Summer in Montreal
We had such a great time in Montreal this summer, that we had to share some of our other favourites that didn't fit into our guide! The city is so beautiful and it really comes alive in the summertime. It's full of so much culture, and while listening to French can sometimes be confusing, it's also incredibly romantic.
Montreal definitely has that European-feel to it, and one of the unique benefits to this Canadian city is the "picnic rule," meaning that it's legal to drink outside along with your food while picnic'ing. One of the most popular (and serene) places to chill out in the sunshine is Mont-Royal, and every Sunday in the summer a large drum circle forms for some Sunday Funday festivities!
There's also a ton of festivals all year long, and we were happily surprised to learn there's even a POUTINE festival. Can you get more Canadian?!
Mile-Ex is an up-and-coming neighbourhood with two gems that are worth the Uber ride for (yes, Montreal is one of the few cities in Canada that has Uber!). First up is Dispatch Coffee, one of the few micro-roasteries in town, and both the coffee and the patio are so lovely. Next door is Restaurant Manitoba, where the entire menu is focused on getting "back to nature," with cocktails made from local herbs and berries, and a wine list that is all "natural and biodynamic."
Chez Ma Grosse Truie Cherie is a really unique restaurant with gorgeous decor and a Quebecois menu that is all things pig, pig, pig! Besides an impressive charcuterie plate, their pig's feet is also delicious. If you're not a fan of pork, the mussels and fries will definitely fill you up. Seriously, there must have been about 75 mussels...
Patios are the best part of summer (okay, one of the best parts) and the adorable Micro Resto La Famille satisfied our craving for a fresh and local meal. The menu changes weekly, and we could have sat outside all day long here. For a pick-me-up, Pikolo Espresso Bar is one of the best espressos in the city! See more of our favorites in our guide to the Plateau here.
Ordering Chinese food in French is one of those multi-cultural experiences that makes Canada so awesome, and we are obsessed with the dumplings and won-tons at Trilogie. It's a modern Chinese restaurant in a beautiful space, and feels like epitome of "local." Plus, don't forget to check out the other local hot spots in our Mile End guide here.
Montreal is covered in street art (that's one of the annual festivals!), and Instock Showroom is the place to be if you want to connect to the local art and fashion scene. The streetwear boutique is also an online shop, and you can take 15% off with the code "STOCKUP." Next door is Station 16 Gallery, which is an art gallery dedicated to street art. Yeah, pretty amazing.
One last thing...keep the summer nights going with a visit to Le Mal Necessaire. It's a basement tiki bar that serves cocktails in coconuts with a deep house soundtrack, and we loved it so much we went back twice. Just look for the neon pineapple!
A big thank you to Tourisme Quebec and Tourisme Montreal for having us!