Who does it better, Montreal or Toronto?
Both cities are unique and jam-packed with amazing things to do, but it’s official: Montreal ranked higher than Toronto when it comes to its cool factor.
Plateau-Mont-Royal and its Mile End enclave was ranked number 22 on the coveted list, surpassing Toronto’s Davenport neighbourhood which came in at number 26.
Sure. Bordering buzzy Geary Avenue, Davenport is a bona fide creative hotspot packed with patios, bakery-cafés, craft breweries and underground nightlife.
Anchored by acclaimed restaurant General Public, it’s also a growing hub for art and design, with spaces like Casson Hardware, All Ours Studios and Uma Nota Culture’s Geary Art Crawl.
But when it comes to the coolest neighbourhood in Canada? Plateau-Mont-Royal’s sense of “nowness” just can’t be beat.
Home to this new spot boasting the best sushi in Canada (and the restaurant Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau made uber-famous—just weeks before it made North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list), Plateau-Mont-Royal is Montréal’s hub for cafés, izakayas, nightlife, and block parties.
And we haven't even talked about the parks and greenspaces.
Artists, musicians, and celebrities frequent its bars and restaurants—and flock to the streets to take in the outdoor murals and street art.
Year-round, locals and tourists explore vintage shops, repurposed churches, free theatre, and Montréal’s top food spots—including a secret Spanish café called Cafécito, discreetly tucked away on the second floor above the restaurant Ibéricos.
Come to the Plateau for the free outdoor mini-golf at Jardin du Petit Laurier—or the new basketball court on the northern tip of the neighbourhood by the Van Horne overpass—and stay for the stellar restaurants, hotspots and colourful houses with pretty spiral staircases.
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