I always look for excuses to travel and see new countries and cities. So it happened again last weekend, when two of my dear friends got married in Portland, Maine. Before heading to the festivities we decided to stop by in "nearby" Montréal for a quick visit.
After a super short flight from New York to Montréal, we hopped on a taxi and drove to our lovely Airbnb apartment in the area called "Mile End". After a change of clothes due to the quite unusual hot summer weather in Montréal (New York was freezing btw), we met up with our friend Flavio for coffee.
To get around easily in Montreal, the best thing to do is getting a 1- or 3-day pass for their BIXI bikes. They are cheap, flexible, and a fun way to explore the city.
After perusing some places, we sat down in Cafe Olimpico. It is a great place for authentic good Italian coffee with a relaxed atmosphere and great for people watching. They have a beautiful outdoor seating area, so you can enjoy your coffee and Cannoli with a fresh breeze of air. Fully caffeinated and sweating from the heatwave, we headed over to Little Italy to enjoy some refreshing Aperol Spritz, walked around the neighborhood, and explored the Jean-Talon Farmer's Market.
On our first night out here we headed to Joe Beef, a restaurant made famous mostly by chef, author, and badass traveler Anthony Bourdain. I don't know if the late hour - we sat down at 9:45 pm and started eating at about 10:30 pm - or the appetite of trying everything on the menu spoiled the dinner, but we were definitely not feeling well afterward. The food was good, no question, but heavy AF. Since the menu on the board was in French and je ne parle pas français, our superwoman waitress recited the whole dang thing to me. Big thumbs up for great service!
The next day we explored the Old Port next to the Downtown area. With its little shops along the St Lawrence River, it is a cute area to unwind and explore. At night we went to Le Quartier Général, a fantastic BYOB French restaurant in the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal area. First of all the staff was just fabulous. Once we stepped into their establishment the host told us right away that this is a BYOB place and directed us to the next winery close by in case we wanted to drink, which we did. The service and presentation of the menu and food were impeccable. They have a 4-course special, which I definitely recommend. The food itself was exquisite and very delicious. I started with a garden salad and beef tartare. As an entree, I ordered cod with German pasta, mixed with bacon, and a spread of mashed green beans - yum! The outro for my tasting senses was a yummy chocolate mousse cake. Good night to me and my happy belly!
On our last day in Montreal, we started with a tasty chicken sandwich from a Peruvian place called Serrano Bar-B-Q. For only a couple of Canadian dollars, you get a mouthwatering delicious sandwich, which reminded me a lot of a Döner from Berlin. Following our casual brunch, we went to Mount Royal, a small mountain in the west of downtown Montreal, and decided to hike up to compensate for the calorie intake from the last couple of days. On top of the mountain, you have an amazing view over the city and breath in the freshest air.
For our last night, we met up with some friends of Flavio and his wife at Buvette Chez Simone. A hip, casual place for drinks and food. After a couple of beverages and some snacks, we bid our final farewell to Montreal with a visit to a friend's restaurant called Leméac. After a final nightcap and equally finger-licking good dessert (try the french toast!), we said au revoir to this beautiful city.
The next morning we drove down to Portland to witness one heck of a wonderful wedding. Congrats again to Andrzej and Beata!
On a side note: If you want to take a road trip down from Montreal, definitely drive through White Mountain National Forest. It is incredibly beautiful and the most scenic road in this area.
