THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL – PART 1

Joy is… exploring new places, including your very own city! Recently I had the honour of being featured in ShoutoutLA and they asked me to share a week-long itinerary of my favourite Montreal spots. Creating this list made me rekindle my love for my vibrant city. As I’m often asked, “what should I do in Montreal” I thought I’d share my list with you! Montreal - Joy et Joie DAY ONE
Breakfast at Arthurs, then rent a Bixi and bike along the Lachine Canal to Rene-Lévesque Park and back. Grab lunch at The Satay Brothers in the bustling Atwater Market and be sure to have a Léché artisanal donut too. Enjoy the afternoon sun pedalling the canal in a swan boat pedalo. Dinner at Candide for farm-to-table fare or go to Le Vin Papillon to discover their chalkboard menu of the best in season. Montreal - Joy et Joie Things to do in Montreal - Joy et Joie DAY TWO
Head to Old Montreal for brunch at Le Cartet or Dandy then explore the cobblestone streets. Check out Notre-Dame Basilica, the Greek statue and granite pool at the Montreal World Trade Centre, and the lively street performers at Place Jacques-Cartier. Refuel at Crew Collective & Café and marvel at the ornate vaulted ceilings. Stroll along St. Paul Street for lovely little boutiques and art galleries or walk along de la Commune to enjoy the waterfront views of the Old Port. Hungry again? Grab a late lunch at Olive et Gourmando. Montreal Joy & Joie Dandy Things to do in Montreal - Joy et Joie For afternoon activities, feeling artsy? Head to Phi Centre. In the mood for history? Go to Pointe-à-Callière museum for an archeological insight into Montreal’s past. Science enthusiast? Head to the Montreal Science Center. Just want to be spoiled? Get pampered at Bota Bota, the “floating” spa. Montreal - Joy et Joie Things to do in Montreal - Joy et Joie Round up the day with sunset drinks on the rooftop at Terrasse Nelligan or Terrasse William Gray. For a birds-eye view of Old Montreal, be sure to take a spin on Le Grand Roue Ferris wheel. For dinner, Monarque for French cuisine, Hang for haute Vietnamese, or Hanzo for hip low key Japanese izakaya. Still got energy? Drinks and dancing at hotspot Pangea. For a more chill vibe? Candlelight Concert for a magical night of music. Things to do in Montreal - Joy et Joie DAY THREE
Grab a coffee and some French pastries from Duc de Lorraine and head up Mount Royal for a leisurely hike around the mountain. Check out Beaver Lake and the Kondiaronk Belvedere summit for an expansive view of the city. After, visit Saint Joseph’s Oratory and don’t forget to stroll the not-so-secret, secret Garden of the Way of the Cross. Things to do in Montreal - Joy et Joie For lunch, tour the city hitting all the popular must-eat spots: Schwartz’s for smoked meat, St-Viateur Bagels or Fairmount Bagels for bagels, Café Olimpico for lattes, Ma Poule Mouillée for Portuguese chicken, Kem CoBa for specialty ice cream, La Banquise for poutine, and Orange Julep for the famous orange julep (check out classic cars and hot rods Wednesday nights in summer). If you can still fit more food in your belly, have dinner at Au Pied de Cochon. Borderline gluttony, it’s hearty Québécois fare with foie gras and pork as the headliners. Things to do in Montreal - Joy et Joie There is so much to see and do in beautiful Montreal. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our week-long itinerary.