The best things to do in Montreal in winter

This essential round-up of Montreal musts is your to-do list whether you're a tourist or a local: from the best bars and speakeasies to the most stellar free museums—it rounds up the most outstanding things to do across one of the best cities in the world that's also home to one of the world's coolest streets. 

Sun or snow, Montreal is always on fire with tons of things to do. In addition to its reputation as being a party town with lively nightlife, the city is insanely busy with festivals and events no matter the time of year. Thanks in part to Expo 67, the International and Universal Exposition, in the swinging sixties, sites like Quartier des Spectacles and Parc Jean-Drapeau were designed to receive a heavy rotation of world-class festivals. 

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If you know, you know: the coolest streets in the world have been revealed, and Montreal has topped the list again. Which streets around the world stand out right now? To answer this question, Time Out consulted our expert team of local editors and contributors worldwide. The best part? Montreal made the top 30.

Wander through someof the most beautiful gardens of Montreal, filled with blossoms, horticultural variety or just sheer, unabashed beauty. Unlike the greatest parks in and around Montreal, or the greatest green spots for day trips, these beautiful gardens are all central and accessible by metro—often also conveniently located next to the city’s top cafés and sandwich shops, so you can pick up a picnic on the way.

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Prepare to be teleported to an intergalactic space jungle. Picture a hidden galaxy-inspired staircase leading up to a glamorous, jungle-themed oasis with a polished marble bar, glass ceiling and mind-blowing cocktails served in disco balls and you’ve got Milky Way.

Serena Van Der Woodsen was spotted eating and drinking her way across Montreal's Mile End and her picks are all worth the hype. From a donut shop with a cult following to the home of Montreal's famous viral pink drink, Serena van Der Woodsen is spilling all the gossip XOXO. Don't miss Mile End's hottest new restaurant, ranked one of the best global openings in 2024.

Sugar shacks in Montreal offer an absolutely essential iconic food experience. While there are urban venues offering it, the best way to do it is to explore off-island and bask in the rurality that supports this great city. Nothing beats slipping into the countryside and tasting the local bounty available at the very end of February into late April when spring brings the seasonal opening of the sugar shacks. It’s hands-down one of the best things to do in Montreal this spring, one of the best things to do with kids in Montreal and among the top options for day trips from Montreal. Producers throw their doors wide open, offering sleigh-rides, hiking, games, tastings, demonstrations and most importantly, truly decadent maple-based meals that can rival even the best brunch and dinner services found in the city.

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Sultry Star Troopers? Sexy Ewoks? A scandalous Skywalker striptease? With all of the sexy shows hosted by Montreal, from Montreal’s sexiest burlesque festival to a fetish New Year’s Eve party, this scantily-clad show called The Empire Strips Back should be at the top of your list.

Whether it’s for a cold pint at the height of summer or a cozy place to warm your bones with whiskey, the best pubs in Montreal are good for a few rounds at any time of year. It’s where you’ll find a complete cross-section of Montrealers, with students and punks drinking elbow-to-elbow with office workers and retirees. If you’re looking for the best bars in Montreal or fancy speakeasies in Montreal with DJs spinning vinyl, you’ve come to the wrong place: This where to go for live music, some of the best beer in Montreal, some shots of whiskey and some of the most relaxed bar vibes in town.

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From our famous bagels and poutine, to the best eggs benedict and sick stacks of pancakes, welcome to Montreal's must-eat guide to brunch. No matter what you're looking for, this round-up of neighbourhood favourites, Montreal classics and sophisticated spots has got you covered. If you (over)indulged in some Montreal nightlife, or you just want kick off the weekend with a decadent start (or the perfect coffee), this essential list of the best brunches in Montreal is for you. There’s a huge range of choices here, ranging from boozy brunches to classics and innovators. 

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When you need little break from the bright lights of the city, go for a walk—especially when it's an unseasonably warm spring. Hiking is the easiest thing to do in and around Montreal after biking: There are fantastic park trails and beaches to be enjoyed within the city itself, and if you’re willing to drive, there are road trips from Montreal are easily done within a day or a weekend. Need the rest before your drive back? These accessible hikes range anywhere from 1 to 4 hours from the city (with a secret beach and hiking trails here if you're willing to go a little further).

Montreal is a playground for kids of all ages—especially during this magical season. The city is full of attractions for young children (and the young at heart), stellar free museums and excellent places to eat that are easy on the budget. Every borough has its own family-forward fun—not to mention illuminated trampoline parks—with easy access via public transportation (5 year-olds and under ride for free!). 

We did our homework (and have the hangovers to prove it), having explored the city’s bar scene to find the best drinking establishments in Montreal. One look and you’ll find a distilled collection of the city’s speakeasy bars, nightlife hotspots, romantic nooks and anything else you might be thirsty for. Consider this your essential guide from local watering holes to high-end lounges, whether they serve brews, bubbles, double down as one of the city's best restaurants or are located in one of the country's best hotels. You can’t go wrong when picking your poison here.

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The highly anticipated opening of the new restaurant in Mile End's Laurier West, helmed by 25-year-old chef Anderson Lee, is serving up chic Chinese-inspired dishes in a sexy, late-night environment.

A restaurant helmed by Marcus Samelsson that overlooks the city skyline? A luxurious hidden spa that’s one of Montreal’s best kept secrets? This hotel located in the heart of downtown Montreal is all of this and more.

We've taken the stress out of dating for you. Finding date ideas that don't feel like a forced gesture out of Love, Actually can sometimes be an actual challenge. Luckily in Montreal you're spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do when you've got romance in mind. Whether you’re looking for one of the best romantic restaurants, or one of the best Montreal attractions to set the mood before a make out sesh or to grab a casual coffee in the most romantic café in town, we’ve compiled a top-notch list of places to try. From the best restaurants in the city, to the best bars—and some stellar cheap eats in between—let us play wingman.

A dazzling Victorian heritage building with gleaming wood panelling and marble-topped bar? Walls made entirely of glass with copper accents and an achingly sleek fireplace? Or a 360-degree view that will take your breath away?

With Valentine’s Day coming up fast, Montreal’s best restaurants are getting ready for the biggest date night of the year—Michelin star-worthy spots included.

And with so many places to choose from—from a new Montreal hotspot that is the only Canadian restaurant to make the World's 50 Best list to downtown’s sexiest rooftop—which one is the most romantic restaurant?

Analyzing over 1.1 million diner reviews, OpenTable has announced the top 100 romantic restaurants in Canada and 7 spots in Quebec made the cut.

Which Montreal restaurant is the most romantic?

From Old Montreal to the heart of downtown, 6 Montreal restaurants made the cut:

1. Bar George
2. Bonaparte
3. Gibbys 
4. Jérôme Ferrer Europea 
5. Maison Boulud
6. Portus 360 
7. Restaurant Toque!

Arôme at the Casino du Lac Leamy in Gatineau also topped the list.

With its impossibly elegant atmosphere (designed in 1880 by William Tutin Thomas, it was originally the home of Sir George Stephen), it’s no wonder Antoni Porowski ranked Bar George one of the most romantic spots in the city.

Nestled in the heart of the Golden Square Mile, just steps from one of the city’s best secret spas and one of the year’s buzziest hotel restaurant openings, Bar George isn’t just one of the most romantic restaurants in the city—it’s also home to one of Montreal's most stunning bars.

Time Out Tip: Snag one of the sexy hidden nooks behind the bar (think: blue velvet loveseats and flickering candles).

If you don’t fall for the 300-year-old stained glass windows, the 15-foot Ceylon satinwood panelled walls or the 22-carat gold fixtures, Bar George's British-themed menu will have you on your knees.

In a playful and thoughtful homage to Sir George Stephen's British and Canadian connections, Chefs Anthony Walsh and Kevin Ramasawmy skillfully blend traditional U.K. culinary elements with contemporary Québécois flavours and high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

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Dating in Montreal is a breeze—that is, if you're making reservations at the most romantic restaurants (or swoon-worthy café!) in Montreal. Some do brunch, some do dinner, and some doubly feature as some of the city’s best cocktail bars to enjoy before or after an unforgettable meal. From spots with romantic histories that take you and your date back to another place and time, to those that offer modern spaces and menus to inspire romance, Montreal has it all.

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Maple syrup is a truly one-of-a-kind product exclusive to this part of the world and few institutions can better celebrate it than the local producers themselves. Au Pied de Cochon might be the most well-known of the local sugar shacks for its legendarily creative and decadent meals heavy on foie-gras, duck fat and, of course, maple sugar in all its forms (running from August to November and February to May). Sucrerie de la Montagne is a sugar shack with the feeling of a small village and a preference for the traditional techniques of yesteryear. Make sure to try their fresh baked bread! La Cabane à Sucre Handfield is an estate that dates back to 1850 and is also thoroughly committed to traditional sugar shack fare—the difference with Handfield is that they offer menu adjustments to accommodate low fat, low sodium, vegetarian and gluten-free diets to ensure you can bring the whole family along.

Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica is already one of the city’s major attractions for good reason, but during the winter months? The basilica hosts a light and sound show called AURA. Produced with the help of Moment Factory, a well-known local multimedia studio and the end result is a mesmerizing mix of coloured light, organ music and timeless architecture.

It may be small, but it has mega-swagger: With its restaurant rows, swank hangouts and a strong reputation for live entertainment in the city, the best things to do in the Mile End of Montreal are as many as they are varied. Making up the northern section of the grander borough of Plateau-Mont-Royal, it’s known as one of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods thanks to its music venues and festival grounds; a bevy of cafés with the best coffee as well as some of the best bakeries; and tons of iconic food ranging from decades-old standard-bearers of the best bagels to long line-inducing ice cream and its own share of the best restaurants. It’s the combination of both new and old that make this such a fun neighbourhood an attraction worth visiting on a day trip or a night out.

Luminothérapie is a recurring light and sound exhibition that takes place in the Quartier-des-Spectacles festival grounds in downtown Montreal from the end of November to the end of January. Previous years’ installations have included Domino Effect, a lighthearted installation featuring 120 brightly coloured dominos that created a dizzying array of effects and sound as participants discovered various ways to interact with them; or there’s Impulse, a series of 30 public seesaws that created dynamic light and sound emissions on their own and dramatic light and sound symphonies when taken together. All in all, it makes a great substitution for shorter daylight hours.

Snowshoeing has been an important mode of transportation for the indigenous peoples on the island of Montreal long before the arrival of the first European settlers, and that tradition lives on today. Montrealers may not walk the streets with a pair on, but there’s lots to ground to cover beyond trips to the dépanneur. Nearly all of our favourite nature trails to be found in places like Parc Angrignon, Parc-nature de l'Île-de-la-Visitation, the Morgan Arboretum and many others are open to snowshoeing during the winter months.

For those with a daredevil streak, the city has dozens of hills that are just begging to be tobogganed on. Popular spots include the former Alpine ski track in Parc Francesca-Cabrini, the unintimidating hill in Parc Ahuntsic (perfect for young children), or the long steady run on Westmount’s Murray Hill (aka King George Park). The city has also begun tracking snow conditions borough by borough specifically for sledding opportunities, so be sure to check them out before hitting the slopes.

Nothing signals the holidays more than that first skate of the season, and there are loads of municipally-run outdoor rinks open from mid-December to mid-March to choose from. A small admission fee gets you access to the Bonsecours Basin, a favourite for its location right on the water in the Old Port, accompanied by light displays, music and rentals on site. Alternately, Beaver Lake offers free admission as well as rentals on site, and is probably the quintessential Montreal outdoor skate with its location on the summit of Mount Royal. Other popular choices include Parc Jean-Drapeau with its circuitous refrigerated ice trails and unparalleled views of the city’s skyline, or our favourite local pick-up-hockey rink at Park Toussaint-Louverture.

The Fête des neiges de Montréal (the Montreal Snow Festival) is a family-oriented festival that spans four weekends during the winter, January to February, and is dedicated to getting adults and children alike outdoors to enjoy musical concerts, dancing, ice sculpture competitions, films, karaoke, sledding, hockey and food trucks. All of that’s conveniently clustered around the Jean-Drapeau metro station on Île Saint-Hélène.

It may not have the flair of New York’s Times Square, but Montreal’s Place Jacques-Cartier has a whole lot going for it. There’s a lineup of local musicians performing on a large outdoor stage, the area provices an excellent vantage point onto the lighting displays of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, and don’t forget the prequisite fireworks displays over the Saint-Lawrence River with a dance party that doesn’t let up until the early morning.

The nearby countryside may not rival the old-world terroirs for traditional winemaking, but the outer limits of the city have a developed and robust ice wine and cider culture. There are a fair number of nearby vineyards and breweries offering events and tastings independently, but for the stress-free experience, tour companies offer all-included minibus day trips to a selection of producers and activities include tastings, tours of the facilities, and gourmet meals starring the producer’s unique offerings. Kava Tours is probably your best bet for this.

Not for the faint of heart, Montreal’s Ice Canoe Challenge in early March involves ice canoeing teams racing from the Old Port’s historic clock tower to Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Saint-Hélène. The entire length of the race is intense, particularly the passage through St-Mary’s Current, known for its treacherous waters. Spectators have a particularly good view of the action the entire length of the race, largely owing to the racers’ close proximity to the shoreline throughout.

Downtown Montreal’s holiday shopping circuit goes out of its way to keep things festive with the likes of the legendary high-end window displays at Ogilvy’s, as well as decorations, music performances, and multiples of Santa’s Village. The greatest amenity of all is the Underground City—thanks to the sprawling underground tunnels linking the city’s entire downtown shopping network together—so you never need to peak your head outside if you don’t want to. Maybe eat at Time Out Market while you're "down" there!

Rue Wellington in Montreal was named coolest street in the world according to the Time Out Index list. Rue Wellington—home to Promenade Wellington, the main drag—is flanked by one of the best restaurants, and one of the best new restaurants in the city, so there’s no questioning its cool factor. Add some next-level cocktail bars, stellar brunch spots, and some of the best sandwiches in town, and you've got a winning combination.