A Weekend In Montreal: A Sustainable City Guide

Ultimate Weekend in Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in the Quebec province and the most diverse.  The best weekend in Montreal is full of sight seeing, eating, walking and learning.  Read through some suggestions and start planning your weekend getaway today.  It’s great to have the opportunity to visit a new place, and if we can do that responsibly we all become better travelers.  These suggestions all have conscious travel choices in mind so we can all support local businesses that are making a positive impact.

Montreal Neighborhoods

The city is broken up into some pretty distinct neighborhoods.  You’ll have something different for every visitor, which is why a weekend in Montreal can be a great three day vacation, you’ll experience so much in such a short time.  Old Montreal or Vieux Montreal, is the city’s oldest area, and the most touristic.  It’s where most of the old buildings, stone streets and sidewalk cafes are located.  Plateau Mont Royal/Mile End is the artistic district, the Village is the LGBTQ friendly community and Little Italy is where to go for good traditional foods and open markets.  I chose to spend the week in both Griffintown and the Quartier des Spectacles.

Where to Stay in Montreal

Griffintown, a former industrial part of town, has morphed into a condo & revamped warehouse district.  In my opinion, some of the best food & art galleries are in this area.  It’s the more hip, gritty part of town.  I recommend staying at Hotel Alt Montreal if staying in this neighborhood.  They designed the building with eco friendly construction in mind, using geo-thermal and energy saving resources.

Quartier des Spectacles was a perfect spot for a weekend home base.  Within walking distance to Vieux Montreal and a short trip from Plateau Mont Royal and the Village, it’s central location is ideal.  The neighborhood itself is the theatre district, so you have restaurants and it’s the location for festivals & events.  If for no other reason, the hotel is the main reason for staying in this neighborhood alone.  Boxotel is an eco friendly, apartment style hotel that provides a modern sleek living space.

Boxotel has yoga classes on Sundays, a rooftop terrace with a small spa.  The major benefit for me was the attention to sustainability without compromising on a little luxury.  They encourage buying locally, they support local artists and these small touches make a big difference.  The Boxotel is the most relaxing stay I’ve had recently and if you don’t believe me, just check out the bathtub.

Eats & Treats

Each neighborhood is full of delicious spots, you’ll find that over a course of a weekend it will be difficult to choose where to go first!  There are a few famous foods that hail from the area, here are what they are & where to find them.

Classics

Not your typical “New York Style” bagel, Canada has a bagel of their own.  They are a little smaller, a tad sweeter, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  There are several shops that have been pulling their bagels from wood fire ovens for years.  The classics are St. Viateur or Fairmount.

The next stop on your food tour should undoubtedly be for poutine.  A gut buster that is known in the Quebec province, poutine is a serving of french fries, smothered in gravy and topped with cheese curds.  To some it may be an unhealthy, late night, drinking induced indulgence, but I promise you it’s worth the extra calories.  The best time to eat poutine is late night and La Banquise is an all night eatery that offers even a tasty vegan version of the classic dish.

Farm to Table

Vegan and vegetarian restaurants, as well as more eco conscious eats can be found throughout the city.  Lov or Lola Rosa are two restaurants where the veggie based dishes you order won’t have you missing the meats.

Best baked goods?  Stop and sample the fair at La Bête à Pain for fresh baked treats.  They are the same owners of the famed restaurant Le St-Urbain.  Their fresh out of the oven breads and pastries are what make the meal.

Topping all the lists of must visit restaurants in the city, Mon Lapin has grown quite the buzz and for good reason.  This wine bar is one of three restaurants under the Joe Beef umbrella, and any of the locations have proven to be good eats.  Mon Lapin focuses on fresh, local Quebec ingredients.  All of their wines are natural too, meaning they were produced by organic or biodynamic wineries.

If you possibly have room for dessert, try the adorable Cocoa Locale in the Mile End neighborhood.  You’ll notice Le Glacier Bilboquet by the line out the door, the ice cream is that delicious.  Looking for a vegan alternative?  Check out Sophie Sucrée for an animal product free sweet treat.

Sites & Sounds

Weekends in Montreal can be busy.  If the weather cooperates, you’ll see most people out taking advantage of the sunshine.  The Botanical Garden in the spring and summer is the place to be.  Bird watchers, baby strollers, picnic goers and joggers all come out to roam through the 190 acre urban oasis.  Even though there are pockets of crowds, it is easy to find your own quiet spot.  There are large and extensive varietal gardens, be sure to pick up a map on your way in so you aren’t walking in circles.

Head to Little Italy to peruse the Jean Talon Market.  The large farmers market is an ideal way to spend an afternoon weekend.  Go hungry and with a shopping list, there are rows and rows produce, butcher, fish and prepared food merchants.  Shopping at a farmer’s market at home or on holiday is a great way to support your local farmers and make healthy food choices.

Walking through old city and down to the St. Lawrence River is another popular summer pastime during weekends in Montreal.  Along the waterfront is the old port, with attractions, food trucks, a walking trail and the country’s largest observation wheel.

In the summer St. Catherine Street in the Village is partially closed for pedestrian traffic only.  The art installation of thousands of rainbow bulbs are hung above the street and on a warm summer evening it’s a great place to sit outside, people watch over drinks.

Indoor activities can be equally as entertaining.  Both BANQs, the public library & national archives are two of the largest collections in Canada.  The public library often hosts exhibitions and cultural activities.

Lace up your walking shoes and go on a free walking tour of Montreal.  Old Montreal Tours has a free tour, which is the best way to get your bearings and get an introduction to the city.  Usually cities have “free” walking tours which are a great way for budget conscious travelers to spend their time & money.  Be sure to set aside some money to tip your guide!

Get Moving

There are a few greener ways to get around town.  If the weather is reasonable, the best way to spend a weekend in Montreal is on foot.  It’s such a walkable city, take advantage to the navigable streets and relatively flat landscape.

If you have further distance to go, Bixi bikes are found all throughout the city and are easy to rent.  The bike share program is easy to use, eco friendly and not to mention good exercise.  If biking isn’t for you, then there is a metro system that is safe and affordable, with stops all throughout the city.  There are ride share apps like Uber that also are available around town, but be aware that with frequent construction there are often traffic delays and public transit can sometimes be a quicker alternative.

Now start moving towards your closet, grab your weekend bag and get packing.  Montreal has so much to offer, it’s a friendly city that can provide the perfect itinerary for an urban weekend vacation.

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