Montréal Guide

Tour la nuit

May 29 — the same evening as the symposium

A longstanding Montréal tradition: streets are closed to cars and cyclists of all ages and abilities meander through the city after dark, with lights, music, and snack pit-stops along the way. Registration at the link below.

velo.qc.ca →

Eat & Drink

Cafés

• Café Olympico — A Montréal institution with the original location in Mile End plus spots in the Old Port and downtown.
• Café Chez Teta 227 Rue Rachel East — Delicious Lebanese café.
• Café Italia 6840 St-Laurent — A Little Italy staple for espresso and sandwiches. Italian grocer Milano next door.

Restaurants

• Papito — Thoughtful family-style barbecue with delicious sides.
• Parvis — Veggie-forward salads, pizzas, wine, and a (competitive) outdoor terrasse.
• SWIRL 230 Rachel East — Japanese vegan ice cream.
• Rôtisserie Portugalia 34 Rachel St W and Ma Poule Mouillée 69 Rachel St E — Two beloved Portuguese chicken shops on the same street.
• Patati Patata 4177 St-Laurent — Tiny, inexpensive, and excellent: beef, fish, or tofu burgers with poutine and generous sides. The line moves fast.
• Dunya 2 Sherbrooke East — Great falafel.
• Queen of Sheba 4525 Parc Ave — Delicious Ethiopian food.
• Pho Bang New York 1001 St-Laurent — A Chinatown favourite. La Gauchetière between St-Urbain and St-Laurent is a good place to start exploring the neighbourhood.

Bakeries & Bagels

• St-Viateur Bagel 263 Rue St-Viateur W and Fairmount Bagel 74 Fairmount W — Montréal bagels are smaller, denser, and wood-fired. The debate between these two shops is a local institution — try both.
• Brioche à Tête 107 Avenue Fairmount W
• Boulangerie Le Toledo 351 Mont-Royal Ave E and Wellington St, Verdun
• Boulangerie Les Co’pain d’abord 418 Rue Rachel E

Bars & Breweries

• Dieu du Ciel! Mile End — A local craft brewery with a great snacks menu.
• Furco Downtown — Drinks and small plates in a historic district.
• Messorem Bracitorium — A popular craft brewery with a large (kid-friendly) open yard.

Explore

Neighbourhoods

• Mile End — Both bagel shops, Café Olympico, Drawn & Quarterly bookstores, and Dieu du Ciel! are all within a short stroll of each other.
• The Plateau & Mont-Royal Ave — On May 28th Mont-Royal Ave is pedestrianized.
• Little Italy — Walkable neighborhood with restaurants, cafes, and Jean Talon Market.
• Old Port (Vieux-Montréal) — Historic cobblestone streets, cafés, galleries, and the Notre-Dame Basilica.
• Chinatown — La Gauchetière between St-Urbain and St-Laurent is a good starting point.
• Verdun — A neighbourhood along the St. Lawrence with a great local strip on Wellington St and easy river access.

Parks & Outdoors

• Mont Royal Park — Montréal’s iconic hilltop park with long. Hike or bike up, or take the 11 bus close to the summit. Excellent views of the city and river from a lookout.
• Jarry Park — A large city park with a public pool.

Culture

Museums & Galleries

• Belgo Building Downtown — A hub for small contemporary art galleries, all under one roof.
• Montréal Museum of Fine Arts 1380 Sherbrooke W
• McCord Stewart Museum 690 Sherbrooke W
• Canadian Centre for Architecture 1920 Baile St
• Pointe-à-Callière Archaeology Museum 350 Place Royale — In the Old Port.

Bookstores & Markets

• Drawn & Quarterly — Two stores (adult and children’s) across from each other in Mile End.
• DeStijl Bookstore 351 Duluth E — English-language bookstore.
• Jean Talon Market — Shops, grab seasonal produce, and have lunch. A natural end point for a Little Italy visit.

For Families

• Science Centre 2 De la Commune St W — In the Old Port.
• Insectarium, Biodôme, Planétarium & Botanical Gardens — All part of one complex in the east end; plan a half or full day.
• Jarry Park — large park with a public pool.