As much as it is worth a trip to Montréal just to partake of its remarkable beer culture, the city also afford visitors the opportunity to experience many other pleasures. To list but a few:
St. Viateur Bagel Shop (263 avenue St. Viateur Ouest, tel. 514-276-8044), where the humble bagel is elevated to high art.
Schwartz’s Charcuterie Hebraique (3895 boulevard St-Laurent, tel. 514-842-4813), for a taste of true Montréal smoked meat and an experience you won’t soon forget.
The Old City church, Basilique Notre-Dame (1110 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, tel. 514-842-2925), is a must-visit for its gorgeous neo-classical design punctuated by the extensive use of natural, painted and gilded wood.
For that matter, Vieux Montréal is destination in itself, with its wealth of beautiful architecture and newly-claimed hipness.
For gamblers, or just those wishing to live the Monte Carlo experience, the Casino de Montréal (1 Casino Avenue, tel. 514-392-2746, 1-800-665-2274) is a lovely, Old World-style casino quite different from the Vegas glitz palaces.
If you’ve never partaken of horse before, and so don’t know how truly delicious the meat can be, Restaurant Witloof (3619 rue Saint-Denis, tel. 514-281-0100) offers you the chance with not just a horse steak, but also tartare de cheval.
A truly spectacular and classically French-style meal may be enjoyed in a wonderfully homey setting at Le Passe-Partout (3857 Décarie Boulevard, tel. 514-487-7750), without question one of the city’s finest restaurants.
Or to experience a more modernized take on Montréal cuisine, stop by the new location of Toqué (900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, tel. 514-499-2084) and revel in the inventive fare of star chef Normand Laprise.
And finally, still stylish after more than a decade at a top night spot, the Whisky Café (5800 St-Laurent Boulevard, tel. 514-278-2646) is the ideal place to end the night with a glass of single malt and a perfectly legal Cuban cigar.