Montreal is expensive-we know-but with a little research and inventiveness, you can spend fabulous days in the city for under $20. There are so many things to do, so many festivals, so many activities…
But don’t panic, because we’ve got a bucket list for Montreal for under $20! We’ll be broke, but bougie broke…
1. 99c takeaway coffee from Bodega and a stroll along the Lachine Canal: the great classic
Bodega: 248 rue de la Montagne
2Go to one of Vinorama’s trivia nights ($5 ticket, $10 glass of wine-and if you win the quiz, a bottle of wine is offered to the winning team).
3. one (only) bowling game at Gplus bowling alley, around $10-$15 for a 15-minute game
Bowling Gplus: 920 rue Saint-Zotique
4Eat in one of the city’s oldest greasy spoons at the Montreal Pool Room (est. 1912), with the $8.85 hot-dog-fries-drink menu.
Montreal Pool Room: 1217 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
5 We’re off to Lundis de l’Humour at Bar Le Jockey, ticket price $14.65 (excluding drinks), every Monday at 8 p.m.
Bar Le Jockey: 1309 rue Saint-Zotique
6Paint a small ceramic ($10-15) while eating a falafel sandwich ($4.99) at Chez Céramique Bistro, and post a photo of your work on instagram for a $2 discount.
Chez Céramique Bistro: 1916 Boul Thimens
7 We go see an independent film at Cinéma Moderne for $16, with $5 popcorn for those who can split the cost (so we stay under $20).
Cinéma Moderne: 5150 Boul Saint-Laurent
8 Take the ferry from the Old Port to Parc Jean-Drapeau to recreate the meeting scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, $5
9 Join a running club (our favorite is Club Montréal Running) with the Strava app, $14.99/month
10) Skate year-round at Atrium le 1000 with a $10 day ticket (skate rental is $9, if you can’t bring your own), Wednesday to Sunday.
Atrium le 1000: 1000 de la Gauchetière West
11.take a hot class at Ensô Yoga with an off-peak class for $18.50 -hot yoga, hot pilates, hot barre or athletica…
Enso Yoga: 1470 Peel Street, #100
12 See an Impro Montreal show, from $5 to $8 if you reserve in advance… (shows are in English) and if you really like it, you can book an improv class for beginners-which is free!
Impro Montreal: 3716 Notre-Dame Street West
13. zap! your friends or date in a game of laser tag, at $12 per person per game at Laser Game Evolution
Laser Game Evolution Montreal: 1226 Saint-Catherine St. West
14.drink a mimosa and store vintage at low prices at Intemporelle Collectif Vintage’s Sip & Shop … with a little digging, you can find a printed tank top or organza blouse for under $20
Intemporelle Collectiv Vintage: 505 Boulevard de Maisonneuve East
15 A stroll through Chinatown and a taste of Cantonese specialties at mini-prices, including at the iconic Dobe and Andy – lunch menu $7.25
Dobe and Andy: 1071 rue Saint-Urbain R-12
16. take a stroll in the Montreal metro and its modernist architecture, the Opus card day pass is $11
17.20 oysters for $1 at Lucille’s Oyster Dive… a Montreal institution
Lucille’s Oyster Dice: 5669 Avenue de Monkland
18.drink a cocktail at one of Montreal’s finest afterwork bars, because FURCO has signature cocktails for $13.
Bar Furco: 425 Mayor Street
19Drink a hot chocolate for $4.13 (winter) or a soft-serve ice cream for $3.47 (summer) right at the top of Mont Royal, at the Café des Amis in the Chalet.
20 We go to a screening of independent and activist films at Cinema Politica in Concordia, where tickets are free (recommended between $5 and $10).
Cinema Politica: Concordia, bât. Henry F. Hall, Boulevard de Maisonneuve West
Happy bucket list!