Montréal is a unique and beautiful city, where most residents switch between English and French, often in the same sentence, without even noticing. It has the energy of a big city, architecture that feels European, and a food and arts scene that punches well above its weight. Fall is a wonderful time to visit, and happens to be Danielle's favourite season: the city's colours transform into a sea of gold, amber, and crimson, and the terrasses squeeze in those last warm days before the long winter. October in Montréal is something special, and we can't wait to share it with you all.
🍁 Must-do: Walk up to the Kondiaronk Belvedere on Mont-Royal for the best panoramic view of the city — especially stunning in fall colours. You can hike up from the bottom, or drive up to Beaver Lake, which is a short walk from the Belvedere.
Good to Know
- ›The city is walkable and best explored on foot or by BIXI
- ›Montréal has incredible biking infrastructure and is our favourite way to get around. The BIXI bike-share network lets you borrow a bike anywhere and drop it off at any available station in the city
- ›The STM metro is clean, fast, and covers all the main areas
- ›Québec tax is ~15% on top of menu prices. Tips are expected where food or drinks are brought to you — typically 15–18%
🌤 October weather
The weather can be unpredictable — some days are 15–20°C and sunny, while others can be 5°C and rainy. Plan accordingly and pack some warm layers!
Verdun Our home
This is our home turf and neighbourhood! The vibes are cozy and residential, featuring a remarkable glow-up in recent years.
- Wellington Street — voted Best Street in the World in 2022. Some of our favourites include Benelux for craft beer, BOSSA for authentic Italian sandwiches, and Rita for a cozy evening of pizza and pasta
- Walk or bike along the water (the St. Lawrence River) to feel like you're out of the city
- Palais D'Ajit — delicious Indian food with bring-your-own-wine!
Griffintown
An up-and-coming neighbourhood with an industrial edge — and home to the Alt Hotel for guests staying there! Both Old Montréal and the Lachine Canal are a short walk away, so we recommend exploring on foot.
- Mano Cornuto — delicious Italian food and wine
- Arsenal art contemporain — a massive exhibition space with a rotating lineup of contemporary art shows
- Habitat 67 — an iconic Brutalist housing complex built for the 1967 World's Fair, beautiful to walk by
St-Henri & Lachine Canal
- Atwater Market — about 20 min walking from our place, filled with local produce and fun restaurants
- Walk along the Lachine Canal afterwards — part of the Sud-Ouest area where Danielle grew up, and just 15 min from our apartment
- Messorem — a dog-friendly craft beer spot with a huge terrasse. A bit out of the way, but one of our favourite spots!
- Foiegwa — great brunch spot in the area
💛 Fun fact: the Lachine Canal is where Danielle & JV had their first "date" — which was just a walk, as colleagues — in November 2020.
Mile End & Le Plateau
The creative heart of the city — walk up to Parc Lafontaine, it's beautiful and full of vibes!
- Fairmount Bagel vs St-Viateur Bagel — try both, then have a strong opinion as to which is better in order to be a true Montréaler!
- ChuChai — one of our absolute favourite restaurants in the city! Incredible vegan Thai that even meat-eaters love
- Patati Patata — JV's favourite poutine in the city. A must!
- Le Bar Darling — great spot for a drink
- Schwartz's Deli — a Montréal institution for smoked meat. Pro tip: get it to go to skip the line!
Old Montréal
Cobblestone streets and 18th-century architecture along the St. Lawrence — picturesque day or night.
- Notre-Dame Basilica — a must-see
- Place Jacques-Cartier & Rue Saint-Paul — stroll these for the best photos
- Walk along the water to the Clock Tower for views of Jacques Cartier Bridge
- Crew Collective — a beautiful café in a stunning heritage building, once home to the Royal Bank of Canada
Culture & Landmarks
- Jean-Talon Market — one of the best outdoor food markets in North America, featuring local produce and harvest goods. Lots of fun, authentic restaurants in the area too
- Musée des Beaux-Arts — world-class art museum, highly recommended for a rainy day
- The Oratory (Oratoire St-Joseph) — beautiful architecture and a serene hilltop view
- Botanical Garden & Biodome — both worth the visit if you have time
- McGill University — a stunning campus right in the heart of the city. This is where JV went to school and what first brought him to Montréal!