I find Montreal to be enchanting. It is so European and therefore very charming. It’s also fun and easy going. In the winter, don’t forget to check out “Mount Tremblant” for amazing skiing. This city has great food and a fantastic nightlife year round, so depending on your season of choice, it is a perfect destination.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
• Sofitel is a great brand of hotels that I have found through my experience to be moderately priced. The one in Montreal happens to be centrally located and beautiful with very impressive reviews. You can find a lot of families here due to it's proximity to the local universities but the customer base is super diverse because its close to everything! For me I really appreciated how clean the bathrooms were and how close it was to world class shopping.
• The W hotel, as you will find out, is always my “go to” when at all possible. Montreal’s W is amazing. Part of me has felt that if you stay at one place over and over again all around the world then you aren't really experiencing what an area has to offer. I know people that stay at the same resort chain all over the place and I never understood why because you're traveling without really experiencing the culture. But staying at the W all over the world has helped me understand a little. It isn't a resort so of course I am still exploring but with the W I know that I am going to be treated amazing. The service is incomparable and it was always be a stylish and trendy place. Overall the W is affordable and each location has something different, like a bar or a club or rooftop, so in no way is it the same hotel every time. A familiar, yet unique experience is probably the best way to put it.
RESTAURANTS:
• For an amazing experience I would recommend “Les Deux Singes de Montarvie”. It is a French restaurant with an amazing waitstaff and locally sourced artwork adorning the walls.
• For a great and very authentic Spanish meal you can go to “Arepera” for a delicious Latin meal.
•I would really ask the concierge what he would recommend depending on your desire for that particular day. They are usually full of great tips and information. You will find amazing restaurants in Montreal everywhere, in fact its hard to have a bad meal in this city.
• Next time I travel to Montreal I want to try The Keg Steakhouse and Bar - I have heard amazing things about the food! Definitely an upscale place so I will be packing my best outfits!
SIGHTSEEING:
• There is so much to see in Montreal but for starters going to Old Montreal is definitely going back in time. It is such a charming city. So old and so beautiful. There’s a lot to do and see in this part of the city.
• Make sure you check out the itinerary for their summer music festivals, they’re a lot fun!!
• Another Must-Do, (during the summer of course) whether you’re biking up to it like I have or driving/Ubering your way there going up to “Mount Royal” is SUPER cool. Mount Royal is the mountain right next to the city that overlooks all of the city, and it is spectacular! People bring blankets, they have bottles of wine, cheese and whatever else you’d like to bring along. Take a little time and relax. It’s amazing! Oh, and bring a camera!!!
BARS:
• I'll start by saying that the bar at the W Hotel is absolutely fantastic. Very sophisticated and the sticker price won't break the bank. It got pretty crowded when I was there with both guests and non-guests of the hotel so it was fun to mingle and learn about other places.
• I thought the best cocktails in the city could be found at Moxies.
• We went to Tabasco Bar and it was fun and had three floors but it was definitely a college bar. It was like a bar, a club, a pool hall and a restaurant all in one. I'm sure you could stay there all day and have a blast! It is extremely cheap and the app we had was great.
• There are tons of bars in the city and many in close proximity to one another so walk out of your hotel and pick right or left and you're sure to land at a bar! Then go to another...and another...and another - they're all great!
NIGHTLIFE:
Club Unity in Montreal is like no other. It's located in The Village, known as Gay Village. It's huge and awesome! This club has three different rooms and plays a variety of different music. There is a large terrace that has fantastic views. The crowd is very diverse and you will meet a sprawling range of people - so be sure to socialize! The drinks are good but as with any nightclub there can be a bit of a wait, so be sure to take care of your bartender if you want to be recognized (no one wants to spend their whole night waiting for drinks). What I really enjoyed was the quality of place - the sound and lighting system was amazing which really added to the experience. The sound system was very crisp; even though it is very loud it was not impossible to communicate with friends! Expect club prices when it comes to the "refreshments" ;) but its totally worth it!
Club Unity is the only nightclub I can speak on right now but I plan on making another trip to Montreal very soon. We were told great things by the concierge at the hotel about another club called La Boom, but we didn't have the time to go there.
Oh and another thing - always take advantage of the hotel staff's knowledge! They can always point you in the right direction of amazing places and things to experience. That goes for any city!