Fall 2024: Montréal’s fun for you and your sweetheart

With its postcard-perfect setting, immersing yourself in the beautiful cobblestone streets of Old Montréal and strolling along the banks of the St. Lawrence River is an absolute no-brainer. Get your caffeine fix and a fresh croissant on Notre-Dame West at Tommy Café or Crew Collective & Café, and revel in its exquisite architecture. Pick up a delicious pastry from Olive + Gourmando, a hotspot that has earned its reputation.

Next, head to Saint-Paul Street where creative designers, curated brands and cool art galleries await. Especially detour-worthy is the magnificent Maison Pepin boutique, a creative lab and wellness retreat, and SSENSE (Saint-Sulpice street), the amazing concept boutique whose concrete design and sublime café boast oodles of wow factor. Stroll over to Swell & Ginger and OFF THE HOOK and discover the cream of the crop of Québec's top luxury designers at Denis Gagnon, and Sarah Pacini and Philippe Dubuc.

Experience upward mobility in a Grande Roue de Montréal gondola, which promises your peepers a 28-kilometre view in clear weather. Your ticket to a colour-saturated sunset! Next, kick back and relax on a floating boat with spa, otherwise known Bota Bota, anchored in the St. Lawrence River, and get your senses tingling with its reinvigorating water circuit, sumptuous gardens and lunch at La Traversée. From there, you can take it to the PHI Centre for avant-garde exhibitions, visit the Pointe-à-Callière Archaeology and History Complex, and for a more in-depth look at the neighbourhood, delve into our guide to Montréal's French roots.

Come cocktail hour, enjoy a glass of wine with some Italian appetizers for two inside the lovely Italian buvette Un po di Più (interior design by Zébulon Perron), then check out the neighbourhood’s trendy restaurants for colourful seasonal dishes that dazzle: Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Portus 360, Helena, Monarque, Hà, Venice, Santos, Vieux-Port Steakhouse, Graziella, L'Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Kyo Bar Japonais, Holder, LOV McGill, Le Serpent, Babacool, Pincette, or even Sauvage. Another fun and original option is to take part in a culinary workshop at the Ateliers & Saveurs cooking school where culinary pleasures, relaxation and laughter are on the menu.

Make your way back to your hotel, a cocoon of luxury comfort inside old stone walls. Book a room at Hôtel William Gray, Hôtel Gault, Hôtel Place d’Armes or Le Petit Hôtel, all absolute gems of Old Montréal.

Fall is synonymous with cultural renewal, so enjoy it while it lasts! Reserve tickets for exhibitions at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts ,the McCord Museum and the Musée d’art contemporain at Place Ville Marie. Also, check out the immersive experiences currently on at OASIS immersion at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

Craving some retail therapy? You’re in the right city. Head below to the underground boutiques and connect to major shopping malls like the Centre Eaton, Place Montréal Trust, Cours Mont-Royal, Place Ville Marie or the Complexe Desjardins. Prefer browsing outdoors? You’ll find a treasure trove of shops along Sainte-Catherine Street, which also connect you to most shopping centres. Lastly, indulge in a little luxury at the recently-renovated Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, a chic must-see.

Time to grab a bite or a refreshing drink? Reserve a table at Renoir, on the hidden rooftop patio of the SAT, in the sublime decor of Bar George, at the delicious French brasserie Le Pois Penché, at the swanky perch of Hiatus restaurant and bar (at the top of Place Ville Marie) or at restaurant No. 9 and at the very delectable Jatoba, Nacarat and Marcus.

Top it all off by getting your fill of culture at Place des Arts this fall, which hosts a rich program of dance, theatre, opera and music. Reserve your tickets now!

Head to Montréal’s very dynamic southwest district for some fun steps away from the St. Lawrence River. Kick off your tour on Promenade Wellington. This charming street in Verdun is chock full of cool spots and well-kept secrets (though, not as many as before!). What’s more, it was voted  Order a delicious glass of natural wine at Verdun Beach and enjoy seasonal dishes, or classic neighbourhood fare at Palco and the Bénélux microbrewery. Also well worth checking out in the up and coming Ville-Émard neighbourhood are restaurants Beba, Street Monkeys, Welldun Pizza, Janine Café, Rita,   McKiernan, and Café Monk.

Next head to the Lachine Canal to enjoy its green spaces by bike, pleasure boat or on foot. Don’t forget, you still have time to reserve your watercraft with H2O Adventures!

Stop off for lunch in the bohemian ambiance of the Atwater Market, then head to Notre-Dame Street West to check out its mouth-watering gourmet boutiques. Have a bite to eat at the delicious Vin Papillon, Liverpool House, Joe Beef, Foiegwa, Atwater Cocktail Club, Restaurant Mignon, Nora Gray, Candide or Perles et Paddock, BarBara, Gia, 9 Tail Fox, Bonheur D’occasion, Satay Brothers, Bon Délire, Bazart, Bird Bar,  Makro, Grinder or head to the canal to check out Riverside and Brewpub Memento.

With its charming houses, green back alleys that turn gold, orange and red in fall and unique vibe, these Montréal neighbourhoods are worth the detour. And what links all three? Mount Royal, or the “lungs” of the city, which affords spectacular views of the city and extra heaping helpings of fresh air while admiring the majestic fall foliage.

On the Plateau, admire the murals and urban art when you book a guided tour with Spade & Palacio. You’re guaranteed a mesmerizing, open-air exhibition along Saint-Laurent Boulevard that teems with history and colour.

In the vibrant Mile-End district, make way for independent music with the POP Montreal International Music Festival, which is taking place in several venues in the neighborhood, from September 25 to 29. 2024. 

For brunch, lunch, supper or a to-go coffee, the choices are endless. Recommendations on this list abound, but you can kick off your foodie foray at restaurants Alma,  Bloomfield,  Rumi, Leméac,   Hà,  Rouge Gorge, Buvette chez Simone, Lawrence,  Le Virunga, Le Filet, La Fabrique, La Chronique, Chez Victoire, La Banquise or the inimitable Café Olimpico and let us know how it went.

Without a doubt, the star of this neighbourhood is the magnificent Jean-Talon Market. Grab a coffee and wander dreamily among colourful stands that will make you want to scoop up everything in sight. Next, check out the recently revamped Plaza St-Hubert for its refreshing mix of on-trend and traditional boutiques that certainly switches up the shopping experience. Be sure to stop by Montreal Restaurant Plaza, a trend-setting Montréal brewery that offers delicious dinners for two, or check out its little sister,  the recently opened Juliette Plaza. Those in the know know that Little Italy and Villeray has a bounty of culinary delights on tucked-away terraces. You’ll love restaurants like Vin Mon Lapin, Impasto, Pastaga, Lou, Tandem, Casavant, Mesón and Tapeo. Next walk up to Mile Ex and check out Taverne Atlantic, Vices&Versa’s hidden outdoor patio or relax in the lush greenery and scenery of Bar Cicchetti. Call it a night with a leisurely stroll around the lovely pond at Parc Jarry to digest your delicious meal, then catch a poetic circus show at TOHU.

Go to the Space for Life’s newly renovated Biodôme for an enthralling trip through the ecosystems of the Americas that includes the tropical forest, Laurentian sugarbush, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador coasts and the subantarctic islands. For an open-air experience that soothes the soul, the Botanical Garden envelops you in a romantic oasis of lush countryside greenery. Don’t miss the magical illuminations at the Gardens of Light, until October 31. Later, enjoy a meal neighbourhood restaurant like Les Canailles, Cabotins, Hoogan et Beaufort, Rose Ross, Hélicoptère,  or Heirloom pizzeria.

Straddling two islands in the St. Lawrence River, this verdant park is just a five-minute jaunt from downtown by public transit. It offers sports enthusiasts, walkers and nature lovers 25 kilometres of multipurpose trails to explore. Wander to your heart’s content along paths dotted with some of the city’s most celebrated artworks, including Calder’s Man stabile. Download free podcast documentaries on the mobile app Portrait Sonore to learn more about 15 public artworks around Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame.

Montréal’s Fall’s cultural calendar is chock full of festivals, concerts, shows, films, theatre, dance and exhibitions.  Check out our  Things to do in Montréal this September 2024 and  guide to Montréal’s amazing fall festivals for more inspiration. To get the best snapshots of the city, go here and here to find Montréal’s most Instagrammable locations.

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, check out this post of the best spas, personalized tours or where to go to tap into Montréal’s creativity. With this curated list, you’ll also find restaurant suggestions for romantic dinners for two that go easy on your wallet. Or sneak away to snag a table on one of Montréal’s hidden patios, ideal for an intimate tête-à-tête. Whatever the neighbourhood or area you decide to explore, the MTLàTABLE tempts your palate with new flavours from the city’s dynamic food scene from October 31 to November 17, 2024. 

Have fun with your sweetheart!