Sandra Ferreira’s favourite things in downtown Montreal

“The best chefs and restaurants in the city under one roof”—that’s the guiding concept which built the original food hall from the Time Out Group in Lisbon, Portugal, and it’s this winning concept that’s created Montreal’s very own in the Centre Eaton de Montréal. It’s a 40,000-square-foot culinary and cultural destination with 16 food concepts, three bars, and a mocktail station for refreshments you need to try once in your lifetime.

Located atop an architectural wonder of downtown, the Place Ville Marie, this terrasse-based restaurant and club is where you’ll see the greatest views (and beautiful sunsets) in Montreal. As the highest outdoor vantage point, it’s where you can enjoy a late afternoon of lounging or a late night of dancing long after the moon rises.

Café Vasco de Gama is a relaxed downtown Montreal café that’s great for a quick bite or coffee break. Located in the business district, it’s a popular choice for lunch, offering Portuguese staples like frango piri piri (grilled chicken) and pastéis de nata (custard tarts). The atmosphere is casual, and the menu keeps things simple but flavourful. You can pop in for a sit-down meal or grab something to go—either way, it’s a solid choice for a taste of Portuguese comfort food right in the city.

Mount Royal is the beating heart of Montreal. This Quebec heritage site, shaped by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in 1876, offers year-round escapades on its 764-foot “mountain”. Divided across three summits—de la Croix, Westmount Summit, and Tiohtià:ke Otsira’kéhne—this iconic destination weaves history, nature, and recreation into an essential urban experience.

In winter, Mount Royal’s slopes transform into thrilling tobogganing trails, while its meandering paths remain accessible for those eager to hike through snow-dappled forests. Summer is when the park truly shines: Beaver Lake is perfect for barbecues and picnics, while the northern side comes alive with Tam-Tams, a weekly Sunday drum circle near the George-Étienne Cartier Monument that has drawn Montrealers for over four decades.

The park’s trails and lookouts cater to all explorers, from leisurely walkers to intrepid hikers seeking ever-changing city views. And for the more rugged adventurer? Stray from the beaten path to discover hidden plateaus and untouched wilderness—where possible, that is, as caretakers don’t want you trampling anything precious.

Whether you’re sledding, biking, jogging, or soaking in the sweeping vistas, Mount Royal remains an evergreen escape—a green lung breathing life into Montreal year after year.

ensō yoga brings hot yoga and fitness together under one boutique studio roof in the heart of downtown. High-energy sessions, like the detoxifying signature ensō hot flow, Pilates-inspired reformer workouts, and sculpting barre classes, are designed to be fun while building strength and flexibility (playlists matter here!). Inspired by the Zen symbol ensō, representing unity, imperfection, and flow, the studio philosophy invites you to embrace your unique journey with intention. Charity partnerships, a trade program, and outdoor workouts on Mount Royal help promote accessibility and strengthen community connections. Ultimately, personal growth meets collective energy at ensō, with a steady focus on mindful movement and self-improvement.

Club Sportif MAA has been a staple in Montreal’s fitness scene since 1881, and it’s got the history to back it up. From its early days hosting Stanley Cup-winning hockey teams to producing Olympic champions, the MAA is a part of Canadian sports heritage. Its original Peel Street location has undergone a major facelift, offering everything from HIIT and spinning to yoga and Pilates. With luxury services like laundry and top-notch instructors, it’s always been about providing a premium experience in a historic home with cutting-edge facilities for fitness and community, ready to welcome the next generation of Montrealers.

Originally a bespoke tailor shop, Cloakroom expanded in 2015 to include a hidden speakeasy accessible through its coat check. This 25-seater bar in Montreal's Golden Square Mile quickly gained acclaim for its exceptional cocktails, leading to a second location in Brisbane. The ambiance is swanky, with drinks crafted to order and crystal-clear ice that adds a touch of elegance. Cloakroom eschews a traditional menu, instead offering a bespoke cocktail experience. Guests discuss their preferences with the expert bartenders, who then create tailored drinks, often inspired by pre-Prohibition classics like the Martinez or Old Fashioned. Founded by Andrew Whibley, Cloakroom blends the charm of a clandestine bar with top-notch mixology.

Restarted by chefs Pablo Rojas and Hakim Rahal of Provisions Bar à Vin and Andrew Whibley of the Cloakroom cocktail bar, Bar Dominion's less of a reinvention of the old Dominion Square Tavern and more of a revisit to its formula, drawing inspiration from both its last form and the one from when it first opened in 1927 as a hotel restaurant. The menu's now toned down from the ploughman's lunches and Sunday roasts of yore and now focused on more drinks and snackable food, with Rojas and Rahal opting for a leaner but refined offering of seafood and fish, like a full raw bar brimming with oysters, crab, caviar and lobster.

As for drinks, in addition to wine there are 25 cocktails in all on a menu broken down into martinis, negronis (boulevardiers, white negronis, and so forth), a whiskey-forward cocktail section, a selection of 75s and spritzes, and a section for highballs and fizzes.

Since 1998, Bleu Comme le Ciel has quietly become a beloved gem in downtown Montreal—pun most absolutely intended—thanks to offerings of jewelry that feel both personal and timeless. The boutique welcomes with a warm, Mediterranean-inspired vibe and a collection of pieces sourced from Paris and the Côte d’Azur. Something delicate, bold statement pieces, and more; their selection showcases the best of French artistry—gold, silver, and precious stones, each with their own story.

Since opening in 2016, Campo has cemented itself as a top spot for Portuguese-style chicken in Montreal. The Ferreira family’s commitment to quality shines through every bite, with grain-fed, hormone-free birds marinated in piri piri sauce for 24 hours before hitting the grill. As part of the renowned Ferreira Group, Campo offers a casual yet elevated dining experience, serving everything from whole chickens to poutine with Portuguese flair. The cozy 35-seat space, designed by Provencher_Roy, feels inviting, with thoughtful touches like hanging lights and a neon flaming chicken.

This is a major lifeline for downtown Montreal, stretching for over 11 kilometres and lined with (or easily connected to) everything from high-end shops and local boutiques to cafés, bars, and more restaurants than you can shake a fork at. Looking for a shopping spree? No problem. Just want to people-watch and soak up the city’s energy? This is the spot. This bustling street offers it all. Day or night, it’s where the heart of the city really beats.

The McCord Stewart Museum offers a vibrant window into Montreal’s social history, capturing the city’s evolving identity through an impressive collection of 1.5 million artifacts. Located across from McGill University’s main campus, this mid-sized museum covers everything from fashion and textiles to photographs and decorative arts. Its crown jewel, the Notman Photographic Archives, offers a sweeping visual history of Montreal, while temporary exhibitions draw crowds year-round.

For those seeking a deeper dive, the museum’s extensive archives and historical walking tours provide immersive explorations of Montreal’s heritage. Don’t miss the seasonal Urban Forest, an outdoor space that brings artistically simulated nature to downtown Montreal each summer.