Time Out has published the coolest streets in the world—avenues where you can really experience local life, soak up cutting-edge culture, discover hidden treasures and experience a city’s identity.
The global travel team at Time Out asked their network of experts and editors to nominate the street that epitomises the very best of their city. They then narrowed the list down and ranked each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.
What is the world's coolest street?
Rio de Janeiro's Rua do Senado was ranked the number one coolest street in the world followed by Osaka's Orange Street at number two, Porto's Rua do Bonjardim coming in at number three, Chengdu's Fanghua Street at number four and Montreal's Sherbrooke Street West at number five.
Unassuming yet iconic, Sherbrooke Street West—the second-longest street on the Island of Montreal that is said to have originally followed the path of an Indigenous trail—is a major east-west artery that many locals take for granted, largely because it’s simply always been there… for nearly 300 years.
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From dinosaurs housed inside a Greek Revival-style architectural gem at the Redpath Museum, to a serious concentration of some of the city’s key cultural institutions, Sherbrooke Street West has long been flying under the radar—quietly shaping the city’s culture.
Whether Montrealers and visitors are drawn to strolling the glamorous Golden Square Mile, exploring its wealth of next-level museums, and taking in its striking architecture and cultural energy—or grumbling about the years of construction—storied Sherbrooke Street West is in the midst of a true phoenix moment.
Sherbrooke Street Why?
Adjacent to the Plateau—one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world—at the northern border of Montreal’s culturally hyperactive Downtown district, the western end of Sherbrooke Street shines as the main artery of the Golden Square Mile.
So named in the late 1800s when it became home to the city’s aristocracy, this stretch of Sherbrooke is good as gold to this day thanks to architectural gems like the private University Club and cultural powerhouses like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, currently dropping jaws with its great exhibition by queer Cree artist Kent Monkman (and home to beautiful new Inuit art gallery ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik: essence of life).
And the landmark institution McCord Stewart museum, now spotlighting Africa Fashion.
Local fine crafts and unique art are available for purchase at the gleaming La Guilde, over 100 years old but you could never tell thanks to its sleek new gallery space kept vibrant with both its permanent collection and temporary exhibits.
Newly-renovated luxury hotels like the Sofitel (grab dinner at Renoir) are nestled next to Brutalist-style classics (The Ritz-Carlton serves one of the city’s top afternoon teas)—both a stone's throw from McGill, one of the best universities in the world.
Sherbrooke Street West is also home to the largest literary festivals in North America, springtime’s annual Blue Metropolis Festival, held at Hotel10.
The street is also all about the vistas. With an unobstructed view of The Ring on Place Ville Marie’s Esplanade as well as a giant portrait of Leonard Cohen, it also hugs the city’s famous mountain: Mont-Royal.
Taking a break from museum hopping? The storied street also boasts two secret terrasses: one in the soaring space at Maison Alcan where you can grab a latte and a maple pecan supreme croissant from Améa Café (it is indeed supreme).
And Il Cortile—beloved by celebrities and famous for its white tablecloth courtyard dining and gorgonzola gnocchi.
With the REM’s recent arrival at McGill, connecting Downtown Montreal to downtown Deux-Montagnes, Sherbrooke Street West is officially at the centre of everything—steps from the Montreal Eaton Centre, Time Out Market Montréal (home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the city under one roof), and many educational institutions.
Three of Montreal’s four major universities sit along Sherbrooke Street. McGill University anchors the Downtown stretch, while Concordia’s Loyola Campus lies farther west.
The street is also home to UQAM’s Complexe des sciences Pierre-Dansereau, INRS’s Montréal campus, and several key CEGEPs, including Dawson College, Collège de Maisonneuve, and Collège de Montréal.
Moving west, Sherbrooke Street intersects the Peel trail—an urban trail composed of bronze sculptures in honour of Iroquoian peoples and newcomers to the island of Montréal. It continues past iconic buildings like the imposing Beaux-Arts style Montreal Masonic Memorial Temple and Fort Belmont’s remaining towers at the top of (you guessed it) Fort Street to feel Sherbrooke’s progressive edginess as you enter the neighbourhoods of Westmount and then NDG.
Explore indie fashion shops like James, vintage treasure troves like The Gallery, Phoenix Books and Encore Books and Records, and one-of-a-kind craft HQ Goodee.
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You’ll also find all sorts of tasty British imports like teas and confectionery at Hogg Hardware—a general store meets local hardware shop.
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Hungry? Dive into a plate of mushroom mafaldini at the brand new Spuntino. Or keep it super casual at Chalet Bar-B-Q, one of the city’s go-to rotisserie joints since 1944, or new kid on the block Bigga Taste (a family-owned Jamaican spot across the street from some of the best donuts in town at Patisserie Wawel).
A little further down the road, you’ll find cult favourite Notre Boeuf de Grace, Alley Cat Gallery (what may be the largest concentration of cat-themed art in Canada) and uniquely delicious cocktails at Entre-Deux.
Test your palate with the Fortune Teller (a nearly savoury gin drink made with cream), or grab a pint (or three) at the friendly neighbourhood pub Honey Martin.
On the weekends you can spot line-ups outside of Homers Donuts, patrons exiting Pasta Casareccia laden with some of Montreal’s best lasagna-to-go—and Indian feasts from Ganges and Bombay Mahal.
But don’t just take our word for it. Experience it for yourself.
You can thank us later.
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