One of the most difficult decisions when booking a trip is trying to decide what neighborhood you want to stay in. I always prefer to compromise on space & quality to be closer to the action. For this trip we decided to stay in the Plateau. If you’re from Chicago I would describe it as the Logan Square of Montreal. We were within walking distance from tons of great restaurants and cafes. Each morning we’d walk to a new breakfast (apologies in advance for the make-up free photos of me at breakfast below!) Our favorites were Beauty’s Luncheonette and Café Brossard. I was surprised to see both places had milkshakes on their breakfast menu? I mean how amazing is that.
Our Air BnB was a few blocks from Mount Royal Park. This massive park is a great area for kids to run around and explore. It has a beautiful lake with ducks in the summer and ice skating in the winter! If you’re there on a Sunday stop by the George-Étienne Cartier Monument to take part in the Tam Tam drum circle! Dancers, musicians, vendors and onlookers alike come together every Sunday to play music, relax and people watch. The Tam Tam drum circle is a Montreal tradition thats started in the 1960s!
If you’re in Montreal you have to check out St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mont Royal. It is Canada’s largest church and provides the most amazing views of the city. As you approach the Oratory from the street you are immediately astounded at its beauty. It’s unlike any of the churches I’ve seen in Europe. Although this church is a little difficult to get to and the surrounding area a bit boring I do think it’s worth the Uber trip for the killer views!
As our day came to a close we just had one more stop for an insta-famous “fish” cone! Kamenhameha Snack Bar is a small Japanese restaurant located in Gay Village. The interior of this restaurant is an Instagram dream with beautiful macramé hanging plants in rose gold pots and light pink walls. After a poke bowl and ice cream we did some major people watching as we strolled down Rue Saint Catherine. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day spent exploring Montreal!
Britt Heller 