One day in Montreal

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Here’s a great itinerary for spending one day in Montreal, one of Canada’s most colourful cities. You’ll find restaurant suggestions, top sights, shopping and some choice bits of history.

If you’re spending one day in Montreal, a good portion of that will be taken up eating. And when you’re considering where to eat, you need first to answer the Montreal dining question of the day: Can you order both the Bone Marrow with Coarse Salt and the Chicken Liver Paté with Pistachios at L’Express on Rue Saint-Denis and call it a well-rounded meal?

Decadent and delicious

Montreal dining answer: Not unless you order a glass of red wine to go with it (or drink your husband’s, which is just as good).

Next Montreal dining question: Will you feel ill after you eat every scrap of bone marrow and chicken liver paté and don’t share? Definitely. Lesson learned: Next time order two glasses of wine.

As I said, if you have just one day in Montreal, food is likely going to be a big part of it, but don’t stop there. This vibrant French Canadian city in the province of Quebec has much to offer in the way of history, art, shopping and sightseeing. So what should you do if you only have one day? Follow my one day in Montreal itinerary:

What to do in one day in Montreal

Take a lazy morning. Sorry, I know I said you’d have a lot to do, but isn’t lingering in bed one of these necessary indulgences (especially if your bedding is as luxe as ours was at the Hotel Le Crystal)?

One day in Montreal – Visit Old Montreal

Skip down (not literally – you’ll look ridiculous) to Old Montreal. Grab a café au lait and House-made Ricotta with Honey, Orange Zest and Maldon Salt with Toast at popular Olive and Gourmando at 351 Saint-Paul West.

Breakfast is served

Montreal dining warning of the day: Expect crowds. You may be fighting for a seat. Please be nice even though you haven’t had any caffeine yet. You’re a visitor here.

Stroll around Old Montreal

There is much to do in this picturesque part of the city so get cracking. (Who told you to sleep in, anyway?) First, you should read my Montreal travel articles: The King’s Daughters in Montreal and Montreal Stained Glass Mysteries for a grounding in history and mystery. Now look down at your feet. You’re standing where it all began. The oldest part of the city.

A slow ride through Old Montreal

French settlers founded Montreal in 1642 (mind you, the Iroquois were here long before that) and the cobblestone streets, boutiques, horse-drawn carriages and Old Port views of the St Lawrence River are worth some quality sightseeing time.

With just one day in Montreal don’t miss Notre-Dame Basilica

The blockbuster site in Old Montreal has to be Notre-Dame Basilica, located at Place d’Armes Square.

Notre-Dame Basilica

This Gothic Revival basilica built in the 1800s has enough glittering stained glass and gilded wood (plus a starry blue sky, otherwise known as a star-spangled vault) to impress even the most jaded church sightseer.

Fun Montreal fact: Instead of religious symbolism, the side windows of Notre-Dame depict historical scenes of early Quebec history. They were designed by Quebec artist Jean-Baptiste Lagacé and made in Limoges, France.

Notre-Dame isn’t the only Notre-Dame in Montreal

The basilica is magnificent but I’m partial to a different Notre-Dame, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel at 400 Saint-Paul St. East. It was originally founded back in 1655 by Canada’s first female saint, Marguerite Bourgeoys.

Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours is smaller than Notre-Dame Basilica, but I love it because it was a key player in the Montreal Mystery of the Vanishing Stained Glass that I attempted to solve Nancy Drew style a few trips back. (Sigh. You didn’t read the article, did you? No matter. Montreal mysteries aren’t for everyone.)

Our Lady of the Harbour

Fun Montreal fact: In the Leonard Cohen mega hit Suzanne, the lyrics “And the sun pours down like honey/On our lady of the harbour” refer to the statue of the Virgin Mary on the dome of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours.

One day in Montreal – Where to have lunch

For lunch it’s time to leave Old Montreal and go to Paris, I mean L’Express, which feels like Paris. It’s an authentic French-style bistro and much beloved by locals, so make a reservation. Located at 3927 Rue Saint-Denis. Tel: 514 845 5333.

And if you eat both the bone marrow and the chicken paté and then you need a nap and miss your one day in Montreal, don’t blame me.

Rue Saint-Denis

One day in Montreal – stroll along Rue Saint-Denis and Boulevard Saint-Laurent

Finished eating? Wander along Rue Saint-Denis and the parallel Boulevard Saint-Laurent to look at the boutiques and vintage shops, soak up the Left-Bank-in-Paris atmosphere and wear off some lunch calories (no one told you to eat that third piece of bread).

Saint-Laurent

One day in Montreal sightseeing means art and culture

For a splash of world-class art head to 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest to visit the ever-popular Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (full disclosure: the work of my late father, William Perehudoff, is in the collection, but I’d recommend it regardless).

Artsy Montreal

At the Montreal Museum of Fine Art you’ll find an excellent selection of Canadian art, international art and superb temporary exhibitions. (And the pop-art Jim Dine heart sculpture out front is always fun, too.)

Best cafes and afternoon tea for a day in Montreal

You must need a coffee break by now. If you want something ritzy (literally), just across the street is the swanky Ritz-Carlton Montreal, 1228 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, where you can stop for Afternoon Tea (if you can possibly stuff it in after L’Express).

The Ritz-Carlton Montreal has been serving afternoon tea since 1913, and at the very least you can rest your feet and drink some of the Ritz’s own Blue Sapphire blend. Because you’ll need renewed energy for shopping!

Fruit break

Alternatively, you could try the upmarket Café Vasco da Gama at 1472 rue Peel. If you’re a glutton for cholesterol you could opt for a Beef and foie gras burger. I, however, took the healthy high road (because I was still feeling ill from my bone marrow and chicken liver paté lunch) and ordered yogurt and fruit salad.

Shopping in Montreal? Beeline for Sainte-Catherine Street

First stop? La Maison Ogilvy, a glamorous department store at 1307 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest. It’s Canadian owned (even though Holt Renfrew bought it), has buckets of old-fashioned elegance including a spiral staircase and, if you skipped my lunch and afternoon tea suggestions, you can grab a fresh salad in the basement cafe.

If you’re strapped for cash after that visit La Maison Simons at 977 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest for more affordable options – also Canadian owned.

Let’s shop!

I’m also partial to the clothing boutique San Remo on Sherbrooke Street because I bought my wedding dress there and because I’m currently infatuated with the Twin Set by Simona Barbieri line (which isn’t Canadian, it’s Italian, but still …)

Also, if you have time, and I never seem to, La Canadienne at 273 Laurier Ouest has wonderful boots.

Relax and rejuvenate Montreal style

Why is shopping so exhausting? Don’t you need a whirlpool and sauna break about now? Here are a couple of options: If you’re staying at Hotel Le Crystal head to the spa, sauna and outdoor whirlpool on the 12th floor great for views of Mount Royal.

Rest up at the Hotel Le Crystal

A Montreal original – spa in a boat

For something completely different taxi it back down to the Old Port of Montreal to Bota Bota, a Nordic-style bathing complex based on hot and cold water therapies set on … a boat!

The floating spa

It’s an authentic docked ferry boat on the St Lawrence and offers divine city views as you soak in a hot tub. A 5-deck floating spa with steam, sauna and a cafe – how can you go wrong?

Note: Bota Bota can be tricky tricky to find. Head to the corner of McGill and de la Commune West and look for a wooden walkway. 358 rue de la Commune ouest. Tel: 514 284 0333

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Where to eat dinner if you only have one day in Montreal

Late dinner: If you’re a meat lover, Pied de Cochon comes highly recommended. Where else are you going to get a Happy Pork Chop and Pig’s Head for Two? Bon appetite! 536 Avenue Duluth Est. Tel: 514 281-1114.

Where to stay in Montreal: If you like bling and good leisure facilities, the centrally-located Hotel Le Crystal is for you. 1100, rue de la Montagne.

Read more:

Here’s my review of the Hotel Le Crystal. Montreal, Quebec.

For more about travel to Canada: visit Things to do in Canada