Image by Natalie Taylor.
Westmount Greenhouse
The Westmount neighbourhood is home to some of the wealthiest homes in Montreal but it’s also home to some of the best greenspace. The best way to explore the area if you’re not driving and want a workout is to grab a Bixi from Vendome station and bike over to Westmount Park. Through the beautiful ponds and bike trail to the north end of the park, you can drop your Bixi off right near the Greenhouse and flower conservatory, a magical oasis in the middle of the city. Built in 1927 and restored by architectural firm, Beaupré & Michaud in 2005, the greenhouse is home to banana trees, orchids, and a green olive tree amongst many other plants. There are even three full time gardeners who maintain the space. Whether you’re catching up with a friend at one of the wrought iron tables, reading a book on the bench, reflecting in front of the small waterfall, or staging a photoshoot on the mini-bridge or in front of the bronze angel in front of the fountain, it’s a place in Montreal you’ll never forget. The best part? It’s free!
Where to Find:
Westmount Greenhouse
4624 Sherbrooke Ouest, Montreal
westmount.org
Image courtesy Fitz & Follwell via Instagram.
Fitz & Follwell Co.
It’s no longer a secret that Fitz & Follwell’s top-rated and curated tours go well beyond bikes. The fun folks here, however, do show you many secret spots or hidden gems within Montreal icons. Zig zag your way through some lesser-known neighbourhoods like Outremont in the Hoods’ and Hidden Gems bike tour. Go behind the scenes tour of Montreal’s art community on a collaborated tour with POP Montreal starting at the cool, open air market, Marche Des Possibles. In the winter months, delve deep into the heart of Mont Royal park on the Winter on the Mountain tour. Skate on Beaver Lake, snowshoe to the iconic cross, and end it all with a toboggan on the mountain. It’s one of the most fun Montreal experiences you can have. Of course, there are many more tours to choose from. That’s the hardest part!
Where to Find:
Fitz & Follwell Co.
115 Ave. du Mont-Royal West, Montreal
514-840-0739, fitzandfollwell.co
Image courtesy Era Vintage Wear via Instagram.
ERA Vintage Wear
Montreal is no stranger to fashion. Beyond cool boutiques like Unicorn in Mile End, you can find some really unique finds at vintage stores. One of the best vintage stores is ERA Vintage Wear, founded by stylist and ex-fashion publicist, Élaine Léveillée. This secret haunt, when celebrities are filming in town, is also chock full of designer-wear including vintage Jean Paul Gaultier. Check out the store’s Tumblr for recent additions to the store. It’s one of the many ways to explore the burgeoning neighbourhood of St. Henri.
Where to Find:
ERA Vintage Wear
99 du College, suite 44, Montreal
514-543-8750, facebook.com/ERAVINTAGEWEAR
Image courtesy Cafe Falco via Facebook.
Café Falco
If you’re looking for the ideal hideout to work or have a meeting, try Café Falco. The clandestine cafe is hidden between a cluster of industrial buildings in Mile End but inside, Falco is everything but boring. The loft space is a dream for decorators and photographers due to high beams, where bicycles are neatly hung, and lots of sunlight shining, glistening off the stacks of clear siphons; a coffee chemist’s lab. Falco is one of the few places, serving up siphoned coffee, so give it a whirl. You can have lunch here too. Japanese owner, Yuko Toda, makes some great onigiri alongside soup, salads, and sandwiches. Get here early though: the wifi shuts off during lunch hours and only enough food is made to those who come on time.
Where to Find:
Café Falco
5605 Avenue de Gaspé, Montreal
514-272-7766, cafefalco.ca
Image by Natalie Taylor.
Restaurant Manitoba
You may have heard of Mile End but you may not have heard of Mile Ex, the area north of Mile End, bordering the Parc-Extension neighbourhood. It is also known as the old Marconi-Alexandra nabe and I’m warning you, not exactly easy to get to, with its zig-zag of start and stop streets. Within the mixed-used area, Mile-Ex is a beacon for stand-out restaurants like Manitoba. Named for the province known for its wild and game, you’ll have a taste of the forest on your plate. Now only open for dinner, you’ll find such things as maple brulé bone marrow, deer steak, and veal heart gravlax on the ever-changing menu. Arrange a cab back; you might be here for a while, as it’s one of those ever-lasting memories.
Where to Find:
Restaurant Manitoba
271 St Zotique Ouest, Montreal
514-270-8000, restaurantmanitoba.com
Image via Instagram.com/melissadelpinto.
Mural Festival
It can be difficult to wade through the choices for this festival city. There are over 60 festivals alone happening in the summer months, many of them side-by-side. So if the streets of Plateau’s, St. Laurent st is blocked off, you’ll know why. But if you are in Montreal in June, the Mural Festival, is one not to miss! The new festival -- and the first Canadian city to be included in Google’s art project, it showcased over 50 colourful murals for 11 days with curated tours, music, conferences, art gallery collaborations, and food on the Main. It’s now an excuse to wander through the alleys off to the side and look for the colourful street art, year-round. Our picks? Faith 47’s Unicorn-themed “The Psychic Power of Animals;” Melissa Pinto’s Hitchcockian black crow framed against a neon pink wall; and Brazilian duo, Bicicleta Sem Fremo’s bright toucan. We also noted the famous Lovebot Robot images from Toronto in and around the alleys of Mile End so stay alert!
Where to Find:
Mural Festival
3527a Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal
muralfestival.com
Image courtesy Drawn & Quarterly via Instagram.
Drawn and Quarterly
Bibliophiles and fans of the comic/graphic novel genre will love this little gem in Mile End. Described by Time Magazine as “the most elegant comics publisher in North America,” the storefront grew out of its publication headquarters. It sells books of the genre from the D&Q catalog as well as from other publishers (so it’s not just comics and graphic novels here). It’s a great stop on your tour of Rue St. Bernard, lined with quirky shops and cafés.
Where to Find:
Librairie Drawn & Quarterly Storefront
211 Bernard Ouest
Montreal, Quebec H2T 2K5
514-279-2224, drawnandquarterly.com
