Anonymous wrote:Anyone on who did not enjoy Montréal? Why not? What did you dislike? Seeking honest opinions about hat you disliked ahead of planning a trip there.

What an odd negative attitude. Is this how you live your life? Seeking out and bracing for the bad things? Why not ask for the best things about Montreal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following.

I’m especially interested in experiences of people of African descent.

I am of African descent and I am from Montreal. Do you have any specific questions?

What is the climate for Blacks (we are African American)who do not speak French?

Anonymous wrote:Montreal and Toronto are the most bland cities I’ve ever visited (and I’ve visited multiple times).

Old Quebec, Vancouver, and even Ottawa are far more interesting/fun.

Ottawa, more interesting than Montreal? OTTAWA?

Well, I guess you live in the DC area, so you have a type…

Anonymous wrote:Montreal and Toronto are the most bland cities I’ve ever visited (and I’ve visited multiple times).

Old Quebec, Vancouver, and even Ottawa are far more interesting/fun.

No. Ottawa is boring and small, Toronto is like any American city, and Montreal is fun and fabulous. Vancouver and Quebec City are beautiful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated that I found out the best pastrami is in Montreal and I will not be able to get it unless I return.

It’s not pastrami, it’s smoked meat. This is Montreal not nyc.

The smoked meat is great but it’s the bagels. The best bagels anywhere in the world (yes NYC, I know, it’ll be ok). I’ve had them shipped to me in DC. They are that good.

St. Viateur?

And Fairmount! Very similar but one is slightly better than the other and both are way better than anything else anywhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated that I found out the best pastrami is in Montreal and I will not be able to get it unless I return.

It’s not pastrami, it’s smoked meat. This is Montreal not nyc.

The smoked meat is great but it’s the bagels. The best bagels anywhere in the world (yes NYC, I know, it’ll be ok). I’ve had them shipped to me in DC. They are that good.

St. Viateur?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated that I found out the best pastrami is in Montreal and I will not be able to get it unless I return.

It’s not pastrami, it’s smoked meat. This is Montreal not nyc.

The smoked meat is great but it’s the bagels. The best bagels anywhere in the world (yes NYC, I know, it’ll be ok). I’ve had them shipped to me in DC. They are that good.

I went in winter for a conference and didn’t stay in the old town but stayed close by for convenience in an industrial downtown area. Can’t say I recommend doing it that way!

I really enjoyed Montreal, but agree that Ottawa is very underrated.

Anonymous wrote:Following.

I’m especially interested in experiences of people of African descent.

I am of African descent and I am from Montreal. Do you have any specific questions?

If you go to Montreal and don't love it the problem isn't Montreal, it's you.


Yes, if you never leave Centre-Ville it can seem boring, but if you make the slightest effort to leave the beaten path and connect with the locals it's incredible. Dirt cheap (by Canadian standards) a little gritty, uninhibited, and fun.

Last time I was there I wandered into a little bistro by the Lachine with a mural of Scooby Doo on the side where some hippies just handed me an eighth of mushrooms and an hour later we were rolling in the grass in a graveyard. The time before that a cab driver pointed to a skeleton charm on his rear view and said "you know zey call me ze bone collector. Can I take you to my favorite restaurant?" And it was the best damn cafe I've ever been to.


Such a weird, awesome place.

Oh, and to the folks saying Montreal and Toronto are bland, 100% agree with Toronto. There are many US cities more interesting than Toronto. But I think Montreal >>> Toronto and provides one of the best city vacations in North America.

Anonymous wrote:I hated that I found out the best pastrami is in Montreal and I will not be able to get it unless I return.

It’s not pastrami, it’s smoked meat. This is Montreal not nyc.

I love Montreal and have been there several times. BUT, I went once in July during a heatwave. Temps around 90 so nothing I hadn’t seen before in DC, but not many places were air conditioned. Imagine going to a restaurant and eating there in 90 degree weather with no AC and windows open. Our 2 bedroom Airbnb had one AC floor unit connected to the window but it didnt really work. I could barely sleep. We were roasting!

Anonymous wrote:Me. I didn’t hate it, but it just seemed like a big city anywhere in North America. And a lot of it was under construction at the time.

Really enjoyed Quebec City for a few nights though.

That would be my takeaway as well. It had more character than Toronto but generally didn’t feel that dissimilar to a variety of major North American cities. It didn’t help that we went to Quebec City first.