![]() ![]() From the Golden Mile in the Mont-Royal neighbourhood, with its elaborate Victorian and Edwardian Mansions, and the Renaissance and Art Deco buildings of Old Montréal and the breathtaking Gothic Revival style of the Notré-Dame Basilica, to the skyscrapers of Downtown and the intriguing Habitat 67 in Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montréal’s architecture is a fabulous reflection of its rich history and cultural heritage. In my view, after its cuisine, nothing illustrates Montréal’s great diversity better than its architecture. Denis Street and Le Saint Bock, both of which produce some of Montréal’s best beers and are great places to strike up a conversation with locals. It’s a great way to mingle with the locals – as I said, Montréalers are always in for a chat! I also visited several microbreweries in Montréal such as L’ Amère à Boire on St. I spent one evening going from one alfresco café to the next along the wonderfully atmospheric St. Montréalers love their local watering holes and micro-breweries. You’ll find these colourful Menorca shoes at the La Librairie Espagnole shop at 3811 Blvd. For fans of vintage shopping, I highly recommend checking out the vintage shops and local designers in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood and along Boulevard St. Catherine Street (almost 1,200 shops line this street!), Montréal has a diverse shopping scene. ![]() From the chic boutiques along Sherbrooke Street and the local designer boutiques in Old Montréal, to the more mainstream Ste. The food tour also included a fabulous tea-tasting at My Cup of Tea in Chinatown… …and poutine of course! 2. You’ll also be getting your fair share of another Québcc favourite, poutine, so come hungry! Our lovely guide Leah on the ‘Flavours of the Main’ food tour. The tour starts in the heart of Chinatown and ends at one of Montréal’s most iconic delis, Schwartz’s, where you can taste Montréal’s famous smoked meat sandwiches. The walking tour, called ‘Flavours of the Main’, is organised by Fitz & Follwell, and explores the history of Montréal through its different cuisines. Here are five things I did that truly helped me experience Montréal’s diversity, and believe me, I had an awesome time doing so! 1. The friendly owner of the Hungarian Charcuterie on Blvd. Turn your gaze to the shops, restaurants and architecture and you’ll see more examples. Look at the face of the Montréalers in the streets and you’ll see ethnic influences from around the world. You don’t have to do much more than stroll around the city’s gorgeous neighbourhoods to experience this cool diversity and Montréal’s unique brand of joie de vivre. Montréalers are always in for chat and if you make an extra effort to throw in your best French, you’ll notice an instant gleam in their eyes and a smile. It was a joy to watch and be a part of a community of people who understand and make ‘joie de vivre’ a way of life. Wherever I went, this laidback, unmistakably European vibe was omnipresent. ![]() The other thing that struck me was how relaxed everyone was. Though everyone speaks French, Montréalers hail from all parts of the world and it’s this diversity that makes Montréal so attractive. One thing that struck me almost immediately was how cosmopolitan Montréal really is. People who understand and make ‘joie de vivre’ a way of life.ĭuring my four-day stay in Montreal (which was way too short), I chose to explore the city as much as possible on foot. I stayed in a cool apartment in the hip Plateau Mont Royal neighbourhood, famous for its many restaurants, cafés and vintage shops. The sun shone bright from a cloudless sky and people were out-and-about, shopping, sipping lattes at one of the many terraces or simply basking in the glorious sunshine. Montréal! I’d heard so many great things about this city so when the opportunity to visit landed in my lap, I didn’t hesitate for a second! I arrived in Montreal on a stunning summer day. ![]()
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