My Montréal trip was a bit of a surprise. My dad, sister and I were going to our family party just outside of Ottawa, and my sister and I decided to make a bit of a vaca out of it.
I knew right away what I needed to do while I was in Montréal, eat at one of Frédéric Morin’s and David McMillan’s restaurants. I had my eye on Joe Beef, but when I was doing my research I found out they had opened a wine bar, Vin Papillion, and done. Talk about traveling for food.
Anyway, back to the trip…
Where to stay
Loews Hôtel Vogue
The Loews Hôtel Vogue has a great location, right off of Saint Catherine’s street. Saint Catherine’s is always bumping, but this weekend they had closed down a portion of the street, and people were strolling along. It was a perfect welcome to the city!
The room was spacious with a large bed and bathroom. The room was stocked with everything that we might need. Overall, I had a great stay – and a great night sleep.
One thing that I will add is that I booked this room on TripAdvisor. It was my second time doing so, and it was the second time my room was across from the elevator. It didn’t ruin my experience by any means, but I thought it was worth noting.
The hotel has an awesome French bistro on the first floor. While I had other places to chow down, I definitely partook in their breakfast. I had a Montréal bagel with lox and cream cheese. Holy crap, I love Montréal bagels! They are perfectly crusty and chewy. La Société has lots of other options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What I especially love is that they have a raw bar. I don’t know if I’ve ever stayed at a hotel with a raw bar, but I always want to now.
Where to eat
Vin Papillion
Fun fact, you’re getting a whole post on my dining experience at Le Vin Papillion. For the sake of this post, definitely try to get a seat here. Everything was incredible – the wine, the seafood, the cheese, everything!
Joe Beef
If you’ve ever watched the Quebec episode of Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain (if not, it’s on Netflix), then you should be familiar with the Joe Beef guys. They know dining.
Liverpool House
Liverpool House is the sister restaurant to Vin Papillion and Joe Beef. See above and go!
Old Montréal
I listed a few spots under the Vieux Montréal in the What to do section below.
Where to drink
Kitsuné Espresso Bar
No, not alcohol. Coffee. Kitsuné has a couple locations in Montréal. Their coffee is spectacular! And not to be overlooked, their decor is an Instagrammer’s dream.
What to do
Visit Mont Royal
Talk about views. Mont Royal is the namesake of Montréal. It’s high above the city, and in my opinion, worth the effort. But it is NOT walkable. I drove up there on our way out of town, and it’s a freaking hike. Seriously people, I’m not a lazy person, I work out 5 days a week (thanks, Flywheel), and I’m definitely not walking up to the top of Mont Royal. If you don’t have a car, take an Uber and have them wait while you snap a few pictures.
Visit Vieux Montréal
The beautiful cobble stone streets of Old Montréal are a must-see. If you have time, try to go during the day and at night. The area has lots of options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. A few notable spots are Tommy, Venice Mtl, Olive et Gourmando, Le Bremner and Le Serpent.
Shop on Saint Catherine’s
There is so much shopping on Saint Catherine’s. If you’re looks to window shop or burn through some serious cash, there’s something for everyone. This is a snap of COS, one of my favorite stores. Sleek, modern and simple.
Post-Montréal
After our stopover in Montréal, my sister and I drove three hours to Shawville, Quebec. Shawville is a gorgeous farm town. It makes you believe in something bigger than yourself, and I wanted to share with you.
Had to end it on a food shot. 😉
Heading to Montréal and and need help with your itinerary? Email me! I’m happy to help you build your perfect visit.
