Why you should travel to Montréal right now

Montréal is a city of festivals, and there’s no better place to see the greatest of them than by beelining to this mecca of arts and culture. During the summer, the plaza harbors events such as the internationally renowned Just for Laughs and the International Jazz Festival. When winter descends on the city, you can check out fêtes like Luminothérapie, where huge, brightly lit art installations are scattered throughout the outdoor plaza, or the party-all-night Nuit Blanche, when museums and other venues throw open their doors until as late as 3am for free bashes—plus, the Metro lines don’t stop running, so you don’t have to stumble home afterward.

Looming above street level in a neon-tinged room, this bar is the place to go for one of the best and booziest times in town. Grab a stool and order some seriously yummy beverages, which are all organized by alcohol content according to the following stages of inebriation: I work tomorrow, I’m calling in sick, I’m texting my ex, and I lost my cell phone. Here you’ll find many standard tiki quaffs like the mai tai and flaming zombie as well as overflowing cocktail bowls to wade through with your friends. The only thing more colorful than the tipples is the eye candy stretching away in every direction you look, from the Easter Island heads and retro movies on repeat to the mixologists in floral shirts and the collection of Polynesian-inspred adornments. Swing by when one of the bartending competitions, Hawaiian-shirt parties or Tattoo & Tarot happenings are going down.

If your goal is to indulge on the city’s best food and drink, you’ll want to explore the offerings at Time Out Market Montréal, all curated by our expert editorial team. What started in Lisbon, in 2014, has become a massively successful culinary and cultural concept that’s since spread to five North American cities in 2019—and Montréal is among them. Centrally located downtown in the Centre Eaton de Montréal (705 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest), our market plays host to 16 astounding eateries as well as three bars pouring choice libations, including a cocktail program that brings together 10 recipes from some of the buzziest institutions in town. Our lineup features a handpicked selection of local all-stars, such as Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson, Claude Pelletier and Mélaine Blouin, Leigh Roper and Vincent Russell, and Paul Toussaint. Enjoy digging into as many classic Canadian dishes like poutine and French pastries as there are exciting new favorites—think banh mi and pho, crispy Caribbean griot and mouth-watering Portuguese chicken.

1. In Montreal, the only way you can legally drink alcohol in public is by eating your meal in a park, so make sure you pack a picnic before you crack that cold one.

2. Montreal is the largest French city in the hemisphere, but it’s really a trilingual population: Most people here speak French, English and a third language.

3. We don’t refer to the province of Québec as La Belle Province anymore: That name has been appropriated by a popular chain of snack bars (where the hot dogs and poutine are… decent).

4. While it does get mighty cold during the winter, Montrealers are always game to go out—this city loves to have a good time. Nothing shuts down because of a little snow.

5. If the idea of eating poutine—french fries covered in a meat-based gravy and cheese curds—doesn’t sound appetizing, you should still try it at least once: Poutine virgins ought to hit up La Banquise for their first taste, but Greenspot is equally worth it and, mercifully, doesn’t have the same long lines.

6. Don’t bother renting a car to get around: A combination of bike-rental services and our world-class public transportation system are more than enough to explore every side of our island.

No matter what neighbourhood you’re in this weekend, there’s something going on in the street.

Our top picks for the best things to do in Montreal with kids make sure you’ll be having just as much fun as they are.

Find activities, attractions and more without spending a single dime with some of the best free things to do in Montreal.

The best Montreal attractions reveal the city’s rich history and landmarks, all waiting to be (re)discovered.

Maximize your dime and time with the best cheap things to do in Montreal, from arts and culture to food and drink.

Ponder fine art, explore historical crypts, go on walking tours and more at the most inspiring museums in the city.

Get lost in shelves and stacks full of literature and brain candy by visiting these amazing libraries in Montreal.

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Get the lowdown on exploring the forested grandeur of Canada by using this guide to the best hiking near Montreal.

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Montreal zoos are among the most interesting in North America, the perfect places to explore, learn and have fun.

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