Montréal
Sashay on up to this stylish city
By Margeaux Baulch
Published: August 7th, 2007 | 6:02pm
Chic may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think about Canada, but a visit to Montréal, a cosmopolitan city loaded with European charm might make you change your mind. Only a short, one-hour flight from New York, Montréal boasts sidewalk cafes, cobbled-stone streets, and a significant art and music scene that make it feel like Little Paris.
Summer and early fall are the best times to visit this culturally vibrant city. Along with the breezy, cool weather, Montréal is the self-proclaimed "festival capital of the world," with everything from reggae music to hot air balloons scheduled to be feted. So skip the jet lag and come live la bonne vie in this sexy, fun city.
Where to Shop
Not so much a street, as a shopping mecca, rue Sainte-Catherine is downtown Montréal's Champs Elysees. A stroll along the street's nine mile stretch of shops, restaurants, and boutiques will leave you wondering just how to spend your money. Along with every satellite chain known to man, department stores like Oglivy (1307 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest) and la Baie (585 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest) are popular with locals and tourists alike. For luxury items, antiques, and more offbeat finds, check out nearby Rue Sherbooke.
Although it may sound futuristic, the city's Underground City was built in the '60s as a haven for Montrealers during rainy days and bitterly cold winters! Over several thousand stores, apartments, office buildings, banks, movie theaters, and subway stations are connected by 20 miles of underground walkways, making it possible to explore the city without ever having to emerge to the surface.
One of the best aspects of shopping in Quebec's largest city is the favorable exchange rates. One American dollar is equal to 1.25 Canadian dollars--so go ahead and splurge a little! Afterwards, recover from all of that retail therapy by soaking up some culture at the Musée d'art contemporain (185 Sainte-Catherine Ouest) or at Place-des-Arts (175 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest), home to Montreal's symphony and ballet companies.
Where to eat
Although Montréal may be famous for poutine, a deadly concoction of French fries smothered with gravy and cheese, its inheritance from the French can really be tasted in its delicious patisseries. For a heavenly sugar fix, stop into La Brioche Lyonnaise (1593 Rue St-Denis) or nosh on New York-worthy bagels at St-Viateur Bagel (263 St. Viateur.) However, for an authentic Québécois dining experience, savoring a glass of wine at an outdoor bistro in Old Montreal, the city's historic center, can't be topped.
Language
Montréal is officially a bilingual town, so there's no need stringing together those few phrases you remember from high school French. However, it is considered good form to at least greet people with a polite bonjour.
When all else fails, head to the shimmering, government-owned Montréal Casino, located on its own private island in the Saint Lawrence River. There you will be glad to know it's not about how much you win or lose, but how much tax money you are saving the inhabitants of this sleek, culturally sumptuous town!
Issue #35
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