Little Italy, Fortune is known for its Guedilles ( a sandwich-like entree with sausage). We went for both food and drinks, and enjoyed the cute atmosphere and colorful dining experience, plus outdoor seating that perched above the street.

GENERAL TIPS:

Visit Mount Royale Park and walk through, especially in the summer when Tam Tam (drum festival) happens
Bike rentals are free on Sundays, and the city is often swarmed with bikers in its ample bike paths
Vintage shops in Little Italy are well tailored, sourced and reminded me of New York. However, they can be a bit pricey and I wanted to find more authentic stores or markets to take something home.
Bota Bota floating spa is a must visit, but as it was 90+ Fahrenheit when we visited, we saved this for a visit in the colder months

As one can see, Montreal is full of hidden gems. Whether you are going for a week, or just four days like us, I hope you enjoy the cities beauty, found within its people, streets and overall vibe. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

Travel Narrative