10 new city attractions to discover in Montréal

MEM (Centre des mémoires montréalaises)

1210 Saint-Laurent Boulevard

Urban nostalgia enthusiasts, rejoice! The city bids you welcome to the MEM (Centre des mémoires montréalaises), Montréal's latest museum and community space which celebrates its citizens' voices and their histories, both past and present. The centre's focus is on sharing stories of Montrealers from every neighbourhood, cultural background, and era via art installations, immersive VR, nostalgic memorabilia, and cultural activities. Beyond the permanent exhibit, the MEM will also host temporary exhibitions, along with host acts in its cabaret. With an accessible and convenient location in the Quartier des spectacles and an in-house boutique-café, there's no doubt it will quickly become a local favourite.

Le 9e

Montreal Eaton Centre, 705 Saint-Catherine Street West

Nearly 100 years ago, the wealthy Lady Flora Eaton—of the family that founded the Eaton department stores in 1869—crossed the Atlantic on the celebrated ocean liner S.S. Île-de-France. As the story goes, she fell so in love with its Art Deco decor that she had prestigious architect Jacques Carlu to draw inspiration from the ship's first class dining room for the Eaton's own restaurant in Montréal. The restaurant, which first opened its doors in 1931, has lain dormant since 1999 and was marked a heritage landmark in 2000. Now, after a quarter century, the elegant 9th floor will once again open to the public this spring with the return of the Île-de-France restaurant, along with a cocktail bar, two private dining rooms, and a soaring performance hall to host performances, events, exhibits, and more in its resplendent, Art Deco interior. Welcome back, the 9e, Montréal has missed you!

PLAYBOX Centre

Montreal Eaton Centre, 705 Saint-Catherine Street West

PLAYBOX is Montréal's newest all-ages entertainment attraction for those who love a good arcade. Test your dexterity, patience, and speed with the various crane games, arcade games, skill games, and VR games available. Challenge your bestie at an arcade motorcycle race, face off against your boss for who has the rhythm skills on the dance pad, carefully extract the perfect plushie prize for your date to remember, or immerse yourself solo on a skill-testing VR experience. PLAYBOX also offers private room rentals, so keep this dazzling, flashing, whirring, rainbow wonderland in mind for the next big celebration.

OASIS Immersion Installations

301 Saint-Antoine Street West

We live in the future—despite what the lack of flying cars suggest—and part of that future is experiencing art and information in ever-more subversive ways. OASIS Immersion is Canada's largest indoor immersive experience, with mesmeric walk-through installations that ignite the imagination. Its new immersive experience Dreaming Asia, inspired by the cultural heritages of China and Japan, features graceful Japanese prints that have struck the imagination of people worldwide, strolling immersed through the famed Chinese painting Along the River during the Qingming Festival, and seeing Pinyin shadow puppets come to life. Also, Root for Nature immerses visitors in a striking interpretation of biodiversity via immersive digital arts and informative educational zones.

AviaSim

800 Leigh-Capreol Place, Dorval

Is your head in the clouds? Do you want it to be? OK, maybe not literally: strictly speaking, you'll remain on terra firma, but at Montréal's flight simulator centre AviaSim, your brain will be none the wiser. Choose your route and take to the sky either solo or with a co-pilot and appreciate the sim's spectacular 180 views while learning the complexities of the cockpit from a professional flight instructor.

The Horizon of Khufu

2 de la Commune Street West

The millennia-long civilization of Ancient Egypt is a fascination the world over, and with good reason. Our own modern way of life is just a blip on the radar when measured against an ancient world with accessible art and history that stretches back to 3100 BCE—and now we have an opportunity to step directly into a moment of that distant past. The Horizon of Khufu, the newest VR experience presented by PHI, takes you back to experience the funeral rites of the Pharaoh Khufu and his necropolis, the pyramids of Giza. Egyptology enthusiasts, rejoice! 

O’Keeffe and Moore: Giants of Modern Art

Montréal Museum of Fine Arts - 1380 Sherbrooke Street West

Experience the work of renowned American painter Georgia O'Keeffe in a dialogue, for the first time, with those of the British sculptor Henry Moore. The Exhibition, organized by the San Diego Museum of Art, features over 120 works by the two iconic 20th century artists, along with recreations of each artist's studio. The thoughtful curation guides visitors through each artists life, the beats of their creative output, and the complimentary manner in which their works underscore the relationship between humanity its raw reflection in nature. Immersive and subversive, this exhibition is not to be missed. 

Bonjour Montréal structure

Grand Quay: 200 de la Commune Street West

Bonjour, hi! Whether you're a first-time visitor, seasoned tourist, or long-time resident, there's something a little magical about a cheesy photoshoot at a city landmark. The newly-inaugurated Structure Bonjour, located at the heart of Montréal's Grand Quay, is a four-season, permanent architectural attraction that looks over the Old Port with its sunny message of greetings and welcome to la belle ville. The structure will also be illuminated at night, making it a perfect selfie-spot (and perhaps, we suggest… proposal location?) year-round.

Port of Montréal Tower

Grand Quay: 200 de la Commune Street West

There's something about an epic city view from a tall structure that really captures the human imagination the world over—maybe we just really love seeing things from a fresh perspective. The newest public space on city's waterfront is the Port of Montréal Tower, a stunningly modern architectural addition to the Grand Quay. The new addition to the port serves both a cruise terminal and a lofty observation tower with a 360 view showcasing both the river and the historical Old Montréal.

The Place Ville Marie Ring

Esplanade Place Ville Marie, downtown Montréal

This 30-metre permanent art installation at the freshly revitalized Esplanade Place Ville Marie is one of Montréal's newer public spaces, selfie-spots, and—more than likely—marriage proposal hubs. Day and night (where its illumination mirrors the another iconic metallic landmark), the 23000kg stainless steel ring serves to link 200 years of the city's heritage, from Mount Royal itself, through McGill University to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel and the Esplanade above which it is suspended. The sheer scale of the project evokes an awe in real life that is hard to capture in photos, but we urge you to try all the same. Beyoncé lyric Instagram captions encouraged.