What to do in Montreal - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Esterina** · 03-06-2007, 09:04 AM

I thought I'd share with all tpunks the tips for Montreal I just gave by PM to a fellow tpunk.

I lived in Montreal for 15 years, and now I'm back in my hometown, Quebec City. There is much more to see than the old town, downtown, and Crescent Street,

My first advice would be to go on the french side to eat out, and get a totally different feel of Montreal. Just about anywhere on St-Denis (from St-Catherine until Mont-Royal) or Mont-Royal (east side of St-Denis), you'll find nice restaurants. Ambiance : cool artist.

Around that area, St-Denis/Mont-Royal there are also several trendy disco/bars, but filled with francophones ! They don't bite, and most of them speak perfect english with a strange accent.

Also if you want, for a real "francophone experience" I could give you live music cafés/bars that takes you away from the typical tourist attractions.

St-Laurent, from Sherbrooke north until Mont-Royal is also very trendy, but you'll pay $15 for a burger. Many good spots for a night out. Half anglophones, half francophones. Ambiance : young, rich, and beautiful.

Those well kept secrets :

• Puca Puca : Peruvian restaurant, they served excellent fish for little $ when I was there. Hope it's still good ! (5400 St-Laurent/Bernard)

• La Petite Marche : french cuisine, huge portions, fantastic quality/quantity/price. We used to go there every month ! Come early because it very popular. (5035 St-Denis)

• Byblos : iranien food, tasty and excellent price ! Gypsy-intellectual ambiance. (1499 Laurier East)

• Ouzeri : not such a secret though, but excellent real traditional greek food. A little pricier than the others. (4690 St-Denis)

• Blue Nil : ethiopian food, you eat with your hands, very good food and price (3706 St-Denis/Sherbrooke)

What to do ?

In Eastern Montreal four attractions side by side (Sherbrooke Street East corner Pie-IX) :

The Biodome http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome/bdm.htm

The Botanical Garden

the Insectarium (inside the Botanical Garden)
http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium/

the Olympic Stadium

Downtown/Old town

Museum of Fine Arts (1380 Sherbrooke Street West http://www.mbam.qc.ca/fr/index.html),

Musée Pointe-à-Callière (350 Place Royale old Montreal http://www.pacmusee.qc.ca/index.aspx)

Notre-Dame Basilic

Walking/Biking
Nice place to walk or bike, have a piknik. Kind of romantic at night.

Mont-Royal Mount, the small mountain at the west end of Mont-Royal Street. You are able to see it from downtown.

Parc Lafontaine, on Sherbrooke Street East, between Papineau and Rachel.

Canal Lachine http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/canallachine/index_e.asp

Fun time !

Montreal's casino http://www.casino-de-montreal.com/montreal/nav/accueil

Montreal's La Ronde Amusement park http://www.laronde.com/en/

Hummm, I'm out of idea for now. I hope this help, and don't hesitate for more infos.

Cheers !

**millmuff** · 03-06-2007, 10:02 AM

Montreal is a great city, I wish I could have read this before I went there a few years back.

I was there for two weeks on business. The food was probably my favorite thing about the city. I didn't have one bad meal, and since I didn't have to pay for I was able to go to a few places I might never have got to try!

Thanks atchoum...but I didn't see the rippers in there anywhere???? haha

**Esterina** · 03-06-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millmuff

but I didn't see the rippers in there anywhere???? haha

What is the rippers ???

**travelpunk** · 03-06-2007, 11:22 AM

Very nice, E!

I'm salivating over those restaurant "hidden gems!

!"

I'll remember the French side when I ever make it over there

As always...

**simply_angelic** · 03-06-2007, 11:40 AM

Ugh....you didnt seem to mention schwartz's (sp?) perhaps because it's not really a secret....more of a must (if you eat meat). Can't beat freshly smoked montreal-style meat each day on light rye bread. Man, I would love one of their sandwiches right now...mmmm.....

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-06-2007, 01:27 PM

^Actually, what you can't beat is Poutine at 3am from any of the greasy fast food restaurants that adorn St. Catherine's street.

**BigE** · 03-06-2007, 01:39 PM

I was going to go to Montreal this winter, but I think I will go this summer instead. Thanks for the tips!

**Esterina** · 03-06-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_angelic

Ugh....you didnt seem to mention schwartz's (sp?) perhaps because it's not really a secret....more of a must (if you eat meat).

Exactly, those tips I wrote in response to someone who PMed me asking for lesser known places to eat. But Schwarz's and poutine ARE must !

BigE, the best time to come to Montreal in Summer is late June until early August. Check this : festivals in Montreal.

T. :

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-07-2007, 05:59 AM

I have to say that Montreal in the summer is one of my all time favorite places. What a great city.

BigE - you grew up in MA and haven't been to Montreal? Shame on you!

In the winter however....that's another story. There is a good reason why there is a whole network of underground walk ways that connect many public buildings and malls to the metro.

**freespiritz** · 03-07-2007, 08:44 PM

Poutine!!!!!

I wants me some poutine. I think I might have to get some if my friends and I roadtrip to Quebec (province) at the end of the month.

And yes, I had the quintessential smoked meat sandwich in Montreal. Good city, good times.

**Esterina** · 03-08-2007, 06:58 AM

Did you know that in some restaurants, you can find as many as 10-20 different poutines ? With sausages, chicken, peas, pepper sauce, cold slaw (!), meat spaghetti sauce, etc.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-08-2007, 09:08 AM

^Interesting....I didn't know that. I have only had the basic fries/gravy/cheese. Sausage sounds tasty....might as well up the cholesterol factor a bit more!:D

**Esterina** · 03-08-2007, 09:15 AM

One can't eat that on a daily basis !

**freespiritz** · 03-08-2007, 09:17 AM

In honor of poutine...here is the stuff I consumed when I was roadtripping through Canada, after we had tried to sneak in to some waterfalls that we didn't want to pay for. We picknicked within hearing distance of the water, but sadly we didn't get to see the actuall falls!

But mm, poutine.

LynseyTV · 05-10-2007, 12:27 PM

hey guys i think i'm going to be traveling to montreal the first week of june in 2007. It will be the first trip i'll be taking on my own. Any recommendations? Any places I should hit up or avoid?

Thanks!!!

**Fedfe** · 05-10-2007, 02:01 PM

I think the Grand Prix is on in early June so you might be there for it, apparently its crazy nuts. I havent been here for it yet, but this summer is my first and I'm looking forward to it.

There are lots of great things to do and probably lots of places to avoid, it depends what you want. Lots of good nightspots on St. Laurent and St. Denis. Crescent street has some nice pubs but also a lot of trashy clubs where all the frat boys and slutty girls get wasted. And its kinda pricey. But Brutopia is a good pub there.

St. Laurent is pretty sweet, lots of cool stores and things so just walk up and down it both at night and day, so many people about. Schwartz's for amazing smoked meat sandwich, Biftek for beer and popcorn, $2 Chow-Mein for, well $2 Chow-mein at 3 am is amazing, at Pine and St. Laurent.

Go to Mont Royal Park and Park LaFontaine. ..

It just goes on and on.

**MolsonGirl** · 05-10-2007, 04:01 PM

It's true, Montreal is an amazing city, with tons to do.. The Bagels are famous as are the smoked meats. There are several universities, tam tam jams on Mont Royal on Sundays. Seriously just wander and see what you find.

**voyd** · 06-21-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freespiritz

In honor of poutine...here is the stuff I consumed when I was roadtripping through Canada, after we had tried to sneak in to some waterfalls that we didn't want to pay for. We picknicked within hearing distance of the water, but sadly we didn't get to see the actuall falls!

But mm, poutine.

Woa, wtf exactly is that?

And thanks for all the great tips, Esterina!

If you have any updates now, please add 'em!

**mollymore** · 06-22-2009, 08:13 AM

poutine is french fries with grave and cheese curds. I eat it every day when I'm in Montreal =)

Stevie Wonder is giving a free concert on July 31 as part of JazzFest. I know JazzFest makes the city busy and crazy but IMO it would be worth it for the concert, LOL

Molly

**travelpunk** · 06-22-2009, 05:01 PM

Dayyyyyymmnnnnn! Those fries look scrumptiously delicious

!

If I was is Montreal,
I too would make a routine
of consum'n poutine.
It looks mean
and obscene
I'd lick the plate clean
like a potato fiend.

Shiat

.