Montréal, in 5 fabulous neighborhoods

22.10.2024 - 14:23 / lonelyplanet.com

Oct 21, 2024 • 6 min read

Sprawling across along an island in the St Lawrence River, Montréal is a city of vibrant neighborhoods. In these diverse districts, visitors can get a strong sense of the city’s blend of French and English heritage – indeed, its very soul.

Historic, cobbled streets and centuries-old architecture make Old Montréal a focal point for most visitors, while nearby Chinatown hides colorful streets packed with tantalizing restaurants, bakeries and tea parlors. Bustling Downtown is the go-to for museums, the Quartier Latin and the Village are full of students and LGBTIQ+ entertainment, and the Plateau has leafy parks and creative nightlife.

Most areas are made for exploring on foot, and getting from one to another is a breeze thanks to Montréal’s efficient bus and metro network.

Here are the neighborhoods in Montréal you can’t miss.

Best for exploring

The oldest part of Montréal has a strongly European feel, thanks to its cobbled lanes, cafe-fringed squares and Second Empire architecture – in particular, the grand Hôtel de Ville (aka City Hall). Indeed, Old Montréal is a paradise for the flâneur (wanderer). Peek inside grand churches (don’t miss a visit to the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, with its boat-shaped votive lamps left by sailors in thanks for safe voyages). Check out hidden street art (like the bronze sculpture of Les Chuchoteuses, which helped revitalize the district back in the early 2000s). There’s even a little-known chunk of the Berlin Wall tucked inside the Montréal World Trade Centre.

There’s great shopping here, too, at one-of-a-kind boutiques. At L’Empreinte Coopérative, you can browse wide-ranging ceramics, jewelry and crafts made by Québécois artisans. Nearby, the Boutique Boréale has an array of works by First Nations artists: leather moccasins, woven blankets, musk-ox fur hats and carvings in fossilized mammoth ivory. Keep following photogenic Rue St-Paul to reach the Marché Bonsecours, Old Montréal’s domed market hall, full of shops selling yet more crafts and clothing as well as Canadian food items (think chocolate-dipped blueberries and maple-syrup liqueurs).

When it comes to dining, the neighborhood has its share of forgettable tourist traps – yet it’s also home to some of Montréal’s most creative restaurants. There’s superb vegetarian and vegan cuisine at LOV, while Barroco and Garde Manger showcase New Canadian cooking.

Afterward, you can explore the bar scene, which encompasses friendly, easy-going watering holes like the Pub St-Paul, as well as stylish cocktail dens (Clandestino, Tittle Tattle) and rooftop bars (the Terrasse Place d’Armes).

Best for museums, food halls and shopping

Montréal’s bustling Downtown is much more versatile than your average