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    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores
    • Leaderboard
    • Editor's Picks
    • New Places

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
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    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office

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      Your cart is empty.

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      Arts & Culture

      A Detour Guide to Montreal: Off-route Alternatives to the Usual Suspects

      Because there’s more to the city than lining up in the Old Port and Plateau.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      May 23, 2025 · 10 min read

      A detour guide to Montreal: Off-route alternatives to the usual suspects

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      La BanquiseChez Ma TanteSchwartz's DeliLes Aliments Felix MishMa Poule MouilléeGrillade PortugaliaDe Rouen TunnelCafé Olimpico (Mile End)Caffè ItaliaMount RoyalObservation Deck of Saint-CharlesParc La FontaineParc BaldwinBadinLachine CanalPlaza Saint-HubertArcade Mile-X ArcadeBar WILLSCafé EvenDépanneur Le Pick UpSaint Patrick's Basilica

      Montreal's pantheon of iconic stops is robust, but you’ve probably heard those names, if not waited in line for some of them a hundred times. They’re classics for a reason, no doubt, but this city rewards curiosity. The good stuff isn’t always front and centre. It’s often on the beaten path, hiding in plain sight, in-the-know, or cooking out of a kitchen or served at a bar with barely (if any) digital footprint.

      This isn’t about calling anyone out. It’s about giving you options. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, or you call Montreal home, these off-route alternatives offer a different inroad that still feels deep and distinct to the city. Think of it less as a rejection of the usual recommendations and more like taking the scenic route.

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      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

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      Arts & Culture

      A Detour Guide to Montreal: Off-route Alternatives to the Usual Suspects

      Because there’s more to the city than lining up in the Old Port and Plateau.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      May 23, 2025 · 10 min read

      A detour guide to Montreal: Off-route alternatives to the usual suspects

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      La BanquiseChez Ma TanteSchwartz's DeliLes Aliments Felix MishMa Poule MouilléeGrillade PortugaliaDe Rouen TunnelCafé Olimpico (Mile End)Caffè ItaliaMount RoyalObservation Deck of Saint-CharlesParc La FontaineParc BaldwinBadinLachine CanalPlaza Saint-HubertArcade Mile-X ArcadeBar WILLSCafé EvenDépanneur Le Pick UpSaint Patrick's Basilica

      Montreal's pantheon of iconic stops is robust, but you’ve probably heard those names, if not waited in line for some of them a hundred times. They’re classics for a reason, no doubt, but this city rewards curiosity. The good stuff isn’t always front and centre. It’s often on the beaten path, hiding in plain sight, in-the-know, or cooking out of a kitchen or served at a bar with barely (if any) digital footprint.

      This isn’t about calling anyone out. It’s about giving you options. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, or you call Montreal home, these off-route alternatives offer a different inroad that still feels deep and distinct to the city. Think of it less as a rejection of the usual recommendations and more like taking the scenic route.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Comments

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      No comments yet. Be the first!

      Follow on Google

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