Introduction
In around the beginning of spring this year, I began missing Montreal. My number of trips to that beautiful city had dwindled during the pandemic. After a stretch of work, I decided to make a break for it and spend a weekend in Montreal.
When I visit Montreal, I often have a set agenda with friends or play tennis. You can read here about other trips to Montreal. On this trip, I decided to be a true tourist. I ignored all my friends, and I did not bring my tennis racquet.
What to do in Montreal?
Especially on Rainy Days and Rainy Nights
All started well. It was a sunny warm day as I made my way down to Union Station in downtown Toronto. I generally take the early morning train to avoid a crowded train. Via rail has a very robust schedule with trains leaving about every five hours or so.
But upon arrival at Montreal’s Gare Centrale, the weather began to change quickly. The clouds started to move in and wouldn’t completely leave until I was packing to return home the following Monday.
As tourists, we must learn how to deal with the weather. While it didn’t rain heavily all the time, it did drizzle with small breaks in the cloud cover which would perk me up. Only to have my hopes quickly dashed within one to two hours by another downpour!
Where to Stay in Montreal?
UPDATE – November 2022: The Residence Inn Westmount is no longer part of the Marriott Chain; It is now an independent hotel simply called Hotel 2170 Lincoln. You can find it via Booking.com or Hotels.com
On this trip, I returned to my favourite hotel, the Marriott Residence Inn – Westmount. They have been renovating the communal areas and the elevators on my previous visits (over 13 months ago). I was pleased to find that both elevators were now totally functioning. My one and only complaint about this hotel is that when they are booked solid, it can take some time to get an elevator.
Now here is a note about hotels and post-pandemic “shrinkflation”. I am finding that to save money, many hotels are not doing daily room cleanings. I am totally okay with it as I find that in a short visit. I don’t really need my room cleaned daily.
But I would then recommend that they invest in larger waste baskets. I found that because I was ordering food in a lot that by day three, the old food containers were overflowing the waste baskets. Or another suggestion would be that they could give us larger garbage bags on check-in that we could leave outside room for pick up when full. This is my rant for any hotel executives who might read this blog.
Travel Clothes
The afternoon of the first day was pretty much a write-off. Once I got checked-in and had a nap that lasted a little longer than I had wanted. I slipped out to the IGA to get some provisions and snacks. By then it was about sevenish. Rather than going out I ordered in dinner, getting my obligatory Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich from Rueben’s Delicatessen.
Next morning, I woke up to an overcast and day of off and on drizzle. I still ventured forth to the first pick up of the Hop On Hop off bus.
The main stop for the tour is at Dorchester Square. Dorchester Square is just below St. Catharine Street off Peel Street. If you are using the Metro, get off at Peel Metro station on the Green Line and walk south.
Even if you bought a ticket online, you need to exchange it for a wrist bracelet at the Hop On, Hop Off desk inside the tourist office at Dorchester Square. (Also, there are desks for other events and attractions, so check it out).
As I have mentioned on other blogs where I talk about Hop On Hop Off, your ticket is valid for 48 hours. I always recommend that you, do the full tour one time through. Then pick your places that you want to get off and explore over the next day and a half.
Here are the drop off/pick up points and my recommendations to hop off and explore:
Dorchester Square – If you are a shop-a-holic, here you’re near the stores of St. Catharine Street.
Old Montreal – a definite yes. The next three stops are all within walking distance of each other
Place Jacques Cartier
Old Port
Square Victoria
Place Ville Marie
Chinatown
Village – yes, this is the gay village. In the summer, the street becomes a pedestrian walkway with extraordinary events.
Latin Quarter
Quartier Des Spectacles
Downtown
Fine Arts Museum – yes, check ahead though for opening times and exhibits
McCord Museum
McGill University
Saint Joseph’s Oratory – a yes, for those of you who are cathedral / architecture aficionados
Mount-Royal Park – yes – stunning views of the city.
Get Packing:
And the Rain In Montreal Kept Coming Down
After the first circuit of the tour was finished. The rain increased from a drizzle to a steady pour. I decided to head indoors for a bit to see if would stop.
Montreal like Toronto is known for its underground network of paths that have stores, restaurants and more. I sprinted back up to “Les Cours Mont-Royal”. Here I stumbled across a “Barbie doll” exhibit.
I was amazed and in awe of the thousands of Barbie dolls along with Kens and the whole Barbie family of dolls. Each of the dolls was dressed in outfits from world famous fashion designers or dressed in outfits based on various themes – James Bond, Wizard of Oz, Game of Thrones and many more.
Now I am sure this exhibit has moved on but if it ends up in a town near you. I recommend as a fun way to pass a rainy day!
What to do in Montreal?
Indoors was the place to be! I did a quick search on my phone and found how to get to the Musee des Beaux Arts. I hopped on a bus along Sherbrooke Street and made it to the entrance.
A terrific way to spend a rainy afternoon. I wandered about just soaking in the centuries of great art.
It rained hard off and on the remainder of the day and through most of the night. After breakfast the next morning, I stepped out and while overcast I decided to head down to the old port of Montreal.
The old port of Montreal is now a hub of all types of recreational activity from biking, rowing, jogging, in the winter skating. There are restaurants and pubs for about every taste.
There is a large ferris wheel. It was my destination. I was fortunate enough that by mid day when I got there, the cloud cover had broken up. The views of the city are fantastic. I was fortunate to get a car to myself so I could swing around and get pictures from all the angles.
Electronic Musts for Travellers
A Walk and A Beverage
After the ferris wheel, I walked along the trail to Place Jacques-Cartier. This is a “ramblas” style street that leads up from the port to Rue Notre-Dame. Filled with street vendors and crowded with buskers.
Take a slow stroll. Stop and rest to take in the buskers shows. Visit some of the patios and restaurants.
I caught one of the city buses along Rue Notre-Dame and made my way back up to St Catharine Str. By now it had clouded over again, I made my way through the gay village to visit a couple places owned a friend.
In the spring summer, when it is a pedestrian mall. The bars and restaurants extend themselves outwards with creative patios. If you choose to visit the area, and if you feel like singing – Club Date – is a great little karaoke bar. French or English n’importe pas!
A little further down the street, is District Video Lounge. In daytime during spring and summer, enjoy a drink on the patio. At night catch an entertaining drag show or just catch on with the party atmosphere.
Where to eat in Montreal
Needed a Burger
After having a super spicy Caesar at District, I felt that I needed a good burger to finish up the day. When I have been travelling, I have started to use the Open Table app. On it you can search by type of restaurant; location; by reviews and so on.
I found a highly rated restaurant the specialized in “plant based” burgers. So, I booked my reservation and made my way over to St Laurent Blvd. St. Laurent is restaurant central when you travel to Montreal. I have had many a satisfying meal at several restaurants along this street. You will also find the infamous Schwartz’s Deli here. I refuse to line up for hours for food so I can’t give you a review of Schwartz’s, but it is said to have some of the best bagels in North America.
The Bowhead Pub menu was not overly complex. I wanted a burger, so I ordered up their ‘Impossible Burger’ with sweet potato fries. While I waited, I sipped on a fresh cocktail – Whatamelon.
I was happy with the burger. Sometimes with plant-based burger, I personally find them bland. This burger on the other hand was seasoned nicely but it didn’t overpower the rest of the flavours. The bun to meat ratio was perfect. That means the meat and other toppings didn’t overflow into your hands nor conversely did the bun envelope the ingredients. Overall, I would recommend a visit to the Bowhead Pub.
OMG Montreal - Will it Ever Stop Raining?
Woke up my last full day to another downpour. So, I went down had a long lingering breakfast at the hotel. I started to edit the pictures and lounged around till about 2 pm. The rain had slowed to a drizzle again.
So out came my Open Table app. I decided to treat myself to a higher end dinner for the last night. I liked the looks and the reviews of a restaurant called L’Original.
The restaurant uses as much locally sourced products as they can including their own farm. The decor is comforting and a throw back to a more relaxing time.
The menu is loaded with comfort food. But tonight, I went with the off-menu specials suggested by the servers. Appetizer was a salmon mousse quiche. It was not what I expected. Light and airy with salmon not being overpowering. Give me more!
For my main course, as a burger guy I was thinking of trying the bison burger. But the server then read the specials to me and well, I decided to splurge big time and ordered up the surf’n’turf. It was a filet mignon with lobster tail and caviar. OMFG! Cooked to perfection. The flavours melded perfectly. My only complaint would be that it may have sat on the shelf a minute too long. It had cooled off a bit too much. But that said I’d eat it again.
By now I was full. I was leaning back and loving the lingering flavours of the meal I had just eaten. Then one of the owners comes over and reads me her dessert offerings. The recommendation of the coconut cream pie was accepted. The suggestion was not regretted.
All in all, L’Original gets my highest recommendation. If you are in Montreal and looking for a piece of Canadiana, please check them out. I know I will be going back when I head to Montreal for my next birthday.
Make and Capture Memories:
Conclusion - Guess What? It Stops Raining!
Back to the hotel to digest and unwind for the final night. I arise the next morning to pack and check out. I step out onto the balcony to not a cloud in the sky. I grumble to myself all the way to the Gare Centrale to catch my train back to Toronto.
But those are the ins and outs of travel. One needs to adapt and have multiple plans both indoors and out. You will just get frustrated if the weather doesn’t go your way. It isn’t always sunny everywhere, every day!
Important Note: Opinions and ideas expressed in this blog are my own. Everyone is different and may feel differently about certain activities. You may not enjoy the same things I do.
