Montreal Day 1

We arrived in Montreal in the evening, and after a couple of hours of waiting for luggage and securing an Uber to our Air BnB, we finally considered ourselves having arrived.

Coffee & Drinks

Olive & Gourmondo. I described this cafe more below, an unexpected stop for a great first cup of coffee in Montreal.
Dieu du Ciel. Mid-afternoon, we stopped for a break and a drink. My husband had the Dent de Requin austral, a West Coast hazy IPA, and I had the Turbo Péché - a guest tap from Cidrerie Chemin des Sept. Both were delicious! My cider was aged in Péché Mortel Bourbon Barrels and was incredibly refreshing.
Café Origine. Lucky for me, there was a highly spoken-of coffee shop just up the street from our Air BnB, located in a beautiful corner building.

Food

La Capital Tacos. This was our evening arrival meal after our day of flying and several hours of waiting for luggage, getting an Uber and settling into our Air BnB. We had chips & guacamole, and I had the birria tacos. I topped that with a Tajin Margarita *chef’s kiss*
Olive & Gourmondo. After spotting a lineup that went around the corner, we decided to check out the hype. I grabbed a coffee and an incredibly flaky chocolate croissant to fuel my morning of walking.
Slice & Soda. I love a good slice of pizza mid-day when travelling. It’s easy, quick and doesn’t break the bank. I ordered the Prosciutto, and a slice came bigger than my head! I loved the thin crust that was perfectly charred.
Qing Hua. Upon a recommendation, we sought out this popular dumpling place. It was bustling, and the aromas were mouthwatering. We had steamed lamb & coriander and pork and mushroom dumplings and fried curry beef and beef and mushroom dumplings. Each one was juicy and bursting with flavour.

Experiences/Sites

Old Montreal & Vieux Port. I was excited to explore the beautiful Old Montreal and Vieux Port. Walking the old streets with the beautiful buildings and cobblestone streets was like getting a little taste of Europe. The sites date back to the 17th century, with Saint Paul Street being quaint and beautiful.
Notre Dame Basilica. This stunning church is a designated national historical site and was simply stunning. The art and architecture of this building are awe-inspiring. While we were there, the organist was practicing; it was amazing to have the opportunity to hear this historical instrument being played. The organ consists of 7000 pipes and was completed in 1891.
Jean-Talon Market. I always love a good market. Though I would not be in the area long enough to do any actual shopping, I loved strolling the produce and plant stalls. I did grab a basket of juicy and sweet strawberries as an afternoon snack.
Boul. Saint Laurent. I was delighted to discover that a large portion of the street our Air BnB was located on was closed to traffic for the weekend. The pedestrian-only stretch featured various shops and local vendors. This fun, end of summer vibe was a great addition to our afternoon.