Montreal, QC Recommendations
If you have the urge for Europe, but don't have the time, $, or patience to get there, Montreal is a great option. Plenty to explore, wonderful food, and possibly only a road trip, depending on your location. Here are some things to consider:
Hotels: I've stayed at all three of these - each was great in their own way and a range of prices
Auberge du Vieux-Port: in the heart of Old Montreal, this is an updated, charming old inn on the St. Lawrence River. Even if you don't stay here, they have a great breakfast at Taverne Gaspar.
Le Westin Montreal: situated between Old Montreal and downtown, this a a good central point to explore both with the typical, nice Westin accommodations. And you can earn points!
Springhill Suites by Marriott Old Montreal - great location in the heart of Old Montreal for a reasonable price. This is a really good option if you have a kid with you since the rooms have a little separate living area. And again, you can earn (or redeem) points
Food: Oh, the food. Get your authentic French food fix without leaving the continent.
Europea - if you don't do anything else, do their prix fix lunch (while it's not cheap, it's more reasonable than dinner and a wonderful meal). We did that the first time and came back to do dinner the next time we were there. Creative, gourmet, French food with tons of little surprises throughout the courses. I will go there each time I'm in Montreal
Bistro L'Express - loud, festive French Bistro with the quintessential Parisian style tiled floor. With jars of baby cornichons on each table, order some pate and wine and soak up the vibes
Bonaparte - fine dining in a well appointed, cozy atmosphere. Portions are large, so two appetizers may suffice a normal appetite, but we really enjoyed this meal
The Keg - while this is your typical good steak house you can find anywhere, it's got a festive bar and is in the heart of Old Montreal. The shrimp cocktail is great and it's a good stop if you have someone in your party who is over French food
Toque - fine dining and highly rated and don't bother. We left a little hungry and disappointed and Europea was significantly better
Afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton Montreal - exquisite setting and a lovely substitute for lunch. I prefer this tea over the one we had at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth
Things to Do:
Shopping - your normal, city stores area all along the Rue Saint Catherine and the connecting streets. There's also the underground city, which is large, but basically your typical mall
Jean Talon Market - it's a little far from the heart of downtown and Old Montreal, but this is a European style market with fresh fruits, meats, seafood, coffee, etc. We enjoyed wandering here for an hour or two
Mass/visit at Notre Dame Cathedral - an impressive structure to see. Mass is in French and even though I don't understand the language, I enjoyed the experience
