"Oh Canada's" gift to the world is most certainly Montreal. Someone said Montreal is the love child of Paris and Brooklyn, raised on smoked meat, cold winters, poetry, and hedonism. As a mix of French-colonial and bohemian neighborhoods, Montreal represent a perfect blend of old and new, traditional and edgy. It's the perfect scene for hipsters and conservative travel enthusiasts. In the Summer, festivals give cause for a trip north of the border almost every weekend. Yet, Montreal remains alive during the cooler seasons- just as famed Chef Martin Picard. A plethora of unique French Canadian restuarants such as Picard's Au Pied De Cochon make Montreal a foodie's dream year-round. In fact, we find it difficult to travel to Montreal without placing a severely strong emphasis on food. For an experience off the beaten path, leave the city to explore the natural beauty of Quebec's landscape.
Day 1 — Old Montreal: Stone, Stories, and French Comfort
Old Montreal is where the past leans in close, smells faintly of butter and woodsmoke, and whispers, ‘Relax… you’re in Canada now.’
Bistro Marché de la Villette (Old Montreal) - This small bistro may be our pick for favorite dining experience in Montreal. But, Bistro Marche is no underdog! It's one of Old Montreal's more popular stops, frequented by both locals and travelers. Order samples of Montreal's finest meats, cheese, and pastries or explore their robust menu. Charcuterie boards, buttery croissants, omelettes that wobble perfectly. Locals slip in for a coffee and a quiet corner before the tourists wake up. We recommend the Chef's Selection (pictured) to cap your food journey in Montreal.
Wander Old Montreal - It's a bit touristy, but face it, you're a tourist. This part of town most closely resembles an old European city, yet contains the flair of center-city Philly. During the summer, you'll love the waterfront! Cobblestone streets, 18th-century buildings, horse-drawn carriages you should absolutely ignore, and alleyways that smell like espresso and rain. Walk past Notre-Dame Basilica, Rue Saint-Paul, and the Old Port. This isn’t a museum — people live here, argue here, fall in love here.
Suite 701 — Terrasse & Lounge (Place d’Armes Hotel) - A stylish local escape. Bar snacks include frog legs, escargot, amazing deer sliders, and specialty desserts. Order a cocktail, sit by the big windows, and watch the city hum outside. In summer, the terrace is one of the most understated rooftop spots in the neighborhood.
Toqué! - Montreal’s temple of fine dining. Chef Normand Laprise cooks Quebec terroir with precision and heart — wild game, foraged herbs, seafood fresh enough to make you emotional. Tasting menu recommended. Dress like you respect yourself.
Day 2 — The Markets & The Mile End: Bread, Beer, and the City’s Beating Heart
Montreal thrives in its markets and neighborhoods — places where people still argue over bagels and know their cheesemonger by name.
Atwater Market - You know a Weekend Pilgrim likes a good market. Farmer's markets are preferred. Montreal, like all cities with clout, hosts a couple good ones. We love Atwater, maybe Montreal's best known spot for tourists and locals to buy fresh produce, meat, cheese, or to sample some local favorites. You can definitely find maple taffy on snow, a local treasure. We prefer sampling the various deli specialties for rare meat and cheese that aren't available in the states. Cheeses that smell like decisions, produce that looks hand-polished, flower stalls, butchers, bakers, and the occasional accordion. Grab a fresh baguette, some cured meats, maybe a pastry. Walk the canal while you eat.
La Banquise (Plateau) — Poutine Institution - Open 24/7, beloved by students, artists, cab drivers, and anyone who’s ever needed cheese curds at 3 a.m. Go classic or get the La Matty (pulled pork) or La T-Rex (meats of questionable necessity but unquestionable joy).
Mile End Stroll - Bookstores, indie cafés, street murals, and the unmistakable Montreal coolness that doesn’t try too hard. Stop by Café Olimpico for espresso, St-Viateur Bagel for fresh sesame bagels and Drawn & Quarterly for comics and art books.
Au Pied de Cochon - Martin Picard’s shrine to decadence. Foie gras on everything. Duck in a can. Poutines with more foie. This is not a light meal — this is an experience. Arrive hungry, leave victorious or defeated.
Day 3 — St. Henri & Griffintown: Wine, Fire, and Montreal’s Creative Side
Montreal is a city of reinvention — factories turned into restaurants, warehouses turned into bars, old neighborhoods reborn with grit and charm.
Lachine Canal Walk (St. Henri) - Start with a peaceful walk or bike ride along the Lachine Canal — the water calm, the path lined with murals and joggers, the kind of quiet that feels earned.
Liverpool House - Joe Beef’s sister spot — equally beloved, slightly less chaotic, still absolutely unforgettable. Patrons often visit due to failed attempts at securing a reservation at Joe Beef, but Liverpool House stands on its own! Lobster spaghetti, oysters, and plates that feel like a warm hug from someone burly. Simple fare becomes a work of art at Liverpool House. Case in point, ham on toast has never tasted this good. This is Montreal hospitality at its finest.
Bar Le Lab (Quartier Latin) — Cocktails With Character - The bartenders here treat cocktails like performance art — flame, smoke, house-made bitters, and unapologetic personality. Try something with maple, something smoky, something that reminds you Montreal is cold enough to justify strong drinks.
Joe Beef (Little Burgundy) - One of the most important restaurants in North America. Meat-heavy, rich, irreverent, imaginative. You'll have to get a reservation months in advance, but this is definately bucket list worthy. The chalkboard menu changes constantly — steak, foie, seafood towers, bone marrow, rabbit. Or, behold, Joe Beef's Double Down- two huge slabs of foie gras eaten together like a hogie. You’ll eat too much, drink too much, talk too loudly. Exactly as intended.
Day 4 — Parks, Culture, and One Last Meal Before Winter Returns
Montreal understands seasons. It celebrates summer like a stolen prize and embraces winter with booze, fat, and good humor.
Mount Royal Park - Climb or stroll to the lookout for sweeping views of downtown and the river. Designed by the same guy who did Central Park, but rougher around the edges — in a beautiful way. Watch locals jog, picnic, or recover from the night before.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts - A cultural anchor — contemporary galleries, indigenous art, installations that hit you unexpectedly. Locals return again and again because the exhibits actually matter.
Café Myriade - Go to Café Myriade near Concordia — meticulous coffee, pastries worth writing home about, and a crowd of students and creatives. It’s a slice of real Montreal.
Brasserie T - If you want refinement without the tasting menu, head to Brasserie T! — Toqué’s approachable little sister. Charcuterie, tartares, grilled meats, and a view of the Place des Arts crowds drifting by. Order a final glass of Quebec cider. Toast the city. Promise to return when it snows.
