When the snow has (finally!) melted and we’ve been able to swap our heavy coats and fur-lined boots for light sneakers and denim jackets, we have just one desire: to spend our days outside. It’s a little early for terraces and mini-skirts, but with a scarf and a pair of woollen gloves at the bottom of the bag, it’s very doable.
Montreal smells like spring: thawing garbage cans, sunscreen, dust, the smells of restaurants living with their doors open, the flowery perfumes of girls letting their hair down…
You want to walk outside all day long, but where? There’s a walkable neighborhood for every Montrealer, and we’ve got a list of our favorites!
1 For the classic and classy: Plateau Mont-Royal
On the Plateau, it’s always lively, and on sunny days, you won’t be alone – but there’s a reason for that. Tall trees, hip boutiques and trendy cafés… and the best vintage in town!
But it’s also very residential, and it’s a luxury in Montreal to be able to stroll through almost empty streets, awash with nature, between buds and parks.
We recommend you find the coolest person you can, and follow them (within the limits of creepy, please), because on the Plateau everything moves very fast, and by the time you find the new trendy spot , it could already have changed…
2 For artists and the artsy types: Mile End
Bobos love Mile End, and so do we. Technically, it’s a small part of the Plateau, but it’s worth mentioning separately, because so many art galleries, cocktail bars and takeaway dick restaurants are clustered, and packed like sardines, in Mile End.
Eat a bagel, in a park or on a street bench, or pierogies, or $5 gnocchi, and you’ll be able to wander in and out of the neighborhood’s galleries on the warm spring breeze. We recommend it for those who walk everywhere with a camera around their neck, and for those who don’t know what to do for their next date…
3 For history buffs and those who love the European seaside: Old Montreal
A cone of soft ice cream, the smell of the river thawing, maybe a spin on the Ferris Wheel and definitely a tour of the cobblestone streets, and you look up at the architecture of the small buildings of Old Montreal. It’s a bit touristy, but it’s super-charming, and this is where the big tulip market will be taking place in May…
4 For those who want to spend the afternoon in the countryside: Verdun
Verdun is a residential neighborhood more akin to the region’s small college towns, for its main street and cool factor. A slightly wild waterfront, plenty of parks and, as a bonus, a huge network of bike paths for those who get back in the saddle (literally) at the first signs of spring.
You can also stop off on Nun’s Island, to get even further away from Montreal’s asphalt – even though you’re still in Montreal.
5 For those who wish it was summer already: Le Village
The Village is a terrace paradise for when your feet are a bit sore from the walk and you feel like drinking a pitcher of Sangria with friends before the evening’s activities…
It’s the city’s most colorful neighborhood and the best place to drink a bubble-tea or a coffee, see a drag or comedy show (or both) and meet new people.
And, frankly, we recommend that you walk around Montreal, because every neighborhood is different and, everywhere, there are different things to see, views, terraces, and the rest of Montreal, which also spends the day outdoors! Don’t forget your sun cream and your sweater for cool evenings…
Enjoy the ride!