Lifestyle in Montreal

Montreal is a Canadian city heavily influenced by French culture. That said, the city is still a melting pot of cultures, and there will certainly be something for you to enjoy, no matter your nationality or native tongue.

Hundreds of cafés and restaurants offer cuisine from all over the world. Asian supermarkets, Parisian boutiques, and European nightclubs characterise Montreal’s roadsides. Thanks to the bustling lifestyle in Montreal, there's never a dull moment in this exciting city. 

Shopping in Montreal

If you love shopping, you’ll feel right at home in Montreal. The city offers a range of options, from big department stores to eccentric antique shops. Montreal’s retail offering has recently expanded with the opening of Royalmount, a new shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. In its first phase, Royalmount offers over 150 shops, including more than 50 restaurants and cafés, with many new-to-market concepts.

If you’re looking for a more traditional shopping experience, head to the department stores on Rue St Catherine, with underground shops allowing you to escape Montreal’s freezing winter temperatures. Montreal’s Underground City, known as the RÉSO, spans over 19 miles (30km) of interconnected passages, linking shopping malls, metro stations, and other facilities. Key sections include the Eaton Centre and Complexe Desjardins, offering a variety of shops and services.

For quirky antique and indie outlets, visit Rue Notre-Dame, Avenue Mont-Royal, Rue Amherst, and Rue St Viateur. If you have trendier tastes, you’ll find high-end shops on Rue St-Denis and Rue Sherbrooke. For a touch of luxury, you can visit the affluent suburb of Westmount, which is home to many premium boutiques.

Moving To Montreal

Eating out in Montreal

The French influence in Montreal is apparent in its many restaurants and bakeries, but there are plenty of foreign cuisines to enjoy as well.

Old Montreal is the best place to find classic French cuisine. Plateau Mont-Royal is popular with students and young professionals, and you’ll find restaurants ranging from quaint sandwich shops to cheerful Italian eateries and upscale bistros. Saint Laurent Boulevard is where you’ll probably have the most luck finding traditional favourites.

Rue Crescent and Rue Bishop in central Montreal, known as Downtown, have many great bars and restaurants to sample.

Nightlife and entertainment in Montreal

If you love partying, you’ll be delighted to know that Montreal is the mecca of nightlife in Canada. The bars and clubs in Montreal stay open much later than anywhere else in the country. The variety of establishments is equally impressive, with an assortment of student watering holes, jazz haunts, and all-out nightclubs lining Montreal’s streets.

If you’re into arts and culture, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Montreal. The city has a brilliant symphony, numerous theatre companies, and, of course, Cirque du Soleil. International bands and musicians also often include Montreal in their North American tours. Montreal residents are also passionate about international and French cinema, which has led to the growth of the city’s film industry.

You’ll find some linguistic divisions entrenched in Montreal’s nightlife. English speakers usually frequent bars on Rue Crescent, Rue Bishop, and Rue de la Montagne, while French speakers gather in the Quartier Latin. If you’re seeking diverse experiences, visit Rue St Paul in Old Montreal, where you can listen to live music. New nightlife areas like Ausgang Plaza in Rosemont have recently emerged, hosting DJ performances, live music, and art installations.

Sports and outdoor activities in Montreal

When it comes to sports, ice hockey is a favourite in Montreal. The city is home to the National Hockey League.

There are numerous outdoor activities on offer in Montreal, regardless of the weather. With diverse plant life, Montreal Botanical Gardens is a paradise for nature lovers. You can also visit one of the city’s numerous parks, such as the famous La Fontaine Park. The green space has ponds, water features, and an outdoor ice-skating rink that opens in winter.

Winter in Montreal is filled with excitement, with some attractions offering activities like snowskating and snowscootering. The illuminated ice-skating rinks in the Old Port, opening every December, are perfect for an enchanting winter experience.

Fitness enthusiasts can find great jogging routes, such as Lachine Canal, around every area and suburb in Montreal.

Areas and Suburbs In Montreal 

See and do in Montreal

An island city with French charm, Montreal offers plenty to see and do, with a lively arts-and-culture scene and a plethora of outdoor spaces to explore. Below are some must-see sights in Montreal.

Montreal Biosphere

Montreal Biosphere is an environmental and educational museum built in 1967 for the World Fair. Children can learn about the world’s different climates and sustainability in the interactive exhibitions and the underwater observatory.

La Ronde

The world-famous La Ronde amusement park is open daily between June and August and on weekends in May, September, and October. If you’re a thrill seeker, you’ll love the Ferris wheel, rollercoasters, and daring rides at the park.

Notre-Dame Basilica

Notre-Dame Basilica is a breathtaking Gothic church dating back to the 1820s. If you love history and architecture, you’ll appreciate the building’s beautiful carvings, stained-glass windows, and vaulted ceilings.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal is a unique tourist attraction with structures dating back to the 17th century. The area is home to the Montreal City Hall, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, and Château Ramezay. Recent upgrades to the Old Port include new public spaces and modern amenities, blending rich history with contemporary attractions. You can also visit the nearby Vieux Port de Montreal for a fun-filled family afternoon.

Olympic Park

Locally known as ‘Parc Olympique’, Olympic Park was built for the 1976 Olympic Games. You can visit the park to see the various exhibitions, concerts, and sporting events. The climate-controlled La Grande Roue de Montréal, located nearby, offers stunning 360-degree city views, making it a must-see.

Making friends and meeting people in Montreal

Montreal is a social city with plenty of opportunities to make friends and meet people. Joining community events, participating in social clubs, or visiting popular parks like Mount Royal are great ways to connect with like-minded individuals. Language exchange meetups are also popular and can be an excellent way for newcomers to improve their French or English while meeting new people.

Joining Meetup groups is also an effective way to expand your social circle in Montreal. Platforms like Meetup.com host various groups catering to different interests, from outdoor adventures to creative workshops. Community events such as those by Welcome Collective or the Neighborhood Round Tables are also great for connecting with locals and integrating into the community.

Useful links

• Meetup Montreal
• Welcome Collective
• Neighbourhood Round Tables
• YES Montreal
• COCo (Community Organizations)