If You’ve Only Got 48 Hours in Montreal, Here’s What You’ll Want to See

It was only a matter of time.

Between the two of us itching to travel together, plus the fact that most of our friends had visited Montreal and raved about it, it was only natural that Mr. Five O’Clock and I selected our Northern neighbor for a quick weekend getaway. We quickly fell in love with Québec’s metropolis, replete with food and drink that left our tastebuds dancing like jitterbugs and architecture that left our minds reeling.

If you only have 48 hours to spend in Canada’s second largest city, make it a priority to hit these picturesque places. Trust me: you’ll leave with drool worthy Instagram pics and a satisfied stomach!

Best Lookout for Stunning Cityscapes in Montreal

No trip to Montreal is complete without visiting Parc du Mont Royal; after all, that’s where the city gets its name! New Yorkers, think twice before you say that it “can’t hold a candle to Central Park,” because it turns out that both of these urban spaces were designed by the venerable Frederick Law Olmsted.

Want to get the best views of the city? Skip the higher up lookouts in favor of the view at the Chalet du Mont-Royal. This is one time in particular it pays to use Uber: our knowledgeable driver was attuned to the right spot to drop us off, resulting in less than ten minutes of walking to get to our destination.

Best Bets for Architecture in Montreal

It’s been a while since I’ve been impressed by the sight of a church, but I did a double take upon first viewing the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal. This Roman Catholic basilica boasts a vaulted navy blue ceiling of sky with 24-carat gold stars, soaring twin steeples, and gorgeous stained glass windows. Bonus: Celine Dion got married here; I *may* or may not have quietly hummed “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” as I strolled amongst the pews of this masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture.

Another architectural landmark worth mentioning is Habitat 67, conceived by architect Moshe Safdie. While it may look futuristic, this housing complex was actually constructed for the 1967 World’s Fair. It’s best to view the structure from across the water on the Rue de la Commune, as there aren’t any tours—people do actually live there!

Several locals also recommended a visit to Saint Joseph’s Oratory; while we didn’t make it on our trip, this church is notable for being the largest church in Canada (in fact, it hosts roughly 2 million people annually).

And Now For Something Completely Different

Taking a cue from a fellow travel blogger, we set aside some time to explore Montreal’s vibrant and funky Plateau neighborhood. Every corner we turned, it seemed, we were rewarded with colorful houses, eclectic street art, cafes or book shops. One of the gems we stumbled upon on this jaunt was the mural pictured below, by local artist Philippe Mastrocola. You can find it at the corner of Rue Saint Denis and Duluth Est, very close to L’Express (see next section).

Where You’ll Want to Eat in Montreal

It’s no secret that Montreal has a plethora of talented chefs making delectable cuisine; you could spend at least a week hopping from restaurants like Au Pied du Cochon to Damas and never get bored.

But if you only have a weekend? For brunch, you can’t go wrong with any of the dishes at Maison Christian Faure (pastries, sinful desserts and warm tartines, ooh la la!) or Olive et Gourmando, both of which are in the Old Port. Special shout out to the staff at Hotel Nelligan, where we stayed, for pointing us to these places; while previous experiences with restaurants suggested by hotel staff have been hit or miss, these two were right on the money.

For dinner, Les 400 Coups is worth the splurge. Dishes like veal tartare with Saskatoon berries or ravioli in a mushroom broth arrive in elegant presentations and are typically locally sourced. Go with the tasting menu and added wine pairing; we were really impressed with Jonathan, who took great care to explain the pairings (several of which were spot on).

If you’re in the mood for something more casual, go to L’Express, which feels like a Parisienne bistro. Make sure to order their steak frites—holy moly, I’m still salivating thinking about this nearly two weeks after ingesting this juicy, tender morsel of heaven.

Of course, it would be a total sin to go to Montreal and not down some poutine, that popular fast food dish consisting of french fries and cheese curds slathered with light brown gravy. La Banquise is open 24 hours a day, so you can go there after a late night of drinking at any time of day without feeling rushed. We tried La Reggae (ground beef, guacamole, diced tomatoes and hot peppers) and La Savoyarde (bacon, onions, Swiss cheese and sour cream). Tip: get the regular size; the portions are generous!

Where You’ll Want to Drink in Montreal

Montreal is overflowing with fantastic watering holes, so make time to stop by at least one or two. We’ve already compiled this list of the city’s top spots for cocktails, beer, and wine, but make sure to hit up Le Lab for some delightfully inventive libations during your weekend (pictured below). You definitely won’t be disappointed.

Where would you go if you only had 48 hours in Montreal? Sound off in the comments below!

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