Montréal is one of the great cities in North America. Explore its French roots, good food, and amazing nightlife.
My Posts on Montréal
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My Trips to Montréal
The first two times I visited the city, I wasn’t able to be a tourist, and that’s why I went a third time. I didn’t get to see everything I wanted in that third visit, but I finally had the chance to properly see the city, including historic Old Montréal (Vieux-Montréal). Next time, I hope to visit some museums and Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal).
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
I’ve driven to Montréal twice, flew in once, and had a couple layovers there. The airport is Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and is located about 20 kilometers from downtown. If you’re flying to the States, the airport has a pre-clearance facility, meaning you go through US Customs and Passport Control before getting on the plane.
The airport’s international terminal has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Prices are obviously higher than you’d pay outside the airport, but not as bad as other airports I’ve been through. On connections through Montréal, I had a sandwich from a kiosk and nachos for dinner at Carlos & Pepe’s. Carlos & Pepe’s wasn’t very good, to be honest.
Getting Around Montréal
Getting around most of the sites in Montréal can be done on foot, but the metro is necessary at times. I used it to get to Olympic Park (Parc Olympique) and back, and to get from Old Montréal to near Crescent Street (Rue Crescent). In the winter, an entire 12 square kilometer city exists underground allowing people to walk from place to place without freezing in the bitter cold.
Where to Stay in Montréal
I’ve stayed at three different hotels on my three trips to the city. Each one has been a completely different experience.
Ritz-Carlton Montréal
The absolute best place I’ve stayed is the Ritz-Carlton Montréal, which is located very close to the entertainment district at Crescent Street. I got an incredible deal when I went with a couple friends to see a concert with Greek singer Giannis Ploutarhos.
Hotel Viger (Permanently Closed)
For my third visit, I stayed at the Hotel Viger, which is a short walk from Old Montréal. It was a little pricy for the quality of the room, but the staff was friendly and it was comfortable.
Econo Lodge (Permanently Closed)
On my first visit, I stayed at an Econo Lodge that no longer exists for a trip to the 2002 Canadian Grand Prix with my friend Dionysios.
Where to Eat in Montréal
There are some great choices for food in Montréal, and it helps to have friends and family there to recommend restaurants.
St-Viateur Bagel Shop
One morning I started off with breakfast with my friend George. He picked me up from my hotel and we drove to the famous St-Viateur Bagel Shop in the Plateau neighborhood, where we grabbed some of the best bagels I’ve ever eaten.
Café Olimpico
George also took me for a very good coffee down the street at the popular Café Olimpico. It was a great way to start the morning.
Les Jardin de Panos
I also had dinner with my cousins Mary and Tony twice. The first night, we went to Rue Saint-Denis, a street in the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) lined with several restaurants and cafes. We ate at Les Jardin de Panos, a Greek restaurant on Rue Duluth, just off Rue Saint-Denis. The brochettes wrapped with bacon were amazing, and the calamari melted in my mouth. The pikilia was also very good. It’s BYOB, so we stopped at a liquor store beforehand for some wine.
Zibo!
The second night, we went across the river to the suburb of Brossard. Quartier DIX30, a huge shopping and entertainment complex with several restaurants to choose from, was our stop for the night. We ate at Zibo!. The lobster poutine was phenomenal, and the pizzas were better than expected. We shared the bacon and onion (bacon et oignon), sausage (saucisses), and the traditional (traditionnelle).
