Modern Travel: Experiencing Europe by way of marvellous Montreal
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Before our world changed in early 2020, I travelled frequently, mostly by car due to my extreme fondness of road trips. The pandemic put the brakes on that for almost a year and as we slowly and safety emerge into a modern version of “normal,” travel is taking off again.
I’ve been double vaccinated since June 20th, the first day of summer, and after many local Ontario road trips, I was ready to go further.
How much further? Montreal, which is one of my favourite places to experience.
I’ve been several times before and this time, my theme was experiencing Europe via The City Of A Hundred Steeples, as Mark Twain called it.
Here’s how I enjoyed Montreal’s European flavours and flair over a few days with my travelling companion being an all-new 2022 Honda Civic.
The nearly 600 km short drive from Mississauga to Montreal was done with ease. A morning departure should have you there before rush hour, leaving you more time to enjoy and explore the city.
I checked into the Willam Gray Hotel, in the heart of Old Montreal and was warmly greeted.
The hotel is distinguished by its charm and elegance, creating a balance between modern design and notable, historic architecture.
The central location makes for easy accessibility to everything Old Montreal based and my room was intimate, elegant and the ideal place to recharge each night.
Bonus marks for having a multi-jet shower and being one of Trip Advisors best 25 hotels in Canada for 2021.
The on-site restaurant, Maggie Oakes, is a delightful and convenient choice for dinner after a day of driving. Known for their dazzling array of dry aged meats and plethora of wine options, it’s easy to see and taste why they’re one of the city’s best steakhouses. There’s no bad menu option and with just enough of a variety without being overwhelming, it’s easy to enjoy the atmosphere and savoury steaks.
After a sound sleep, the next morning saw me slowly stroll the charming cobblestone streets as I soaked in the old world vibe in a modern setting.
From quaint shops, bistros and boutiques, vivacious views from both street level and the Grande Roue ferris wheel, art stores, to walking along Rue Saint-Paul, it’s easy to fill your camera with memories.
The European inspiration is easy to spot throughout from the architecture to the feel and of course, the aforementioned cobblestone.
A short walk from the hotel will land you at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, both a national historic site and the birthplace of Montréal.
On display until January 9th, 2022. Is the interesting and intriguing Italian Montreal exhibit. With Italian influence deeply interspersed throughout Montreal, this exhibit takes a deep dive into their contributions to various aspects of life are illustrated in current-day Montreal.
From culture, traditions, values, customs, social, economic and many more facets, this is a wonderful way of exploring the history and journeys of many Italo-Montrealers.
Between hundreds of artifacts, interactive displays and pieces of living history, it’s an engaging way to trace the roots of this wave of oldest and largest cultural communities in Montreal.
Marché de la Villette is a short walk away once you’ve wrapped up your Italian Montreal visit.
Founded in 1999, this cozy restaurant has a family feel and European vibe to it.
The friendly chatter of guests, warm and inviting atmosphere, paired with oh-so-delicious menu offerings solidify why this is one of the marquee dining destinations.
I could eat their French Onion Soup, Poutine and Club Sandwich for days and days.
The few hours in between saw me continue to wander the streets of Old Montreal, soaking in the charm and ambiance of this blend of old and modern worlds. Part of the reason Montreal will always be in my preferred list of destinations is how, in a bustling city, they’ve found a way to preserve their roots and create the feeling of a historic, enamouring setting.
The views, the photography inspirations, the simplicity and overall enchantment are like that of no other place in Canada.
Dinner time!
In what should be a surprise to nobody, I love food, specifically chicken wings.
Dining at Montreal’s, Bird Bar located in gorgeous Griffintown, this new fried chicken style restaurant blends mouth watering food, splendid service and a trendy yet approachable dining area. Using organic and local ingredients as much as possible only adds to their allure. They also do champagne pairings for that extra added touch.
The menu is diverse and has an eco-forward philosophy via conscious cooking, their fried foods are freshly prepared and boast 40-60% less grease absorption. Ask about their vegan, lactose and gluten free options.
Brasseur de Montreal is a wonderful way to wrap up your evening. This microbrewery pours lovely local beer with over a dozen offerings and is one of the largest craft breweries in the city.
Utilizing traditional techniques, everything is crafted on site and of course, pairs perfectly with their comfort food menu offerings. Poutines, fish and chips, Shepherd’s Pie are highlights of an all-around marvellous menu.
In a repeat performance from the night before, I had another wonderful sleep session at the William Gray Hotel in preparation for being on my feet for a few hours via a walking tour of Little Italy.
I drove to Jean-Talon Market, quickly and easily parked underground and met my astoundingly knowledgable tour guide, Laura Polisena at the main entrance. We walked through the Piccola Italia area north of Mile End that’s basking with Italian culture and influence.
A few key points here:
I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never had a “cronut” until my visit. A huge thank you to la Cornetteria for fixing that for me.
The coffee at Caffe Italia, a fourth generation coffee shop, served me one of the absolute best cups of coffee I’ve had in years.
Pasticceria Alati-Caserta provided me a world-class cannoli…the amount of self-control it took not to eat 4 dozen is remarkable.
Casa D’Italia is teeming with history and in fact, Laura spent a fair bit of time there herself in her youth.
It was a wonderful few hours together where she shared her personal experiences, knowledge of the area and interesting anecdotes, all of which contributed to a highly recommended experience you should engage in with her.
If you’re looking for a taste of Europe but don’t want to fly across the Atlantic to get it, Montreal has you covered. The food, atmosphere, charm, architecture, history, attractions and the overall sense of being whisked away to a different continent make Montreal the best route to take.
To plan your experience, visit mtl.org
Also, their Twitter account is run by a remarkable team that engages with their online community, so tag them in all your Tweets via @montreal
