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Neighbourhood, central business district of Montreal in Quebec, Canada
Photo: Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Downtown (Centre-ville) is the central business district (CBD) of Montreal, and home to its largest concentration of museums, art galleries and shopping, and to the Mont-Royal Park and Montreal's Chinatown.
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The lower section of McGill's campus is composed mainly of 19th-century neoclassical buildings and is definitely worth a ten-minute stroll.
Montréal souterrain
Throughout the downtown area. This network of underground malls and passageways is a very convenient way to walk around during the winter months. It encompasses six metro stations on the green and orange lines and all of the major downtown shopping malls, including food courts, cinemas, innumerable boutiques, and services.
It is a small, but colourful church, the mother church of the region's Anglican (Episcopalian) denomination. Of special interest is the organ with additional remote-controlled organ pipes in the front of the church. If you have the opportunity to listen to an organ concert there, you should go. The concert will probably be by donation only.
Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
A 1/4 scale copy of St. Peter's in Rome. Impressive interior.
Centre canadien d'architecture
Architecture museum and research institute that incorporates the Shaughnessy House, an 1876 Second Empire-style manison. Across boulevard René-Lévesque from the CCA is a sculpture garden with works designed around the theme of architecture. Guided tours available.
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
Many prominent travelling exhibits.
Musée McCord
Museum dedicated to Canadian history, next to McGill University.
Contemporary art museum at the Place-des-Arts complex.
Musée Redpath
A museum of natural history on the McGill campus.
Gare Windsor
This Romanesque Revival building served as one of the city's main railway stations until it was cut off from the rail network by the construction of the Bell Centre nearby.
This visually striking residential building was created by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo 67. The result was an amazingly modern dwelling that challenged the way architects created urban homes. Compared alternately to a beehive, a Taos pueblo, and a crystalline growth, the complex's 154 units are composed of prefabricated concrete cubes assembled on site. The apartments here are highly prized and a number of prominent Montrealers make Habitat 67 their home.
A small public square in the middle of Chinatown. There are murals made of grey slate along the north and east side of the square; also at the square is a pavilion selling typical Chinatown tourist souvenirs.
Built as a make-work project in 1932 during the Great Depression. The interior features artwork depicting various scenes from Canadian history.
Offers panoramic views of the downtown Montreal skyline.
Mount Royal Cross
A white illuminated cross installed in 1924 at the site where Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve planted a wooden cross in 1643. He allegedly planted it there after praying to the Virgin Mary to spare the city of Montreal from a flood.
Beaver Lake
Man-made lake in a former marsh. Paddleboats are rented out in summer; in winter the lake becomes an ice skating rink.
George-Étienne Cartier Monument
A 1919 monument sculpted by George William Hill in honor of Georges-Étienne Cartier, one of the fathers of Confederation.
Another lookout point.
Centre Bell
Home of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team, commonly known as the Habs. Also hosts larger concerts.
Stade Molson
An outdoor Canadian football stadium on the McGill campus. The McGill Redbirds (Quebec University Football League) and the Montreal Alouettes (Canadian Football League) play here.
Forum de Montréal / Forum Pepsi
An entertainment complex at the site of the former home of the Canadiens from 1926-1996. It is home to an AMC Cinema (22 screens) and The Montreal Comedy Nest.
The best downtown deal for a very inexpensive and very satisfying casual/cozy Italian fare (main courses are all $5.95. Calculate approximately $20 if you add a glass of wine and an espresso). Very busy during lunchtime on weekdays. Arrive before noon or after 13:30 to avoid the longest lines. Cash only (no credit or debit cards, but there are a few ATMs on the same block).
Light meals for breakfast and lunch. $5-7, close to the rue Sainte-Catherine shopping district.
Kosher cafe on the ground floor of the Hillel House, on the McGill campus.
Opened in 1927. It has smoked meat and poutine dishes.
"Il Foco"
Delicious pizza, wine and tiramisu.
Société des arts technologiques
This one-of-a-kind venue is supported by the province of Quebec and the federal government to display and promote digital art. With high ceilings and low couches, it has the feel of a funky, uber-hip techno club. In fact, there is quite a bit of great club music on weekend nights. But there's also fascinating computer art installations going on at all times, with some video and live performances. A great place to meet people in Montreal.
Blue-collar bar invaded regularly by beer-pong-playing university students. Sells only cheap beer. Hottest night of the week is Tuesday.
Vinyl is a small, intimate club with frequent specials including $3 Rhum-n-Tings on Sunday nights and a diverse range of music from Reggae to Techno on different nights. Also, couches in the bathroom and an outdoor terrace around the back.
Inexpensive pub with a small kitchen, live bands, a single pool table and a couple of active dart boards. Known for their cheap 4 Liters beer pitchers (16 $). Friendly and sociable, for the most part English-speaking patrons, from age 18 to 60. Arts and crafts on Monday nights!
Being next door to Concordia University may or may not be a point in its favor, but there's no denying that this friendly pub is a great place for a pint. The food is above-average for a pub, too. McKibbin's is known for their ladies night every Wednesday with its all night open bar ($10 cover for girls and $25 cover for guys).
Probably the best Irish pub in Montreal, with live traditional music every night and excellent food at fair prices. There's an upstairs for the busy nights, in addition to outdoor patios in the front and back. A part of the pub is non-smoking. Very cozy with a highly authentic feel and friendly professional staff.
Brewpub with their own beers on tap on the busy Crescent strip. English-speaking college crowd.
Montreal legend. Sports bar. Dirt cheap specials. Good time, particularly on $1 shooter Thursdays.
Concordia University's bar. Features special Hockey nights, and cheap Thursday beer and shots. Great part of student-life experience.
The Old Dublin
Don't let the Vieux Dublin sign outside fool you — this pub is not one bit Irish. There's not a lot of Emerald Island schlock around, but the pints are good, and home-style meals for lunch and dinner really hit the spot. There's live music on weekends on the minuscule stage, but during the week it's quiet and comfy. Staff is polite and nice.
The first Supper Club in the city, Time Supper Club starts as a restaurant and slowly turns into a night club.
One of the trendiest clubs in Montreal. Be well-dressed and have a well-dressed wallet.
Very comfy rooms in a range of sizes can be hired by the hour, from $30.
Large rooms with clean decoration.
Charming hotel for budget-conscious travellers. Renovated historical building recommended by many guides as an excellent value with a personal touch.
Auberge de jeunesse de Montréal
Friendly and helpful staff. Activities organized every day (pub crawls, bike tours, urban walks, etc.) Dormitories and private rooms.
Private rooms with shared bathroom and apartment suites with private bathroom, kitchenette and private entrance.
Continental breakfast.
Offers 825 renovated rooms, free internet use in the Link@Sheraton lobby connectivity hub.
With fully equipped kitchens and complimentary daily hot and cold buffet breakfast, Free WiFi access, rooftop terrace, laundry facility, friendly multi-lingual staff,
Le Reine Elizabeth
Offering 1,037 rooms, of which 100 are suites. Offers a health club, an indoor pool, and three restaurants: Les Voyageurs lounge, Le Montréalais bistro-restaurant and Beaver Club.
Modern hotel with spacious rooms and a high level of service, within walking distance of the Old Town and modern city centre. Rooms are equipped with tea/coffee service, an Apple TV unit, and a computer. Rates include breakfast, newspapers, and wireless Internet access. Substantial discounts available for booking through the hotel’s web site.
A modern hotel with great design near boulevard Saint-Laurent.
A chic and intimate boutique-hotel designed for a hip clientele of leisure and business travelers.
Close to the corner of rue Sainte-Catherine.
This boutique hotel is in the chic Golden Square Mile neighborhood. This hotel features 108 rooms.
Attached to the Complexe Desjardins.
This five-star, four-diamond luxury hotel is centered amongst fashionable boutiques, museums, fine dining, and the exciting nightlife of Montreal's chic rue Crescent.
A historic luxury hotel, opened in 1912, that has played host to many famous figures such as Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II.
Selections from local designers, vintage, and a bistro/bar thrown in for good measure. It's mostly just a thrift shop.
By metro
Downtown Montreal is served by the Orange and Green Lines.e. towards the river).
By bus
Dozens of bus lines run through the downtown area.
Downtown is walkable, weather permitting, but watch for frustrated drivers trying to cut through throngs of pedestrians crossing the street. The new bike lane on Blvd.
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