Photo by Frédérique Ménard-Aubin
If Montreal were a person, this city would be a true social butterfly, so charismatic and charming. Featuring a year-round calendar of fabulous festivals, dining hotspots, and cultural happenings, Montreal is a place you’ll want to get to know, no matter the season.
Fall in love this fall when Pop Montréal International Music Festival takes over the city's stages, from major venues to holes in the wall, from September 27 through October 1. Film buffs fans, plan your Montreal visit from October 4 to 15, just in time for the 52nd International Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.
Fall exhibitions at the city's galleries and museums include photography that transcends the expected during Le Mois de la Photo. And leaf-peepers won’t believe their eyes at the autumn colors on display at Mont-Royal Park and Parc Jean-Drapeau.
© Daph & Nico - Tourisme Montréal
© Eva Blue - Tourisme Montréal
Settle into downtown Montreal at the Warwick Le Crystal - Montréal. Formerly known as the Hotel Le Crystal, and still characterized by a glorious, glittering chandelier in the lobby, the hotel has achieved new life since being acquired by Warwick Hotels and Resorts. Choose from one of 131 stunning suites, each of which has kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, and plush, king-sized beds.
Warwick Le Crystal Hotel
Take care of business in an ergonomically designed workspace, with big windows letting in tons of natural light.
Warwick Crystal Hotel © Pascal Proulx
Unwind with a dip in the indoor saltwater pool, soak up stunning city views from the terrace hot tub, or get pampered with a treatment at the in-house spa, Elements Maison De Beauté.
Nearby is Yoko Luna, which puts the “club” in “supper club.” A DJ booth acts as the hub of this red-hot eatery, and an expert spins the wheels of steel while eager diners enjoy top-rate Japanese fusion dishes. Miso Rockefeller oysters offer a tangy, delicate bite, and dipping lightly-grilled wagyu beef in ponzu sauce and salt titillates the tastebuds. Wagyu ravioli offers a clever take on dumplings, and the bestselling tender sesame beef ribs are a must!
Check out the latest fashion and lifestyle trends at Holt Renfrew, Canada’s exclusive retailer. The in-house eatery is worth a visit for lunch: Café Holt offers delectable takes on contemporary Canadian classics. Savor the smoked salmon tartine on sourdough, topped with roasted garlic cream cheese, lemon confit with a green onion emulsion, capers, radish, and dill.
Photo by Eva Blue- Dale Chihuly.jpg
Catch up on culture by paying a visit to the city’s museums. The recent exhibit Portable Universe: Thought and Splendour of Indigenous Colombia at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). highlighted culture, history, and beliefs among the Indigenous people of Colombia in nearly 400 stunning objects. The Pop of Life!, on exhibition until March 2024 showcases rarely-seen works of pop art from deep within the MMFA’s vast collection.
Ancient history lovers won’t want to leave the Montréal Archaeology and History Complex at Pointe-à-Callière. World-class objects from 3,000 years of Egyptian history center Egypt: Three Millennia on the Nile (through October 15), while permanent exhibitions on the Indigenous and colonial origins of Montreal illuminate a city’s self-awareness of its complex origins.
Before heading out on the town or simply strolling along the boulevards, sample global cuisine at Time Out Market. Spanning 40,000 square feet, this market serves up dishes from some of the city’s culinary stars. Try Chef Paul Toussaint’s Haitian-meets-Canadian cuisine at his eponymous eatery (the amazing pineapple-and-rum ribs are a must!), or enjoy a succulent piece of Portuguese chicken at the Ferreira family’s Campo. Don’t miss the Soda Bar’s artisanal mocktails!
Montreal’s global cuisine scene is on display at Le Central - a year-round gourmet festival showcasing restaurants from up-and-coming and established chefs alike. Ho Lee Chix serves up the crunchiest fried chicken north of the border, along with a selection of Chinese sauces, Mapo tofu, and fried rice. You’ll swear you’ve landed in Naples when eating pizza from Heirloom; they cook their pies in an oven imported from Bologna, and their classic Margherita pizza is on par with any slice you’ll have elsewhere.
Just for Laughs Festival 2023 by Miriam Frenette
It's never too early to think about next summer’s vacation. July is the annual Just for Laughs festival, a true celebration of comedy. JFL offers a wide array of performers, all of whom are guaranteed to have you bent over in gut-busting laughter. Standouts from 2023 included some of Britain’s best comics, ranging from the dazzlingly absurd stylings of Eddie Izzard (also known as Suzy Izzard) and the quick wit of Gina Yashere to the feminist musings of Josie Long and laddish quips of Jack Whitehall.
© Eva Blue - tourisme Montréal.jpg
No matter the time of year, Montreal is a destination worth exploring. Plan your visit at mtl.org/en IG: @Montreal #mtlmoments
By Carly Silver