Montreal fun...

[Sheerin]

Just a quick question.  I'm heading to Montreal at the end of the month for a Leafs Habs game, and was wondering if anyone could offer some suggestions for things to do while there?  Before anyone suggests St. Catherine street i should mention that i'm going with my girlfriend (she bought the tickets)  .

Any suggestions on restaurants etc would be great appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Yrys]

How long will you be there and what are your preferences ?

Preferences for restaurants and activities : museum, sightseeing, unusual things ?

 

[TN2IC]

St. Catherine St. Sorry.. but that is about it.    ;D

 

[Yrys]

OK, here I go while I have time :

Transportation in Mtl is sometimes easier by bus and subway:
http://www.stm.info/English/a-somm.htm

Bars :
    - Crescent street (bars where mostly Anglo go)
    - St-Laurent street (bars where mostly Franco go)

Restaurant :
    - breakfeast : http://www.chezcora.com/Main-en/Main-en.htm is a MUST
    - lots of good sushi restaurant and little shop.
    - Mexican food, downtown : http://www.restomontreal.ca/restaurants/index.php?section=viewresto&resto_id=1656

Museums( firts 3 are downtown) :
    - arts (if you don't go the major exhibition, price is lower) : http://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/plan_du_site/index.html
    - Canadian history : http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/
    -  archeology, in Mc Gill U (free, and Mc Gill has a nice campus : )  http://www.mcgill.ca/redpath/
    - archeology, in old Mtl :  http://www.pacmusee.qc.ca/index.aspx?lang=EN-CA
    - http://www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca/Planetarium/index_a.html (low entry fee, but small place)

Movies:
    - AMC Forum and Paramount are downtown. But you have an IMAX in the old port , in old Montreal, which is worth seeing
      http://www.cinemamontreal.com/Montreal-fr.html

''To see'':
    - Mtl web site to choose something as the Olympic stadium or else 
            http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=66,48047&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
              if you like to walk : http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/
                      a lot of things are connected by tunnels (subway stations, hotels, shopping center, some parts of old Mtl)
                                http://www.toutmontreal.com/guide/quartiers/vst/
    - the casino, (but leave your credits cards in your room), its a very unusual place (well, was for me : )
      http://www.casino-de-montreal.com/montreal/nav/en/home
    - library : http://www.banq.qc.ca/portal/dt/accueil.jsp

I may have forget something,but it's a good beginning .

 

[muskrat89]

I thought this place was neat  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph%27s_Oratory

 

[dardt]

Just a quick question.  I'm heading to Montreal at the end of the month for a Leafs Habs game, and was wondering if anyone could offer some suggestions for things to do while there?  Before anyone suggests St. Catherine street i should mention that i'm going with my girlfriend (she bought the tickets)  .

Any suggestions on restaurants etc would be great appreciated.

Thanks

That depends on how much time you have ?

Take some time to explore downtown (great shopping in places like the Eaton center, St-Catherine), Old Montreal (tourist area, great restaurants and cafes), Old port.

Climb Mont Royal for a great view of the city.

Check out trendy neighbourhoods like the plateau, go skating in Parc Lafontaine.

Check out Crescent St, St-Laurent for great night life.

If you have more time check out neighbourhoods like Mile-End (north on Parc Ave.) or NDG (Monkland).

Restaurants that are a must. Schwartz (smoked meat), Beauty's (for Brunch), St-Viateur bagels (bagels). Streets like Duluth are full of restaurants, just go there and pick one (you can even bring you're own wine).

One suggestion, if the weather permits do you're exploring on foot. Montreal is relatively compact and you'll see much more of the real Montreal on foot.

Have fun

 

[Sheerin]

yeah, I probably should have mentioned the details.

We'll be there from Feb 26th to the 28th.  In terms of preference, well we really don't have one.  Just looking for some interesting places to visit (some of the ideas above do sound really good). 

Thanks for all the quick replies. 

 

[mysteriousmind]

I discovered last Saturday a incredible restaurant in the Chinese sector.

The name of the restaurant is Begin.

You order thing and they put it the middle of the table..so you serve your self. the food was Fantastic.

A lot of choice the menu is packed with oriental food.

We were 4 and we ordered
- Orange beef
- General Tao chicken
- Shrimp rice
- fried squid
- a bowl of veggies
- Some noodle I have no idea of the name

It cost us a total of 80$ and it was incredible... 2 thumbs up to begin

- If you like to walk around, there is the Mont-royal were you can have a pretty nice view of the town
- If you like to walk around, there is always the old port...don't know how its going during winter
- there is the Science museum that is cool
- If you like shopping there is the Carefour Laval (third biggest mall in Canada if I'm correct) (with a Apple store and a Games Workshop store)
- There is marché jean-talon but again, I'm not sure of how it is in winter
- You could always go to the Olympic stadium and go up the tower..so see the town
- There is the Biodome (kind of a eco-zoo)
- there is the Casino

and much more...I'm not from Montreal but those are things I did or things I do when I go down there

 

[deedster]

Hurley's on Crescent Street (South of Ste. Catherine) is a MUST if you like a good pint.  They pour the most Guinness there in ALL of North America.  Live entertainment (usually a fiddler & such).  Amazing spot for after the game...you can walk there from the Bell Center...GO LEAFS! (from an ex-Montrealer!) ;D

 

[Sheerin]

Personally I'd love to do a good walking tour of Montreal, however since we're going in a couple weeks i'm wondering how feasible it will be in terms of temperature, plus my girlfriend hates walking long distances (which in here mind is anything greater than 20 minutes!  Yeah kinda be annoying, but in a lovable sort of way lol). 

Thanks again for the suggestions.  Personally, I want to check out most of the things mentioned above, particularly the BioDome, however my girlfriend isn't too keen on that.  The Archaeology museums look interesting (particularly since I've got my degree in anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology). 

As for restaurants, we're definitely looking forward to tasting some real Montreal Smoked Meat, and of course the bagels - i'm looking to bring back a good supply of them!
The pub you mentioned sounds good, particularly since its close to the Bell Centre.  Now, I wonder is it one of those places where it would be advised not to wear Leaf paraphernalia especially after a game? 

 

[Yrys]

Now, I wonder is it one of those places where it would be advised not to wear Leaf paraphernalia especially after a game? 

Hum, it's been 25 years since I've been to a hockey game with my father,
but I think, Montréal is ONE of those place  ;D !

 

[Sig_Des]

If you're into good italian, from what I remember, there was this place, L'Italianio, at 1670 St-Denis st.

Endless dishes of Pasta, home-made wine, bread that you'd kill a man for, intimate setting, and a couple of cousins playing Violins...Awesome place, small.

 

[Sheerin]

Hum, it's been 25 years since I've been to a hockey game with my father,
but I think, Montréal is ONE of those place  ;D !

Only place I've had trouble was in Philadelphia after a Leaf/Flyers playoff game.  God, I was surprised at just how dirty Philly fighters were!  It also amazed me just how quickly a small little scuffle between two people turned into a brawl with ~25...

 

[deedster]

Sheerin
Just back from a 3 week holiday in Northern Ireland (where I met 2 gentlemen in a local pub who were in the Irish Guard!) and Scotland, so I guess you're in Montréal as we "speak".  Hope you're having a GREAT time, everyone gave you really good suggestions!  I'll be watching the game tonight so give us a wave!  Let us know how your trip was when you come back.  GO LEAFS GO !!!!!! 

 

[geo]

I thought this place was neat  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph%27s_Oratory

Ahhhh.... Miracle Mart!

 

[deedster]

Ha-ha!  Miracle Mart!  Very good !!!!!

 

[geo]

Good restos in the downtown core...
Steak joint:
-Vargas (René levesque & University),
-The Keg (Metcalfe & René Levesque),
-Baton Rouge (next to Bell Centre),
-Queue de cheval (across from Bell Centre) (all are within 3-10 minute walk from Bell centre)
- Gibbys
Mexican
- Mesa 14  - Bishop street (near CFRC Montreal)
Indian
- Curry House - Bishop street (near CFRC Montreal)
Brazilian Tapas
- ___________- Bishop street @ DeMaisoneuve (near CFRC Montreal) (forgot name)

Bar & Club scene.....
Crescent street  (near Bell Centre & Hotels)
St Laurent street (the Main)
St Denis street

 

[deedster]

A couple of friends of mine thought Queue de Cheval was terrible...Gibby's is a MUST !!!!!

 

[geo]

the only thing terrible at Queue de cheval is the bill...... Yikes!!!
Gibby's... is good - but, you will get just as good a steak at The Keg (at better price)... though the service is better at Gibby's

 

[deedster]

Is there still only the one Keg in Montréal?