Guidebook for Montréal
Essentials
Best Corner Store Ever! This neighbourhood epicerie is an absolute gem. Tons of fresh produce, pantry items, cheese, wine, beer, dairy, coffee, nuts, snacks, staples and sauces. They also carry salads and sandwiches from vegan restaurant Aux Vivres . Great prices. Friendly and helpful staff.
41 locals recommend
Fruiterie Muscat Inc
5000 R. Saint-DenisBest Corner Store Ever! This neighbourhood epicerie is an absolute gem. Tons of fresh produce, pantry items, cheese, wine, beer, dairy, coffee, nuts, snacks, staples and sauces. They also carry salads and sandwiches from vegan restaurant Aux Vivres . Great prices. Friendly and helpful staff.
Health food store. If you're looking for vegan or gluten free items, organic produce, or vitamins/supplements - this is a great resource. A short walk away on St. Laurent
141 locals recommend
Rachelle-Bery health stores
4810 Boul. Saint-LaurentHealth food store. If you're looking for vegan or gluten free items, organic produce, or vitamins/supplements - this is a great resource. A short walk away on St. Laurent
Closest Pharmacy. Just a block north of us on St. Denis, this Uniprix is a very good pharmacy that also includes a Canada Post office.
37 locals recommend
Uniprix Mariane Gagnon - Pharmacie affiliée
5101 R. Saint-DenisClosest Pharmacy. Just a block north of us on St. Denis, this Uniprix is a very good pharmacy that also includes a Canada Post office.
Food Scene
So Montreal! Corner bistro Monsieur B is a charming little spot with excellent ambiance. I would highly recommend the tasting menu. Like many Montreal restaurants, it's 'bring your own wine' - with no corking fee. So pick up a bottle or two at the corner store and settle into the window table for a cosy and romantic evening. Reservations recommended for bigger groups. Can be a bit loud when full.
21 locals recommend
Monsieur B
371 Rue Villeneuve ESo Montreal! Corner bistro Monsieur B is a charming little spot with excellent ambiance. I would highly recommend the tasting menu. Like many Montreal restaurants, it's 'bring your own wine' - with no corking fee. So pick up a bottle or two at the corner store and settle into the window table for a cosy and romantic evening. Reservations recommended for bigger groups. Can be a bit loud when full.
In the heart of Little Italy, the Jean-Talon Market is one of the oldest public markets in Montréal. The Jean-Talon Market is known for its numerous local fruit and vegetable vendors as well as the cultural diversity of its shopkeepers. It is one of the largest public markets in North America and its atmosphere is lively in both summer and winter. It’s like a little village, a place where families have gathered and generations have grown, merchants and customers alike.At the Jean-Talon Market, you won’t just find fruits and vegetables, but also flowers, spices, oils, cheese, meat, fish and artisanal bakery goods, in addition to a wide selection of regional products from all over Québec!
1744 locals recommend
Jean-Talon Market
7070 Av. Henri-JulienIn the heart of Little Italy, the Jean-Talon Market is one of the oldest public markets in Montréal. The Jean-Talon Market is known for its numerous local fruit and vegetable vendors as well as the cultural diversity of its shopkeepers. It is one of the largest public markets in North America and its atmosphere is lively in both summer and winter. It’s like a little village, a place where families have gathered and generations have grown, merchants and customers alike.At the Jean-Talon Market, you won’t just find fruits and vegetables, but also flowers, spices, oils, cheese, meat, fish and artisanal bakery goods, in addition to a wide selection of regional products from all over Québec!
Great breakfast/brunch spot. Fun, lively ambience. Friendly service and most importantly - great food. Bring an appetite!
133 locals recommend
Fabergé Restaurant
25 Av. Fairmount OGreat breakfast/brunch spot. Fun, lively ambience. Friendly service and most importantly - great food. Bring an appetite!
A Montreal classic for breakfast/brunch. Beauty's is a family owed diner that has been at that corner since 1942. If you like a bagel with cream cheese and lox, you can't go wrong here. However, my personal favourite is the Salami Melt. We go here once or twice a week when we're in town. Be prepared to wait in line at peak brunch times on weekends, but it moves quickly - and it's worth the wait anyway.
131 locals recommend
Beauty's Restaurant
93 Avenue du Mont-Royal OA Montreal classic for breakfast/brunch. Beauty's is a family owed diner that has been at that corner since 1942. If you like a bagel with cream cheese and lox, you can't go wrong here. However, my personal favourite is the Salami Melt. We go here once or twice a week when we're in town. Be prepared to wait in line at peak brunch times on weekends, but it moves quickly - and it's worth the wait anyway.
A great local spot for Italian cuisine. Cozy and comfortable. Friendly service. Great for pizza, meatballs, and salads.
15 locals recommend
Artigiani
4657 R. Saint-DenisA great local spot for Italian cuisine. Cozy and comfortable. Friendly service. Great for pizza, meatballs, and salads.
Best croissant ever!!!! Stylish coffee shop with beautiful pastries. They serve breakfast too.
74 locals recommend
Hof Kelsten
4524 Boul. Saint-LaurentBest croissant ever!!!! Stylish coffee shop with beautiful pastries. They serve breakfast too.
Romantic spot for cocktails and great seafood (get the oysters!) Great vibe and cool decor!! The service and food is top notch. Open from 4pm on, and the kitchen is open very late.
123 locals recommend
Le Majestique Montreal
4105 Boul. Saint-LaurentRomantic spot for cocktails and great seafood (get the oysters!) Great vibe and cool decor!! The service and food is top notch. Open from 4pm on, and the kitchen is open very late.
Gorgeous bakery! Do not go here if you are staying away from bread. It's too dangerous ; ) Amazing selection of fresh bread and pastries.
217 locals recommend
Guillaume
5170 Boul. Saint-LaurentGorgeous bakery! Do not go here if you are staying away from bread. It's too dangerous ; ) Amazing selection of fresh bread and pastries.
Trendy coffee shop. I would say that this would be the closest coffee shop to our place with serious coffee. It's a little pricier, but it's really cute and appealing and very high quality. For a treat - try the cold brew float with soft serve ice cream! There is a small seating area outside, but if it's full, I like to take my coffee/treat across the street and sit outside Laurier station. Great for people watching!
36 locals recommend
Noble Café
430 Avenue Laurier ETrendy coffee shop. I would say that this would be the closest coffee shop to our place with serious coffee. It's a little pricier, but it's really cute and appealing and very high quality. For a treat - try the cold brew float with soft serve ice cream! There is a small seating area outside, but if it's full, I like to take my coffee/treat across the street and sit outside Laurier station. Great for people watching!
Need a late night poutine?? Chez Claudette is a neighbourhood greasy spoon that serves authentic, super tasty poutine. (among other things like burgers, fries etc) It's a Montreal institution and they are open really until midnight on weekdays, and 24 hours on Thurs, Fri, Sat. It's 'no frills, late night eats'. Classic. FYI - There's a small patio at the side of the building.
109 locals recommend
Restaurant Chez Claudette
351 Avenue Laurier ENeed a late night poutine?? Chez Claudette is a neighbourhood greasy spoon that serves authentic, super tasty poutine. (among other things like burgers, fries etc) It's a Montreal institution and they are open really until midnight on weekdays, and 24 hours on Thurs, Fri, Sat. It's 'no frills, late night eats'. Classic. FYI - There's a small patio at the side of the building.
Parks & Nature
Mount Royal is about a 25 minute walk from our apartment. It's great for walking, running, or hiking. If you climb to the top, you're rewarded with a wonderful vista and the beautiful Chalet Montreal where you can rest, use the restroom and grab a beverage and souvenir.
In the summer, there is a weekly Sunday Tam-Tam festival, with a drum circle and vendors gathering around the monument in Mount Royal Park.
1477 locals recommend
Mount Royal
Mount Royal is about a 25 minute walk from our apartment. It's great for walking, running, or hiking. If you climb to the top, you're rewarded with a wonderful vista and the beautiful Chalet Montreal where you can rest, use the restroom and grab a beverage and souvenir.
In the summer, there is a weekly Sunday Tam-Tam festival, with a drum circle and vendors gathering around the monument in Mount Royal Park.
Shopping
Adorable store for home decor. Great place to find a gift or to bring something home from your trip.
41 locals recommend
VdeV
5042 Boul. Saint-LaurentAdorable store for home decor. Great place to find a gift or to bring something home from your trip.
I love this store. Beautiful clothing and jewelry, as well as sunglasses, wallets, candles and other lovely things.
21 locals recommend
Général 54
5145 Boul. Saint-LaurentI love this store. Beautiful clothing and jewelry, as well as sunglasses, wallets, candles and other lovely things.
Boucle & Papier
5183 Boul. Saint-LaurentBeautiful paper and notebooks, gifts and cards.
Drinks & Nightlife
Wonderful microbrewery on Laurier with a rotating menu of craft beers. A perfect place to do a beer tasting. Prices are very reasonable, and there's also a menu with some very nice plates. Awesome late night hang. Recommend: Rose Hibiscus beer.
442 locals recommend
Dieu du Ciel!
21 Av. Laurier OWonderful microbrewery on Laurier with a rotating menu of craft beers. A perfect place to do a beer tasting. Prices are very reasonable, and there's also a menu with some very nice plates. Awesome late night hang. Recommend: Rose Hibiscus beer.
Indie music, art, hangout spot. Budget friendly. Cute patio in the back. The service can be hit and miss - but it's a cool spot to have a pint, hang out and catch some music. (and the nachos always get rave reviews)
281 locals recommend
Casa Del Popolo
4873 Boul. Saint-LaurentIndie music, art, hangout spot. Budget friendly. Cute patio in the back. The service can be hit and miss - but it's a cool spot to have a pint, hang out and catch some music. (and the nachos always get rave reviews)
Getting Around
Laurier Station has two entrances. The one indicated on the map is actually the secondary entrance, on Laurier. It's a very pretty entrance and great for sitting in the sun and people-watching. There's also a farmer's market there on Thursdays and Sundays.
The other entrance is south of Saint-Joseph at Rivard & Gilford. It's where the buses come in and it's the closest to our house.
253 locals recommend
Laurier station
Laurier Station has two entrances. The one indicated on the map is actually the secondary entrance, on Laurier. It's a very pretty entrance and great for sitting in the sun and people-watching. There's also a farmer's market there on Thursdays and Sundays.
The other entrance is south of Saint-Joseph at Rivard & Gilford. It's where the buses come in and it's the closest to our house.
Mont Royal is the second-closest stop to our place, after Laurier. We love this stop because there is a market right outside the station in the warmer months and there are often musicians playing and photographic installations along Mont-Royal. it's just an 8 minute walk from our place.
323 locals recommend
Mont-Royal station
470 Avenue du Mont-Royal EMont Royal is the second-closest stop to our place, after Laurier. We love this stop because there is a market right outside the station in the warmer months and there are often musicians playing and photographic installations along Mont-Royal. it's just an 8 minute walk from our place.
If you feel like renting a car, I recommend Enterprise on St. Laurent. The customer service is amazing. And it's just about a 20 minute walk from our place.
95 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
5403 Boul. Saint-LaurentIf you feel like renting a car, I recommend Enterprise on St. Laurent. The customer service is amazing. And it's just about a 20 minute walk from our place.
There are plenty of Bixi bike stations in Montreal. This one is a 5 minute walk from our place and right beside the upper entrance to Metro Laurier.
Bixi bicycle rental
There are plenty of Bixi bike stations in Montreal. This one is a 5 minute walk from our place and right beside the upper entrance to Metro Laurier.