The Perfect Weekend in Montreal

If you’re looking for a lovely weekend escape, look no further than Montreal, a vibrant city with a diverse culture, delicious food, and a rich history. This itinerary is great for first timers, couples, and anyone just looking for a fun escape!

Day 1:

• Kick off your morning by grabbing a coffee at the architectural beauty, Crew Collective and Cafe, the former headquarters of the Royal Bank of Canada. Note: It’s way more than just coffee.
• Check out the beautiful Notre Dame and Place d’Armes, just a few blocks away.
• Enjoy lunch on one of my more beautiful streets in the Old Port, at Jacopo.
• Explore the Old Port. One of my favorite things to do in Montreal was strolling through the beautiful Old Port and stopping into all the shops. It’s touristy, but worth the visit. And don’t miss Rue Saint-Amable.
• If you want to learn a little more about Montreal, consider visiting Pointe-a-Calliere. We didn’t make it in our trip, but it was highly recommended to me.
• Happy hour at Terrasse Nelligan (open seasonally). This spot is popular in warm weather months, and for good reason. Delicious cocktails and bites with lovely views. Tip: Make a reservation in advance, especially if you aren’t staying at Hotel Nelligan.
• Dinner at Modavie. We loved the vibes at this restaurant, including live jazz on multiple foors. Their specialty is lamb, and the lamb cavatelli is a must.
• Post-Dinner drink at Bar Bisou Bisou. If you’re looking for a high-end cocktail in the Old Port, this is the place for you.

Day 2:

• Brunch at Olive et Gourmando. There will probably be a wait, but it was worth it. Tip: Try to avoid sitting at the community table if you don’t like sitting with strangers. I think the worker might have referred to it as the “bar,” and we were a little confused when we sat down. 🙂
• Climb up the Grand Stair case of Mount Royal and take in the scenic skyline views of the city from Kondiaronk Belvedere. If you are staying in the Old Port, you’ll want to drive (or Uber) to the staircase. (We didn’t and highly regretted the long walk before even getting to the stairs.)
• If you want a treat after the climb, Patisserie Au Kouign Amann was nearby and recommended.
• Explore the (less touristy) plateau area of Mont Royal.
• Happy Hour at Terrasse William Gray or Terrasse de Place D’Armes (the latter only open seasonally). We love a good rooftop, and we thoroughly enjoyed both of these!
• Dinner at Restaurant L’Express. This Parisian-style bistro is a Montreal staple, and it does not disappoint.

More Options:

If you want to add to the itinerary, or want to swap anything out, here are some additional options:

• Dinner at Damas or Vin Mon Lapin – both were highly recommended to me, and I hope to visit one day!
• Explore and shop in the Underground City – a full shopping center, all underground. Perfect for a day with less than ideal weather.
• In colder months, do as the Canadians do and catch a hockey game — men’s or women’s! (I’m biased, but I’d pick the women’s team!)
• In warmer weather, catch a boat ride with Le Petit Navire.
• If you’re the museum type, I heard great things about The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. (I usually am, but haven’t made it here yet.)

Hotel Recommendations:

We stayed at Hotel Nelligan and loved it! Another hotel that we closely considered was Hotel Place D’Armes. Each of these are perfectly located right in the Old Port.

Thank you for visiting our site! We may make commission off hotel affiliate links (at no further cost to you), but we would never recommend a place we don’t genuinely want to recommend.

-Kasey