The snow has (finally!) melted in Montreal. We’ve traded our heavy coats and fur-lined boots for soft sneakers and denim jackets, and we have only one desire: to spend our days outdoors.
In April, it’s a little early for outdoor cafes and miniskirts, but with a scarf and a pair of wool gloves tucked in your bag, it’s totally doable.
Montreal smells like spring: thawing trash cans, sunscreen, dust, the aromas of restaurants with their doors wide open, the floral scents of girls letting their hair down… It’s time to take a stroll through the city and loosen up your muscles after winter.
Springtime walks to take in Montreal
For the more traditional andclassytypes: LePlateau Mont-Royal
The Plateau is always lively, and on nice days, it’s packed—but there’s a reason for that. The tall trees, the trendy shops, and the hip cafés… andthe best vintagein town!
But it’s also very residential, and in Montreal, it’s a luxury to be able to stroll through nearly empty streets, flooded with nature, among the buds and the parks.
We recommend finding the coolest person you can and following them (within the limits ofwhat’s creepy, please), because on the Plateau, things move very fast, and by the time you find the newtrendy spot, it might already have changed…
For artists and those with anartsystreak: MileEnd
Hipsters love Mile End, and so do we. IfMontreal is now considered one ofthe hubs ofcoolness, design innovation, fashion, and dining—and, on TikTok, we’ve heard that Montrealers are the sexiest city dwellers in North America—it’s largely thanksto the influence of the city’s coolest neighborhood: Mile End.
Incidentally, this is the city’s mostdiverseneighborhood in terms of immigration since the 19th century, and it’sacreativeneighborhoodinevery sense of the word; theconstruction of Mile End’s identity—which sometimes feels more like a village than a big-city neighborhood—is constantly evolving.
Friday, April 17, 2026, marks the theatrical release of the film “Mile End Kicks.” Many Montrealers are eagerly awaiting the release of director Chandler Levack’s film, starring Barbie Ferreira in the lead role, just as we look forward to going out for a drink—or ten—with our old college roommates.
The romantic comedy takes place in 2011 in Montreal’s Mile End neighborhood, in the summer —the height of Montreal’s little slice of happiness, in the coolest neighborhood, during the hottest, most exciting—and dangerous—months of the year.
Our (almost) secret spots in Mile End
For history buffs and those who love the European seaside: Old Montreal
A soft-serve ice cream cone, the smell of the thawing river, maybe a ride on the Ferris wheel, and definitely a stroll through the cobblestone alleys, where you look up at the architecture of Old Montreal’s small buildings. It’s a bit touristy, but it’ssuper charming.
The river breeze tastes—if you close your eyes and let the vacation spirit take over—of shellfish and crustaceans from a Brigitte Bardot song.
Our (almost) secret spots in the Old Port
For those who want to spend the afternoon in a small country town: Verdun
Verdun is a residential neighborhood that feels more like the small college towns in the area, thanks to its main street and laid-back vibe. A somewhat wild waterfront, full of parks, and, as a bonus, a huge network of bike paths for those getting back in the saddle (literally) at the first signs of spring.
You can also head over to Île des Soeurs to get even further away from the Montreal streets—even if you’re still in Montreal.
For those who wish it were already summer: The Village
The Village is a paradise of outdoor patios when our feet are a little sore from walking and we want to share a pitcher of sangria with friends before the evening’s activities…
It’s the most colorful neighborhood in the city and the best place to grab a bubble tea or a coffee, catch a drag show or a comedy act (or both), and meet new people.
And, honestly, we recommend exploring Montreal on foot, because every neighborhood is different and there are different things to see everywhere—scenic views, outdoor cafes, and the rest of Montreal spending the day outside too! Don’t forget the sunscreen and a light sweater to put on when it gets chilly in the evening…
