A Guide to Summer Pleasures in Vibrant Montreal

Article and photos by Lies Ouwerkerk
Senior Contributing Editor
6/4/2018

Souriez (smile) painted on a bathtub full of flowers is one of many welcoming Montreal summer sights as festivals are celebrated throughout the vibrant city.

Anglo-français Montreal — vibrant, bohemian, creative, multicultural, and the nearest Euro-fix for Yankees — is a city of innumerable indoors, outdoors, and underground activities year-round. Even in the dead of winter locals bundle up for festivals like "Igloofest," "Montréal en Lumières," and "Fête de Neiges." But it is when groundhog days are over, snow has finally melted, and fresh green is returning to the trees, that the city bursts out in full force.

As spring turns to summer, locals dust off their bicycles and take over the streets, food trucks return with their yummy specialties, outside terraces, parks, and the historic Lachine Canal are brimming with life again. Countless festivals and outdoor activities are enjoyed daily until well into the fall. To get a grasp of all the city has to offer, I have identified some cool suggestions for a great summer escape in Montreal.

Festivals and Events

Mural "The Sun Keeper" by Spanish artist Ricardo Cavolo, International Mural Festival 2017.

Mural of famous jazz pianist Oliver Jones near his childhood home in Little Burgundy by Montreal-based muralist Dan Buller.

From street food parties, Croissant Day, open-air concerts and dance performances, parades, sidewalk sales, and Sunday tam-tams, to firework competitions, street art, comedy, circus, film, and literary festivals, to marathons, car races, and cycling events, Montreal has it all.

The yearly International Festival "Nuits d'Afrique" (African Nights) in July.

Some of the most famous yearly events are:

• The Mural Festival (June)
• The Formula 1 Grand Prix (June)
• The International Jazz Festival (July)
• Just for Laughs Festival (July)
• International Fireworks Competition (July)
• The Gay Pride Parade (August)
• World Film Festival (August)
• Osheaga Music Festival (August)

For a complete list, month by month, see:

• Quartier des Spectacles: Festivals and Events in Montreal
• 30 Epic Festivals In Montreal You Can Look Forward To This Summer

Open Theatre "Ilotopie" takes to the streets, a celebration of freedom highlighting diversity in Montreal through body paint.

Montreal’s Food Scene

There is no city like Montreal when it comes to fine and eclectic food. Montrealers can choose from thousands of holes-in-the-wall, cafés, bistros, and restaurants (some with a BYOB─bring your own booze─option), representing cuisines from all over the world.

Crew Collective Café in a former bank building (photo credit: Crew Collective Café).

To work your way through the maze of possibilities, check reviews on

• Lesley Chesterman's best Montreal restaurants
• Eater: Montreal
• MTL Blog

You can download an up-to-date guide to Montreal’s food scene, Glutton Guide Montreal: the Hungry Traveler’s Guidebook─collected by two accomplished foodies─for less than $10 at Amazon and Round Table Tours.

A lunch or dinner prepared and served by students of hotel and chef schools, supervised by their teachers, is so popular (and affordable) that reservations are necessary at the following locales:

• ITHQ restaurant
• School of Catering and Tourism

For an authentic lunch or dinner at a local’s home use the Eat With website.

For the best French pastries in town see this Foursquare round-up.

Quaint and cozy tearooms in the city include:

• Le Parloir, 4354 Christophe-Colomb
• Kusmi, 3975 St-Denis
• The Ritz, 1228 Sherbrooke W
• Ming Tao Xuan, 451 St-Sulpice
• La Maison du Macaron, 4479 de la Roche
• Gryphon d’Or, 5968 Monkland
• Qabane a thé, 1428 Mackay

Sinful treats at tearoom Gryphon D'Or (photo credit: Gryphon D'Or).

Best vintage coffee hangouts

• Café Olimpico on 124 St-Viateur
• Bar Sportivo and Caffè Italia on resp. 6804 and 6840 St- Laurent

Vegetarian, Vegan, and Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Montreal’s restaurants are becoming more and more health and environment conscious. Many excellent and innovative vegan, vegetarian, and vegan/vegetarian-friendly restaurants have sprouted up across the city:

• Lov, 464 McGill
• Aux Vivres, 4631 St-Laurent
• Arepera du Plateau, 73 Prince Arthur E
• Chuchai, 4088 St-Denis
• Resto Végo, 1720 St-Denis
• Invitation V, 254 Bernard
• Lola Rosa, 545 Milton
• Pizzeria Gema, 6827 St-Dominique
• Résonance, 5175 du Parc
• Crudessence, 2157 Mackay
• Birona Hummus Bar, 5417 St-Laurent

Ice Cream

Montreal summers can be hot and humid, and fleeing into air-conditioned department stores and underground pedestrian passageways that connect them, diving in one of the many pools, or skating on indoor rinks like Atrium Le 1000, are some of the ways Montrealers deal with the heat. But the city also boasts terrific ice cream shops where you can cool off with heavenly ice creams, gelatos, sorbets, and frozen yogurts in the most intriguing flavors such as caramel-pear, maple taffy, Oreo & ginger, and Porto & fig.

Mtlblog.com has done extensive research on the best ice cream shops in Montreal and offers an ice cream round-up for the summer. Also check Eater: Best Montreal Ice Cream Shops.

Rooftop Terraces

Roof terrace Nelligan in Old Montreal (photo credit: Nelligan).

For chilling out with the best views of the city, a sunset, a gentle breeze, and a divine cocktail or ice-cold beer, nothing can beat Montreal’s many rooftop terraces on a hot afternoon or balmy evening. Check out these cool locations, which also offer delicious food:

• Laboculinaire, 1201 St-Laurent
• Terrasse Sur L’Auberge, 97 de la Commune
• Terrasse Nelligan, 106 St-Paul
• Muzique, 3781 St-Laurent
• Tokyo, 3709 St-Laurent
• Unity, 1171 St-Catherine E
• Six Rest Lounge, 1255 Jeanne Mance
• Complexe Sky, 1474 St-Catherine E

More Terraces

For drinks, breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner en plein air, there are also plenty of wonderful street-level terraces, gardens, courtyards, or boats, including these charming locations:

• Café Santropol, 3990 St-Urbain
• Terrasses Bonsecours, 364 de la Commune E.
• Bar Alexandraplatz, 6731 Esplanade
• Il Cortile, 1442 Sherbrooke W
• Le Filet, 219 Mont Royal
• Croissanterie Figaro, 5200 Hutchison
• Accords, 212 Notre-Dame W
• Kampai Garden, 1616 St-Catherine W
• Joe Beef and Liverpool House, 2491 Notre-Dame W
• Canal Lounge, 22 Atwater

Hipster Hoods and their Hangouts

The island of Montreal is divided into 19 boroughs, each of them further subdivided into ethnically, linguistically, socially, and architecturally diverse districts and neighborhoods.

Houses in the Plateau neighborhood.

Doors in The Plateau, one of Montreal's most trendy and laid-back neighborhoods.

The following are some of the most sought-after:

• Mile End and Mile-Ex
• The Plateau
• The Village
• Quartier Latin
• Griffintown
• Verdun
• St. Henri
• Little Burgundy
• Little Italy
• Rosemont
• Notre Dame de Grace (NDG)

Each neighborhood has its typical hangouts, too many to cover, but there are a few quirky ones not to be missed. Here are some to check out:

• La Petite Floride (Mile End)
• Chez José Café and Café Falco (The Plateau)
• Agrikol (The Village)
• Anticafé (Quartier Latin)
• Comptoir 21 (Verdun)
• Arthur’s Nosh Bar (St-Henri)
• Escondite (downtown)
• Crew Collective Café (Old Montreal)

Café Chez José.

Paul's Boutique: Montreal's coolest CD & vinyl records store.

If you fancy Quebec’s most emblematic food, the greasy poutine (French fries, cheese curds, gravy), try:

• La Banquise (Le Plateau)
• Restaurant A.A.
• Greenspot (St. Henri)

Are you a cat or dog lover? Then head to:

• Happy Cat Café on Duluth E
• Le Doggy Café on Papineau
• Brandy’s on Rachel E (They not only serve good coffee but also welcome furry felines and canines, off-leash.)

Old Montreal, with its centuries-old buildings and cobble-stoned streets, is certainly a must-see but can be crowded with tourists, especially during the summer.

Old Montreal.

Some great rest spots can be found on St-Paul, such as:

• Modavie
• Philémon Bar
• Pub St-Paul (with a view of the waterfront)
• Olive & Gourmando, Santos
• La Champagnerie
• For Cuban drinks in the smallest bar of the entire country, head for El Pequeño, 401a St-Vincent

Nightlife

Here is simply the best and most complete guide on Montreal nightlife.

Also, include a visit to a clandestine bar or speakeasy.

Wine and whiskey bars are not in short supply either. Some suggestions:

• Le Vin Papillon on Notre Dame W
• Rouge Corge on Mt-Royal E
• Pullman on Park
• Mon Lapin on St-Ziotique
• Whiskey Café on St-Laurent.

Public Markets

For fresh food, in particular vegetables, fruits, cheeses, bread, and meats, as well as for plants and flowers, Montreal locals frequent their public markets.

Some of the fresh produce at the Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy.

The most well-known ones include:

• Jean Talon Market in Little Italy
• The Atwater Market in St-Henri
• The younger farmers market Marché Maisonneuve in Hochelaga

Check out this guide for an extensive list of public markets.

Viewing the City

The many different facets of Montreal are enjoyable from various vantage points: hop-on-hop-off buses (Gray Line), boats over the St. Lawrence River, scooters, bikes, outdoor spas, helicopters, and on foot. Whether you join the experts or engage in a self-guided tour, here are some outdoor "activities with a view":

• Montreal has a 400 miles-long network of cycling paths, both through its cityscape and along scenic greenery and waterways, and is regarded as one of the top ten bicycle-friendly places in the world.
  
  Guided tours are offered by Montreal on Wheels and Fitz & Follwell. Bicycle rentals are available at Ma Bicyclette or BIXI if you wish to enjoy a self-guided tour.
  

  BIXI bicycles can be rented throughout the city.

  
  
• Walking: guided tours by many companies including Strawberry Tours (free) and those listed on Local Montreal: Best Montreal Walking Tours. For self-guided walking tours, visit GPSMYCITY: Walking Tours in Montreal. And don’t forget Montreal’s natural landmark Mount Royal.
  
  
• Food Tours on Bike or Foot: Guided tours through various best-eats neighborhoods include Local Food Tours, Spade Palacio, and Round Table Food Tours. Kava Tours offers guided wine tours in the Eastern Townships, east of Montreal.
  
  

  There is often a line-up at Schwartz smoked meat deli, a fixture on most walking tours.

  
  
• Scooter Tours: To explore the most happening districts via electric scooters (with or without a guide) check out Montreal Scooter or Dyad Cycles.
  
  
• Boat Tours: Lachine Canal Boat Rentals and Tours (tours, courses, and rental of pedal boats, kayaks, canoes, and electric boats) and Le Bateau Mouche riverboat cruises.
  
  
• Rafting: Rafting Montreal and Club Raft both offer options in the greater Montreal area.
  
  
• Kayak, Surf and Stand Up Paddle-Boarding lessons, rentals, and trips in or near the city.
  
  
• Fishing tours in or near Montreal.
  
  
• Aerial Obstacle Courses in royal and pirate ships in Old Montreal are available at Voiles en Voiles.
  
  

  Voile en Voile's aerial courses in the Old Port (photo credit: Jelle Ouwerkerk).

  
  
• Helicopter Rides or Sea Planes.
  
  
• Outdoor Spas: Bota Bota in the old Port and at the Nordic spa Strøm on Nun’s Island. There are also spas north of Montreal in the beautiful Laurentians, like Le Scandinave in Mont Tremblant and Ofuro in Morin Heights; or Balnea in Bromont and Nordic Station in Magog, both in the charming Eastern Townships. Or, how about watching your favorite movie from the comfort of a hot tub? Soon to come to Montreal: Hot Tub Cinema Club!
  
  

Bota Bota, a floating spa in Old Montreal (photo credit: Bota Bota).

The Arts

Arts and culture are everywhere in the city: museums, galleries, concert halls, theaters for plays, improv shows, circus arts, and dance performances, Shakespeare in the park, and movie shows under starry skies, with or without BBQ and music on the forehand. Not to be missed is the amazing street art against the backdrop of Montreal’s marvelous old and new architectural gems.

For Information About Up-to-Date Events:

• Tourism Montreal: Museums and Culture
• Improm Montreal
• Theatre Sainte Catherine
• Place des Arts
• Montreal Theatre Hub
• Repercussion Theatre
• Art Public Montreal
• L'Avenue du Mont Royal
• Cinema Montreal

The country’s most famous murals are along St-Laurent and its side streets. A tour along major street art works is organized by a local Montreal tour company and Art Public Montreal tours. For tours along Montreal’s architectural highlights, see Heritage Montreal.

Mural by Polish artist Natalia Rak.

Victorian architecture in Montreal: outdoor winding staircases, turrets, balconies, and bay windows are an integral part of its cityscape.

Montreal architecture juxtaposing the old with the new.	A reflection of an old building from a newer skyscraper.

Also, some museums offer tours, among them the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Jewish Montreal. You can also take free self-guided walks along commemorative monuments and contemporary works in the city, including museums.

Family Activities

No reason for kids to get bored in the city of Montreal! Activities also include those that might enchant people of all ages:

• Trampoline Park iSaute has many locations, some just outside of the city.
  
  
• Rock Climbing is an eco-conscious indoor and outdoor activity.
  
  
• Biodome is a science museum of unique flora, fauna, and ecosystems of the Americas.
  
  
• Planetarium is great for hands-on astronomy.  
  
  
• Biosphere is a museum dedicated to the environment, located in Parc Jean Drapeau on St. Helen’s Island, formerly the US pavilion at the 1967 World Fair.
  
  

  Biosphère in Jean Drapeau Park, St. Helen's Island (former US pavillon Expo 67).

  
  
• The Swings are a musical installation including swings located neighbouring a science faculty and Montreal’s opera house.   
  
  
• Montreal Water Parks and Beaches lists the many water parks and beaches near the city.
  
  

  Summer in a park.

  
  
• Hiking Mont Royal (you can bring a picnic) and more on the best parks in Montreal.
  
  
• Museums with exhibitions of special interest to children include Montreal Science Museum, McCord Museum, Stewart Museum, and Pointe à Callière Museum
  
  
• La Ronde Amusement Park is the largest theme park in Eastern Canada with a tall and fast roller coaster among other rides and family activities.
  
  
• Centaur Theatre offers a seasonal variety of options in Old Montreal.
  
  
• Enjoy an interactive, educational laser tag game at Laser Quest.
  
  
• Bicycle along the Lachine Canal and the St-Lawrence River. Children's bikes are for rent along the Lachine Canal, opposite the Atwater Market. Avoid weekend days!
  
• Evening Sound and Light Show in the famous Notre-Dame Basilica.
  
  
• Cirque du Solei and TOHU, the performance centre for the Circus Arts.
  
  
• Dim Sum in China Town, at family-friendly Maison Kam Fung, 1111 St-Urbain.

What You Also Might Want To Know

• $1.00 CD = $0.75 US, or $1.00 US = $1.34 CD, at time of publication. (Use your favorite of the many online currency converter to verify before your trip.)
  
  
• Montreal has a metro. If you plan to use the system regularly, it might make sense to purchase an OPUS card. This smart card can also be used for the express bus 747 to and from the airport. For more info, see the Société de transport de Montréal website.
  
  
• Parking downtown can be a nightmare. Finding a parking spot is difficult. You must pay hefty prices for garages or parking lots. Street signs are sometimes quite confusing. Better a 10-minute metro ride than a towed-away car!
  
  
• On parle français! French is the sole official language in the province of Québec, and spoken by the majority of people, although many Québécois speak English as well.

Mural of Leonard Cohen by Montreal artist Kevin Ledo.

Lies Ouwerkerk is originally from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and currently lives in Montreal, Canada. Previously a columnist for The Sherbrooke Record, she is presently a freelance writer and photographer for various travel magazines.